Book selection - Very small graphic novel collection, only two rows and missing key series like…read moreOutcast. Decent fiction collection but very limited nonfiction. Amenities - None of the outlets for the desks work, and the molding on them prevents most stuff being plugged in anyway. I had to crawl under the table and remove the desk plus and use the floor plugs directly. Setting - Terrible, the staff do nothing to enforce a good library setting conducive to reading and studying. It's always incredibly loud, lots of screaming kids, and just obnoxious people talking full volume, laughing out loud, or big meeting groups humming around. They let homeless people sleep and malinger around all over the place and it STINKS. Cleanliness - Disgusting, the floors and surfaces are always very dirty and the bathrooms are third world. Shit smeared everywhere, USED TP all over the place, broken soap dispensers off the walls never replaced, never any paper towels, etc. I also witnessed a homeless guy doing drugs off the sink. Comfort - Need more comfy seating. Only a few soft seats and none with feet support or reclining. Most of the chairs are very hard and the desks/tables are set too low. Staff - Seems overall to be friendly but very aloof.

Arlington Pulblic Library is well organized, quite large with plenty of quiet places to read and…read morestudy. They have computers that are free to use. Plenty of parking available. Plenty of books, videos, etc available as well. Helpful and friendly staff to assist you.

I don't know why it took me so long to get a library card, but the sign up process was super easy!…read moreYou just download the app on your phone, enter personal information, and have to verify your information in person within 30 days of signing up with an ID. In the mean time, you can browse the extensive catalog, which is shared among the nine libraries across Arlington. I was able to pick up the book I wanted to read within 3 business days of signing up! I'm super excited to discover more books through the library.

Wow - what a very pleasant experience! I haven't been to a public library in years and today, I was…read morein and out in five minutes! I got a library card and checked a book out. Everything was super efficient and the staff member I worked with was very helpful. And three weeks for a book is so generous! Can't wait to come back.

This is a great library right in the heart of Westover. Very clean and very bustling, even on…read moreweekday afternoons, especially in the summer. Super family friendly without being very noisy. (I often see elementary and middle school aged kids here, whereas the Ballston branch skews slightly younger.) It's close to a ton of nice restaurants and shops, as well as a post office. The neighborhood is extremely walkable, so it's a great place to spend an afternoon. I'm a big fan of the Arlington public library system and its holdings. It's always a good day to stop by and support your local library!

Neat little library. I am a fan of the aesthetics and design…read more If memory recalls, I stopped by here briefly on my way back, coming from an ice cream spot in Arlington. I liked the layout of the library, but the only thing that throws me off that "urban" vibe I get, same as from the City of Fairfax library. I can't put my finger on it. I would have liked to see more greeneries and windows with pleasing views I guess. Overall, cool spot. I like that it has study areas and computer stations. Not too shabby at all.

The smallest branch in the Arlington system, but it's still good. If Central Library's like a…read moregiant tour bus filled with nerdy gloriousness, then Glencarlyn's more of a clown car. Tiny but packed with some great finds. If you have children/teens or just have a nostalgic fondness for hardcover Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown's solve it yourself mysteries, every single Princess Diaries ever penned, or Dr. Seuss's, this branch is definitely worth a browse. The adult fiction section is limited, but they have an excellent and well stocked children's books section and a not too shabby YA section, too. There's even some carpeted steps by the windows for sitting and reading with your kids, siblings, and baby sittees. An added bonus is that the back garden is maintained by the Master Gardeners of northern VA. At this time of year it's a lovely place to walk around and admire the various plants and flowers or to sit on a bench with a good book.

This is my favorite branch of the Arlington County Library. It's so quaint. It just sits on its…read morelittle side street in the sleepy neighborhood of Glencarlyn, surprising unsuspecting new patrons who enter it to find a book they ordered, expecting a branch library in one of the richest counties in the country and not a one room schoolhouse with books (a good thing...five stars!). Even the walk from my house is fun, along the trails in Glencarlyn Park and the Long Branch Nature Center. The selection is small, because the branch is small, but the last time I went in I left with two books just from browsing. That's the sign of a good library.

I love old worldly charm libraries. This is one of them. My friend Shazia and I got a bit lost…read moretrying to find Dumbarton Oaks and decided to step inside here. In us being lost, we found this gem. If I lived in DC this would be my go to library. The librarians are nice and helpful. I have seen other libraries where they do not even want to help you try to find a book. Here they were giving us directions plus providing us information of this library. I really like the way the library is set up. It would be a good place to read, research and study etc. They have cute stairs to lead to the second floor however we didn't get to go there. They only have parallel street parking however, being two hours people were moving their cars etc and we were able to find parking for it being a Saturday. If you are looking for a good place to read or just do your work in peace, this is the place.~

Georgetown Public Library is one of the best libraries in Washington, D.C. First of all, it's on…read moreBook Hill overlooking Georgetown (and Rosslyn's skyline across the Potomac River) in a beautiful, regal brick building. It's several levels full of books, magazines, and reading rooms. The basement has a large kids section with programming for kids- story time, art time, etc. The staff are friendly and the library is clean!

