Baltimore Metro: "Libraries Invite Patrons to Have a Coffee, Stay a While"

From the Baltimore Sun:

When Howard County unveils its new 63,000-square-foot library in December, patrons will be welcomed into a high-tech facility with a computer classroom and a historical center. Officials also plan a garden that they envision will be charming enough for weddings.

Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library system will this month open its first small eatery in a neighborhood branch, where people can snack on fresh pastries, sandwiches or coffee while they use the library’s wi-fi.

Far from the stuffy, silent archives of old, today’s libraries are inviting patrons to come often and linger, have a snack and meet with friends. As they build new spaces or renovate old ones, officials are responding to patrons’ changing needs by adding tech-savvy features, providing food and drinks and reconsidering how people use library spaces.

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Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Libraries, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries