Little Tea Library creates a café-like atmosphere
Do you have an old card catalog gathering dust in a storage closet? The Bay St. Louis Library in the Hancock County Library System in Mississippi put its old card catalog to good use by turning it into a tea library. This creative approach to repurposing outdated furniture into a new community space helps to connect people, reaffirm the library’s place as a community hub, and establish a comfy and inviting café.
A cozy place to build community
The library has hot water brewing all day, and the card catalog drawers store a variety of tea bags for self-serve beverages. A sign invites folks to “Help yourself to a cup of tea while you’re here,” sending the message that all are welcome and the library wants you to feel at ease and comfortable. Their strategic plan included “creating a café-like atmosphere,” and the little tea library was an easy way to begin that transformation. They even had a ribbon-cutting during their Senior Social Hour to launch it!
The tea library was an instant hit. As Youth Services Coordinator Brooke Bourgeois noted, “Patrons are instantly drawn to it because it's such a beautiful piece of Library history. It’s our original card catalog from at least the 1960s. It reminds our older patrons of coming into the library as a child. My storytime moms help themselves to a cup before we start storytime, we encourage people waiting for a service to help themselves, and our regulars know exactly where their favorite tea is.” One patron said, “You walk in, and you’re welcomed with books and tea—it’s so wonderful and comforting.”
Keeping the tea brewing, together
Bourgeois noted that the starting costs were the most expensive; they purchased cups with lids, stir sticks, sweeteners, creamer, honey, and tea. Their regular patrons adore the free service and often donate to supplement it. Donations can typically cover the cost of additional features, such as honey and creamer. One patron, Ms. Madeline, brings in a new box of tea every week to expand the offerings, and they call it the "Special-Tea" of the week. The Little Tea Library has become a staple in the Bay St. Louis Library, and they're very proud of how it has helped reaffirm the library’s role as a community hub.
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