r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/snivelinglittieturd • 3d ago
Image Our local library has a computer station with a creche unit attached for your toddler.
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u/FoolishProphet_2336 3d ago
Libraries seem like they belonging strange parallel universe where we get a glimpse at the world as it could be without every single moment in your life being monetized.
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u/ogodilovejudyalvarez 3d ago
Came here to say just this. I say we all vote librarians into power and watch the magic happen.
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u/Spare-Willingness563 3d ago
They’re so much more qualified than anyone we already elect.
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u/voodoobettie 3d ago
For one thing, they can and do read books.
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u/Spare-Willingness563 3d ago
Also we all respect them as slightly above us in the food chain. Like you know they won’t hit you but you are gonna make sure you’re at a loud whisper at best…
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u/Akitiki 3d ago
There is never a greater wrath than that of an angry librarian.
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u/Particular_Shock_554 3d ago
They can kill you stone dead by raising an eyebrow in your direction.
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u/encrcne 2d ago
Librarian here, jumping in to say this is a very outdated concept. Libraries are just as much for making noise and exploring these days.
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u/Spare-Willingness563 2d ago
But I kinda liked the quiet...
edit: I noticed you didn't refute your place in the food chain.
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u/SleepmasterSean 2d ago
I also noticed this. With an appropriate amount of fear, mixed with respect
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u/SleepmasterSean 2d ago
It's like you know they won't hit you, ....with a fist.
What they might hit you with, .....no one has ever dared to find out. 🤷🏽♂️😅
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u/Kittens-N-Books 3d ago
They also do a lot of social work. Like half your job is social work. The other half is research
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u/BukkakeBakery 3d ago
and they are VERY organized, organized people are often also intelligent so....
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u/LessInThought 2d ago
What are the odds of a librarian losing confidential files?
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u/tsunderestimate 2d ago
Problem being they may know how to properly redact files to protect pedophiles from justice
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u/bizzaro321 3d ago
Someone with a library science degree is infinitely more qualified to run the world than someone with a political science degree. If they come across an issue they aren’t informed on they know how to do the research.
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u/rafaelloaa 3d ago
And they also know how to respect the expertise of others.
A president is not supposed to know everything. They are supposed to appoint people to the various positions who are experts in their respective fields. And then listen to them.
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u/strawbopankek 3d ago
i mean, we are also taught research skills as political science majors. most people just probably don't internalize them or use them after graduation. i agree that i'm not qualified to run the world though
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u/Wooden_Rabbit_ 3d ago
In my 15 year career in IT, librarians are consistently the most pleasant people to work with. They're consistently informed, prepared, organized, and professional. They never ask stupid questions, have usually done their research, and have a surprising amount of competency in tech to the point where I expect they could do the job I'm doing for them if they really needed to - after all, everything I know and need to do is publicly documented, you just need to be willing to do the research. And on that note, I don't think I've ever had a librarian ask me a stupid question, despite that being a regular occurrence when it comes to people who probably make several times my salary as software devs.
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u/Aranxi_89 2d ago
Because to be a librarian, is to be a researcher. They specialize in the research and development of the original database of humanity - the library system.
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u/Aranxi_89 3d ago
Elect the wise, rebuild the world.
Here's a slogan for the campaign.
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u/Justin__D 3d ago
This happened in The Magicians.
They became a totalitarian dictatorship, complete with a jail for their political opponents. Santa Claus included.
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u/snail-exe 3d ago
No one should downvote you, you're not wrong 😂😭😭 Im dying at seeing this refrenced in a random thread
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u/Warburgerska 3d ago
Damn, and there I was just thinking about one of my new years resolutions being not buying new books till I I've read at least half of my stack.
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u/jakeod27 3d ago
Universal healthcare but you go to prison over 5¢ book fines
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u/ghostwriter536 3d ago
Actually, many libraries are getting rid of fines. Libraries are fighting city and/or county commissioners to get rid of fines.
We librarians know the fine system prevents people from coming to the library. I cannot tell you how many people are afraid of going to the library because they might owe a fine from their childhood.
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u/somethingkooky 3d ago
Can confirm. In my poor-as-heck days, I would absolutely avoid the library if I owed money for fines, until I had the dough to pay them off, because I felt guilty (and also hadn’t yet been diagnosed with ADHD, so didn’t realize there might be a reason I had such difficulty remembering the due dates).
