I would like to talk about libraries, a subject that has been on my mind for some time. Although I cannot speak generally, I do not think that there is such a habit, at least in my country, and my visits to these places are not very frequent.
Therefore, although I do not have sufficient and realistic information from an individual point of view, after talking to many people, I will deal with it in this context because they agree with what I am complaining about. So I want to draw more logical conclusions in the article. In doing so, I will mention and make comparisons with another place that can be considered the fiercest competitor of libraries, namely cafés.
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When we were young, our idea of a library was encyclopaedias, which were heavy and took up shelves in our homes. Dictionaries were handy, and borrowing and lending books was commonplace. Local guides and magazines provided advice and information. Some may have been inaccurate, but how could we check the source?
When I was in high school, I felt the need to get to know the library for the first time in my life. For a group study, our teacher asked us to find information about the indigenous peoples of South America and make a presentation. We went to one of the old and famous libraries and did our study, and that was the first time we saw what it was like to study in complete silence and without disturbing others. You know in adolescence we were usually fidgety and mischievous, and if the students were not conscious, it was actually a difficult environment for them.
I have always loved reading books and studying and researching relatively ancient artefacts, so two of my dream careers were to become a librarian or a museum curator. Although the unique structure and mysterious texture of museums make them more valuable, my opinion of libraries changed in the short time I spent in the library at my university. I realised that silence during individual and group work meant extra effort. No one had time to deal with it and we were very tired of being warned by the staff.
So what was I going to do when I had to study? I could study alone at home, I didn’t see any difficulties here. Even if it was boring sometimes, that wasn’t a problem. But to share notes during those exam periods that make us all nervous, to study and discuss together, to create an environment in which we would act accordingly when we wanted to relax, maybe have a little snack… Where could this take place? In cafés, of course, which are one of the places where the concept of socialising is most appropriate. So this situation, at least from my point of view, paved the way for the problem I mentioned in the title. But of course this cannot be the only reason. So let’s take them into account as well.
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Sometimes we see them in films or in the scenes of people’s everyday lives, studying in the quiet of the library. Dozens of people concentrating on what is in front of them, studying in silence. It sounds like a great environment in which to do our study, but I don’t think we can have exactly the same impulse today. Although what I’ve said may seem a little biased, let’s move on to other factors that might cause this.
You know that libraries are usually housed in old buildings. These buildings seem to me like old people, carrying the fatigue, stagnation and silence of decades. While the freshly painted walls from the outside are deceptive, the smell inside is still the same. Although I actually like this smell, after a certain point the overpowering atmosphere seems to share its own tiredness with its inhabitants.
The areas in which they are located can also be very strange places. If it is a historic building, it is valuable wherever it is, it does not have to be near a square, for example. But such areas are common places, meeting places or easily accessible places. There is a library near my house that has been there for decades, but its location is a bit strange, uncanny. So I’ve never been there.
I didn’t feel the need to mention the simplest of facts, but here they are. We can say that the internet is replacing almost all libraries. Both the access to resources in different languages and the transfer of even library resources to digital and online platforms make this possible. Yes, even though I like to read books in physical form and refuse to experiment with digital tools, the speed and convenience offered by the internet plays a big role here. So it is understandable that analogue information is being replaced by modern methods.
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But in what way are cafés in a better position? Let’s focus on that now.
Almost everyone has a time and saturation limit for their work. You have heard of different working methods. Regardless of which one, it is essential to take a break. The work you do without recovering your mind will cause you to not understand anything after a point and to read the same lines again. However, if you want to take a break, do not expect every library to offer you a pleasant option. Cafés, on the other hand, are places where you can watch passers-by, groove to the rhythm of the ambient music, engage in pleasant conversation or catch the aroma of coffee from the neighbouring table.
I think it is understood, but we are actually talking about a place that affects many of our senses. Suddenly we feel a sense of vibrancy or realisation. While the faded silence of the library can create a dead environment, the music coming from our headphones may no longer be enough.
It does not always make sense to me to describe an option such as socialisation as an advantage. Nevertheless, such places are ideal for the group work I mentioned at the beginning. Up to a certain point it is more acceptable to speak in a loud voice.
Again, I have to say on behalf of our country that we like a bit of chaos. In other words, events keep happening around us, willy-nilly. There are many reasons for this, but that is not the point, the point is that these things happen and they are interesting. When I think about it, the tranquillity of the library is actually compatible with my personality, but when I am in the café, I can concentrate and abstract even in the chaos. Perhaps it is a personal preference to be in libraries on behalf of those who experience this difficulty.
Of course, perhaps the most important factor is the level of education in our country. This is a general expression and I think it does not give the exact meaning, but we are not only talking about higher education. Yes, it would not be surprising to find researchers, academics or those who want to advance their careers in the academic community in libraries. But even if you do not have such a goal, it is important to maintain basic skills such as reading and writing. After all, you can understand some things from what the other person is saying. Don’t you sometimes think “I wish you’d read a few more books” when you meet them?
Cafés are one of the favourite places, because we are less fond of personal education than you might think. Fortunately, I think some of them realise this. Cafés with work-friendly areas, shelves full of books (to be honest, most of them are just for decoration) and owners you can tell are conscious and educated are not few. Well, if there are so many of them, it is up to us to choose the good ones.
Finally, it should be noted that some libraries are trying to adopt a similar concept because they have this awareness, because it is feasible and because of the social environment and the presence of other cafés in their neighbourhood.
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I’m sure there are factors I haven’t mentioned. As I said, I had to look at the situation from my own point of view. Of course, this is not a “don’t go to libraries!” article. On the contrary, I would like to see more libraries that have modern competencies and can develop in parallel with local culture and understanding. These places should not just be funny square buildings or the renovation of the interiors of old buildings.
Since it is difficult to change the style of libraries, which have a clear philosophy, it is understandable that more freely designed places such as cafés (especially when compared to libraries) attract attention and offer similar qualities. We need modern libraries, not fancy-looking ones. They should be interactive, family-friendly, supportive of students and academics; they should be structures that have their own culture and reputation, that stand out and do not compromise themselves, while adapting to what the times bring. All this should be designed by professionals and communicated to the relevant authorities. In this way, I believe we can have a real library culture.
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