Why co-working spaces are a waste of money

There's a cheaper alternative.

I’m writing this from the reading room of the Bibliothèque Mazarine, France’s oldest public library. It’s absolutely stunning — built in the 17th century and with all its original architecture perfectly preserved, the building looks amazing inside and out. The chairs are comfortable, wifi is fast and there are plugs everywhere.

When I’m in Paris, this is my office — and I’m only paying €15 per year for a desk.

It’s not that there’s a shortage of co-working spaces here. It’s just that, while they’re nice places to work, they can’t compare to the city’s libraries.

Sure, co-working spaces might have coffee, background music and interesting people to meet. They offer beautiful spaces filled with expensive couches and long, wooden tables. But when you compare them to a public library, it’s such a bad deal.

WeWork Paris, part of the well-known co-working chain, offers a ‘hot desk’ membership for €450 per month. This gets you a flexible working spot in one of the building’s common areas, free drinks, paid conference room usage and access to WeWork’s events and community. It doesn’t include any private working space, and there’s no guarantee you’ll have a place to work. It’s pretty much like working from a library.

For some people, WeWork’s benefits might make it worth paying up — I guess it’s nice to have access to free coffee all day. However, I just need a desk, plugs and internet access, and the library has it all for just €15/year — that’s 0,2% of the price of a yearly WeWork membership. By the way, did I mention it looks absolutely stunning?

What’s more, Paris has over 15 other libraries, effectively creating a network of cheap co-working spaces around the city. Some of them don’t even charge any fees at all.

At the end of the day, what’s the difference between working from a library or a co-working space? It depends on your needs, but they might be more similar than you think. Pretty much every library allows you to bring bottled drinks — you’ll have to eat elsewhere, however. Opening times can be tricky, but are often manageable. Besides, why not check out a different library when your favorite is closed? And the community most co-working spaces take pride in? It’s easily replaced by visiting local meetups.

You can find amazing public libraries in practically every big city — not just Paris. Some highlights:

New York Public Library

If you’ve seen Ghostbusters, you know the New York Public Library. Located smack in the middle of Manhattan, both access and wifi access are totally free.

Amsterdam Public Library

A beautiful modern library spread out over seven floors, the Amsterdam Public Library is topped off with a stunning view over the city from the rooftop terrace. Access is free and a wifi membership only €12/year.

British Library, London

Besides being a great place to work, the British Library holds over 170 million items in its collection — more than any other in the world. Free access and wifi.

Sainte-Geneviève Library, Paris

Another great spot in Paris, Sainte-Geneviève’s reading room looks like it’s straight from Hogwarts. After signing up at the front desk, access and wifi are free.

Now go out there, buck the co-working trend and check out your nearest library. Thank me later.