Can we use public building to stay warm?

[Jobseeker19]

For example can we sit in the library or town hall for hours and use their central heating and charge our devices in their plugs?

I'm wondering if it will come to this if people cannot afford the new energy prices.

I live in London and they’ve shut my nearby libraries. There’s one left on part-time, unmanned status which is a risk for teenagers and women.
The nearest is a new one two bus routes away which has no seating!
It’s like the government was to shut libraries or keep the poor/teenager/elderly out.

When my children were younger and we were a lot harder up I used to walk them to the library almost every day to spend some time warm. I actually started a thread when my DH eanrt a bit more money about how I had gotten used to not having the heating on and was absolutely flamed now we could afford it. so yes I do think that this may happen. It is a shame though, the never library on the nicer part of town is open 5 days a week but the one in my area, the lower income council area is only open 3 half days and the community had to fight for that as the council wanted to close it down completely!

So cafes and bars, pubs will get busier then....

If you work from an office you are covered. I guess if you WFH you save in transport and food or coffees.

If you are looking for a job yes libraries are great.

Sadly nothing new.
I remember about 30 years ago, everyone was hard up. We rode the wave, things even out.
Inflation has gone up, just faster than predicted.

Thankfully interest rates are still low, unlike the early 90s when they were much higher. It was tougher back then with the higher cost of living and we didn’t have the internet or mobile phones.
It’s a wonder how we lived !

A lot of libraries these days, such as the one I work at, are community managed libraries and receive little or no funding from the local authority. We have to raise all the money for heating and electricity from hiring out the facilities (an income source which has collapsed since Covid), photocopying, selling drinks, book sales etc.

We would be happy to to have people come in an use the facilities if they buy a drink or make a small donation to library funds but wouldn’t be too impressed by someone just coming to charge their devices at our expense!.

This is so sad. I'm not in the UK but during a heatwave our local authority sent out details of everywhere within their area that was air conditioned or just naturally cooler so people who were struggling would be ok. Will the UK authorities have to do the same in reverse?

@MajorCarolDanvers

People have always used public buildings for this purpose.

In Scotland lots of older swimming pools are still called 'public baths' because part of their original intention was to enable poor working class folk to have a bath.

Libraries have always provided a warm, dry environment for people.

Same in the north of England.

I never knew that's why they are called baths though.

OP even the bargainous Pret subscription has gone up to £25 😮

When I was a student we used to shower in the local leisure centre!

We used to ride the buses for warmth as teens. Don’t blame people in the slightest,

This is fine. I used to work in a library (before they replaced paid staff with volunteers) and we had a few families who did this. We just used to welcome the fact that the library was being used and was benefitting the community. It was nice to have regular customers that we got to know well. The resources are there to be used and the more people using them, the less risk of closure.

If too many people start to exploit these facilities beyond capacity, they'll be taken away.

Waitrose has already stopped the free hot drinks and are ending the free newspapers soon.

I can't imagine Wetherspoons being happy if their pubs are rammed with people in there all day on bottomless coffee for 99p leaving no room for people to buy food and more profitable drinks.

We have a central, spacious library (possibly because they removed lots of bookshelves over the years).

I am friends with some of the librarians and they really worried about some of their regulars during lockdown as many came in for a bit of company and to keep warm and dry.

@BarbaraofSeville disagree. If libraries are bursting to capacity then maybe they'll stop shutting them. Local politicians are always sensitive to issues like this.

**I can't imagine Wetherspoons being happy if their pubs are rammed with people in there all day on bottomless coffee for 99p leaving no room for people to buy food and more profitable drinks.

That’s the flip side. There’s no way they’ll keep that offer on if too many people take advantage of it.

We don't live in the Arctic. Its not really that cold that people will be having to live in the library to stay warm in the daytime. I never have the heating on during the day, just put a jumper ron or move about! Honestly so bored hearing about people moaning!

I go to Wetherspoons with my devices and they're happy to let me sit there all day doing my uni work!! Definitely cheaper than putting my heaters on!!

Regarding the above, some of us are disabled, moving about isn’t an option, extra clothes do not always make enough difference, that’s of course if you can dress yourself.
Perhaps think things through beefier telling people not to complain!

@RedskyThisNight

Do wonder how many of the people currently keen to wfh will want to return to the office and someone else's heating bills ...

So it we want to look on the bright side maybe customer service will improve and places like the DVLA and HMRC will get back to being fit for purpose.

@Montecristocount
People using libraries need to become a member and take books out to demonstrate the increased use, not just sit in them.

@shouldistop

Can I just add if you do go to a library then please borrow books. Even if you don't read them. It's important to keep numbers up.

Good point.

To a certain extent, perhaps have a few places that you can rotate around. Remember not all places open to the public are public owned eg council/government owned is not the same as somewhere operated by a charity or trust.

Wetherspoons is always popular too - they have a sign up saying you must buy something every 2 hours now

I suppose shopping malls is another one. Sit on a bench, no one keeps tabs on how long people sit there for.
Wonder around then have a cup of tea in a cafe. That would kill a few hours. Particularly people getting there by bus with their free passes- thinking older people.