I am fascinated by the world of hygge in its coziest form: the fuzzy socks and blankets, the sweaters and candles, the faux fur and the fleece. I know it stems from being perpetually cold and daily battling drafts, cold drinks, and any temperature below 90-degrees.
When I look at the libraries of the future, with their concrete and massive windows (think Dokk 1), I shiver. I can already picture the tendrils of cold air caressing the back of my neck while I huddle in my coat. Today’s revelation that some libraries are beginning to install fireplaces was delightful.
Which begs the question: What else can we do to warm up the library?
Much thought goes into the creation of children’s sections and teen areas, with their bright colors, murals, and jungle gyms. What stops libraries from creating one additional themed space for adults: the library-within-the-library?
Library bars, restaurants, and hotels exist all over the world, with their old-world decor, muted lighting, and comfortable chairs. The NoMad Hotel group has opened three Library Bar/Restaurant locations in New York, Las Vegas, and London. The books contained therein are specific to each region’s tourism, history, and architecture.
NoMad Library Restaurant, Las Vegas
The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento won’t appear on anyone’s “Best Library Bars in the World” list, but each floor boasts comfortable chairs and walls lined with bookshelves. Whether the books have been recovered to match or whether they are dummies remains to be seen.
Citizen Hotel, Sacramento
The Metropole in Monte Carlo‘s lobby bar combines shelves of borrowable tomes with the mystery of a hidden doorway — which leads to the bathroom, not to another library, unfortunately (Bartz, 2017).
The Metropole, Monte Carlo
Speaking of hidden doorways, the San Francisco speakeasy Bourbon & Branch, accessible only with a password given at an unmarked door, has two spaces, the full bar and the standing-room only Library. While the lighting in that bar has never been good enough to actually read by, it’s the thought that counts.
Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco
The woman-owned Library Bar in Los Angeles offers a refreshing alternative to thumping bass perfect for first dates and real conversations. Their signature cocktails are all literary-themed. (Yes, there is a Tequila Mockingbird.)
Library Bar, Los Angeles
Imagine the library space with the gas fireplace(s), faux leather club chairs, interesting tchotchkies from world travels, and long wooden tables with banker’s lamps (ala the NYPL reading rooms). Should libraries finally ditch the Dewey System and switch to the Merchandise Model, then this would be an excellent place to store the classics and the history section. Should it be accessible only by a “hidden” doorway from the main library and contain a rolling ladder, it would be perfection.
Just something to consider.
The Reading Room, NY Public Library
I absolutely loved this journey you took us on through different cozy library-themed bars and actual cozy libraries across the country. I live in Sacramento, so I could investigate the books to see if they are functional or just chosen for aesthetics! I have had the chance to sneak into The Reading Room in New York. I don’t know if I would call it cozy. It was a tad intimidating.
Thanks again!
Hygge!! Love it too. Those pictures just suck you right in. I’ve been to the Library Bar and have heard of the Bourbon and Branch (went to a speakeasy in SF too but it was called The Vault, an old bank)! What a fun and inventive idea for this post. We have a bookstore/restaurant in Santa Cruz called Bad Animal that I was so excited about until I ate there and the waiter was snarky and lame. The book guy was really excited about the reference in the title though…which I can’t remember of course.
Your writing is easy to read and very entertaining!
@jeanna I was super thrilled to learn about all the various permutations of the concept of the library bar. I am in for a nice glass of red anytime I happen upon one of these places. You share some very interesting ideas as well about what this means for libraries and welcoming people into our spaces. Cheers.