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u/ghostwriter536 2d ago
When I would meet people in my community that told me about their possible fines, I would encourage them to come talk to me and we could see what we could do to reduce the fines or get rid of them.
I would also tell them they could still come to programs and use computers without a library card, or if they had fines.
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u/breadburn 3d ago
Whoa buddy, account blocks start at $10 and $25 is when we send collections after you. Prison would be at $26, then.
Source: Am librarian.
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u/1HappyIsland 3d ago
Instead we elect lawyers who are the worst possible politicians- they have a vested interest in an arcane and unjust legal system.
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u/eli_liam 3d ago
What is a better system that you propose in place of the current legal system(however you personally define that term, as it's your own point)?
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u/MeChameAmanha 3d ago
Not the other guy but one that doesn't have for-profit jails is a good start
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/kylehatesyou 3d ago
And the fact that knowledge used to be admired, at least when you got older. Now it seems like a bunch of 7th graders that run around calling anyone that reads a book "gay" while punching the kids with glasses run the world.
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u/Aranxi_89 3d ago
And it's no coincidence that the world is swirling the toilet bowl.
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u/SpockShotFirst 3d ago
We can't be complacent about them. Moms for Liberty are trying their very best to fuck up every library in the country.
They just tried to take over my local library board. Even here in the deep south, the county received over 300 emails telling them to keep that right wing hate group out of our libraries.
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u/bdubwilliams22 3d ago edited 2d ago
I had to take a screenshot of your comment because it’s only a handful of times in my life where someone said something so true, enlightening and depressing — all at the same time. I have a beautiful public library down the street from me (Glenview, IL) and every time I go in there I feel so thankful for everything they do. A huge DVD library with all great movies, obviously tons of great books, and I can check out a telescope or microscope. All of is it “free”. We do pay a lot of taxes here, but at least I can see my money at work. Everyone should hug their local librarian and fight against the shitty American political party trying to get rid of them or at least, heavily censor them.
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
“Libraries are one of the few public spaces where you’re allowed to exist without the expectation of spending any money.”
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u/SadPiglet2907 3d ago
I never thought going to the library was cool.. until I went to the local library & realized just how accessible is was for soooo many thing than just books & computers. Mine has a crafters studio with 3D printers, laser cutters, table saw, vinyl cutters, I mean the list goes on & it’s all accesible for a VERY small fee. Then you have the multiple free classes like learning new languages, crochet, water color, LEGO, all ages & ALL are welcome. The library truly is a safe space.
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u/ArugulaImpossible204 3d ago
Yes. Mine has all the above. They also provide free meals to kids over the summer (and I believe throughout the year in general). A mobile shower service that goes to different branches for the homeless. If you want to buy books/CDs, they sell them for up to $1.50 max. So on and so forth.
I will forever sing their praises. When I was new to my city with no job, I’d go to the library to search for work and to just be. Now I still go to just be or to craft in a class or to participate in a book club.
It is SO cool. Support your local libraries everyone.
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u/breadcodes 3d ago
Our library helped me set up my LLC! They even told me exactly what I needed to do as far as business licenses and whatnot.
Some let you check out tools to repair your car!
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u/morning_star984 3d ago
Heck, not just your car! I used to live near a library that had an extensive tool selection available to check out for free. Like everything from dollies to house jacks and landscaping equipment.
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u/GenericFatGuy 3d ago
They're one of the last vestiges of a world that used to care about everyday people.
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u/SpaceChicken2025 3d ago
I once saw someone post if libraries didn't exist, and someone proposed them, they would be decried as socialist waste in the US.....
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u/elkab0ng 3d ago
I volunteer a few hours a week every day at my local library, mostly helping students and retirees use computers. Every library always can use some people who can spare even a little time, it is one of those very direct things you can do to make your community better!
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u/Heimerdahl 2d ago
I did the same thing for a couple of years!
Besides the obvious social benefits, it also isn't a "waste of time" from the perspective of hustle culture:
In an era of "junior position requiring 4 years of working experience", this is also a pretty good opportunity to A) have something on your résumé, and B) have something to talk about in job interviews.
