The third place

If libraries were open late they would be filled with homeless people looking for a safe, warm place.

What I'm saying is we need safe warm places for the homeless AND libraries to be open late.

Here in Norway, the library is open until 10 in the evening. Many people meet there so it is actually happening here...https://deichman.no/bibliotekene/bjørvika

BRING BACK THE THIRD PLACE

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place

the death of 'third place' locations has had a brutal impact on society

After a short while, the library owners would realize that they could make a lot more money if they served alcohol in the evenings.

I can't express enough how badly I want this.

Just throwing it out there: most libraries do have one late night day a week, there are probably a million people on earth right at this moment that would love to play a tabletop game with you or take a zoom class, every single area has clubs/associations/charities that would love some new faces.

Don't expect the universe to give you companionship. You need to do it yourself

I read something about the Carnegie libraries in Pittsburgh basically doing this way back when. Apparently it was popular for people to get off work, go home, clean up, eat, then head out to the library. There was stuff there for kids like story tellers, tutors, art workshops, and more. For adults, quiet places for people who just wanted to read, places for study, areas for people to discuss various subjects, classes on various skills (painting, pottery, carpentry, etc) and the ground floor main area had a general social space. They served coffee, food trucks set up outside, and some inside. It was a popular place for people who didn't want to go to the bar.

That's called a community centre and used to be pretty common. Growing up we had multiple that were run by the local Catholic organizations, and I think there were also some that were run by the youth branch of the various political parties.

But a key component of such a place being success is having a certain kind of open culture. There's countries where if you throw 10 strangers in a room and return an hour later, you'll find 10 strangers on their phone, having not uttered a single word to each other.

I host late night D&D. Or play team sports. Life is what you make it folks.

You shouldn't talk and socialize inside a public library though.

Maybe a community center for activities would be better. Lemmy is basically a bunch of virtual community centers anyways.

But libraries demand silence... You need loud libraries late at night... with live music, and maybe alcohol... wait...

It would also be useful for people that don't like church, which is the main third place in much of rural America.

Many libraries in Denmark do stay open to 9pm. They even have tables and invite people to hang out there. Although I må not sure if you're allowed to drink or eat there they do want you to just hang out. They have boardgames that you can borrow or play there and they even have boardgames nights where you can play against other guests. Some libraries even have gaming computers and playstation 5 with sofas and all. It's pretty cool! Some of them also let you borrow things like baking forms, instruments, and tools!

Our library hosts lounge night and a game night. Lounge night is lofi music and people enjoying themselves with games, movies, books, larping, and writers sharing. Poetry night and writers block aren't personally my favorite but there's those as well.

No no no. People don't spend money at a public library. You haven't thought of the profits!

As former and probably future homeless person this is a bad idea.

That’s how you get eaten by t-Rex skeletons and spanked by monkeys.

I joined a hackerspace/makerspace. Similar in concept, but instead of books; tools and nerds.

methhead at 3am with a stack of chemistry books

I FUCKING LOVE READING

Here in Finland a lot of libraries are open pretty late (scan card and PIN to access, free of charge). Some close because of vandals, but it mostly works.

Not much socializing, though. Mostly people choose the drinking in domestic isolation.

Option 3: disregard laws, fuck in the streets

It's a group activity that everyone can enjoy! Get to really know your mail carrier, and learn how to get that 60% discount at the pizza parlor, all in an exciting and lively atmosphere!

Post on a local Facebook page that you'll DM a game of D&D for anyone who's interested. Bam, instant friends.

I might consider learning how to do it first, but yeah. Players are always looking for DMs, and nerds are fun to be around.

Ooh, you could play at the libr-- ohhhh.

I just have people come to my house and we stay up late and play board games

when i was a kid i would go to the library all the time until 10, which was late for me at that age. i wasn't a big reader, but it was a perfect excuse to escape family.

They should serve alcohol at libraries. That would be ideal.

sell coffee etc. to pay the bills. all the cool kids are doing it. Libraries are looking for more visitors. Install a Starbucks with tables near the gaming PCs. books and chairs in the corner. Checkout counter is already done, Re: bars, Why do they all have parking lots? AA without the chanting.

Isolation still wins every time

I’ve got a lively tabletop store that has a ton of tables. It’s got stuff that interests me on multiple nights a week, and a chill regular crowd.

Then I’ve got an evening running group. Admittedly they are about to close down until next year soon.

I do admit I’m less of a night owl nowadays, and more about spending my daytime hours doing active activities. Those hours are so slambooked I am putting things in a calender organizer so I don’t doublebook my time. The nights where I’m alone I usually feel pretty beat from the daytime, and ready to just relax at home contently.

I suppose what I’m saying is that part of the blame lies on society, but some of it is learned helplessness. Making a witty Twitter post might help vent but it won’t make new social hubs fall out of the sky for you. If you’re itching to do things then go do things. Everything I’m currently into, I started out by just showing up on my own and making friends there. If you’ve got friends who only socialize by drinking at bars, don’t be shocked when the only activities seem to be bar oriented.

And domestic violence, that's how I read it the first time. Dark humor?

The library of our university is open 24/7 while exam season, which is nice

My library does sell food but only 11am -4pm, Monday - Thursday.....

Gaming stores for some board games and DnD.

My college library is open 24/7 for students.

That's how the big city library in my city used to work before covid hit.

Finally, the library bathroom will get used for sex.

Great idea. I think I will suggest it to my library!

Most drunkards won't be even able to read the library rules, even less the address to it

My wife was a bartender and then got a job as a librarian. I don't think she'd like that much.

Won't work very well if there's someone constantly shushing.

Would drinking be allowed?

There are usually late / all night coffee shops. Lots of good memories and conversations had there, and considerably cheaper (though not free).

I fucking wish!

That would be pretty dope

Shhhh...

Every social and business interaction is engagement in public life!

No. Public Houses are called Public Houses for a reason.

They'd be full of children after school, loud, sticky, annoying children.

It's still a good idea, but libraries should be a quiet calm place, and I came feckin stick them when they've got kids running around and stuff. Ugh.

Because homeless people flood public libraries and ruin the concept of a free public good by abusing the privilege.