I've been going to the Bethlehem Library, main branch, since I was a kid, and it's always a comforting feeling walking into that historic building. I'm sad they got rid of the microfilm readers; I guess those were moved to the Allentown Library. Makes sense that these aren't as popular as they used to be, but I'll miss heading down to BAPL and idly scrolling through old newspapers for an hour or two. Anyway, the selection is basically good here. Lots of new fiction and classics, and a solid collection of DVDs and audiobooks and CDs. The staff is sometimes friendly, sometimes not as friendly. They're mostly fine. But the noise level of BAPL main branch . . . I have never been to another library as loud as this one. At any given time, library patrons are talking at normal volume, using noisy phones, or just generally, you know, not being silent, which is what you're supposed to be at a library. Isn't that one of the oldest rules of civilization, that you shut your mouth when you enter the hallowed grounds of the town library? When I was there a few days ago, a band concert or practice, I couldn't quite tell which, was going on in the "Quiet Study Room" between four and five o'clock. The doors were shut but of course it was extremely loud. I can't imagine them doing this kind of thing at Easton Library or really any other library I've visited in my entire life. I'll keep going to BAPL, I love a library, and like I said, their selection is good. But this is not a place I'd go and spend a couple hours just enjoying the atmosphere (or microfilm newspapers); when I go to BAPL, it's to grab something I've already researched on my own, and get out. read more

Very very helpful, kind and welcoming staff members. I really enjoyed the selection of magazines!!! Outside- A wonderful spot that overlooks the city. There are some cute little children's activities to do there but overall there is a huge Christmas tree, and a very wonderful library. It was nice to walk around with friends ! read more

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it is great to go there I love the studio and everything and the library staff are always kind and helpful and welcoming not to mention I am friends with 2 of the librarians there to read more

I'm not even going to try and lie. I've got one hell of an axe to grind towards the BAPL. Why you ask? Quite frankly it annoys me to no end the lengths that the staff will go to protect one another and to make sure that no matter how things play out it is always your fault, not theirs, even when it is blindingly their screw up. At the core of my rant: Years ago we would like most people use the outside book drop when returning things. All seemed fine and dandy except that over time quite frequently we would go to take out books only to have the circulation clerk tell me that I had accrued a fine due to a book not being returned. Now I'm going to stop for a minute to point out that in our household we're pretty rock solid on keeping track of books because reading is huge which is why it's not uncommon for us to have out 40+ books at any given time. So after being told that I owed X dollars for this book I would say that it's impossible because I know that I returned it. Circulation clerk would tell me that she'll "let me slide" but that she would have to file some sort of paperwork to find that book and until that time the fine would stick. The next time back at the library I would get asked about paying the same fine again because they "couldn't find the book". Afterwards I would take thirty seconds to find the book on the shelf right where it's suppose to be, normally in the children's department. So not only could staff member X not properly work a scanner to scan the book back into their system, no one could be bothered over the next 2-3 weeks to take thirty seconds to look on their shelves to see if the book was actually there. It's just called pay the fine because we say so and of course when I would take the book from the shelf to the circulation desk it's not like anyone on their side is apologizing for wasting my time again. Instead it's an indignant attitude in return. Now it would seem petty on my part if this only happened once or twice, but as my cat is my witness, this happened easily a dozen times over a three year period before my old lady banned us from using the book drop. There have been other issues like the time that I had to pay for a fifteen year old book that had been borrowed thirty plus times yet suddenly, the book had irreparable water damage (it looked no different than the day it came home with us) and had to be replaced and of course it was my problem to pay for it. This set in motion Keystone Cops-esque scenario where I attempted over several different visits to talk with the person in the children's department who had made this eureka determination yet I was always shuffled off to someone else and even after I paid nearly double what it cost for a new copy on Amazon, it still took four visits for them to find the book to show me the water damage/so that they could let me take it since I paid for it. Overall the collection is nice, the hours are decent but the circulation staff and in particular the staff in the children's department are slippery at best and in reality did their best to obfuscate multiple situations which really did not need to be that difficult. read more

Bethlehem Area Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Sigh. This is what I get for moving back to the valley after being spoiled by metropolitan libraries. Selection is limited, library itself is very small. Agree with other reviewers that not all the staff is pleasant & they do get accusatory at times; I always drop off inside (as the book drop looks shady). Since the housing prices here are skyrocketing to near metro area prices, the library should get a book bump too to keep up. Miss my old library hardcore. read more

It was a good place to go. Right across from my college. Has a good selection of books and helpful staff

I visit the main branch of the BAPL often. It's not the best library I've ever visited, but it's not the worst either. It has one of the largest collections in the Valley. I've found their travel, finance & food sections to be not too bad. They have a DVD collection, but I never find much interesting. The "new release" titles they told us about when we got our cards are never in. Maybe we just show up on the wrong days? Fines are reasonable. I don't mind paying a few late fees...it's just another way to support my local library. :) There's a fifty cent charge to reserve a book, and it's either 50 cents or a dollar for ILL, but again, very reasonable. Check the web before you head down. It'll show you if a book is in the main branch, or the much smaller Southside one. read more

The staff are very helpful in regards to resource information. The library has a good selection of movies and other media.