The concept of the library and the coffee house has been linked for quite some time. Thinking back to the work of Jurgen Habermas, around the time of the Revolution Habermas articulated the importance of the coffee house as a place for meeting, discussion and debate, before freedom of speech was the norm. Historically, and even today, the library is seen in the same manner, as somewhere patrons can go to access educational tools and become informed citizens. Perhaps political discussion is not as common in the library, but many still meet there for programs, to study, or simply to hang out. The following information will discuss the recent merging of coffee bars and libraries, as a marketing strategy to reach patrons- especially teens.
A 2006 study of teens reports a 25% increase in the number of teen coffee drinkers over the course of 2 years. This number is really quite staggering! When asked why, many replied that they like the caffeine and the taste, and they enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a place like Starbucks. Bookstores have already jumped on this notion, encouraging customers to linger a while and enjoy the books, One study showed that some teens were using a local Barnes & Noble like a library- reading, studying, asking for reader’s advisory. When asked why, they gave the following reasons:
- the collection is more up-to-date
- they enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Barnes & Noble
- the area seemed more friendly and inviting
- coffee bars allowed them to take a break and return conveniently
Academic libraries (who typically have more funding and are in competition for students) are latching onto this trend perhaps more quickly, by placing coffee shops in or close in proximity to their library. Wireless computer access allows students to move about the library, in a way that wasn’t possible only a few years ago. A study on this topic sought to gage college/university students library usage, study habits, and coffee consumption. The library was listed as the number 1 study location, and studying and using email were the top 2 library behaviours. In terms of coffee consumption, convenience was listed as the number 1 factor in choosing a coffee bar, and students reported drinking 1-3 cups on average per day. 33% of academic libraries in the overall sample were said to be amending their food and beverage policies to make the library a more relaxing place to be.
Coffee shops were especially a good idea in cases where libraries had extended hours. One university turned their coffee house into a place for poetry readings and open mic nights on certain nights of the week, which I thought was a great culturally enriching move. 
The libraries in the study reported an average of 24% more people coming in after installing their coffee bars and/or vendor. So, this service was tested to work well with college/university student, who are studying intensively and require a relaxing atmosphere to conduct their studies. Will this be as effective to bring teens into public libraries? It remains to be seen, depending on what kinds of coffee service/snack service is offered - a full service facility, variety of snacks, staff run/contracted, vending machines, etc. are all considerations. Below are a list of pros and cons to coffee houses in libraries, based on the research I have conducted.
Pros
- place to socialize
- creates more relaxed atmosphere
- convenient (patron don’t have to leave the library if they need refreshments)
- could do creative programming with it (as per the example above)
- makes library appear “cooler”
- bookstores have already done it, and proved it successful
- proven to increase attendance in academic libraries
- teens drink more coffee lately, so there is a demand for it
Cons
- expensive to implement/run, contracts need to be negotiated
- potential damage to library materials
- may increase noise level
- may change library space too much
- does not necessarily bring in more patrons
- could be a passing trend
Either way, this is an idea many libraries are considering, and I believe it is valid to consider why. I welcome any opinions on whether or not you think coffee bars/cafes are a good idea for public libraries, specifically for teens.
References
Anonymous. (2008). A cafe or coffee bar in the public libraries. realistic or not? Retrieved March 24th, 2008 from http://members.tripod.com/~robyn64/Page.htm
Marshall, M. (2006). The teen coffee drinking trend. WBZTV.com. Retrieved March 24th, 2008 from http://wbtv.com/Caffeine.Teen.Coffee.2.575920.html
Schott, K. (2006). Libraries with coffee shops the ‘in’ thing at area universities. BNET.com. Retrieved March 24th, 2008 from http://findarticles.com/p/articesl/mi_qa3652/is_200608/ai_n17191828/print
Singh, G. (2002). Evolving space: an examination of coffee shops in academic libraries. Retrieved March 24th, 2008 from http://www.ils.unc.edu/MSpapers/2813.pdf
It sounds a little like re-booting a computer.
Is part of the regime that you’re not allowed to have sex in bed? Don’t mean to pry, but when I’ve seen this kind of regime described, sex is the only exception to the first bullet point on your list.
