This is a branch library in one of the poorer parts of an already depressed town, so they are wanting to use it as more of a free community activity center, and the community it’s in will need it.
The library is not gigantic. It was formerly a funeral home. But they did an amazing job fixing it up.
Some of the features this library has or will have soon:
- A test kitchen with restaurant-grade equipment.
- A workshop with a tool library for lending.
- A clean-up room featuring a washer, dryer and shower free for use.
- A playground and splash pad for kids.
- A huge patio deck for reading, relaxing or whatever else you might want to do.
- Just a pleasant place to hang out.
And, of course, the expected things like a children’s area, meeting rooms, a teen area, a small computer lab and a small collection of books and DVDs.
Before you start complaining about how “libraries don’t have books anymore!” The book stacks are still a 10-minute drive/bus ride away at the downtown branch. The books aren’t going anywhere. Libraries are more than just books. They are one of the few places the community can get all sorts of resources and a place to access them for free
This is incredible and is going to be such a benefit to the community. Your wife is good people and the world truly needs more libraries and “third places” for everyone in a community to use and feel safe in regardless of their socioeconomic status or education or anything else.
The clean up area… Amazing.
Being dirty was one of my biggest fears when I was homeless. I felt like if I passed the point where I couldn’t clean myself anymore, it would just get so much worse from there.
We really need more wholesome stuff like this in Lemmy.
I actually feel like I’m going to cry right now. This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard of. I wish every town had something like this
Congratulations! I love seeing new libraries show up! I hope you don’t have to deal with authoritarian jackasses trying to ban books.
Damn
Dope. As. Fuck.
This is amazing! I love hearing stories like this. Keep up the fantastic work.
That is AWESOME! You both must be so proud!
We sure are, thanks!
Congrats mate
Obviously I love books and complaining about not enough books. But actually who cares. This is badass. Every bullet point cooler than the last. A kitchen? A workshop?? A shower and wash room?!
Actually excellent. Congrats to your wife’s hard work!
My god the world needs people like your wife. Man. Tell her that I said she’s amazing.
Thanks, I read a bunch of comments to her this morning and I’ll read more to her when she gets home tonight.
As a grumpy skeptic doomer, thank you! Keep doing this. I really hope it helps a great number of people.
Just another wow post, make sure to tell her people from all over the world are grateful for her work:)
I told her just before she left for work this morning about the positive responses she’s received from Lemmings and she was really happy about it. She has worked so hard on this and I’m so impressed with the results. It was the first time I’d seen the inside.
Before you start complaining about how “libraries don’t have books anymore!” The book stacks are still a 10-minute drive/bus ride away at the downtown branch. The books aren’t going anywhere. Libraries are more than just books. They are one of the few places the community can get all sorts of resources and a place to access them for free
There’s always interlibrary loans. I’m sure you can search for a book on the online catalogue and ask for it to be transferred from another branch.
Anyway, fantastic and very creative work. I wish I had a library like this near me growing up.
You absolutely can. I’ve done it multiple times myself. Pretty much any public library (in the U.S. anyway) can do ILLs from what I understand.
