8 Great Reasons to Co-Work in a Library
The news keeps reporting back on the gig economy and the ways in which working remotely is becoming an increasingly available option. With more and more jobs that are focused primarily on having a laptop and access to an electrical outlet, it is no wonder that people are seeking out the best spot they can find for a change of scenery from working on the couch.
For book lovers, there is no better place to work remotely than in the local public library. Even a fellow Rioter has commented on how the trend of “co-working spaces” actually fits what public libraries have been for ages. Here are eight reasons why working from my public library fills me with a lot of bookish joy and inspiration.
Why Use a Public Library as a Co-Working Space
- Public libraries are equalizers; a lot of people who have limited access to the internet use the public library to access the many government and business items that have gone exclusively online in the past few years. Supporting your public library, even just by being one of the heads they count to prove how busy they are, is a serious move toward supporting those in your community who need the help.
- It’s free! Co-working spaces are often pricey, especially if you opt to have a “reserved desk” or a whole reserved office just for yourself. Save that money and roll it back into your business; you can also use that money to become a Friend of the Library or to buy a big stack of books at the library’s yearly book sale.
- Whether your remote work is creative or not, you’ll benefit from being near creative resources. When your work is rote and fairly dull, you may enjoy taking a break to browse the shelves and “wake up” a little from the task at hand. If your work is creative, the books around you will prime the pump, per se. It can be truly inspiring to see the creative finished products of others all around you, cheering you on metaphorically.
- Taking meetings in a library has never been easier. In the past, libraries were kingdoms of silence, maybe, but now most libraries have embraced distinctions: areas for total silence, areas for warm chatter, and everything in between. If you want to be able to take a meeting, either on your phone or in person, aim for a spot in the loudest area of the library, though maybe avoid the children’s area during events, since that area might actually be too loud for your purposes.