Kevin doesn't understand why libraries are installing coffee bars instead of more books. He argues that the reason he doesn't use the library much is that it has very few books that he's interested in. I see his point, but I also see the reasoning behind coffee bars and other weird installations.
A few years ago (my sophomore year, I think) MHC's Williston Library got a little coffee bar. It has a name, but I'm blanking on what it is. Of course there was a lot of argument about whether this was a good thing or not, what with encouraging drink and food in the library, but evidently at least some people used it, although I never went in. I think it's now metamorphosed into a sort of snack area served by machines on the ground floor of the Miles-Smith wing.
Speaking of names of coffee shops, I think the best name ever is the Thirsty Mind, which is the name of a half-used-bookstore, half-coffee-shop across the street from MHC, in the Village Commons. It was absolutely lovely and cozy until they moved into a bigger space, which was very disappointing. Maggie used to get late-evening coffee from them all the time.
Anyway, my point is that even MHC got a coffee shop. I think the idea was to increase revenue and convenience, and it probably did that, although there probably wasn't enough business to merit paying real people to work there. All the discussion that it generated did increase awareness of the library, and that's probably at least one of the reasons that libraries are doing it. You've got to admit that people who might not think about using the library are now having the idea of it shoved in their faces, and maybe they'll set foot in there a couple more times because of it.
Libraries have to market themselves pretty hard these days. In times of harsh budget cuts everywhere, they can't just count on taxpayers' money flowing in. They have to prove that their services are worth the money it costs to keep them in business. One way to do that is to add new services, to raise awareness, and to raise money. Coffee shops meet all three criteria.
Maybe those over-priced lattes will help Kevin's local library pay for a couple of FreeBSD books.
Kevin's Home says:
Wave that book goodbye
Following on from Laura's thoughts on the library revamps I mentioned yesterday I figure I should provide more background to
Aleta says:
I don't drink coffee, but I love the smell of it. It's a nice compliment to the smell of books :)