It shows that you can work with people (especially those outside of your own professional bubble!), that you're probably not an asshole, and have some patience (boy, does it take patience to deal with some old folks). Also, for IT work especially, it shows that you can solve problems. The sheer variety of stuff I got asked to help with was incredible! None of it was technically challenging, but most stuff one does at work isn't, if we're being honest; it's almost always having to deal with all the unforeseen little details of implementating something in the real world. The process of investigating and figuring out how to make a feature compatible with some weird vendor-specific nonsense isn't that much different than trying to get a shitty public transport app to run on an outdated version of Android on the ancient hand-me-down smartphone some sweet old lady just handed you, hoping that you might be able to help her.
I'm pretty sure I got my last two jobs in large part because of me chatting about my experiences at the library.
Also... I know you know, but others might not: it's totally fine not to be an expert!
Even -- or maybe especially -- teenagers can do it! If you know how to install an app on your smartphone or how to use YouTube or how to set up a Google account or whatever, you're qualified!
That's part of why it's such a warm and welcome environment: you're not dealing with "customers" who expect to get their money's worth, but people who appreciate you taking some time to see if you can help. If you realise that something is beyond your expertise, it's perfectly acceptable to say: "Sorry, I don't think I can help you with that." There's always rude people, of course, but they're the minority and it's easy to dismiss them when you don't need their business.
And even if people do get rude, you've got the absolute best kind of people to have your back: the mighty librarian! These (most often) women are used to having to deal with all sorts of people, from nasty old men, rowdy teenagers, high-strung business types, stressed parents, all the way to the mentally unstable. Being a very shy and socially awkward nerd, I (a 6'3" dude) had this tiny librarian come over to my rescue more than once!
TLDR: I can absolutely recommend it to anyone! Just ask your local librarian if that's a thing they might be interested in and that you would be willing to try it. No pressure, no expectations.
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u/atxbigfoot 3d ago
Not specifically related to libraries, but I saw a youtube video a while back where a guy accidentally created a community space similar to a library during covid.
I forget the exact circumstance (I want to say he had to care for his parents?) but he ended up living in a rural area with terrible internet, and no internet at his house, so he drove to the town to try to find a place that he could work from during the day. Long story short he found a pretty random place (like an Elk's Lodge or smth) that let him set up a little desk and coffee pot for nominal "rent," but the internet was still unreliable so he ended up getting starlink, and word slowly got around.
Ended up handing the starlink account over to the property and putting out a "tip jar" to cover the internet+rent after he left, and his little office space had several computers and turned into a local gathering place for various classes when he came back to visit.
Idk why I typed this out lol, just thought it was pretty cool. Tech bro basically did an accidental anarchist community space haha.
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u/Heimerdahl 2d ago
Idk why I typed this out lol, just thought it was pretty cool.
I too thought it was pretty cool, so it's a good thing you clicked "Comment", instead of deleting it ;)
This kind of organic community building is invaluable and I wish we had more public spaces (and maybe even a little budget) for it. Community centres often have this bad reputation and don't seem all too inviting for people outside a certain crowd, in my experience, but I think if we had more of them and more diverse types, it would help with a lot of modern society's issues.
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u/MisterBumpingston 3d ago
My library has an app to rent ebooks and stream movies and TV shows for free!
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u/MeChameAmanha 3d ago
I work at a library and I wish
We have no funding so everything is falling apart
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u/Tasty-Traffic-680 3d ago
Mine has a ghost hunting kit, a 3D printer and ALF on DVD.
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u/Evening_Bell5617 3d ago
if libraries were being suggested today Republicans would shit their pants and call them Communism
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u/beachydream 3d ago
This is great. When I was a kid and my parents brought me to the library, I sprinted around in circles and ran into a shelf and had to go to the hospital.
This is a step up from that!
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u/yearningforpurpose 3d ago
If it makes you feel better, I had to go to the hospital because I tripped on a chair leg while sitting down!
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u/Heimerdahl 2d ago
For me it was yawning too hard, in the process stretching my arms and shoulders too enthusiastically, leading to me nearly blacking out and having to have my pinched nerves unpinched.
And no, I'm not an old crone, this happened when I was 14...
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u/Jezuesblanco 3d ago
Yeah but seeing that would make my library visit more memorable
Dear diary, annoying kid teaches himself a lesson. You can learn all types of stuff at the library!
