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

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] FlyingSquid 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

One of the complains she hears all the time is about the "smelly homeless people" in the library. Well now a solution has been provided.

Of course, that meant that conservatives flocked to community meetings about it and complained about how it would bring more of them into the neighborhood.

One guy said, "I have them setting up tents in my back yard!" Did you try just asking them to go somewhere else, dude?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I think the core of the problem is the complainers just don't want to see or be inconvenienced by "those people." Even though "those people" would almost certainly not choose to live that way if they didn't fall on hard times.

It's an uncomfortable reminder that many of us are closer to being in that situation than we think, and it is easier to fall into that with the more social programs we cut.

[–] FlyingSquid 3 points 3 weeks ago

That's exactly what is. As long as they can't see the homeless, they don't exist.