The library was closed? Nope. I just like it here.
I’ve spent the majority of the afternoon at the local Borders. I’ve come here to study, drink coffee and feel like I’m doing something community oriented while hovering alone over my books and laptop.
Why Borders? Why did I come here? You’d think a library advocate such as myself would be basking in the free wifi of my public library and taking advantage of the resources it has to offer.
There is something about cafes and bookstores that many libraries lack. Honestly, even though my library is within walking distance, I still drive to Borders because I’m comfortable here. I like having a table with a window view and a cup of coffee next to my laptop. Something about the rigid chairs is more inviting to me than the 70s-esque decorating that overwhelms the library.
So, despite the free wifi and no-obligation-to-purchase-a-beverage seating at the library, I still opt to pick Borders. As I look around the café, a number of tables are occupied by individuals who haven’t left their seats all afternoon either—they too have found this as a comfortable “third place.”
My point here isn’t to tell you how much I dislike my local library. It is to emphasize that the Borders and Starbucks and Paneras and Argos and Barnes & Nobles and Caribou Coffees have gotten something right. They make me feel safe and welcome with their bright lighting and scents of espresso. Although we, the library, aren’t in it for the dollars profit margins—I cannot help but believe we have much to learn about the model that has been created by cafes and bookstores.
Good post. I agree with your comments. Watching an urban or suburban street scene from a comfortable chair in an intimate setting with a good cup of coffee and a muffin is hard to beat. I don’t think libraries need to redesign the entire library, but they do need to compete with this in some way. But it takes money to create a setting like this in a library.
Tom Javorcic — October 30, 2008 @ 10:43 am