Have you stepped into the library lately? If you haven't for a while, you may be in for a surprise. People are talking, kids are building with Legos, and teens are playing games on their smartphones. It's not your grandmother's library in which silence was golden and bespectacled librarians with tight hair buns shushed anyone who spoke above a whisper (thinking about it, I don't think I've ever "shushed" a library patron).
Once upon a time, libraries were primarily storehouses of books, places from which you could borrow materials or study them in quiet. As years went by, other materials--audio/visual, magazines, newspapers, board games, museum passes, and more--were acquired by libraries and lent out. Naturally, storytimes for children along with various programs for people of all ages were added.
Nowadays, in our "plugged-in" world where the town square is dead and malls are dying, libraries have become the last places where people can gather without having to pay anything to stay as long as they like. They have transformed over time to serve as community centers, where children can play and adults can learn different skills in informal classes. Sometimes, movies are shown or musical recitals are held. Libraries are definitely not the same quiet places of yore.
That is not to say, however, that there aren't places within the library where you can find peace away from the noise and bustle. There are study rooms (walk-in or by reservation) for those who would like to have a refuge dedicated to concentration. And between storytimes or other programs, the library still does have its quiet moments when you can work in a carrel or snooze in a comfy armchair. Libraries are for everyone.
Wishing you good library visits from the perch.
