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.
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).
Americans reinventing coffee houses that aren't Starbucks be like:
You gotta pay to be at a coffee house. And sure, coffee isn't terribly expensive and most places won't kick you out even hours after you've bought your single cup of coffee, but non-Starbucks coffee shops are usually tiny and in some places hard to find.
Look, we've reinvented the tubes a bunch of times...
We will reinvent humanity a billion times....
Some libraries, like Austin's Central Library, are centered around that idea.
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Driving in my monster truck to get to the library so I can read until 1am
Austin's Central Library
centered around that idea.
Checks out.
I'm sorry, we need to see your library card before you can check something out.
I miss that about college, 24 hour library filled with people. You have to be quiet on the main floors but upstairs was less strict.
The routine of get a coffee, study for a while, go pee and step outside with some friends for a smoke, and grab another coffee on the way in. Rinse and repeat until the sun comes up.
Man not ours. Couldn't say shit anywhere lol.
Even our computer labs weren't too 3rd-spacey.
Man I miss college sometimes tho. Back when I had friends and a life lol
Yeah the upper floors are supposed to be for quiet study but you could still collaborate and talk without being hushed, just can't get too roudy. Michigan State btw.
I would love this. Like another commenter said, after 10 the no talking rule gets rescinded and it turns into a cafe level of speech.
I’d love to just read books with my wife at a library late at night.
Or simply have study areas where the silence is enforced. Rest of the premises just demands calm.
The type of nightlife I wouldn't mind. Looks very cozy
My local library closes before night time, so I'm on board with the idea of them a library closing late at night.
I don't even need to talk to others, just seeing people there would soothe me and ease loneliness I get from not socialising much.
Can't you take the bus or something?
I never seem to remember that it is an option, so thank you for throwing that out there :P
Neat idea, but most libraries I'm familiar with discourage too much social interaction. Maybe after 10 the "be quiet" rule gets rescinded.
They could have a common room where you are allowed to talk. But that would cost money of course, we can't possibly afford that.
Edit: please don't have showers in the common rooms of pubic libraries
That could work. I think it is an interesting idea to turn libraries into a 3rd space. We need to do something. People are lonely and isolated af.
I think it is an interesting idea to turn libraries into a 3rd space.
I think it's both an interesting and fantastic idea. I could not be more for it
I dunno that sounds a lot like communism
What if we charged people a 'sitting rent'? And if anyone sits down to wait for their friends we call the cops especially if they aren't of the ahem Caucasian persuasion. Heaven forfend humans actually have a 'commons'
Libraries here are regularly opened until 22 or so. It's very nice :)
That's awesome! The Seattle Central Library closes at 6pm. Like how the fuck are people supposed to use a public resource when it closes as soon as they get off work? It's hella dumb.
Where is 'here?'
Denmark
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).
They mostly are around here
Try kava bars. YMMV depending on your location but here in Florida, there are many that are open late where people just hang out, watch movies, play pool, videogames, read, work, etc and they're usually not loud or crowded and they don't serve alcohol
This is a cool idea!
But also what if the public library did have a bar in it so I can get smashed while learning new stuff.
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 busy and alive but not noisy (nor are they oppressive assholes about keeping silence). It’s a moment of civic joy to walk in there and get my daughter.
This is a cool idea, but would significantly increase staffing needs. Where are you going to find librarians who want to work night shift?
In Denmark, many libraries are open far into the evening/night (my local one is open until 22) and get this - they are unstaffed during those hours. You open the door with your loaning card.
Me. I would love to be a third shift librarian.
I'm willing to bet there are a lot of librarians who would enjoy working a night shift. I'd apply for that job.
Imagine a world where everyone is so familiar with the Dewey Decimal system that fitting in to a library could be as easy as fitting as a bagger at a grocery store. That library science was as commonplace as knowing how to make a gin and tonic. Wait staff now pivots to late-night librarian. 😁
Shit, people would volunteer for that privilege. 😆
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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.
You'd just be hanging out in a homeless shelter by that point
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.
Yes please!!!
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
im not gonna go to a place filled chockefull with nerds
Um ... welcome to Lemmy, friend.
Good, we probably don't want you there either.
