The ’third place’ is alive and well (but Shhh! Don’t tell anyone)

What do a travel writer, a fashion and lifestyle editor, a law librarian and a statistician have in common? If you guessed an awareness of and interest in the critically important social concept of the ‘third place’ - well done! (But I bet you didn’t). The ‘third place’ is a term coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg in The Great Good Place (1989) to describe the social surroundings in which we live our lives that are separate from the two usual social environments of home (‘first place’) and the workplace (‘second place’). Let me set the scene …

13 September 2023, Sydney Morning Herald travel writer Ben Groundwater publishes an article titled “One thing European cities do far better than Australia (except Melbourne)”. It includes the following commentary (slightly paraphrased).

“You always hear Melbourne being described as Australia’s most ‘European’ city, and I think that’s because the Victorian capital has the best third places of any Australian centre. Melbourne features multiple major sports stadiums … it has markets like South Melbourne and Prahran … Melbourne has restaurants and bars dotted throughout its residential suburbs and a culture of visiting those places to socialise … it has Australia’s best pubs … four major sports stadiums basically within the CBD … actual live music venues. Elsewhere, the great third places of Australian cities tend to be natural attractions … beaches … national parks … natural reserves.”

23 June 2023, Emily Torres editor of ‘the good trade’ lifestyle website publishes an article titled “What Is A Third Place? (And Here’s Why You Should Have One)”. It’s a lovely read.

“These third places often catch us at our best – we’re not burdened by the immediate urgencies of work or the piles of laundry left to fold. They offer up a safe place for us to show up at our worst when we need to, when we’re stressed or feeling worn down. Our only obligation is to show up, engage, and metaphorically kick our feet up with our friends and community—or alone if it’s solitude we’re after. … The best kind of third place invites us into close proximity with people we may not meet otherwise. These days, third places look like a bar or cafe, but they can also look like community meeting spaces, churches, or libraries. These locations can be especially important for seniors and for anyone living in areas facing economic hardship. By breaking down social siloes, third spaces put people in touch.”

30 September 2020, Emma Wood from the University of Massachusetts Law Library writes an article for the American Library Association’s Intersections blog. She references Oldenburg when thinking about the possible roles for public libraries as society emerges from the COVID pandemic.

“Oldenburg did not mention libraries in his book. This might be because libraries were not perceived as convivial establishments at that time or possibly Oldenburg’s personal experiences with libraries were uncharacteristic of third places, the silent libraries of history. … As many of our beloved third places languish against the obstacles, we are reminded that libraries are one of the last pure forms of community space. … Library support and advocacy are poised to grow in response to renewed interest in social space and programming … a light in the darkness.”

Which brings us to the statistician – and what’s my point? Well, I’m not even going to try to compete with Emma’s “libraries … a light in the darkness”. But what I will say is that not only did Oldenburg not mention libraries in his book, nor did Ben mention libraries as a ‘third place’, and Ben had a pretty good list going there. Emily referenced libraries in passing, but she was more comfortable with the third place being a coffee shop, gym or bar – and that’s OK.

Now I don’t expect everyday people to be familiar with the term ‘third place’. They will find their own place of comfortable connection without ever having to assign a name to the concept and the sense of belonging it invokes. However, I do expect policymakers to be across this idea and consciously aware of the roles of the different places that exist within the social environments they create/oversee. Yet from my experience talking to Councillors and state and local government bureaucrats over many years this is not the case. And when I talk to them about they idea of the ‘third place’ it comes across as a revelation – one that they quickly understand (it’s not rocket science) but not one that they would have associated with a public library.

Why is that?

Well you can see it in Emma’s call for librarians to ‘seize’ the opportunity to ‘speak loudly’ about the possible role of libraries. As a librarian she understands that this is not something librarians have done in the past. They carry on quietly doing amazing things for their communities on shoestring budgets afraid that if they make a noise it will draw attention to them and they might become a target of economic rationalisation. I’m going to say that in times of financial restraint the quiet achiever can get used to ever-diminishing budgets – death by a thousand cuts.

It’s also in the language around libraries. When I ask Councillors about the benefits of their libraries the response is invariably about books and Story Time. I’m guessing that if I asked about their reserves and parks the first response would not be about park benches and bushes. It would be about open spaces and healthy living. If I asked about rubbish collection they would focus on sustainability, the environment and public health, not food scraps and plastic bags.

For some reason the conversation about libraries centres on the ‘stuff’ and not the vibe or the impact. And don’t get me wrong – the stuff is critically important. But wouldn’t it be better if the conversation focused on wellbeing, literacy, resilience and belonging. On social and digital inclusion. On community strength, capacity and cohesion.

Which brings me back to one of the main pillars of my soapbox. Those of us who know that libraries change lives have to get vocal, and we have to talk outcomes. Libraries need to be an integral part of the conversation about stronger communities, not an afterthought – or even worse an omission. The idea of the ‘third place’ still resonates 35 years after Oldenburg coined the phrase. Ben and Emily are still writing about it today. So if libraries weren’t thought of as a ‘third place’ in 1989 (and let’s face it, that may have been a fair call in 1989), let’s make sure that they are in 2023!

[Far be it from me to spruik Wikipedia as a prime reference (when speaking to an audience of mainly librarians), but I reckon there is something to be said for the article on ‘Third place’.

“Other scholars have summarized Oldenburg’s view of a third place with eight characteristics:

  • Neutral ground – people are free to come and go as they please

  • A levelling place – socio-economic status does not matter

  • Conversation is the main activity – conversation is a focus but not required

  • Accessibility and accommodation – open, accessible, accommodating and fulfilling

  • The regulars – set the tone and help newcomers feel welcome and accommodated

  • A low profile – wholesome, cosy, never snobby or pretentious, accepting of all walks of life

  • The mood is playful – witty conversation and frivolous banter are common and highly valued

  • A home away from home – feelings of warmth, possession and belonging.”

Check out the full descriptors for these eight characteristics. They sure sound like a library to me.]

1. https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/one-thing-european-cities-do-far-better-than-australia-except-melbourne-20230912-p5e41y.html

2. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/third-place-community-spaces/

3. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/odlos-blog/rise-third-place

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place

 

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