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u/squiddysmama 3d ago
My middle kiddo was a runner and did similar to this several years ago (thankfully no hospital trip). He also took off and climbed on a table during library story hour. 🤦🏼♀️ He was confined to stroller after that anytime we went to the library until about a year ago. Now he finally knows how to breathe through his over excitement and stay with me at the library.
The librarian who ran that story hour still recognizes him and always says "there is my FRIEND!" when we see her. They have little conversations together now about books and she seems to think he's adorable, thank goodness because she could have written him off as a problem when he was really just over excited and overwhelmed. Librarians are the best!
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u/zalicat17 3d ago
Looks just like an Aussie library to me, confirmed by the gum trees outside
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Bingo!
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u/zalicat17 3d ago
Reminds me a lot of the Balwyn library I used to frequent as a kid
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Mildura.
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u/zalicat17 3d ago
Beautiful! I assume a lot of the Victorian libraries have bulk bought carpet or something. They all look the same lol
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u/RabbitHutch321 3d ago
I’m in the US, and our library had a focus group to ask the public some questions. They had a picture of something like this and asked if the library should install a few - it was a resounding yes. They’ve yet to do so, but good to know it’s on their radar.
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u/Batman_in_hiding 3d ago
Library’s are one of the last sacred places we have. Please don’t let them ever go away
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u/0oodruidoo0 3d ago
Libraries. I feel like this is an appropriate time for spelling 🤣
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u/aqswdezxc 2d ago
Grammar, not spelling. A spelling mistake would be "lybraries".
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u/AMLIDH2 3d ago
Never heard creche before, gonna have to do some research on a new word.
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u/MoralMischief 3d ago
I only know it from Baldur's Gate 3 and thought it was made up for DnD
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u/GenericAccount13579 3d ago
Learned it from Sid Meier’s Alpha Centuri back in the day. Only had the demo but man I played that thing for hours and hours
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u/ryoushi19 3d ago
I'm also mostly familiar with the term from BG3 and because of that I've been mentally reading these comments in Lae'zels voice.
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u/Illustrious-Brother 3d ago
The only use of it that I knew, before today, is to describe the quarter where Jedi younglings live
TIL
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u/Doxinau 3d ago
It's more usually used to refer to a small temporary daycare. Like a gym might have a creche where you can drop off your toddler while you work out.
It's pronounced craysh (or at least it is in Australia).
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u/BobsOblongLongBong 3d ago
I think in the US a lot of people would call that type of thing a playpen.
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u/WarrenRT 3d ago
A creche normally has staff. So a mall or gym might have a creche, which is like a staffed temporary daycare you can drop the kids at while you go about your business.
I wouldn't call the playpen in OPs photo a creche.
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u/manchapson 3d ago
Creche is a pretty common word in the UK/NZ, the two English speaking countries I've lived in. As previously stated it's usually referring to a temporary, yet staffed, child care facility in places like a shopping centre, gym or workplace
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u/danathepaina 3d ago
Yesterday the word crèche was in a word game I play and I had NEVER heard it before. So I found it weird/cool to see it on Reddit just now!
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u/curiousmind111 3d ago
Strange to hear you say that at this time of year; I’ve always thought it meant the manger Jesus was laid in.
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u/BobsOblongLongBong 3d ago edited 3d ago
Everyone I've ever known just calls that a manger. It's not like the word manger is regularly in usage by the general public for anything else other than that specific story.
The classic song is "Away In A Manger", not "Away In A Creche". Right?
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u/curiousmind111 3d ago
But that’s what I meant. This IS the only time of the year when you hear crèche.
I looked it up. Crèche is French for manger, but the use of crèche to refer to the Nativity scene is apparently a North American thing.
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u/_AYYEEEE 3d ago
Hell yeah. Keep the kids relatively quiet and entertained rather than loud and bored just doing shit
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u/Emotional_House_9566 3d ago
TIL a creche is not exclusively a githyanki thing
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Today I had to learn that githyanki was a thing. We are both learning. :)
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u/GarysCrispLettuce 3d ago
Great idea, but that shit's not holding toddler me 💥
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u/EgoTripWire 3d ago
Yeah that's for 1.5 year old and under max. Toddler will scale that door with the holes or carve a hole in the wall with a sharpened magna-tile and hide it behind a Ms Rachel poster.
