“In the absence of informal public life, living becomes more expensive. Where the means and facilities for relaxation and leisure are not publicly shared, they become the objects of private ownership and consumption.” – Ray Oldenburg

As we enter the home stretch for the Storefront Library at 640 Washington St, Boston Street Lab is running evaluation interviews with staff and patrons. A frequent theme emerging from these discussions is the unique role of the Storefront Library as a safe, engaging social space where patrons can linger.

For example, we’re hearing that the Storefront Library is a preferred meeting location for friends going out, because you can read a book, visit the Drawing Lab, or join a program underway while waiting for your companions to show up. Alternatively, some patrons simply drop in after work or school before heading home for dinner, usually for newspapers or internet access. Others of you have discovered that we’re open late on Thursday and that we have a collection of donated board games. And everyone knows that you can sit and read anytime, without have to buy a cup of coffee, or shop, (or pretend to shop).

Third places is a term used by urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg referring to a type of social space lying between home and work—the two places where we generally spend most of our time. Importantly, third places can provide an opportunity for creative interaction and civic engagement on a level playing field. Here are a few links exploring the concept in relation to libraries (and coffee shops) from bloggers in Boston (MA) and Maricopa County (AZ).

We’re inspired by the concept of third places, but, as any librarian, cafe owner , or postmaster will tell you: the devil is in the details. Right now, Boston Street Lab is analyzing quantitative and qualitative data about how people use the Storefront Library. Our goal: uncover and document how to lower costs, reduce risk, remove operational impediments while simultaneously improving guest experience, raising program attendance, and increasing positive community impacts. We think a rigorous evaluation of this temporary project can inform and inspire advocacy for a permanent library branch in the neighborhood. We also think it will help Boston Street Lab and other producers seeking to develop other street-level cultural and civic uses of space in urban neighborhoods.

Do you have thoughts about the Storefront Library? Here’s how you can contribute:

• Feedback online
• Leave a message for us at the Storefront Library Hotline (617) 466-9171
• Drop in and feedback in person

While the shift to digital media will cause library organizations to become larger through mergers, it will also allow branches to be effective at smaller sizes. Without the need to store a critical mass of books, tiny, storefront branches will become more practical and cost efficient. Guys in vans carrying books will become more important. When people go to their local branch, they’ll be able to use the free Google Books terminal (libraries are to get one free for every building) or other computers, check out some books, then have a coffee and socialize for an hour or so until the van makes its hourly delivery. Or they’ll do their shopping rounds and come back to pick up the bag of books waiting for them. Establishing branches in shopping areas is not only a smart thing for libraries to do, it’s also very cost-efficient.

In my own town, it seems that almost every year there’s talk of closing the branch to save money. If you look at it, you can see why—the building is massive and has to be very expensive to operate. Eventually it will be shuttered and sold, but a storefront branch down the block could deliver the same services and cost much less to run. Does it make sense for the town high school to run its own library? Not really, but that could be another branch. We’ll have fewer libraries, but more locations.

Read Eric Hellman’s full post here.

Interested in more?  Check out some of the threads we’ve been following about libraries and small-scale, street-level cultural use of urban space.