The Mataura community say they are "angry and fed up" with youth intimidating staff and customers outside the local library — which will shut early every day for the next two weeks.
Gore District Libraries manager Emma Sherie said it was "unacceptable that staff had to put up with the verbal abuse and threatening behaviour" from young people believed to be aged between 14 and 19.
Sherie said some people have questioned if the anti-social behaviour would stop if the free W-Fi was turned off.
"We've been told it can't be easily turned on and off, but we are looking at possible solutions. We have a lot of customers who rely on our Wi-Fi, so it's important we retain this service."
Gore District Council and Mataura Community Board representatives plan to meet with the police and Hokonui Runanga this week to work on a solution to the anti-social behaviour.
"The library would continue to close at 2.30pm for the next fortnight. The council was considering several other options and looked forward to getting input from the police and local iwi."
Sergeant Eric Browne said Gore Police "regularly liase with the Gore District Council on issues affecting the community".
"Police have received one report of an incident this year regarding the Mataura Library, and an investigation is ongoing into this incident," he said.
Browne said the report relates to an incident of "obscene language by youths" at the library on March 18, 2024 and that no other information has been received by police this year at the location.
"There is no place for offensive language, or behaviour which disrupts or threatens members of our community," he said.
Police have urged the public to report any incidents of concern either while it's happening or after the fact.
Mataura is the second largest urban area in the Gore District with a population of just under 2000.
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