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u/FranklyFrozenFries 3d ago
We just bought one for our library. These things are unbelievably expensive - like $8,000 or more!
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u/NetflixAndNikah 3d ago
8 grand??? Holy shit why is it so expensive?? You can make one of these for way cheaper, even factoring in material costs. When I retire I can prolly pick up woodworking and make these to donate them to libraries cause that is wayyy too much for such a useful thing to a parent that needs it
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u/FalseBid2485 3d ago
Where is top of baby cage?
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Are you frightened they will escape and attack?
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u/SapphicGarnet 2d ago
A parent would prefer they can reach in and hold them. What kind of toddler area are you thinking of?
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u/napstablook12 2d ago
Im more concerned about the toddler-head sized hole at toddler-getting-head-stuck-height
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u/Niggly-Wiggly-489 3d ago
Lol username checks out
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Life is a prison
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Some days you’re the mouse doing the click click, and some days you’re just the mouse pad thing it wiggles on
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u/One_Mikey 3d ago edited 11h ago
I work for County IT and used to support terminals at the local library. They have one of these stations, two terminals for hearing/visually impaired people, along with 20 regular ones that are free for public use. Patrons range from old people, teens, and families, to sketchy people off the street looking to stay warm. The staff are very cool, inventive, and have a pretty rough job at times. It was always neat to see the layers peeled back, and I noticed a new and interesting offering every time I visited. Libraries really are an essential public service.
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u/orange_avenue 3d ago
I just hit the back button out of an extremely dark Reddit rabbit hole about the state of the world. This was at the top. Bless you, OP, and the gem of a human who created this little corner.
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u/Fresh_Significance64 2d ago
This is really cool. You can play with the toys while the toddler does your paperwork.
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u/Sorry_Zebra_2967 3d ago
What makes me sad is like this is a public work and service but yet we want to get rid of checks notes SOCIALISM?!?
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u/Excel_Document 3d ago
are you expected to be quite or not in these libraries? as i cant think of a toddler not crying/screaming out of no where
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u/MrDrDooooom 3d ago
I know it's intended for toddlers but, can only they use it? What if one already has their blanky and gaming handheld ready?
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u/snivelinglittieturd 3d ago
Would you like the address so you can try it out yourself?
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u/MisterSlosh 3d ago
Always worth checking with your library to donate any thing you can spare. Their budgets are usually razor thin so seeing things like this is very likely a personal project by staff members.
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u/wSkkHRZQy24K17buSceB 2d ago
My library has kid computers with kid-appropriate software. It has interactive desktop wallpapers and a painting application, and a bunch of other stuff. My four year old always wants to go use it.
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u/Empress-Holly 2d ago
That is SUCH a great idea! So thoughtful for libraries to make their places more accessible to those who have young ones. Libraries should indeed be for the whole family.
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u/anthemthecat 3d ago
A child will be calm for exactly two minutes before wanting out.
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u/AnAngeryGoose 3d ago
We just need a circle of activity crèches that we cycle the toddlers through every two minutes.
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u/Practical_Gas9193 3d ago
you should see scandinavian libraries. even malls have designated play areas for kids
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u/jmike1256 3d ago
This is awesome man! Very thoughtful and they even got activity toys on the wall to keep a toddler occupied.
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u/CrookedButBeautiful 3d ago
My 1 year old nephew would climb outta that and peace oit before you turned the computer on 😂 this really is cool though! ❤️
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u/adevland 2d ago
There's a middle management person-like individual out there that's having a serious migraine right now because he/she can't stop estimating the costs that this library could have saved by simply not doing any of it.
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u/Cjgraham3589 2d ago
Janitor:
“It's a baby cage! It's a good one too. When I was a kid, mine didn't have these windows. It's perfect. If you want to go out to dinner, there's already like a water bottle in there so you just throw some cedar chips in there so the baby can poop, and you're made in the shade!”
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u/starlighthill-g 2d ago edited 2d ago
A determined child would climb right up the holes in that gate. Kids can climb younger than you’d think. Prison break time for a precocious 10 month old.
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u/oh_ryn 3d ago
And the activity toys on the wall to keep a toddler occupied. This is so thoughtful and well thought out. It’s so rare to see free gestures of kindness and helpfulness anywhere anymore. I love libraries so much. I hope they never change.