Distance learning courses have long been trying to replicate the social buzz of the post-lecture coffee shop or library chatter, and increasingly their portals resemble elements of our Facebooks, Flickrs, MySpaces and blogs.

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They head not to the bar, and not to the coffee house, but to the library!

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Our small home encourages us to go outside and talk to the neighbors, go on hikes and meet people, go to coffee shops and restaurants, the library, the gym etc.

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He chatted up residents in coffee shops and read stories at the public library.

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He drives himself to the library, frequents The Village Bakery and makes regular stops for coffee at Czech Point.

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For weeks beforehand, men converged every evening to sip sweet tea or coffee laced with cardamom and discuss rival plans to relocate the district library or extend the municipal pier.

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Ally read novels, wrapped up in her duvet beside the central-heating radiator in her bedroom, borrowing them from the center and the public library, sometimes finishing one and starting another without even changing her position or getting up to make coffee, like an addict.

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In the library, where weekly workshops, book clubs and talks are held, is a selection of beautiful Taschen coffee table books and must-reads including Vogue creative director Grace Coddington's autobiography.

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