A solution for coffee-shop time hogs: charge them by the minute
KAMLOOPS — Despite the omnipresence of the Internet, public libraries continue to be an essential and well-used part of our communities. Indeed, they’re a bulwark against the 140-character universe.
More than just shelves full of books, they’re a community gathering place, where people can meet, listen, take a load off, and learn. The current quarters for the Kamloops Library downtown date only to 1998 but in keeping with the changing and expanding role of libraries, they’re in line for some needed renos.
The plan is for a re-jigging of space to re-enforce its role as a community hub. One of the ideas is to insert a coffee shop into the southeast corner of the Civic Building in which the library is located, complete with courtyard seating.
It’s an idea that is already garnering pro and con comments. In my view, it’s worthy of consideration. One of the benefits would be the creation of some positive activity at the library’s exterior; another would be expanding the attraction of the facility as a people place.