By Staff Writer: Caitlin Daugherty
Photo Credit: Caitlin Daugherty
Third places are defined as being places that are not work or home that you can hang out with other people with or without spending money. Places such as the mall, an arcade, a coffee shop, or a park, are all places that you can spend time with your friends or family without spending a fortune.
However, it has become harder and harder to find time to visit third places, and it has become almost impossible to not spend any money when you and your friends are on a day out. Places like some coffee shops now require you to buy a coffee or you will not be allowed to stay, and hanging out at a park as an adult can be seen as unconventional and strange. The mall in particular has become hostile to teenagers and young adults seeking a place to hang out with one another in public. With many stories of mall security guards chasing off groups of teenagers for “looking suspicious” if they hang around an area too long without buying anything. While places like malls and coffee shops are not considered viable third places anymore, the library is a great place for people to get together and not have to worry about being kicked out for not buying anything. You can read books and magazines together, use their free internet to browse social media or watch videos, rent movies, and join local clubs and committees that gather at the library for additional social support.