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I decided to only post the positive responses, as we are all aware of what
the disadvantages are already. I was amazed at how much interest this topic
generated. From the following information, I've gathered, the benefits and
PR can be great.
Maribel
Pros:
*I just came from a university (as an assistant professor / librarian) that
was so opposed to the idea of bringing food and drinks into the
library...until they saw other university libraries doing it. So they tried
it....The results? Students hung around the library longer, they made
scheduled dates and booked rooms for studying--something very few did
before--, brought their friends, stayed to look, found interesting
materials, checked out materials, increased the circulation statistics,
increased the flow of students and professors in the library. The only
losing situation were the small messes that were made...and guess what?
Those messes weren't an increase from the messes that were made
"secretively" when students smuggled the coffee and snacks into the
library!! Our librarians and crews still monitored the rooms, picked up the
same trash (if it were left), and reminded students to clean up their areas
before they leave...just like they did before the food and drinks were
introduced.
In addition, the revenue brought in by the coffee bar (and snack shop)
helped to pay for any additional perks the library wanted to provide (or
helped to clean up the messes made). It was a win-win situation.
I feel that since university libraries are doing it, public libraries are
doing it, and bookstores have done it for years, why not bring it to the
middle school, junior high or high school levels, if you have the support.
My supervisor (a Dean of the library) told me once that having the students
eat or drink with a book in the library wasn't any worse than them doing it
at home. With proper cleaning (janitorial services) and regular insect
sprays--which most schools have done anyway--you're not going to find bad
things happening. In fact, I'm sure you'll find better things happening!
The PR is the first thing! The library becomes the "cool hang out" and it
will continue even as these students move from high school through college.
*One of our high schools does this, the library is huge, the home ec
classes run the cafe, they set it up in one corner of the library near a
sink/workroom
*I suspect that as our library "jobs" get a bit routinized, the thought of
> coffee stains, clutter and messes make us shutter. I can't think of a
> better way to build social capital among students and faculty than to
offer
> "the bean" to those that know the magical powers of caffeine. Social
> capital is the stuff that greases the wheels of a smooth running
> organization. I don't think that we will convert many non-coffee
drinkers,
> but that's what hot tea is for. But I think that a grungy pot on a hot
> plate is not an answer. Put some thought and money into the project and
> get a stainless, two compartment commercial style coffee/hot water maker
> with several burners. Keep the coffee fresh, keep the pots clean. Allow
> the storage of creative mugs, Styrafoam is not conducive to social
capital.
> Somehow the thought of the library becoming a "hangout" could begin to
> grow on some of us.
*For those who are genuinely interested -- many coffee companies will work
with you to provide equipment and supplies. I had thought about setting
up a coffee bar for teachers in our back room this last year. A local
vendor would have provided us with the fancy coffee machine - including
installation - and delivered coffee monthly (or as needed) for a very
reasonable, pay for itself, price.
In my previous high school, it was actually the foods/facs class that
ran a coffee cart. They went thru Boyds and received a professional
espresso cart with all the necsessary equipment to serve all the fancy
kinds of coffees and noncoffee drinks. First profits went to pay for
the cart which they did in a short period of time. Because it was
a portable cart, they were able to set up at most school functions, roll
it into the library, and were invited by the community to set up at many
community functions as well. IOW, they operated much like a business. It
was a great learning experience for the kids and generated substantial
funds for the instructional program.
*I think what you are trying to do is wonderful! I have a couple of
different experiences to share with you. At a conference I had spoken to a
woman who has started a little after school cafe. She got a local
coffeeshop to donate a cappucino machine and kids are completely in charge.
She makes muffins and other "coffeeshop food" and either sells or gives it
away. I can't remember. She has a group of kids who are basically in
charge of it. They do eat and drink in the LMC and it goes OK. Of course
spills happen, but they aren't sitting at computers or near stacks of
books. Along with this, kids either read on their own or socialize. A bit
of both I would assume. On every other Tuesday, the cafe has a poetry slam
and that is a wild success.
I have my own small book/coffeehouse club. We get together every other
week and have coffee and discuss a book. For those who do not like coffee,
I offer them water and we have a small soda fund. I often make food for
them and we do eat in the media center. One kid brought sunflower seeds
with him once and was throwing the husks around after eating them. We had
to have a discussion, but that's the only negative experience I've had.
The janitor comes in every night and vacuuums, so I figure that it's OK for
my small group of kids to eat in the media center.
