I love stores like this. The air’s got to to smell like old books when you walk in, and extra points if there’s a cat roaming the shop.
Scuppernong Books in downtown Greensboro is not a bad model either. I only grabbed a coffee from there, but it seemed like it was a nice unpretentious cafe/wine bar + bookstore + community hang-out space, the kind where you’d find spoken-word poetry or a book club meeting on any given night.
The store in Omaha is an absolute gem. It’s in a restored building in the historic city market. Even though it is literally packed floor to ceiling with books, it is clean and well-organized. I can easily spend hours there.
Wow, tons to catch up on since I last visited this thread. That said, I would like to add some thoughts.
A great library on a college campus is a no-brainer. I’m sure it’s been discussed above (I didn’t read every comment), but they aren’t just just about storing books anymore. In fact, Hunt and many others coming online really just place books in a warehousing system. The main use of the library is more of a place to study in peace (something that is extremely hard in a college dorm/apt), a place to meet/present in groups (They have tons of meeting rooms fully equipped with audio and video) , and a place to get research done (they have the highest end fiber wi-fi, so you are able to send/download massive files in seconds that would take potentially 30 minutes to send/receive at home-- depending on your connection.)
As for the public libraries, while they are more traditional in layout, they are also very involved in planning classes for kids. My daughter goes to the Cameron Village library two times a week for story time where they sing, dance and listen to stories. A lot of your play at home mimics these story times. She wants to read those books and she always sings those songs. We aren’t struggling financially, but for those that may be these libraries give a great way to socialize kids in a controlled environment without having to pay a fee. In addition, since my wife and I are there all the time, we are now utilizing it to check out books a lot more often.
I am pro stadium (If we get MLS and/or MLB) but I’m also very pro-library.
Chinese speaking kitten in shop in little town out of middle of no where that had old books and other curios.
Like @elevatoroperator said, I think this is a mix of good points, subjective opinions, and some cynicism that’s to be expected of a place like Reddit.
One thing I will point out about Hunt Library (while I’m sitting in one of its chairs!) that I haven’t seen mentioned, yet, is the location. …and this is probably going to be just as important for a new public library or high-end bookstores, as well.
Sure, Hunt Library is flashy, looks cool, is good for photo ops, etc. But it’s also in the remote, southern edge of the engineering campus. It’s a world away from literally everything else at State, separated by the imposing barrier that is Western Blvd. traffic. It already takes a conscious effort to cross the expansive quad to make a trip there as an Biomedical Engineering student. …now imagine being in Horticulture, instead, and think about how much incentive you’d have to make that trip lol
Unlike Hill Library or many of UNC’s libraries, Hunt Library -like most other places on Centennial Campus- is also not in a central space that naturally blends into its community. These huge buildings look sterile mausoleums in the dead of night; it’s clear that they’re here for business, and do not really participate in society for any other reason, for better for worse.
I like the idea of local and/or high-end book shops purely for having options to buy books. But as we’ve talked about here and in other threads, libraries are NOT just for books. Like @Loup20 mentioned, it also lets people meet in groups, create better experiences for kids growing up, helps society become more free and equal with essential services (help with taxes, insurance sign-up assistance) etc.
In that context, I think, having a library is infinitely more meaningful for downtown residents (and visitors and workers too!!! The Downtown CAC could regularly have a room for this sort of place too) compared to just a bookstore (which is a private enterprise, and doesn’t inherently support Raleigh).
But it’s not worth it, if it’s not at the right place and it doesn’t play its part in being a part of how people see the city.
Have to agree Centennial looks like an office park not University.
Ooh, I love Scuppernong! My friends and I spent several relaxing hours in that store on a recent visit to Greensboro. The best part was finding the urbanist/planning shelf literally right inside the door—it was the first thing I saw upon entering. There was a very nice multiuse space in the back of the store, where used books are housed along with some board games. There were tables and chairs aplenty, which allowed my group to hang out, as well as members of a local grassroots political organization to meet. Overall, I thought it was a really cool store that fills a vital role in the community, not just as a bookstore, but as a “third place,” outside of work/school and home, for people to spend time.
Also, they played a bunch of obscure Radiohead tunes, which was extra nice. 
I agree. I love Hunt library even though I’m no longer a student at State. I go there because it’s really quiet. And the wifi is insane! I actually took my PlayStation there and did a full update in seconds 
this is borderline illiterate
The fact that it does not generate a ROI is exactly why it needs public funding. There are a ton of community benefits to a Library that are difficult to put a dollar value on.
Sports stadiums have a cultural impact, but if the ROI is 8X as you say, there should be no shortage of private funding chomping at the bit to invest in them. Wonder why just about every professional sports team always looks for handouts from the local government to build new stadiums.
UncleJesse — A library is in same group as green-ways, public swimming pools, and parks; to name a few things that public money is spent on that has very low if any ROI.
CityLab recently published a really great story on the Oodi Library in Helsinki that @John and @Francisco mentioned, and I think has been mentioned in the Showing Off Things from Other Cities thread. Obviously, much of the story is specifically about the library in Helsinki, but there’s a lot of discussion that’s highly relevant to the American audience. Oodi would be a fantastic model for Raleigh, or really any city contemplating a large-scale library project.
I’d add that, from a metro perspective, Helsinki is a city that’s comparable to Raleigh’s population.
Today’s update on library discourse: visiting the local library remains the most common cultural activity Americans engage in, by far.
In Gallup’s first survey on this topic since 2001, people last year averaged 10.5 library trips in a year, compared to 5.3 for seeing a movie, and – of particular note – 4.7 times for attending a live sporting event. Libraries were most popular among ages 18-29, women, and low-income groups.
As long as libraries continue to modernize in their mission to give access to information and encourage learning via any medium, it’s easy to see their relevance far into the future.
I completely agree, but for what it’s worth, my family uses the library at least weekly, generally twice a week, for old fashioned books…
Well, someone needs to blow the dust off of them from time to time. Thanks for being those people! 
Here’s an article from the Washington Post about the new Golden Age of public libraries. Is has several examples of cool new libraries and all the functions they perform.
I think a new showpiece downtown library would be a great addition to a future phase of the Raleigh municipal campus. A modern library opening onto Nash Square would be a great combination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/01/public-libraries-golden-age/
YES. These new libraries are awesome. It would be amazing to have a crown jewel like this in the heart of downtown. 
Thanks so much for posting this story. It made me smile.
Could be fantastic but you have to get the County to cooperate with the city. Raleigh didn’t do what charlotte usa (& other cities) did years ago and consolidated the city county so the city can basically make al of the decisions (because they annexed most of the county).
As a side note if the county would sell its Fayetteville street building as part of the deal what a fantastic hotel the building that houses the tiny library could become!!!
