The whole notion of what you can do in a public place has changed along with cultural norms and is obviously not exclusive to public libraries.

In a prior job, I had to supervise a computer area in a community college library where “students” were busy all day and into the evening surfing for porn, fantasy football,playing games, shopping online, looking for celebrity news, emailing, facebooking, twittering, sometimes while talking on cellphones, listening to music at the same time. These are all things you once might have done in the privacy of your own home, but not anymore. Oh yes, and a few actually did what could be called academic research for their classes!

You pay for this with your taxes and with non-resident fees and there is no question that you have the right to avail yourselves of the services of any library that is subsidized by the public. And don’t hesitate to do so, as Trent suggests in his article.

However, we have tweaked our policies to say that if a person is bothering other patrons, he or she can be asked to leave. We encourage any patrons who are uncomfortable to tell a staff member who will deal with the offending person.

I am often saddened by patrons who simply complain that the homeless person is using a chair. They have a right to be in the building too. If they are not bothering anyone, please don’t complain. Just because someone is homeless that does not mean they have lost their rights.

Thanks for highlighting how great the library is Trent. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t take advantage of what we have to offer.

I’ve personally never noticed such an issue- but if more people use the library, won’t more seats be taken?

Please note that other posters are correct: the library is not free. You either pay via taxes or pay an annual fee. We also pay for some items such as dvds, audio books, and the like per week.

It’s the same reason I’ve seen people give for not using buses/wanting bus routes expanded. They don’t want to be near “those people” or want “those people” in their neighborhoods. In this case it would be poor people and/or minorities.

A good loitering policy means that if there are no chairs available, then sleepers or people just sitting there should be asked to move to make room for others. Many libraries don’t do this, and it can create a situation that’s uncomfortable for other users if every chair is taken up by someone napping or just sitting there wasting the day away.

Throwing people out of the library who are resting in one of several unused chairs is a bad loitering policy, as is allowing every chair to be taken up by a semi-permanent resident.

If you don’t like the loitering policies at your library, get involved with your library. In fact, get involved with your library anyway.

There is a library in AZ that has is now completely automated- no librarians, You “order” online, and then go pick up your books from what is akin to a PO box. I like librarians, and the research desk, and found this very sad. No serendipity, no accidental discovery, no advice, no human factor, no community gathering place, no events! Ba Humbug!

I spend very little time in the library since the city started charging for parking. I browse online and head in with a shopping list.

I do disagree with the broad assumptions about libraries that are stated in these posts; not all libraries are the same. For instance, DVD rentals at my library are $2.50 for 4 days. Considering that my library is 12 miles from my house, I’m not sure that the $0.50 I’d save vs. going to my local movie store (2 miles away) is a bargain. I also find it frustrating that not everyone in my county can access our library for free; I can but my in-laws in the neighboring town have to pay a fee to use the same library.

Like everything else in life, read the details.

I am also appalled by the insensitive comments written regarding homeless people. As a human being, all people have the right to be warm, fed, and sheltered. It is never right to kick a person out of a public place is his or her behavior is not inappropriate – people should not be made to leave because you believe they are socially beneath you. Poverty sucks – even for the homeless person.

I didn’t say anyone was obligated to get involved by helping secure a better place for the homeless; I just think it’s a more productive thing to do than work to kick homeless people out, if one was inclined to do that. Obviously, people can spend their time however they want.

I love your blog, but this sort of assumption you made about those less fortunate (as in, homeless or on the streets) is frustrating and saddening.

That being said-I’m a member of a public library in a very small town, and it’s wonderful. The town is small, and of the 3000 people here, I bet the 20% mark is accurate….only 600 people use it, and I pretty much never have to wait for a book!

I guess my frustration has more with the idea that a library should be a place of self-improvement and intellectual exploration rather than an adolescent day care. When I see kids in their position wasting such a great opportunity, it’s a challenge not to lose all sympathy for them.

Don’t get me wrong – working on behalf of the public library system and/or the homeless are fine things to do. But not everybody has to do them. People have other priorities, and that’s fine.