As a former librarian and lifelong library user and advocate, I love visiting libraries in other cities. Nate and I were in town for work and needed a spot to do some remote work, so we stopped by this branch of AADL. The website said they didn't open until 10 am, so I was surprised to see people walking around inside the library and using the study rooms well before 10 am. There is a Sweetwaters attached and it seems like they have an arrangement with the library for cafe visitors to use part of the library space even before the library officially opens. I originally chose this location due to its easy parking and study rooms, but we set up at one of the tables near the cafe as the study rooms were already full. They were like little fishbowls - just a glass room with no actual door. The front of the library got a little bit loud at times, but it worked okay for us. There were many people working and browsing the library while we were there. The library is a lot larger than I was expecting for a branch in a mall, and I had fun exploring the used books for sale as well as the records they had to check out. Towards the back of the library is a "reading room," which was a quieter space with a fireplace, bigger tables, and cozy chairs. That was a popular area and it filled up quickly. I'll definitely be coming back soon! read more

See all

I went here just check out sweet waters coffee next door and found myself at this connected library! The front desk was super helpful and gave me a brief tour and helped me make a library card! Very convenient location. read more

Great space. Connected to a coffee/tea house. Easy to connect online. Definitely will visit again.

AA has great libraries and this is no exception. It is the second largest with wonderful staff. This location is in the busy Westgate Mall. It is a bit too office building-like for me, and the colorful furniture accents help but doesn't compensate for the dull appearance. This branch has a few homeless folks, and I had the unfortunate experience of sitting in one of the upholstery chairs where there was a lingering essence. Bad choice of materials on the library's part. Go with what can be washed regularly. Parking is less crowded by the alley between Kroger. read more

See all

This is the third AADL location I've visited, after Downtown and Pittsfield. It's a really nice one with a bright and airy interior, and a punch of green/blue colors. It feels newer or updated. They have the typical base offerings like books, audio, visual, with a hold shelf and shelf service. There are also computers and printers for use, a few meeting rooms to book, a small selection of art prints to rent, and a small corner of used books for sale. This seems like a nice branch to work/study at. There are plenty of tables as well as loungier arm chairs to work at, with plentiful power outlets and free/public wifi. While it's not silent, the volume of buzz/people chatting was pretty low while I was there on a weekday afternoon. There's also a Sweetwaters located inside this branch! For a bit of a quieter area, there's a reading room tucked away towards the back that's very cute, with a big window, wall mural, and fireplace. I would say that Downtown of course is the best AADL branch, but Westgate is now my second favorite (of the ones I've visited). read more

Perfect spot to grab coffee while you work, study, and read. This library has books, CDs, DVDs, even vinyl! Public computers, kids corner, meeting rooms, and more. Also has a Sweetwaters coffee connected to it! read more

Beautiful library! I recently came in here while doing shopping nearby in the Westgate plaza where it's located. The interior is beautiful and made for both kids and adults to enjoy. There's a kids section near the front door, stroller 'parking'', and several reading nooks. The books are organized by genre/author and there are DVDs, computers, printers, and study rooms for folks to use. I didn't know this until I went to the front desk to replace my library card, members get free subscriptions to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal! Yay no more paywalls. Members also get up to 30 copies printed for free each week. You can even send your files ahead of time through their upload webpage and they're ready the next day. read more

Ann Arbor District Library - Westgate - Libraries Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is starting to become one of my favorite branches. It has everything you need in a library, plus there is a Sweetwaters coffee connected. The people are friendly, there is a lot of space to spread out and it has lots and lots of great books. Don't have a library card? The library staff will say "no problem, lets get you started!" And the summer games.....fantastic, and everyone can participate and have some fun! read more

We visited the kids section. My toddler loved the light display, toys, and tablets. The bathrooms are clean.

