From San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune
‘Am I actually suggesting that grand old libraries, guardians of silence and of free public access, should follow in the footsteps of greedy corporations? That we should sacrifice shelf space for espresso machines? That the “No Food or Drink!” signs, beaten with age, should be stripped from the doors?
In a word: Yes.
In fact, the concept is already being used by a handful of public libraries around the country to attract patrons and make extra cash.’
The article contends that a ‘handful’ (?) of libraries across the country have taken the Starbucks/Barnes & Noble route and that ‘The rise of branded third places like the coffee shop and the literary superstores has directly coincided with the fall of libraries.’ No data is cited.
Inevitable question
So this brings up the question: Who will be reponsible for policing the stacks when the patrons start wandering through them with espressos and macchiatos in hand?
source of data
Well it’s a kinda/meybe/sorta source:
“In Everett, Wash., employees immediately noticed “a swell of visitors and an increase in books being checked out,” The Seattle Times reported last February.”
Tracking the quote down in google yeilds:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishc ountynews/2001864174_coffee25n.html
and
http://www.aboutcoffee.net/2004_02_22_bcear c.html
One source, if it is such a good idea the writer could have done a more research yeilding a few more sources. No overpriced expresso bars in my library if I have anything to say about it.
Re:Inevitable question
We’ve been allowing beverages in covered containers and un-messy snacks in the library where I work for a couple years and we’ve not had any problems (save for the occassional squirrel who leaves a pile of sunflower seeds on the floor–but they’d likely do that furtively, whether or not they were allowed). I mean, think about it. What do people do with materials once they leave the library? They take them to the beach, they read in the bathtub, they curl up with a cuppa tea and a mystery, they tote them to coffeeshops, they read them on the crapper, they use them in the kitchen when referring to a recipe….
We’ve not had any increase in bug or pest problems, which is one of the first arguments made against food/drink in libraries. I see it as one way to make the library a little more comfortable. We need all the help we can get.
Re:Inevitable question
We have a cafe and in general its good for the library but we don’t allow food or drink outside the cafe area. How do you police messy vs unmessy snacks?
Re:Inevitable question
No burgers or sandwiches or KFC…drippy stuff, I guess. I can’t remember the last time we had anyone tuck into a meal–it’s mostly snacky food. Candy, pretzels, beef jerky. And those damn sunflower seeds. If we could ever catch that person, we’d bust ’em.
Gimmicks Don’t Have Lasting Appeal
I agree that libraries need to find ways to become relevant, but I don’t think food is the answer. In the short term there can be extremely good results. What happens when the novelty wears off? The library is left with a situation of being another eatery for people, homeless or otherwise. One problem that has not been addressed is the new “coffee shop” role of the library. Eating places may bring new readers but they also may bring others as well. What happens when this idea no longer yields results, do floor shows come next? Diminishing readership is a terrible problem. Why don’t we as a profession try to brainstorm within our role as information providers instead of becoming caterers. When a sports team loses fans they invent many ways to get people into the stadium including state of the art stadiums. If the team dosen’t win the fans don’t come back despite the glitz. The library or information center has a mission and provides a service. We need to upgrade and modernize those services to continue to market our product, information. I don’t have an answer but I am sure that brainstorming in our professionalo organizations can come up with at least some ideas. Bringing food in as a draw has a lot more pitfalls than just the crumbs. Bookstores use cafe’s as a way of selling more books. The book patron is not always a regular. The stores maintain the coffee to help build a following or clientele because their service costs money.