Library letdown

To shake up the routine a bit, I did my work from a car service department for the entire morning and was planning on working from a public library for the second half.  Before I get into the library, the car dealership = perfect work environment.  They had work cubicles, free wifi, coffee, soda, water and snacks and a television for waiting patrons.  I took my car in to get annual maintenance but now I might just go there more often to get my car "serviced" and use it as my other office.  Just kidding.  But maybe not.

I went to the public library around my neighborhood around 2 pm, which is apparently when kids get out of school.  Did you know that?  The library was overrun with pre-teen and teenage kids but also grownups.  In the middle of the afternoon.  I couldn't find a free table and I couldn't believe it!

I was also expecting the library to look like this:
via here
Or this
via here
Or even this
via here
But no, it looked more like this:
via here
It was really quite sad.  There were barely any books or people among the stacks.  Even the children's area, where you're used to seeing bean bags and cute little bookshelves, was empty.  But the computer lab was bursting full and there were people lounging at the tables with laptops.  I left shortly afterward.  I had it in my head that I was going to get a library card and wander around for a few hours.  Are people just not into reading anymore?  Have we really become so inundated with technology that no one sits down and just picks up a book?  I really do pity those people.  Books have always been an escape for me, a trip to adventureland and an easy way to exercise my imagination.  Next week I might check out another library and I cross my fingers that it will be jammed pack with books and people reading them.

Comments

  1. That is so depressing!! I went and got a library card right after I moved to SF b/c our neighborhood branch is only about three blocks away. I was so excited to have my card but the library was small and they didn't have any of the books I wanted! What is this world coming to??

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  2. LOL Get an oil change and month end reports done in one! haha

    It is sad about the library. Books will come back in style though :)

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  3. Thank you so much for faithfully commenting on my blog. You've honestly brightened my day quite a few times! In Bergen there's this super old library and I love spending time there. I love the smell of old books..

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  4. Oh my word! That is the saddest story I've ever heard--about the library, that is. Sigh.

    But your dealership story--that's fabulous. MUCH better than my experience!

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  5. Our local library is pretty small...much like the last pic but with a few more books:) That is depressing...to have not much books...IN A LIBRARY! I know I'll sound old, but remember back in the day, when they actually had books in there?!? Anyhoo, I drooled over those first three pics....literally heaven:)

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  6. There is nothing better than the smell and feel of a real life book.

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  7. This post just made me lol. I recently had to work from the local library too during a power outage in the town. It was quite the experience and those librarians didn't know what to do with themselves- guess they weren't used to the crowds.

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  9. Oh yeah, the libraries in Houston are not so great, and people are always fighting over the computers (not that I need them, but it's one of my weird quirks that bothers me), What car dealership did you go to? It sounds amazing! Have you tried getting work down in the Montrose area, like Agora or Brasil Cafe?

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  10. Jess, I was at the Advantage BMW in Midtown - it was a pretty perfect work setup. I am going to have to try those coffee shops. To date, I haven't worked from one yet... maybe next week?

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  11. Oh my! I'd cry if I walked into a library and there so few books. What happened? I mean, my local library (only about 5-6 minutes away) has a computer section, but still the shelves are full, the kids' area is super cute with a tent, lots of characters from classic books, bean bags, rocking chairs, you name it. I love to take my daughter there. And it's not like we live in a big city either... Maybe the smaller towns have better libraries for lack of anything else to do?!?

    Oh and I second the coffee shop idea. I love working from the smaller, quieter ones.

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  12. You're kidding!! That is sad. SAD. :(

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