this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2024
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[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

My assumption is that it would be popular. So popular that the library would decide on sell a little snacks, sandwiches and soft drinks to earn a little money. And as the sale opens, they would realize that they get a lot higher profit on alcoholic drinks. And since they are selling alcoholic drinks, it's unresponsible to have them in the same area as the daily area with books and study groups. Then they open a new section, maybe in a new location. And to save money on labour, they drop the non alcoholic products.

Of course this is taking it a bit far, but my point is that such a service has incremental steps, where each step would likely give higher profit until it is just a pub.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

What if libraries served drinks. Or quiet pub. I'd be jazzed. That said, I wish libraries were more conducive as social spaces. I know they run events sometimes, but in general time I feel like people aren't approachable

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

This post is pretty spot on.

Actually the public libraries I know have long abandoned the concept of enforced silence (and librarians 'suggesting' what the patrons should and shouldn't read).

They already have different areas for different needs. And often a café close by or integrated (at least in larger cities). In fact the opening hours are most likely the main reason people don't socialise there in the (late) evenings.

Actually there have been several instances where staff members forgot to lock the entry and libraries have been used outside of their opening hours - without any supervision - and the cool part is that nothing has been vandalized or stolen. Kind of like when libraries abandoned fees for overdue media and the number of returned stuff (in time and long overdue) increased significantly. Libraries have a more central position in our culture than most people realize, they only need to adapt to the times and (re)gain some respect of the public. As institutions they might be more needed than they have been in a long time (providing also reliable information, helping to gain (information) literacy and so on).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

We are blessed with a small but gorgeous local library that looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, full of natural light. The stacks are lovingly curated and the computer services are great. Wonderful garden out front, friendly staff inside, and modern equipment that makes checkout a breeze. We can reserve books online or check if they are in, etc.

Anyway, after school, our kid walks to the end of the block with her friends and goes into the library. From there, we pick her up. That place is jumping in the afternoons, let me tell you. All the local regulars and all the kids just out of school: littles and teenagers. It’s a moment of civic joy to walk in there and get my daughter.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

Is this not what the Cafe is made for? My friends and I frequently meet up in Cafe or public parks and play board games/ card games and chill.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

The type of nightlife I wouldn't mind. Looks very cozy

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

You'd just be hanging out in a homeless shelter by that point

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If it were up to people like you, every city park would be a shanty town and every subway station would be a homeless/mentally ill encampment.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

Bit of a leap there, don't you think? Anyway, what's so bad about giving these suffering people a place to just be?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

We shouldn't avoid things good for everyone because we are afraid of those experiencing homelessness being there.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

This concept is the "third space" -- a social space other than work and home where people can congregate, socialize, and relax. Parks and libraries are some of the only remaining spaces in capitalism where people can be humans without paying for the privilege to exist by the minute.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

True, that is what the concept has become. But we need to remember that "third place" originally ment places of business like pubs, cafés, barbershops etc.

Modern cities do need the kind of places you ment - not more malls or apple stores (think I read that it's a new trend to have those resemble places you can casually chill so they can casually sell you their stuff).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

im not gonna go to a place filled chockefull with nerds

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

Um ... welcome to Lemmy, friend.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

let's make the place where everybody wants you to shut the fuck up the hub of social interaction

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

You know we can have more than one place for reading right? Not everyone needs to read in a quiet place and would like more options.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

So rebuild libraries to have talking rooms?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

University libraries have different floors for silent zones and not. A similar concept can often be used for the mid-sized libraries too

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Lots of them already do. I live in a small town and my library has 2 conference rooms and a room where book readings take place. Loud activities happening throughout the day not interrupting people in the quiet areas.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Eh fair. Still to me this is just a weird idea. It's like the top comment suggested it looks like OP is trying to think of a coffee shop. That's a good place to be social if you don't want to go to clubs and shit like that.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago

Yeah there are massively better options and every time I've seen a similar conversation happen and a librarian shows up they have a million good reasons why libraries shouldn't be social hubs. I just thought I'd be a bit cheeky.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Libraries here are regularly opened until 22 or so. It's very nice :)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago
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