Thread

Japan's book scene is moving from bookstores to libraries

241 points · 113 comments · herbertl

akman · 1789595265 · focus · HN ↗
As the author noted, I see libraries becoming more and more centers of community, notably in the Bay Area (California, USA). Just check out the events at all of the Santa Clara County library system (8 libraries that share books): <a href="https://sccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?_gl=1*11u0hec*_ga*MTI0MTAxODk0NS4xNzg2NTEyMjY1*_ga_G99DMMNG39*czE3ODk1OTQ5MTMkbzMkZzAkdDE3ODk1OTQ5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw*_ga_C5XQHLX1NN*czE3ODk1OTQ5MTMkbzMkZzAkdDE3ODk1OTQ5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw*_ga_C79ES1D7Q4*czE3ODcyODU5NjUkbzIkZzAkdDE3ODcyODU5NjUkajYwJGwwJGgw" rel="nofollow">https://sccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?_gl=1*11u0hec*_ga*M...
Many events aren't even book related-- see events for Lego building, homework help, even Dungeons and Dragons events.
I wonder if there's a resurgence across the world where libraries are places of community sharing.
1. carabiner · 1789595571 · focus · HN ↗
  In Seattle they're mostly homeless shelters.
  1. popalchemist · 1789596130 · focus · HN ↗
    In LA, it's about 50/50. But in case you aren't aware, this is one of the purposes of libraries.
    gyomu · 1789597711 · focus · HN ↗
    De facto it is in the US, but it is the only country in the world where that is the case.
    SyneRyder · 1789601625 · focus · HN ↗
    There's definitely some of it happening in Australia. I wouldn't regard libraries as the safest of places. I had a period where I tried working from there on my laptop, before realizing I was incredibly naive and there were a lot of homeless and mentally ill people there. Took me a while to realize why people would tell me to avoid the men's toilets in the library as well.
    imawakegnxoxo · 1789619410 · focus · HN ↗
    Homeless problem in Australia right now is insane
    People sleeping in every car park at parks and beaches etc
    I'm a night person with bad insomnia so I often go for drives or walks at night and a lot of my favourite places to go are now heavily populated by people sleeping in their cars
    SyneRyder · 1789634943 · focus · HN ↗
    Night person here too - midnight walks during an Australian summer are excellent.
    The homeless situation isn't quite that bad where I am in Perth's suburbs, but there was a guy living out of his 4WD in a local shopping center carpark for a while. He had a prominent sign about his situation asking for money, but to his credit he was offering to do things in return (he helped a family member with a deflated tire once). Many of the homeless in Perth city seem to be mental health cases though, where a skilled job providing an income that could support themselves is unlikely.
    trollbridge · 1789651211 · focus · HN ↗
    Right, libraries should be safe spaces for children to go by themselves and read books, like I did was 8 and 9. I rode my bike and looked for computer books, and found a book that was a compilation of Dr. Dobb’s Journal.
    It is unreasonable to allow library patrons to make it unsafe for anyone, particularly children, but that has become the de facto standard in many areas. There are a lot of libraries I would not allow my kids to be in by themselves.

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