What a fancy library! It's clearly renovated for both children and adults to enjoy. It's a great working space as there are glass enclaves towards the back for calls or meetings. I was a little bit skeptical as I was pulling into the lot -- a library in a strip mall?! Apparently that's how they do in A2! I'm surprised they allow food in here but there's a Sweetwaters attached & I saw lots of folks with food & beverages. 268/365 read more

This newly renovated location is absolutely gorgeous. Far more spacious with clean breaks across areas based on functionality. I especially love the children's area with its honeycomb wall unit equipped with fun kid friendly lounge space & pillows to read or to see the neat digital movie scenes viewable in the ceiling of one of the honeycombs. The reading room is great as well with its fireplace. Watch out for the coffee shop Sweetwaters which shares space with the library... Sweetwaters is a nice place but is a money pit! You can reserve one of 2 available rooms online at this branch. (If you possess a AADL card/membership) Something that makes this branch very unique. This was great for our 1:1 tutoring needs. Staff seem generally very friendly and eager to help. Downsides are that it appears to be getting busier (perhaps as folks discover this treasure) & the carols are always full. Parking also is usually busy! read more

The 2016 remodel was huge --- and now so is this place. Extensive, spacious stacks for adults and young adults. A passable large-print section. Kid area with everything from a wall honeycombed with reading nooks (vertical-stack carrels?) to tablet computers to blocks for the board-book set. The central lounging section includes both couches and tables, depending on how serious you're feeling. There are several conference rooms, the largest of which gets used for lots of library events, storytimes, etc. The video selection is sizable, though split between DVD and Blu-Ray and less impressive if you're restricted to one of the two. Besides the north-eastern entrance tucked in a back corner of the Westgate area, there's a second entrance around the back side --- fairly miserable to walk to, and not great for bikes, but usually easier parking for motor vehicles. And yes, there's a coffee shop. Just note that the Sweetwaters has longer hours than the library --- respect the librarians and don't cause too much havoc when you've snuck through the caffeine entrance! read more

Clearly a well used, well supplied, attractive branch library in Ann Arbor with lots of parking in a shopping center on the west side of town. We got books, played in the cleverly designed children's section and attended an entertaining children's story time. Lots of users but not overcrowded and everyone was very friendly. read more

Wow it's amazing how long I stayed away from this place when I finished school and started working. I just started coming here again a couple weeks ago. Still the super cozy little library that I remember, but there was a particular staff member working the day shift who refused to be of any help to me then, when I requested someone else, she refused to get someone. Psh. She showed me. Too hurried to argue, fortunately. I'm so glad I came tonight! The night crew was super friendly. They moved the copy machine to my old hang out (the teen/pre-teen section... It was the coziest part of the library, okay?) Even though they were closing, they let me get my last copies and spare change together patiently and I totally appreciate it. Felt like old times. Thank you ladies. That's the hospitality I remember. Blow those other branches out of the water! West branch pride, baby! read more

This library is small, but fine. Their selection of DVDs and blue rays is toward the back. New books are on the left shelf as soon as you walk in. Saw a creeper looking at and saving pictures of naked shemales on a library computer though *shudder* ... I hope they have some kind of policy against using computers in that fashion. Even if not, that's just poor form. read more

The library has a convenient branch tucked in the corner of Westgate shopping center. It's a good alternative to downtown, if you live anywhere west of Main Street, because you avoid all the parking issues downtown. (Actually, parking downtown is such a hassle, the West branch is a better option for anyone who lives west of Ypsilanti Township. Ba-dum-pum.) Since this branch is next door to Nicola's Books, you might have to use extra self control, once you get into book-acquisition mode. If you work it right, you might be able to check certain new books out, rather than buy them, thus saving money for the purchase of other books. But that would be if you worked it right, and I really don't know anything about that, because I just buy books until I don't have any money left, and then I go to the library. Keep in mind that you can reserve books and have them brought to you at the branches, regardless of what building they are normally shelved in. They don't necessarily show up the same day. You can also return books at any branch, regardless of where you checked them out. This wouldn't matter, except that there's no place to park downtown, and that's where most of the books are. If you plan ahead, you can put your car someplace where there's lots of parking, have the books waiting for you inside, and then check them out without waiting in line. If you belong to the "bustling Manhattan of the Midwest" school of thought, it's also possible to park in a paid lot, walk five blocks, find your own books and elbow your way to the checkout. For maximum intensity, try to do this 15 minutes before closing. The West branch does not have a public meeting space for rent, but it has computers for internet access. As an employee of the library, I am biased, so read this review with caution. read more

