FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Even before the bell rings each morning, students at Centennial High School are lined up to get into the library. But they aren’t necessarily looking for books.
They are waiting for a morning cup of joe at the Cougar Cafe, a coffee shop run by students.
Coffeehouses are springing up in high school libraries around the country, marking a big departure from the days when librarians sternly prohibited food, drinks and talking.
Some health advocates wonder whether high school students really need any more caffeine, or the calories in that caramel mochaccino.
But school officials say these coffee shops are promoting reading and studying by attracting teenagers who might not otherwise hang out in a library.