5 Reasons to Freelance Work from the Library Rather Than the Coffee Shop

Remote working is on the rise in the United States, with some people taking advantage of flexible workplace rules, and others opting for a totally freelance career. At the same time, many people find working from home every day to be isolating and unproductive.

To counteract these feelings, many remote workers seek out the white noise and constant activity of coffee shops. You go in, you buy a coffee (maybe a pastry) and you work for a few hours. The WiFi is usually strong (and free) and there’s always something to look at when you need a break.

Nobody ever thinks of the library as a viable alternative. Most people, when they think of libraries, think of small children running rampant or homeless people asleep in the stacks, but modern libraries are different: they’re clean, quiet, and usually empty. Here’s why, next time you want to get out of the house, you should consider working from the library.

Why Should You Choose to Work from the Library Rather than the Coffee Shop?

1. It’s Quiet

Coffee shops are loud. The espresso machines, grinders, other customers, and constant background indie rock, all serve up a cacophony of distracting noise. The library, on the other hand, is quiet. Famously so, in fact. When you picture a librarian in your head, what is she doing? Shushing you, of course.

Compared to a coffee shop, libraries are an oasis of calm and quiet. People say they enjoy the white noise of a coffee shop (studies have even been done on its qualities). But at the same time, most people are wearing noise-canceling headphones to drown out said noise. Why not just go somewhere quiet?

2. It’s Free

That’s right; you may not be aware of this but your local public library is free! Well, not free exactly–you pay tax, which pays for the library. But in a narrow, specifically-defined sense of “I have nine dollars in my wallet today” (welcome to the freelance life) then the library is a very attractive option. 

Coffee shops, on the other hand, are far from free. If you frequent your local, high end, independent coffee shop then you’re looking at upwards of $6 for permission to work for a few hours. Of course, you could go to a big chain cafe where they hand you a gallon of milky brown liquid for $2, but you really shouldn’t. Support your local shop, tip your barista, and make sure to buy something every few hours in order to not be “that guy.”

All that taken into account, and an eight-hour workday costs you $15. Still cheaper than a co-working space, but a lot more expensive than the library.

3. There’s Always a Seat

That’s the other thing about trying to work in a coffee shop: everyone else has had the same bright idea. At the most popular cafes, if you show up after 9 a.m. you’ll be lucky to find a seat. If you need to use the bathroom, you’ll be lucky not to lose your seat when you return. 

At the library? No such problems. There are big tables, plentiful outlets, and lots of space. There are comfy chairs, some with desk attachments so you can work while you relax. There are personal workrooms, meeting rooms, and printers. Choose a different location every day, maybe try the patio when the sun’s shining, and get to work.

4. Inspiration

Did you know most libraries have an extensive magazine collection? This is especially good for web developers and designers. You can usually find the latest editions of Smashing and Web Designer Mag to help you if you’re stuck or you need some new ideas. Looking through books and magazines often presents you with new ideas that you might not have stumbled across in a blog or Pinterest. Keep in mind that the content in magazines are usually curated and labored over by an art director, so see what you can learn in terms of composition and layout.

Libraries are a treasure, a source of knowledge and learning, and an institution that must be protected at all costs. They give us so much and ask for so little in return. So next time you’re looking for somewhere to spend a few hours, get some writing done or check your emails, consider your local library: You might be surprised how much you like it.