The coolest place in town might be the Yountville Library
It’s been said that the public library is one of the last truly free “third places,” one where you can go to read, relax, hang out, study and simply be without the expectation of making a purchase. In a world where so many public spaces have become commercial spaces, libraries remain different. Whether you’re escaping the heat, waiting for an appointment, working remotely, helping your child discover a love of reading or just looking for a quiet place to spend an afternoon, everyone is welcome.
It’s not uncommon for me to see all the chairs in use throughout our four library locations. Seating for two, seating for one, small groups and our study rooms are often occupied. This is true throughout the year, but I especially notice it earlier in the day during the summer. Perhaps it has something to do with one additional feature that libraries offer free to everyone: air conditioning.
For the first 16 or so years that our family lived in Napa, we didn’t have air conditioning. Ten months out of the year, that’s not much of an issue because the weather is pleasant and the nights are cool. But in late July and August, along with a few hot spells in September and the occasional kickoff in May or June, it can get downright hot indoors. The year before we were lucky enough to install air conditioning, it reached 95 degrees inside our house.
When our boys were young, we’d go anywhere that had air conditioning. This included meandering around Target with absolutely nothing on our shopping list, wandering the grocery store (Raley’s used to have loose beans that you could scoop from one container to another—which provided endless entertainment for a four-year-old and no small amount of consternation for my impatient wife) and even stopping by a car dealership or two. (“No, we’re just looking.”)
But the one place we knew we could always visit and while away the hours was the library. Reading to a dog (Bow Wow for Books), reading with a senior (Generations and Books) or simply making our way through stacks of picture books became frequent late afternoon activities.
Those experiences also reminded me that a library serves needs that go beyond books. It can be a refuge on a hot day, a place where families don’t have to spend money to spend time together, a place where someone living alone can be around other people or where a student can focus without distractions. Community spaces matter, especially when they’re open to everyone. They help make a community feel connected and they give people a place to belong, even if only for an afternoon.
Most of the time, libraries focus on our nearly endless resources for education, recreation and lifelong learning. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that being cool in the summer and warm in the winter is part of the appeal too.
We also like to say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But we all do. I have high expectations for where I want to spend my time and many of our patrons do too. That’s why we’re always looking for ways to make our libraries more welcoming and comfortable. We’ve just embarked on a remodel project for the Yountville Library. We don’t have much to share, at this point, but expect to see updates in the coming weeks and know that we’ll be using patron behavior as a guide for what changes to make.
While we make these changes to furniture and layout, we’re reflecting on the changes in user behavior that we’ve seen since COVID. Many people still picture libraries filled with large wooden tables, rows of chairs and little reading lamps tucked among the stacks. While some visitors come as families or groups, most of our patrons today visit on their own. We think carefully about how to maximize seating and workspaces to reflect that reality while still creating something that’s inviting, flexible, easy to maintain and comfortable enough that people want to stay awhile.
Finally, the library is for everyone. That means that during the hottest days of the summer, we relax one of our rules: we allow pets into our buildings whenever a heat advisory is issued (typically when temperatures reach 95 degrees or higher). For the past three years, we’ve opened our doors to two-legged, four-legged and, I suppose, no-legged animals alike. We simply ask that dogs remain on a leash and other pets stay in an appropriate carrier. So far, we haven’t had a single issue.
If you’re looking for somewhere to cool off during this warmer season, come visit your library. Stay for 10 minutes or three hours. Read a book, charge your phone, work on a project, attend a program or simply enjoy a comfortable place to sit. No purchase required.
A couple of upcoming things you can do at the Yountville Library this month to beat the heat:
American Mah Jongg Open Play – 2 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday. From the curious beginner to the regular player, this gathering follows the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules and is for all want to enjoy casual gameplay with fellow enthusiasts.
Writers Roundtable – Tuesday, August 25: 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Join the Writers’ Roundtable, hosted by Marianne Lyon, former Napa County Poet Laureate, and Geoffrey Leigh.
Yountville
The Yountville Library is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the library at (707) 944-1888.
Contact the author at [email protected].
Questions or suggestions for the Yountville Library? Contact your commissioner, [email protected].
Learn more about Friends of the Yountville Library by reaching out to [email protected].
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