Recently, after feeling rather rejected by my local jam-packed Starbucks, I wandered across the street to the public library of my little Ohio suburb with the intention of sitting down and pounding out a few law school application personal statements. I used to spend hours there volunteering in the summers, and to be quite honest not much has changed. But at the same time, I had totally forgotten most of the quirky charms. I keep looking over my shoulder expecting my fellow exhausted undergrad students to be shuffling around with a blanket draped around them and a coffee in hand, but don’t worry, it’s even more charming than the library on campus.

Not Everyone is Here to Study

In fact, very few of them are. They’re here because they want to be here, or at the very least they just want to pick up a few stories.

Free Books

I’m sorry, this one might seem obvious; but the books here are free. There’s hundreds of shelves of books that you could just sit in here and read, or even take. As a college student, there’s something inherently comforting about the idea of FREE BOOKS. And the best part is most of checkout is electronic now, so if you want free books and don’t want to speak to anyone, you don’t have to.

The Whole Place Smells Like Happiness

It’s not even the same as the well-loved book smell. It’s library smell. And it’s perfect.

Interesting Things Actually DO Happen in Your Hometown

There are so many posters and displays and schedules of events. And even pictures of events that have already happened. And you somehow missed them all for years. So maybe at least look into that next cultural festival.

Bookworms Are Not Yet Extinct

I just watched a man check out four novels. Four. Full-Length. Novels.

The People Watching is Unbeatable

I’ve been here a little over half an hour and already learned just exactly how not to parent my future children, seen someone cry over politics, and watched someone try to steal something only to try and deny it. So yeah, you could say it’s a good time.