LitMinds Blog and Interviews

A few days ago I had two meetings in the South Bay with several hours to kill in between. I needed to get work done, so I investigated all locations within a 10-mile driving distance with free wireless internet. At first I spent a couple hours of caffeine-laden work at the progressive Red Rock Coffee Company, a not-for-profit café housed in the oldest building in Mountain View. Any money that comes in above and beyond covering the cost of running the business is given back to local community organizations. So you can sip on a frothy latte and munch every crumb of your blueberry scone knowing that your coins are going to the local little league, art show, or some other huggable cause. But I digress…

I was feeling wired after a hefty teapot of Earl Grey tea and wanted a new venue to get work done. For a change in atmosphere, I headed to the Palo Alto Public Library. Now, I must confess that I have been neglecting my local libraries as of late. Since graduating from college, I have not thought of a library as a logical meeting or work place. But boy have I been wrong, and I am willing to admit it! Walking into the main library in Palo Alto brought me back to my childhood when I made regular trips to my hometown library with mom and sister. Libraries are cozy, soothing places; hushed but not silent; well-lit and clean but not sterile. With, of course, the warmth and comfort of hundreds of books surrounding you.

I sat down with my laptop in a cushioned armchair, eventually moving to a table with an outlet when my battery ran low. The library was equipped with wireless internet that worked seamlessly. But even better were the people around me. I saw dozens of individuals there, of all ages and backgrounds. A 12-year old student arrived after school to work on a research paper. A gentleman in a business suit also at a computer. A young woman with a newspaper and an old woman browsing the fiction shelves. Small clusters of teenagers giggling together while they studied around a table. Here was an amazing community space where people came for all reasons to read, work, and study.

There were many personal touches at the Palo Alto library. A basket of stuffed animals by the circulation desk with a sign encouraging people to play while they wait. Notices on bulletin boards announcing quaint items like a local theatre production and storytime for children. Everything I saw, heard, smelt, and felt in my few hours at the library reminded me of the environment that fostered my love of books and reading. In a world where we all rush to keep up with our sprouting “To Do” lists, the library was a haven for me to get my work done, while also subtly reminding me of the pleasures of slowing down, just a bit, to enjoy the books and those reading books who are around you.