[jon-wood]

Ok, coffee shop I get in some cases. Libraries though? What harm is someone doing by sitting at one of many empty seats in a library and doing quiet work?

[nicbou]

As someone once said, if someone came up with the concept of public libraries today, it would never fly.

I used a library to work while travelling, to avoid overstaying my welcome in a café. It was fantastic.

I also use them at home, where they enable me to earn money and pay taxes, if that's such a big concern. Most students do, too.