The $140 Weekend: Why Libraries Could Be Gen Z's Most Valuable Third Space

From the rising cost of connection to the return of analogue experiences, here's how libraries can attract the next generation of visitors and become places young people choose to spend time.

Getting out of the house is becoming an increasingly expensive exercise for young Australians. A coffee and something to eat with friends can cost $20, transport another $15, lunch $30, an afternoon activity $35 and dinner another $40. Before you know it, you've spent $140 just enjoying a Saturday with your mates.

While this is just one example of what a weekend could cost, it highlights a growing challenge for young people who want to spend time with friends without spending a fortune.

Research from Ally Financial's 2025 Friendship Tab survey found that 69% of surveyed Gen Z and Millennials prioritise catching up with friends in person at least once a week, yet 59% say spending on social activities is impacting their financial goals.

At a time when young people are craving more opportunities to connect, the cost of simply spending time together is becoming harder to ignore.

Recently, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Queensland Public Libraries Association Conference, exploring how libraries can attract and engage the next generation of users. As we unpacked the trends shaping Gen Z, one opportunity stood out to me.

Our local libraries could be some of the most valuable third spaces for a generation looking for somewhere to connect, create and spend time without having to open their wallets.

The Gen Z Connection Paradox

Gen Z has grown up surrounded by smartphones, social media and constant connectivity, with more opportunities than ever before to communicate with people around the world. Yet despite being so digitally connected, Gen Z are widely regarded as one of the loneliest generations.

Cigna's 2020 US Loneliness Index found that 73% of surveyed Gen Z adults reported feeling alone sometimes or always. Meanwhile Eventbrite's 2026 Social Study found that 89% of surveyed young adults valued events that helped them feel connected to their local community.

We're seeing this desire for connection play out in the popularity of run clubs, supper clubs, wellness experiences and interest-based communities that give people something to do while meeting others.

The appeal often comes from having a shared activity that makes conversation feel natural, rather than having to walk into a room full of strangers and make friends from scratch. For libraries, this presents an interesting opportunity to rethink how their spaces, programs and services can help people build meaningful connections within their communities.

Gen Z Return To The Analogue

Another interesting trend shaping Gen Z is the return to analogue experiences. Young people are rediscovering everything from books and board games to digital cameras, journals, knitting and scrapbooking as they look for ways to enjoy life away from their screens.

We're even seeing the rise of the 'analogue bag', where young people pack books, crosswords, colouring in and other activities to keep themselves entertained instead of immediately reaching for their phones. The trend has been gaining traction on TikTok, with The Guardian reporting that content creator Sierra Campbell's video showcasing her analogue bag attracted more than 200,000 views in just five days.

What's particularly interesting about this trend is that many of the experiences young people are rediscovering have been sitting in our libraries for decades.

Libraries are already filled with opportunities to learn, create, explore new interests and connect with others, often for free. The opportunity isn't necessarily to reinvent the library, but to rethink how we package and promote these experiences to give younger audiences a reason to discover them.

What Libraries Can Learn From The Places Gen Z Love

Spend an hour in a busy Yo-Chi and you'll see groups of young people catching up after school, university students taking study breaks and friends spending time together over frozen yoghurt.

While Yo-Chi might be selling frozen yoghurt, I think a big part of its appeal is the experience they've created around it. Their stores are designed to be welcoming, comfortable and social spaces where people want to spend time.

As Yo-Chi co-CEO Brooke Rodger explains: “Every design decision – lighting, seating, artwork, colours, textures, music, how the space flows – is made with our guests in mind, wanting people to feel welcome and comfortable and in no hurry to leave.”

For libraries, there's something worth exploring in how other organisations are creating places people choose to visit, even when they could access similar products, information or services online.

Of course, libraries don't need to become the next Yo-Chi or MECCA to attract young people, but there are some interesting lessons we can take from the way these brands and communities design their experiences.

Here's what we can learn:

1. Create Experiences Worth Leaving The House For

Young people are gravitating towards experiences that combine familiar activities with something social, creative or unexpected.

From reading parties and 'coffee & dj' sets to 'puppy & pilates' classes there is an enormous demand for unique experiences that give young people a reason to get out of the house and connect with a community. The key is to make participation feel easy and welcoming, with opportunities to get involved without needing an ongoing commitment or having an arduous sign up process.

2. Speak Their Language

When it comes to marketing, one of my favourite examples is City of Marion Libraries in South Australia, where the team has built an enormous social media following through funny, relatable and personality-driven content. Rather than simply posting flyers promoting upcoming activities, the team shares behind-the-scenes moments, book recommendations and humorous takes on everyday library life.

They're showing people what it's actually like to be part of their library community, breaking stereotypes about libraries and librarians and giving younger audiences a reason to discover what their local library has to offer.

3. Co-Design With Young People

Perhaps one of the biggest opportunities for libraries is to spend more time understanding what younger audiences actually want, rather than assuming we already know.

This might involve bringing together a small group of young people to explore why they visit the library, what stops them from coming more often and what sorts of experiences they'd love to see introduced.

It could be as simple as inviting high school students to help design a new event series, test a program idea or provide feedback on how the library communicates with their generation. The needs of a 17-year-old student can look very different from those of a 36-year-old parent.

Understanding those differences allows libraries to create more relevant experiences while continuing to serve the diverse needs of their existing communities.

The Library Of The Future Might Look Surprisingly Familiar

As more of our lives move online and the cost of getting out of the house continues to rise, I think libraries have an increasingly important role to play in creating accessible spaces for community and connection.

They are among the few places left where you can spend an entire afternoon without being expected to buy something, whether you're reading a book, learning something new, working on a creative project or simply catching up with a friend.

And while attracting younger audiences is important, this doesn't mean abandoning the spaces, services and experiences that other generations already love. It's about building on what libraries already do brilliantly and finding new ways to make those experiences relevant, visible and accessible to the next generation.

About The Author

Scott Millar is a generational consultant, keynote speaker and trusted voice on the future of work, helping organisations understand the trends shaping Gen Z, Gen Alpha and the communities of tomorrow.

Following his keynote presentation at the 2026 Queensland Public Libraries Association Conference, Scott continues working with organisations to explore how they can better understand, attract and engage younger generations.

To find out more about Scott's speaking and consulting services, head to: www.iamscottmillar.com/speaking