Commercial libraries = private library where you pay a membership fee? I’ve not really heard of that here outside of arguably university libraries and similar.
But SF public library has a couple dozen branches or more?
But SF public library has a couple dozen branches or more?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanics%27_Institute,_San_Fr...
A lovely place
Members can go there, plug in a laptop, and type. Quietly. It's never crowded.
It's a well-curated, library. It's most useful if you want historical information about 19th and early 20th century technology. They have a complete bound set of Popular Mechanics, from the days when it was a serious technical publication. The multi-volume engineering study for the Panama Canal, with drawings, is there. Current offerings are well chosen and updated regularly.
As an aside, are there university libraries one can join directly for a fee? I was under the impression they were bundled in with tuition etc. If it’s around $100/month I wouldn’t mind that, but perhaps that is an unachievable target.
There are. Some are more open than others, but it generally comes down to "give $$, get access".
Here's Stanford's page, for example: https://library.stanford.edu/about-stanford-libraries/visit-...:
One thing worth noting, these accesses do not always include access to electronic resources. Access may only be available from computers that are in the library.
Personally I've never heard of or been to any commercial library before, perhaps it's really good startup idea with internal coffee shop (library first, cafeteria second).
I've been to coffee and books cafe (basically cafeteria first, library second) in France and normally it's full during the day (close at 7 pm).