“What if we took a place known for being quiet and made it loud?”
Ok, then let's make a new space called a loudbrary.
Perhaps some sort of community drinkbrary, as seen in the image.
To be fair libraries are very active places, there are plenty of quiet spaces in most of them as well for this reason. Why can’t we accommodate everyone? We aren’t talking pumping music, just basic conversation, which already happens.
If it gets too loud, there’s always the quiet places for people that want more peace ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We aren’t talking pumping music...
YOU may not be but I guarantee that within the first 60 minutes at least three people are going to try and do just that.
If it’s against the rules, they’ll be kicked out, like it happens already… and if they allow the music, well you are free to choose another library that fits your specific needs. Just like the ones using the louder library since it’s already for them.
Be honest, how long has it been since you’ve been in a public library?
I wonder if the public perception and use of libraries would be improved if they weren't these strangely silent book temples and were instead places of public learning and conversation.
My county library has tons of spaces to be loud and engage with others, hosts a lot of events and to be honest has only a few quiet spaces.
The public perception of libraries being super quiet book temples is really outdated.
Your library isn't? Mine has events all the time
The place you're talking about isn't even open during the hours being discussed. Which is the entire point of this post.
Who cares who is being loud are they disturbing the non-existent regular patrons?
Outside of normal operating hours? Why not?
Libraries weren't created to be quiet places. They were created to preserve and share knowledge.
I mean, temporarily loud. I think that would be OK.
and we’ve circled back to the missing third place – libraries as community centers, family friendly pubs and bars, coffee shops that don’t require buying half the menu to just hang out, walkable (and bikable) cities where people can go for an evening stroll without being afraid of being run over …
I want this so bad. Why can't the car loving suburbanites who visit Europe and love it just get on board?
Cars are not freedom, if anything they take it away while making life miserable for everyone.
Yes ! A thousand time yes !
The library are the last third places publicly accessible.
What we need is more third places where we can just meet other people, neighbors without the expectation to spend money.
Libraries would need more funding to operate extended hours...
Then people would complain about gov't spending and taxes. Then we would privatize the libraries
This is why we cant have nice things
Turns out brainwashing a society to be selfish consumers has side effects like: not wanting to spend their money on services for the public good.
"They aren't me, why should I care!?"
Or even if you personally benefit from public services, you'll still complain about "muh tax dollars!!"
Cheaply selling drinks (maybe non-alcoholic) would probably more than off-set the additional costs.
I wanna get lit at the library though.
Litbrary
Nothing a flask can't fix.
We held a private work event at the museum one time... I got loaded on whisky and went to see all the dinosaur bones. It was one of the best nights of my life
Capitalists trying to convince the public to privatize things has nothing to do with cost; even if they were free, every dollar saved by the public represents a potential profit they're losing.
No citizen, third places are not allowed except for church, mother says so. Now back to your depression cave! You need to be at work on time or we’ll confiscate it!
This is the design
This is the utopia, but unfortunately, delinquents and no-good doers will harass the people in late night libraries and cafes. There is a cafe in my hometown that used to run 24/7 but anti-social behaviour made them close much earlier. Granted it has been an issue before, but the pandemic solidified the decision to no longer serve 24/7, especially with people no longer spending much time outside of their home any longer than it used to be.
Someone has to pay for the staff and maintenance too.
Despite inflation and growing user bases, libraries aren’t getting more money in most places.
Libraries are tax funded. It's a service, not a business. Reallocate the money, preferably from the police.
If by "engage in public life" they mean being quiet and not interrupting others' quiet time then sure.
To me it sounds like people want another public space that isn't a library. Once libations enter the picture it also feels like it's not always going to be a safe place.
In Brussels there is a library that’s “open” as late as 22:00. There’s an after hours program where you register for after hours access, sign an agreement, and your library card can be used to unlock the door. Staff is gone during off hours but cameras are on. Members are not allowed to enter with non-members (can’t let anyone tailgate you incl. your friends).
This sounds cool as fuck. There would be literal book clubs hanging out at night. People are so overworked that most don't even socialize properly these days. Hanging out with folks to gush over that one series all of them enjoyed, without damaging your health or risking anyone else's. But we get this instead...
We need more third places.
How about coffee shops with e-readers built into the tables preloaded with an enormous collection of books?
This isn't the purpose of libraries. However, having car free streets and squares and parks with lights would be better choices.
This isn’t the purpose of a library you want. But I’d greatly want this type of library
When I was in university the library was open 24/7
It was just the restricted areas that you couldn’t go to at night and those were appointment only anyway
You can also go to the restricted area at night, just gotta make sure to not be caught by Filch
We could wind up dead, or worse, expelled
I don't understand what is funny here. Many university librairies are open until 9 p.m and there is still people at the closing that would stay later. If every librairie were open until 10 p.m or midnight, you can be sure that some people would make use of it.
Just be open evenings. I want to go, but I work full time and weekends are a whirlwind of kids and domestic stuff.
Just serve alcohol and coffee and you'll get lots of traffic
And we're back to the concept of a bar
They are, or the big ones in city centres are usually, if you count 22:00 as late!
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