---
title: "Libraries Offences Act 1898"
id: 99baf1d1-6dd5-4090-80f5-29a948b5c685
authority: uk
place: "United Kingdom"
applies_also_from: []
kind: statute
in_force: true
publisher_url: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/61-62/53
attribution: "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
solon_url: https://solon.orangecat.ch/law/99baf1d1-6dd5-4090-80f5-29a948b5c685
language: en
in_force_from: 2014-08-01
date_basis: publisher
status: consolidated
source_url: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/61-62/53/data.xml
read_on: 2026-11-09
sha256: 19fbc2cbf3f3884c89696b0430b48b2481b5ebd87cb3620df92bd7591017a147
provisions: 5
---

# Libraries Offences Act 1898

## Title and introductory text {#prelims}

Libraries Offences Act 1898
1898 c.53
An Act to provide for the Punishment of Offences in Libraries.
[12th August 1898]

## 1 Short title. {#section-1}

This Act may be cited as the Libraries Offences Act 1898.

## 2 Penalty for offences. {#section-2}

Any person who, in any library or reading-room to which this Act applies, to the annoyance or disturbance of any person using the same,—
(1) behaves in a disorderly manner;
(2) uses violent, abusive, or obscene language;
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) or who, after proper warning, persists in remaining therein beyond the hours fixed for the closing of such library or reading-room,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

## 3 Application of Act. {#section-3}

This Act shall apply—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) to any library or reading-room maintained by a Societythat is a registered society within the meaning of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, or is registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1974, or by any registered Trade Union.

## 4 Extent of Act. {#section-4}

This Act shall not apply to Scotland or Ireland.