You Should Use Your Local Public Library to Do Work

You should use your local public library to read, do tech-related work, catch up on e-mails, etc., on the weekends or nights after work when others are not around. Over the last year or two, I‘ve found working at my local libraries has been easier than working in a coffee shop. It’s also a change of pace from working at home.

Using the library is easy on your budget. Doing this means you don’t have to buy another latte, fancy pastry, sandwich, salad, or gelato to get another 1.5 hours of internet. Or so you do not feel guilty about staying there for a few more hours without buying anything. Plus, if you’re drinking lots of coffee or tea, you won’t be all hopped up on caffeine by the end of the day. Even though some libraries let you bring in beverages in a fixed lid container. I think the main Columbus library sells drinks on the first floor.

Over the last year or so I have gone to a few of the Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC, libraries. Did this on a few nights and most weekends when I’m home. I spend my time working on improving my list of restaurants I want to visit when I travel or even at home application (jfc iii Ate Here). A lot of the time is spent finding the details about a restaurant. Such as their address, phone number, a description of the place and what they serve, and URL. Once, I have that information I put it in a GitHub issue so I can add them to the proper city or state JSON file when I have the time.

I especially like visiting the central libraries in bigger cities when I’m there visiting for work or on vacation. It’s great seeing how grand some of the older libraries are. In the last year or two, I have been to the following cities and their libraries.

Libraries are Listed Alphabetically by City Name

NOTE: Updated list of libraries and URLs on March 5, 2026.

• Alexandria, VA
  • Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library
  • James M. Duncan Branch Library
  • Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• Fairfax County, VA
  • Sherwood Regional Library
• Frederick, MD Central Library (edited first draft)
• Joshua Tree, CA (wrote part of post here)
• Maryville, TN
  • Blount County Public Library (south of Knoxville, TN)
• Nashville, TN
• New York City, NY
  • Central Library (Rose Reading Room) – edited and published this blog post here
  • Hudson Park Library
  • Jefferson Market Library
  • Mulberry Street Library
• Palm Springs, CA
• Seattle, WA area
  • Seattle Central Library
  • Vashon Island
  • Redmond (visited twice)
• Washington, DC
  • Cleveland Park
  • Georgetown
  • West End Neighborhood Library
  • Tenley-Friendship (wrote and edited along with added library links)

I have found that at smaller libraries, the earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to find a power outlet. Be they in, on, or under some tables. At other times, you need to find a chair along the windows of the walls for an outlet. To avoid the problem of a lack of power, I make sure to charge my laptop the night before. Or in the morning, if the library doesn’t open until late morning or early afternoon.

Bringing headphones to help cancel out some of the noise can be useful, depending on the library. Sometimes, having headphones in or over your ears is enough to cancel out most of the sound so you can think. Doing so gives you that option if that is what you need to do.

No matter the size of the library, they all now have wifi so that you can get online. Since I don’t know how good the wifi is or how much content other people will be downloading, I tend to bring my “Your Karma” MiFi. Doing so allows me not have to worry about what others are doing on the internet.

Conclusion

Use your local libraries to get work done, so they continue to get the funding they need and are open for others to use. It beats sitting at home all the time. You might even see people you know or meet some new people.

On hot summer days or cold winter ones, too, it’s a pleasant place to relax and get out of the weather when you are traveling, be it for work or vacation.

Bonus Location to Work

Use your local libraries to get work done, so they continue to get the funding they need and are open for others to use. It beats sitting at home all the time. You might even see people you know or meet some new people.

When you’re home or traveling, be it for work or vacation, libraries are a great place to be. Another great place to get some work done is your local auto dealer. I know you’re thinking I’m crazy. But if you can get an appointment on the weekend when they open. You then tell them you are waiting and will be sitting in the salesperson’s section out front. Doing this is great if you have your own wifi/MiFi because the service section has desks and opens an hour or two before the salespeople arrive. Giving you plenty of time to work quietly. Usually, the only person running around is someone sweeping or mopping the floor, which makes it look good to customers buying cars.

Plus, it’s interesting on a Saturday towards the end of the month. Doing so lets you listen as the dealership manager or owner comes in to talk to the sales team, getting them pumped to sell cars. Along with reminding them that they have to sell a certain number of vehicles to meet quotas, they can get bonuses.

Use your local library to get work done.