Call me old-fashioned, but I am dis­tinctly both­ered by the idea of pub­lic libraries try­ing to look more like Barnes and Noble. I am not attached to the Dewey Dec­i­mal System—it has its flaws and the LOC sys­tem is far bet­ter (if harder to learn). But the pur­pose of a library is for ref­er­ence as well as for brows­ing. You can’t look up spe­cific books when they’re not catalogued.

Big chain book­stores do have bet­ter light­ing and more attrac­tive dis­plays. And they don’t smell like home­less peo­ple. But if my pub­lic library ever starts play­ing smooth jazz and loudly steam­ing cap­puc­cino drinks in the read­ing room, I’ll puke.