As for coffee being bad for you, I would rather have my kids being mentally
active and participating in a healthy environment than sitting in front of
the TV at home or doing something worse with a less healthy stimulant. I
hope this has been more of a help than a rant! Good luck!
*I'm sure someone has already told you there was a "coffee house in the
library" article about 3 or 4 years ago in the SLJ written by a middle
school media specialist who found it to be very successful. I would suggest
reading it - it'll be in a periodicals database, I'm sure.
I personally make a pot of coffee every morning in the media center and all
the teachers know they can come in and get a cup of "high-test" since the
cafeteria only serves decaf. I pay for it, I bought the machine, I clean up
BUT I also see teachers every morning, I find ways to chat with them about
what's going on (and coming up) in their classrooms, and I get connected
with the staff in ways that I didn't before.
Hope that gives you another good idea! :o)
*I think that a coffee bar is a wonderful idea and could really work and
bring kids into the library. I live in Klein, and am troubled by the lack
of enthusiasm for the libraries at the middle- and high school levels here
in the district. My daughter is in middle school and never *goes* to the
library except to do research--and even then there's not a lot of guidance
provided by the librarians (buth that's another story). There doesn't seem
to be any outreach program in place at all to make kids *want* to come to
the library.
I think a coffee bar would be great and the atmosphere of the school that
you work in must be one that is conducive to trying new things, so I say *go
for it*!! I think your high school is the perfect place to try it out!
...just my .02!!
*When I invited our teachers to "Books and Bagels" in the library early
one morning (juice, coffee, tea, and bagels as bait to get them to
look at the year's book purchases), I had plenty left over, so I said
I'd serve refreshments to all the first period classes that came to
look at the books. I kept the hot tea and coffee going all day long,
and you know, the kids just look more mature walking around with a cup
of coffee in their hand.
It was a most enjoyable day, but not something I think I'd do more
than a few times a year. I think it was more fun because it was not
an everyday occurrence.
*I've missed the thread, but if it has to do with comestibles and potables
oin the library, I can tell you how well that works at PPAS. I decided
early on that our dancers, actors and singers need all the nourishment they
can get and their schedules are too tight to restrict them even more by
outlawing food in their workspace. They are permitted to eat and drink at
the study tables. They clean up pretty well and it creates an atmosphere of
collegiality and does not detract from the businesslike (coughing upher
sleeve) atmosphere in our grade 6-12 school.
*We don't have a coffee bar. However I have held a few coffee houses that
have been fun. We had them after school and had an open mic for students to
read poetry or any other creative writing. My goal is to have a pretty well
organized one in the next couple months at night and possibly even have some
kids share music as well. The ones I did were a lot of fun. I had hot
chocolate as well as coffee. Starbucks kindly donated the coffee. Best of
luck in your endeaver.
Several times a year, I make coffee and continental breakfast available to
my faculty as a treat. They really appreciate it. Sometimes I ask others
to furnish goodies and I fix the coffee...either way is great for morale.
*I once hosted a coffee bar in the library during after school hours in the
7-12 school Iused to work at. It was a HUGE success--the kids, the parents,
and the PRINCIPAL loved it. Some of the other teachers thought it was a bad
idea
(coffee's bad, etc, food in the library, etc) but I really didn't have any
problems. I served decaf coffee which I taught my library aides to make.
The library aides "hosted" the after school event. Most of the kids just
wanted to look "cool" holding a cup of coffee.
Of course there are going to be some spills and crumbs, but we also left
lots of treats for the custodians and did most of the cleaning ourselves.
*At the AASL in Indianapolis, a librarianhad some information about her
coffee area. She had a machine that wascoin fed, comfortable furniture, and
book racks.
I have a big coffee house blowout. This is my second year hosting it.
The library is redecorated; students provide entertainment; I charge
admission and students get to drink coffee or hot chocolate, eat, and
listen to the entertainment. The money from admission goes towards
purchasing
books the students want.
*I've done it during exams, but I would love ideas for how to implement it
as part of the regular program. Please share your ideas. During exams we
set up a long table and serve coffee, hot chocolate and bagels.
We all come up with "gimmicks" to get students and teachers in the library,
so why does it matter what kind it is as long as our objectives are
achieved?
Maribel Garza-Castro, Librarian
High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
4001 Stanford, Houston, TX 77006
713-807-5150
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