Are libraries as cool as cupcakes?

Behold the next pop culture fad: public libraries. [NPR]

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Anonymous

The Salt Lake City Main Public Library has a local coffee shop INSIDE. With the books and magazines!

http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/locations.jsp?parent_id=8&page_id=20
vtRusseell

Since I started using my library’s online “hold” functionality and joined paperbackswap.com, It’s shocking how rarely I actually buy a book. I buy books at airports (in a lackabookaphobia frenzy) or because I know they will be ‘keepers’ on my bookshelf.
- MrsBug
  
  vtRusseell, TOTALLY! I used to spend tons on books and when I discovered I could ask the library to send me books to the one closest to my home, dang,did I start saving some money.
  
  Now I only buy a book when it’s one I’ve already “vetted” through the library system and decided is worth the money. They definitely get my vote every time they’re up for a millage. Go Capital Area District Library!! (Lansing, MI)
Anonymous

I think frozen yogurt is the new cupcakes. They’re still closing and limiting the hours of libraries, but new frozen yogurt stores are everywhere.
millrick

libraires are way cooler than cupcakes
they’re yummy food for the brain!
- millrick
  
  more like supermarkets full of yummy brain food, acutally
martian_bob

Oh man, I was totally in to libraries before they were cool.
Anonymous

Serve cupcakes in libraries? Now THAT is marketing!
Anonymous

the city,Minneapolis,is tearing down the local library–and making a new one TWICE as big!!!-that’s cool.
Lobster

An unpopular library is a quiet library.
Alan

I work in a library. And one of my coworkers likes to bake cupcakes on the weekends and bring them in to work. Best of both worlds!
mhull61

A few of years ago I gasped at my end of year credit card summary, astonished how much I had spent at booksellers. My literary expenditures were ranging from $50 to over $100 a month. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) reminded me that I could borrow books for free at the library. That year I made it my New Years resolution to renew my library card. I’ve relearned just how cool our libraries are. I don’t think I have bought a book since.

There is even quaint little cafe across the street from the library in our town that’a supplanted the book store cafe for me.