Most public libraries have quiet areas, even if the entire building isn’t quiet all the time, and even quiet study rooms you can reserve. They have Wi-Fi, outlets, and when you need to take a break, plenty of books and magazines to browse through to give your thoughts a rest. Some libraries have cafes, but if they don’t, you can bring your own drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) and some allow food in their study rooms. Is a study room too small? Or maybe you’d like to gather a few writing friends together and have a retreat of sorts, a few hours to workshop, brainstorm, or just write together, knowing that if you hit a snag or need a break you have others there with you to talk with and share ideas and support? You can ask about using a larger community or meeting room.
If you don’t need a study room or meeting room, you can always just walk on in to the library, find a cozy spot that suits you, and get comfy. You might want to check ahead of time to see when the library is less busy or less likely to be noisy. Where I work, we have a lot of kids come in after school, and while they usually behave, it’s a lot louder and more crowded during that time than the rest of the day. As you might expect, a lot of libraries have story times for young children, and you might end up sitting in an area close to the event room where the librarian is singing, clapping, and quite possibly making strange animal noises to entertain and encourage her young participants. If you don’t mind singing along to Old McDonald’s Farm while you write your novel (and you will sing along, it’s just not possible to ignore) then go right ahead, but if you’d like a little more peace and quiet, you might want to plan ahead and seek out a quieter area. Checking out the library’s website for program dates and times is a big help so you know what to expect, and calling to ask library staff about the best times to expect a quieter environment is a good idea as well.
might expect, a lot of libraries have story times for young children, and you might end up sitting in an area close to the event room where the librarian is singing, clapping, and quite possibly making strange animal noises to entertain and encourage her young participants. If you don’t mind singing along to Old McDonald’s Farm while you write your novel (and you will sing along, it’s just not possible to ignore) then go right ahead, but if you’d like a little more peace and quiet, you might want to plan ahead and seek out a quieter area. Checking out the library’s website for program dates and times is a big help so you know what to expect, and calling to ask library staff about the best times to expect a quieter environment is a good idea as well.