Do you wish that your library had a cafe, just like the bookstore?

Back home, my library had one for years, or at least one in the building. At least as long as I can remember, once you'd checked your books out, you could go and have a cup of coffee upstairs. I couldn't honestly say whether they do here, but British libraries, it's pretty common.

I know you're referring to public libraries, but the library in the high school where I teach opened a cafe for the school year that's just ended. Not only do the serve fabulous goodies from local bakeries and Starbucks, they attract many, many more kids than ever came to the library before. A new library is slmost ready to open across the street from my house. If they don't have some sort of bistro, I plan to suggest it. It makes choosing books and doing research much better when you can take a yummie break!

That sounds like a great idea to me, my friend, but my local library is inside the town's theatre building and there is already a cafe and a bar in there. However, I'm going to stretch my imagination a bit, and suggest that maybe flapjacks, marshmallow cakes, burgers and hot dogs be sold in the library cafe to attract the younger set, together with milk shakes, cola and slush puppies... if you know what slush puppies are! lol. Brightest Blessings.

That sounds like a great idea. I mean it would help out libraries with buying more books and more dvds as well as other great products. I would want a french vanilla coffee myself. Hazelnut sounds great also. As wall as the chocolate fudge dipped brownies.

Great Idea! I've encountered the cafe/bookstore thing on visits to the US-I don't have a laptop,but the Idea of Free internet (MyLot!),good coffee,and browsing for good books sounds like a great shopping experience!

The library where I go to does have a cafe in it, but I don't know what they sell in there, I've never went in there (yet).

I would absolutely love it if my public library had a cae in it. I would also love it if the cae where I am sitting RIGHT NOW, had a bookstore or a library attached to it. Somehow bookstores and cafes just seem to go together.

What an excellent idea, beauty. You are always coming up with good ideas. I think you are really on to something with this. You could write up a business plan and present it to your town council. It could become a profittable business for you. Your little girl could help you run the place until you have it set up and able to run without you. Think how fun that could be for the two of you. You should go for it. I would love something like that in my town. I would frequent it a lot. I'm voting for there to be a latte making machine, and some juice options for kids.

I think that is a great idea. I have never thought of that. I do not spend much time at the library but if I did I would totally go and have coffee and read.

That's not so necessary for me. I prefer to find the book I borrow and then I will leave the library. I don't want to stay in the library. I like to read in bed at home as it will be much more relaxing. I love China

I think it sounds like a pretty cool idea. I like the idea of some of the proceeds from the coffee and goodies sales going towards getting more stuff for the library.

I would be great if libraries did have a little cafe attached somehow. As was mentioned earlier, books and coffee do go hand in hand. A great relaxant! The money earned from selling coffee and a few goodies would be a good way to raise funds for DVD's and CD's. But heaven forbid if anything gets spilled on a book or sticky fingers are handling a book!! Hopefully, that would not be the deterrent!!

That is a great idea!

A very good idea,I agree urs

I think that books and food go hand in hand. I guess that because libraries are a public municipality that this will never happen. There would be too much concern about books being damaged because of food or drink. I do know that my library offers lots of other services besides just books. They have activities for seniors and of course for young children. Now they are offering activities for teens as well so they are trying to draw as many people in as humanly possible.

Hi There, Well..I am a major coffee lover, and I also love books. You think if you put these two together I would be in favour of this idea. I don't think I would be however. One thing I really like about the library is that it is silent. I need to concentrate when I am there. I think a cafe would definitley add to the noise in the library and would therefore lose my vote. cheers,

The library on base in Texas had a cafe in it. Our base library has been saying they are getting a coffee shop in it since we moved here. We have lived here for two and a half years and still no coffee shop. The librarians say that they keep pushing the dates back farther and farther.

Hi I also always think that our library got an out door cafe. The people who visit the libray can have some refreshments from there by paying for that. In our library, since it is a well used one and having a lot of members including youngsters - people come in the morning and sit there do their research work, reading or study till afternoon. If they have to have something to eat they have to go out and have it from the coffee shops or hotel a little bit away from the library. If there will be a cafe then it will be a boon to these people including me.

ya obviously i have no coffee shop near my university,so it's very diffcult for me having date with my girlfriend,because having coffee with your girlfriend is a more decent and a beautiful date.

Some libraries DO have cafe's, or at the least have cafes very close by their property. But you see, the problem is that librarians are VERY protective of their books (take it from a librarian), and we want to keep them in as good shape as possible for as long as possible. It's hard to do that if people constantly spill coffee or cookie crumbs all over our darlings. It's different if you do it at your own home or another cafe- simply because at least we won't see the damage being done. I think the only way they would live with that is if there were very specific rules in the cafe, such as the drinks staying covered at all times. For me, I wouldn't mind if my library had a cafe. I could go for some hot chocolate or tea available with some cookies. Something simple.