We knew it all along, but now the rest of them are starting to figure it out…the coolest (hottest), cheapest, most interesting place to hang out is the public library. What happened to wooden chairs, stacks of musty books, and the “shhhhhhhhh” of the librarian? That’s old time. This is the new library. The one for Internet-surfing, coffee-sipping and movie-renting.
“The perception is no longer of a warehouse for books,” says San Francisco city Librarian Luis Herrera. “We’re seen as a place to hang out. I’ve been in the business for 30 years. And when I look back at it, this is the most exciting time ever for librarians.”
The SF Gate article goes on to say… “Uh-oh, watch out. You get a bunch of librarians excited and anything could happen.”
Actually a columnist, but still a good job
This article appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bay Area section yesterday–the Sunday paper, which has much higher circulation than the weekdays. It’s C.W. Nevius’ weekly column, but prominently placed. Good picture, too… And I have to say it’s one of the better public library articles I’ve seen–note how he mentions the homeless but doesn’t make out SFPL to be some sort of homeless-camp cesspool: they’re just more patrons, maybe checking their email. (SFGate is the online arm of the Chron, although it does have some original content.)