Idea: Public libraries should make outdoor laptop work possible year-round for patrons concerned about COVID and other respiratory illnesses.

Public libraries are a great place to study or work, but they're also one of the few public spaces where people are often expected to spend hours indoors. That can make them less accessible for patrons who want to reduce their exposure to COVID and other respiratory illnesses.

Many libraries already have outdoor seating for part of the year. My idea is to extend that concept by designing outdoor laptop workspaces that remain usable year-round, including during the winter.

The workspaces could include reliable WiFi, power outlets, weather protection, lighting, and regular snow clearing. They wouldn't replace indoor seating. They would simply provide another option for patrons who would rather work outdoors.

The biggest obstacle is winter.

Typing with bulky winter gloves is difficult. One possible solution would be a keyboard designed specifically for use with winter gloves, with oversized, widely spaced keys and strong tactile feedback. Another approach would be partially enclosed workstations with localized heating and wind protection so patrons could comfortably wear thinner gloves while typing.

The other issue is condensation. A laptop that becomes very cold outdoors can develop condensation when it's brought into a warm building, potentially damaging the electronics. Libraries could post guidance on how to safely warm cold devices before using them indoors, or even provide a warming cabinet or room-temperature storage area where laptops could gradually warm up before being opened or powered on.

I don't see this as replacing traditional library spaces. Instead, it would make libraries more accessible by giving patrons another way to use library resources while accommodating different comfort levels regarding respiratory illness exposure.

Would you use a year-round outdoor library workspace if your local library offered one?