Ann Arbor District Library - Westgate - The library is way back there in the corner. - Libraries Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Terrific little library with absolutely everything that you would need. Great kids section with videos and books on tape. If they are missing anything, they will have it delivered from another branch. It's quiet and there are no lines to check your books out. Easy parking. Love it. read more

Ann Arbor District Library - Westgate - Libraries Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Recent renovation in the past two years has turned this branch from ho-hum to exquisite! All modern new areas, children's play area, built-in Sweetwaters café, two sets of restrooms, fireplace, stroller corral, power outlets everywhere you look, study rooms, meeting rooms, the works! read more

Welcome back west side branch! Tucked into the west end Westgate strip mall, this is a lovely remodel - minimalist style, clean and comfortable. Lots of room for conversation, whether in open seating or private conference rooms. The kids area looks fun (think they'll let me play in there?), and I can get in and out to drop off and pickup my borrowed items very quickly at this location. Nice Sweetwaters, accessible from inside the library. We are blessed on the west side with this great space! Thanks A2! read more

Brand new renovations- opened 9/7/16! Woah very beautiful space with a Sweetwaters attached. Lots of little nooks and big chairs. Feels very welcoming and a nice open layout. My biggest complaint is that there are no quiet spaces in the library. Even in the reading room, you are allowed to chat. I think there could be a few more standing desks in the reading room.. theres a wall of unused space. The library is great for children but feels catered for families not working people. There are two meeting rooms which you can reserve but my feeling is that it will be reserved by the same people every day. There are very few spaces to stand and work which I thought would be part of a modern library. Disappointed about that. Great place to chill and chat and maybe get some "lite" work done but it's hard to do any serious work here. Overall I am thrilled to have this library open on the westside!!!! read more

Another amenity of this nice little mall: a little branch library. You can shop, eat bagels, and get books at the library after finding only one convenient parking place. Of course you can check availablility of books online in the catalog before you leave home. But surely you'll just browse. read more

We enjoy coming to this library but my only complaint is that staff seem to ignore the children's area. There is always food everywhere on the ground and when people bring their kids and let them run rampant, staff never comes over to ask parents to supervise. On a number of occasions I have told staff I left with my kids because there is no parental supervision and it's too wild to sit and read books to my kiddos, and I just get stared at. It's a shame for people who want to bring their little people here to play quietly and read books. read more

My only complaint is that this place is too popular now, and it's often impossible to find a seat or a table to work at on the weekends--classic example of good problems, though. I love how many people are using this space! The redesign is gorgeous, and there are a lot of thoughtful details (special fountain for your water bottle, charging stations aplenty). Love how Sweetwaters is incorporated into the space as well. read more

The whole Ann Arbor library system is top notch!! Their website is easy to use. The west branch is convenient to me so I reserve books from whichever branch happens to own a copy, and it gets to my branch pretty quickly. Thank goodness I was able to get a business library card through my work, because once I moved outside of town, I missed this library terribly when I was without access to this library system. Now, if only they'd only have access through the back parking lot entrance, or at least a back entrance drop box, because Westgate shopping center's parking kinda stinks if you need to run in quickly and back out...!! But, it's free. read more

Exemplary staff. They go above and beyond and are consistently willing to help or answer questions. The library and restrooms are always clean. We just moved to Ann Arbor and are beyond impressed. read more

Very handy location for us. We used this library alot this past year or so. Ann Arbor does have an amazing public library system compared to so many we've experienced around the country. And definitely it's easier to park at the branch than downtown right now! read more