“I was tired of eating at soup kitchens,” Marie said. “I didn’t feel like a real person. I didn’t have an e-mail address.”

Read more at the Associated Press of Pakistan.

“The green features of Belk Library include an emphasis on natural lighting as well as advanced mechanical equipment for energy savings, cork flooring, energy-efficient elevator system, electronic sensor faucets and toilets, computer-controlled shades and recycled/recyclable carpeting.”

Interestingly, the author wonders how much of the circulation increase is due to economic worries, noting anecdotal accounts of people switching from bookstores to libraries as a money-saving measure.