A lovely little local library branch! Conveniently located in Virginia Highlands Park, there is a…read morefree parking lot right outside. Also, this library is right by a fenced in playground and a sprayground that is super fun in the summer. A one stop shop! There is a kids section here with some toys for the kids to play and plenty of books. Also, they have crayons and paper available and several kid size tables and even a tiny couch- very cute. There is one designated kids computer as well with headphones! Ms. Karen does the children's programming and hosts a great story time on Thursday mornings from 10:30-11. If you have a little one you should check it out! Stories and songs for kids. Best for the preschool and under crowd. The librarians here are all kind and very helpful. Stop by the front desk for a stamp on your kid's hand! Don't forget about summer reading too. There is a bathroom located in the lobby as well as a vending machine. Highly recommend you check out the Aurora Hills Library if you are in town!

This library closed in March 2020 and never reopened. As of January 2021, there's still been no…read morepublic discussion of reopening it in the future, and the county library system hasn't responded to any of the people in the the local community about when or whether it might reopen someday. The only emails we've received from the county library director have been about her favorite Christmas songs and her pet political causes, so she doesn't seem to know or care that people in the community want access to books. The hours for this closed location should be removed because anyone showing up and expecting to use a library will be disappointed. It's just an abandoned building where the county keeps a large container to drop off glass for recycling. (Arlington discontinued curbside recycling pickup of glass in April 2019, so the abandoned library is being used as one of the dropoff sites. Recyclable glass of any color can be dropped off 24/7 in the dumpster-sized bin.)

There's nothing really that stands out about this location, and, honestly, I'd never have visited…read moresave for the event Noon Year's Eve was at this location. My son is 13 months and is not staying up until midnight (at least I hope not) so I was looking for some kind of "celebration " earlier in the day. It was a cute event for the kiddos and free. The library opened early for the event and you could stay after too. The children's section was tiny. There were some cute toys, puzzles, and a puppet station but everything seemed really old. Books included. I didn't get a chance to check out the adults section but I have a library within walking distance and since you can request books to be delivered to the branch of your choosing, I don't anticipate returning here anytime soon.

I agree with Lia this library is pretty depressing looking but I will give them three stars for the…read morefollowing reasons: #1) Their huge selection of DC/Marvel comics and manga - Avengers, X-Men, Teen Titans, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach...they have it all. Not like I read them but my boyfriend is a huge fan boy so this particular library branch is his go to stop for free entertainment. #2) Their neighborhood coupon trade bucket - One of my favorite past times is to clip coupons with great expectations of huge savings and then forgetting about them. At this particular library, they have a little plastic bucket where you can discard coupons that you don't use and trade them with your neighbors. I love dropping my Fancy Feast clippings in here and exchanging them for one of those coveted $4 razor blade coupons. I will admit that this review does not paint me and my boyfriend in the most positive light (unless you are 80 years old or a pimpled comic book guy) but this is our life and our library and we think is is a - ok.

I particularly love the Shirlington Branch which is very near me! Love to donate books and good…read moremagazines!

The location is great. The children, during children's hour, are beyond loud. Guess I'll choose a…read moredifferent time to come to the library and do some work. Spacious, lots of computers and work space. I appreciated it. But, don't sit by the large meeting room. Libraries just aren't quiet anymore. Lmao

Library of Congress -- A Living Monument to History…read more Few buildings in Washington, D.C. carry the weight of history as effortlessly as the Library of Congress. It is not merely a repository of books, but a living archive of the American story--one that reveals itself the moment you step inside. For visitors to the nation's capital, this is not optional--it is essential. The current exhibition, The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution, is particularly compelling. Through the intertwined narratives of George Washington and King George III, the exhibit captures a world on the brink--an undeclared nation edging toward war, a fragile cause facing overwhelming odds, and ultimately, the improbable path to independence. What makes this exhibition stand out is not just its historical scope, but its perspective. It does not present history as a foregone conclusion, but as a series of uncertain, high-stakes decisions made in real time. That tension--between inevitability and risk--is where the story comes alive. Accessible, visually engaging, and intellectually rewarding, this is an experience that resonates across generations. If you find yourself in Washington, make the time. Some places inform you. This one reminds you why the story matters.

I have only visited the Library of Congress at a personal level a couple of times. Other visits…read morewere due to events/meetings there. If you are visiting D.C., I cannot stress the importance of a stop here. To this day, it remains the largest library in the world. Pretty impressive. It's also the oldest federal cultural institution. Periodicals, books, etc. available in over 470 languages. More than 178 million pieces of articles from manuscripts, recordings, photos, printed materials, to books and so on. Library acts as a source of research for Members of Congress and handles copyright laws. This building and all its components are an important part of our nation's history.

The brutalist architecture of the library reflects the…read moresocial upheaval at the time of it's opening. That was April 6, 1970, two years after MLK and JFK were assassinated. The Vietnam War was in full bloom. The library was named after Hoya alumnus and Chime member killed in that war. Many students on campus had the military draft hanging over their heads. Modern crises meets Flemish Romanesque Healy Hall. By the way, the stairwell mural is genius (see photos). Fast forward fifty years later, future leaders face similar historic challenges. Bill Clinton, Bradley Cooper and Paul Manafort alumni stories are legendary. Danger is an opportunity to be courageous. Answers can be found in the most unusual places. Hoya Saxa.

This is a good place to study as well, but the midnight mug level can be very loud during exam…read moreweek. I prefer studying here on the main campus as opposed to the DML.