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Ode to libraries (the book ones)

sibervepunk.com

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Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#51

Post by _kb »

philipwhiuk wrote: post #6

Libraries aren't free co-working spaces though. This remote worker is fortunate that no-one else does this because it would rapidly worsen. And I'm sure there's more than a handful of remote workers in their area so it would quickly descend into slots and worsen the 'regular purpose' of the library.

That assertion is very location dependant.

It's certainly common across a lot of Australia, including libraries running dedicated facilities for co-working and makerspaces. As an example: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/visit/spaces/edge/bookable-spaces.

Both state (https://precinctqld.com.au/) and local (https://businesshub.brisbane.qld.au/coworking) governments then also run free or heavily subsided workspaces if you need something less ephemeral too.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#52

Post by lapcat »

fragile_frogs wrote: post #48

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. I used to work from coffee shops until I realized how…

> How entitled can you be to think that you can occupy a table for the whole day and expect to only buy one coffee?

The author does not think that, hence the use of the phrase "pay a lot of money".

Nowhere did the author demand that coffee shops change to accommodate the author.

The author describes, accurately, why coffee shops are not conducive to working there all day. How is that "entitled"?

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#53

Post by siberpunk »

fragile_frogs wrote: post #48

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. I used to work from coffee shops until I realized how…

> ..until I realized how annoying it is to have a café full of people working on their laptops

Again, some coffee shops just go for that market. They provide working spaces or floors etc. Their target is those customers who work there. This is not about your preference as a customer.

> How entitled can you be to think that you can occupy a table for the whole day and expect to only buy one coffee?

I'm not sure where this "whole day" come from. I never sit anywhere whole day, not in library, not in coffee shops. At most 2-3 hours at a coffee shop. Plus, I never said they need to provide me this kind of service. I have no demands. I clearly said, this kind of environment is not for me. I am not the target customer of those coffee shops, and I simply don't prefer them. I am listing the reasons why coffee shops does not work for me. Again, I am not telling I have those rights. I am exactly telling that not having the correct environment droves me away from coffee shops for work.

> Yes, that is exactly you are supposed to do. If you are working remotely and can´t afford a co-working space you are probably underpaid. Your salary should either include that expense or your employer should cover that for you.

Well, no? That's not what I am supposed to do. I am paid to work from home, not work from a co-working space. Spending my working hours outside of the home is my personal preference, not something that I need to get paid.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#54

Post by maleldil »

danielfalbo wrote: post #27

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

> Now I moved to London and I'm doing the same

Could you share your map for London?

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#55

Post by gnulinux »

ctrlp wrote: post #20

In the US, libraries are free, have bathrooms, and you can spend the whole day. Hence, urban libraries have become de facto homeless shelters with all the social problems that implies. Suburban libraries are still pretty great places to work or read, but city libraries are a tragedy compared to what they were when I was growing up.

It sounds like you experienced this in some American city and generalized to all? This absolutely not true for Boston Public Library which is an immensely convenient place to WFH, read, or write. I also never experienced this in NYC public libraries, nor in the main Philadelphia library.

Imho public library systems in US cities are absolutely incredible, and arguably one of the best perks of living in the US period.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#56

Post by gnulinux »

radiator wrote: post #37
ctrlp wrote: post #20

In the US, libraries are free, have bathrooms, and you can spend the whole day. Hence, urban libraries have become de facto homeless shelters with all the social problems that implies. Suburban libraries are still pretty great places to work or read, but city libraries are a tragedy compared to what they were when I was growing up.

Sounds like they need rules that state you are only allowed in if you actually want to use the library for its intended purpose.

What do you think is the "intended purpose"? The fascinating and beautiful thing about the library systems in US is that there is no reason to have a purpose, you can literally just sit down and look outside the window. Breakneck-speed-modern-life needs this. I want a place to stop, think, read, write, listen... just somewhere to be human without fees for a second.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#57

Post by lapcat »

philipwhiuk wrote: post #6

Libraries aren't free co-working spaces though. This remote worker is fortunate that no-one else does this because it would rapidly worsen. And I'm sure there's more than a handful of remote workers in their area so it would quickly descend into slots and worsen the 'regular purpose' of the library.

It's true of almost every public service that it wouldn't scale to handle everyone simultanously.

Suppose that literally everyone decided to check out books from the library: many libraries, especially smaller ones, would quickly become empty of books!

I work from home, and I could work at the library, but I prefer to work from home, because I prefer my home environment to the library environment. I did work from the library quite a bit when my internet was out for a week, and it was a great relief to have the library available. I don't think there's a danger of overcrowding, though, because there's nothing now stopping people from working at libraries, and it hasn't been a problem AFAICT.

The author is not revealing any hidden, top secret fact that nobody knew before.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#59

Post by dpassens »

tokai wrote: post #33
dpassens wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would have been a very fair point but to me, the tone definitely comes off as "how dare these annoying waiters try to sell me coffee so that the shop doesn't lose money from me occupying a seat" and "how dare teenagers enjoy their time in a coffee shop, don't they know I have work to do?"

That says a lot about you.

Pray tell, what does it say about me?

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#60

Post by acdha »

dpassens wrote: post #21
acdha wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn’t sound to me as entitled, more like acknowledging that they’re not the market most coffee shop owners are targeting. I’ve known a few places with target laptop workers but commercial real estate pricing in many markets is brutal in a way that libraries are less exposed to.

That would have been a very fair point but to me, the tone definitely comes off as "how dare these annoying waiters try to sell me coffee so that the shop doesn't lose money from me occupying a seat" and "how dare teenagers enjoy their time in a coffee shop, don't they know I have work to do?"

I read that as more of a tongue in cheek recognition that coffee shops need a certain revenue per seat per hour, which isn’t a fault as much as not being what a remote worker is looking for.
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