As a frequent traveler, I visit a lot of libraries in different areas and the Avon library stands our for several reasons - good and bad.
First, the good - which is actually good enough that I would have gladly submitted a five-star review were it not for the bad. This library is large, spacious, equipped with comfortable seating and, most importantly to me, has numerous electrical outlets for laptops as well as respectably fast wifi. The public wifi is the main reason I visit libraries as I travel because I need to be online for work. The wifi at Avon Public Library ranks with the top few libraries I have been at anywhere.
Now, the bad with this library. Parking is virtually non-existent - which would be okay except for the lack of signage to indicate where one might park. There is actually plenty of public, on-street parking in this area, but it tends to be full throughout the day. Of course, this is after one finds the library. It doesn't look like a traditional library building (which is fine), it is partly surrounded by trees, and Google Maps has the location of the library on the opposite block so finding it is a challenge. I knew we were in the right area thanks to some city signs that pointed toward the library, but it still took walking around an entire block to locate the correct building. Finally, the worst problem with this library is the NOISE. This is hands down the noisiest library I have visited. I rather fondly remember the days when talking above a whisper would result in a "shushing" reprimand from a librarian - fondly because one could study or work in peace and quiet. This library is just incredibly loud with conversations, etc at all hours. People were having conversations so loud that I could still hear them through noise cancelling headphones.
All in all, this is a good library and I would recommend it despite my complaints. The building is nice, the furniture comfortable, the wifi and electrical outlets more than adequate. I just wish it was a bit quieter and easier to find. read more