- cross-posted to:
- simpleliving@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- simpleliving@lemmy.ml
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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.
Cars aren’t good and I’d like to have less of them… but they’re not responsible for all that ails us.
I’ve got a nice local coffee place where I buy a single drink then sit and read for ~45 minutes. Very nice would recommend
I used to ho to a cafe that has a small book exchange library in the back. You could just go there, pick a book and read it with your coffee then bring the book home if you wish before bringing it back once your are done with it.
Man I wish I had something like that here. Closest I can get is the coffee shop attached to the big brand bookstore.
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.
our mid-sized town put in the charter that bicycling and walking facilitation be funded. And boy-howdy did they do it! I can walk on sidewalks now instead of the busy roads. There is even a six mile asphalt walking trail now. Gotta go to the meetings, organize, and put pressure on these city council people. Most are inactive by the look of them.
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
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).
That sounds great. I don’t know, neither have heard of, any such place in your neighbor germany. Sadly so. Even I would visit such a place.
And how’s it going? No troubles? No asswipes coming in drunk (with their friends) or such? Is it even frequented?
I was only there once or twice in off hours. I think I was there once on a Sunday (normally closed all day so only open to after hours members) and once in the evening. It was quiet as I recall but I guess I’ve not made use of it enough to have an idea. It’s not overly busy in the after hours.
W.r.t. alcohol, the rules forbid eating and drinking in the library, but water is exceptionally allowed. I don’t know if they review the video without cause, but if someone breaks the rules, their after-hours access is terminated.
Funnily, we just discovered that one of our city-libs iss actually doing the exact same thing now too. As an experiment. And it seems they don’t have to deal with it. Quote: “i guess the library-folk is just a quiet and peaceful folk”. So, no problems and people love it.
We parrot you guys ☺️
My local library has 24h access for students to a special area designed for the purpose. During the day the same area is accessible to the public. It’s just a nicely laid out area with desks and chairs and a great view of the park.
It’s unbeatable at 5am with a stiff cup of coffee.
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.
Aren’t libraries becoming that place though?
Yes there are books at my library but they only consume about 25% of the floor by my guess.
Another 25% is hosted for weekly groups run by the library. My kids go to “rhyme time” there. They have “device help” sessions for the elderly.
Another 25% is just tables and chairs, with a great view of the main street. It can be sectioned off so you can book a part of it for a community group gathering. Otherwise it’s people reading, knitting, doing jigsaws, that stuff.
About 15% is a study area which is accessible to the public during open hours or 24 hours for students. Great view of the park from here.
The remaining 10% is admin stuff. Every library I’ve been to in West Aus either is, or aspires to be this kind of format. They’re not just about books.
I kinda wonder how much time other commenter here have spent at their libraries.
I do spend my time in libraries, thank you very much :) Didn’t expect there to be gatekeeping on libraries, but here we are.
And a big part of such activities is either that they’re cordoned off and airgapped (and are done on select timings which are telegraphed way ahead of time) or are themselves quiet. Drinking and socialising to me don’t come under that same category. I’ve been to a library next to a board game shop and been struck by the difference in noise level and distraction there, so if it comes down to what the OP is actually suggesting, I’m skeptical it won’t intrude on others’ needs for a quiet, private place.
That’s not gatekeeping. Gatekeeping would be: you guys shouldn’t go to libraries because reasons. Im merely expressing an opinion that few people here seem to know what happens in libraries.
Case in point:
[…] a quiet, private place.
This doesn’t really describe a library in 2024. I’m sure there are some libraries in which talking and interacting is still discouraged, but that’s not the norm in my experience.
Why I think it’s gatekeeping:
You’re essentially implying people haven’t been in libraries by your last sentence if they haven’t seen what you’ve seen. That’s gatekeeping, like it or not.
EDIT: In case it isn’t clear, what you said was essentially:
“You’re not a library-goer because [reasons].”
That’s gatekeeping, my person.
Nonsense. Lets not co-opt “gatekeeping” to cover any sort of attitude we find distasteful, shall we?
Looking at a bunch of definitions of gatekeeping the closest I can find is this:
gatekeeping refers to the actions of individuals or groups who try to define what is and isn’t acceptable within a particular community and determine who is and isn’t allowed to participate.
My assertion:
I kinda wonder how much time other commenter here have spent at their libraries.
You really can’t co-opt that into the definition of gatekeeping.
You’re the one who’s disqualifying people from saying what libraries look like because they don’t share your common experience. Have a little self-awareness.
I think libraries vary a lot. Your library sounds lovely. My local ones are half way between what you are describing and the quieter places others are describing. But they are actively trying to be a third place.
I think your point is “some libraries are third places”. And that point would hit harder if you gave folks grace. Don’t assume they are speaking from ignorance but invite them to check out libraries if they haven’t. I dunno.
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
Please leave us introverts one quiet place
Because both can’t exist right? It must be one or the other.
¿Por qué no los dos?
Agree!
For x number of months sure, where I am currently 5ish of those months are too cold to be outside.
Oh yeah, forgot about cold countries lol
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
Just be open evenings. I want to go, but I work full time and weekends are a whirlwind of kids and domestic stuff.
At least Libby you can still borrow audiobooks from the library… when you’re stuck in traffic on your way home from work…
I agree, and we should remove the books and have low lighting instead, and people that serve drinks, and snacks, and we shouldn’t bother having quiet areas so we can do more socializing. Also there should be music and wait…
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.
I mean that’s great for uni students to some degree. I’d like a more accessible to anyone version personally
Idk how it works in your country but where I am, anyone can access a university library and many students also frequent the public library. So basically, if every library were open late, anyone could go to the library of they choosing.
They are, or the big ones in city centres are usually, if you count 22:00 as late!
“Late”, for me, is generally up to 0500 the next day.
Taking note for my writings. 💚
Just serve alcohol and coffee and you’ll get lots of traffic
What about the Internet public libraries? Sometimes my town library doesn’t have the book, I can get a pdf or view from a reader, depending on the online library
Why at night, lets utilise the day more by not working 8 hours.
but but that wouldnt be profitable