I think I was one of the ones asking for your cure. Not because I need it right now but just in case the insomnia sneaks back and I need a new method to beat it, so thanks! (The best thing I ever did was stop having a clock I could glance over and see. It just made me more aware of the sleep I was missing and the decreasing amount of time until I had to get up)
I don’t mean to gloat, but I’ve never really had sleeping problems, if anything I’ve had trouble staying awake.
But I am such a horrible person that last year, in my psychology class, I taught myself to fall asleep. And only because I hated the teacher sooooooooo much!
i think i might be able to do this. not until my husband leaves for iraq (our schedules are so messed up right now because of getting ready for deployment)…but it might be possible. the most difficult thing will be the morning walk, since i’d be getting up before my son…do you think it would be as effective to do jumping jacks or run in place or something on my balcony?
it will be yucky to give up reading in bed, but usually i read in bed because i cannot sleep, so i’d do it willingly.
i’m not kidding you, this gives me hope. i haven’t had a full night of sleep in…well, years. even when i was taking sleeping pills i woke up after a few hours. *sigh?*
is sleeping 12 hours a night too much?
…just wondering…
hillary I sooo smell what you’re stepping in!
My problem is that i sleep WAY too much.
When I was in highschool, my mom thought i had mono!!!
Also, I’m always hungry. Always hungry and sleepy…. hmm
Sleep is so stressful. I have never been a morning person, and I am so f*cking tired of the guilt. I mean, it bugs people that I sleep until 10 or 11 every day (even though it’s only about 7 hours sleep for me). Yeah, some people are envious, but most people just think it’s lazy and self-indulgent to sleep late. Grrr!!
I should point out the obvious: I’m not a doctor. This is what worked for me. I really can’t answer any questions about how to make it work for you. Medical opinions may have changed over the last seven years. Plus, like I said, I’m not a doctor.
Janet: Sex in bed was not forbidden.
Margaret: I, too, am a morning person. But when I wasn’t sleeping it was kind of a moot point. Also the early rising was because there’s supposedly some kind of thingie that happens with dawn light. But I’m blanking on what it is right now. The getting up early was not a moral thing; it was a reset your internal clock thing.
Now that I’m sleeping normally I do not wake up at 5AM! Left to my own devices I’m also a 10-11AM kind of girl, who needs at least eight hours of sleep to function properly.
Is “circadian rhythm” the nebulous term you’re looking for? Otherwise, I’ve got nothing, and need to dress up my store of obscure medical terminology I don’t have any real need to know.
I wasn’t getting any guilt here, btw. Just sharing my particular sleep-related bugaboo.
Elizabeth Hand once told me about some big academic study that figured out what an individual’s perfect sleep patterns might be (I’m with Margaret - stay up late, sleep in - miss half the day, but work all night!) - it apparently varies wildly, and if you fill in a complicated questionnaire online, it will tell you what regimen is best for you. I’ll ask her to drop by with the info. Anyone else?
(Oh, and a note to hillary! & friends - I used to be a Champion Sleeper. No kidding. I could win prizes, if there were any. No trouble falling asleep, much trouble waking up; easy to fall back asleep if disturbed. It changes with age. Now I wake up too early and am grouchy. It’s hell on my self-image. Like being a show dog with mange.
However, lisbet - I’m still always hungry!)
The site is through Columbia Presbyterian’s Chrobobiology Laboratory, which compiled data regarding sleep patterns and seasonal mood disorders (so, not insomnia, but still interesting). Not sure if the questionaire is still available but here’s their info:
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/nyspi/sad/
For the record, I slept like a baby until I had two of my own, and have not had a good night’s sleep in the last 18 years.
I have to stay up doing homework and coursework and sometimes I have to revise so I get to sleep really late. Then I am tired the next day and teachers complain that I am always sleeping in their classes and say I should get to slep earlier.
I would get to sleep earlier if only they would stop giving me so much work to do. And I have reallu bad sleeping problems. My characters talk to me for hours. My mum says I’m lying when I tell her I have problems sleeping. Sheesh!
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