London has 16 - yes 16 - library bars. I want to go to all of them.
Library cafes are also a thing (so is Barnes and Noble) which is all manner of awesome. Post your library pics here and have a library directory on the house: libraries.org: an International Directory of Libraries
Such a place also lets college students buy drinks and have it show up as “Library.”
The public library in Bozeman, MT has a cafe on the premises, and there are shelves in there full of secondhand books that are being resold to help support the Friends of the Library. But I don’t think you’re allowed to bring drinks in to the main stacks area.
For nineteen years I was the baker in a cafe located in our library. No alcohol, but we were proud of the food and catering. In 2002 when the library reopened after major renovations we hosted Laura Bush, the First Lady. I never worked so hard in my life as getting ready for that big event.
A few years ago I attended an event at a restaurant built in a closed down bookstore. Shelves along all the walls had been left in place, filled with books. We looked at the books we were seated near and looked at a few that caught our eyes.
Sadly, the restaurant is a 2 hour drive from us or we’d be there frequently. What a grand idea!!
A brewery near us has a nook with shelves and about 50 books that you are encouraged to borrow. I’ve taken a few home to read and have put a few of mine there for others to enjoy.
No such amenities in my town’s library, alas, although there is a marvelous bakery just a couple dozen steps away. I make sure I bring along some baked goodies every time I go to the library, which except for the lack of a cafe is a wonderful place.
Portland (unsurprising as both a book- and beer- loving city) has a bar that recently converted to a library pub. It serves beer, wine, and food, and the walls are all lined with books. They host book clubs, author readings, “adult story time” (no, not that kind, get your mind out of the gutter), scrabble, trivia, and live music.
We have here two laundromats that are attached to bars. Before I moved and had a washer in my residence I patronized that place. It wan’t expensive, and the bar was nice enough. I could have a beer while waiting for my stuff to finish.
There is a nice cafe associated with a bookstore in Los Altos - only of interest because the big battle scene in Cryptonomicon took place at the corner where this place is. One of the weird “I’ve been there” feelings when I read it.