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Food and drinks in the library

When you think of a library, do you typically think that food and drinks are permitted?  I suppose this depends on your age; when I was a kid, you were not permitted to speak above a whisper, let alone bring in something to eat or drink; but, these times they are a changin.'  Our library has a policy forbidding food and drink, unless it is otherwise approved by library staff.  [raised eyebrow]

We serve snacks at book club meetings, author visits, and other programs.  People subversively bring their snacks, thinking we don't notice.  I try to walk the line between upholding the rules and graciousness, but if somebody comes in with a cup of coffee or a Route 44, I have to draw the line:  you spill that on the computer and it's done-zo.  Think again, buddy.

But, what's really neat about today's library as third place is that you can transform it into anything you want:  painting studio, lego crafting faire, ice cream party, or cake decorating station.  Tomorrow, I will combine by love of cakes, decorating, outreach and teaching by hosting a Cake Decorating 101 program at the Troutman Library.  We goofed and didn't ask people for their phone number when they signed up, and the adverts are still out there, so I really don't know how many people will show up.  I baked several nights this week, and asked a few people to help me bake layer cakes.  I got Wal-Mart to donate a giant tub of icing and some disposable piping bags, and I have a few volunteers coming in to help.  It should be tons of sugary fun :D

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