The Carmel Clay Public Library is as fabulous as you'd expect from Carmel. Think an upscale version of the Louvre with books and you are getting close. And they've got so much more than books. I visited today and was offered a tour of their Digital Media Lab. Patrons of the library can take advantage of several 3-D printers and only pay for supplies. Cricut machines and software are available to create card, paper products, tee shirt transfers, mugs and more. A state-of-the-art video studio and several audio studios are available for aspiring performers. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and proactively helpful. I got inspiration for an upcoming project that I am working on for a family reunion. One of the staffers printed off information that I needed for my project. The children's area of the library is huge, filled with books, discovery lab, reading areas and an activity room. Toddlers were playing with a few toys during my visit. Upstairs, I found a massive collection of videos and adult books. Several banks of computers were buzzing with patrons taking advantage of the free service. The staff was friendly and happy to show where to find specific books. Comfy seating and work spaces are scattered throughout the facility. Several conference rooms can be reserved for community use. The building is beautiful with a modern architecture that lets in lots of natural light. There is a featured art wall in the lower level. A bookstore and coffee shop are available near the main entrance. There is a parking garage on the south side of the building complete with EV plug stations. Restroom facilities are upscale and immaculate. The library is an easy 5 stars and sets a high standard for libraries. read more

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I absolutely love this library! With an in house Java Coffee shop, the greatest library store and plenty of activities then it's a great place to spend the day! I went there recently on my birthday and found many interesting books in their shop and as I checked out even found a beautiful journal to choose as my one free item. I love that the shop also has games. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Sign outside the entrance. Great for photos! - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Wow, I have wanted to go to 3 programs over 3 conservative days. Apparently, they have annual programs of volunteer fair and of Lunar New Year Celebration. I wanted to go to the Chinese Orchestra event but things came up. I learned about the volunteer fair through where I volunteer. This year will be the second Japan Spring Fest on Sunday May 3. I can explore the event and serve too. Also, I know now how to get involve with Christkindlmarkt. If the time would work out, I would not mind walking beside a disabled kid on a horse while a therapist treats on the other side. I might volunteer at one of that library bookstore's 2 large book sales. At the Lunar New Year celebration, I tried calligraphy writing in Chinese. I consumed chicken dumplings, green tea, and a piece of candy. I saw one girl play an unusual instrument like a petite cello. The Friends of the Library bookstore changed location and looks like they need more room. They sell board games, movies, books, library swag, etc. Prices are a bit lower than Half Price Books, but not the same level of collection. They now have a community art exhibit near the entry to the main section of the library. I wish they had water bottle fillers that sense your bottle and not something to continually press. I like their True Air scent in the huge, private restrooms in the children's department. I need to continue to look at their calendar on events. read more

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Incredible architectural masterpiece, bright, warm, inviting, plenty of parking, great location, I found a Java House with insanely expensive cold brew as usual for the posh bean counters. Thankfully many other nearby espresso options to better match this gorgeous environment! read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Private area - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I am here 2-3 times a week, checking out the books, bluray/dvd section, and browsing the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Living just a couple blocks away this makes for a nice little stroll. What a great place to spend time! Since I am a movie buff I will focus on that... They have over 20,000+ dvds and I think around 4000 blurays. The little stations to checkout books or movies are really easy and fast to use, I have never had to wait in a line to check out materials. When our son was young he loved to spend time in the children's area which was fantastic. This library really is one of the pillars of the community. Besides what they offer, it is just a beautiful building and grounds. See attached pic of my dog relaxing in the shade outside the library. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Jax the wonder mutt and the Carmel Library - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

this is a place to be if you're looking for a book for school or just for a happy. They have options for everyone and activities to keep you busy for a few hours. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Loving the library updates! The new tech lab looks awesome and it's nice having a coffee shop (Java House) inside there too. We've brought our baby to a few of their classes and they were so impressive and there's tons of cool activity spots in the kids area for them to play at all hours. We visited recently and I love the "book blind date" section, which was books wrapped in pink and red wrapping paper. Such a cute idea! We also loved the high schoolers' art in the lobby. It's soooo impressive! read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Blown away by this library--it is INSANE! It looks like a shopping mall--and yes, there are actual shops inside. The book sale area looks like a shop. There's even a full Java House cafe inside. Very different from the usual libraries I attend. This is right next to the school, so there is often an onslaught of students here, making finding study/work space tricky sometimes. Generally, if you can avoid those periods, this place is huge and you can easily find a spot to work in. read more

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Just visited the recently renovated library and wow! It's huge! I kind of felt like I was walking into the lobby of a museum. It has everything. A digital area, children's area, lots of local art exhibits and plenty of conference space. The used bookstore has an excellent variety of items. We left with several books and a couple puzzles. With the Java House coffee shop addition you spend hours here. read more

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I haven't been here since the renovations--and wow it knocked my socks off! This place inspired me to get a whole bunch of grading done on a Sunday. I also liked that the Java House was opened before official library hours, so you could get a head start on work. It's bright, it's open, it's Carmel-ized. There also looks like there is a maker space with 3D printers and a ton of programming going on here. I didn't know public libraries could go so hard. read more

I frequent Carmel Clay Public Library almost twice a week and absolutely love the parking, cleanliness and quick service whenever I visit the library. They have an amazing 3D library which has an array of equipment for all your creative needs. There is a podcast room coming up but that is continues to be work in progress. Meeting rooms are an option, basis availability and I also got to see the CCS All District Art Show by Carmel Clay Public Library and Carmel Clay Schools. A lot of movie screening days, meet up events and many kid/toddler friendly activities. The space has a Java coffee bar which I am yet to check out, but all in all an exceptionally amazing place within Carmel! read more

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Very impressed with this library! Looks like a 5 star hotel. Remodeled, bright, spacious, staff is very friendly and helpful. I won't be lying if I say this is the best library I ever seen in my life! Plenty of parking. Just avoid leaving - coming at 4 -4.30 pm as there is lots of traffic from a high school dismissal and school buses. read more

Here to update my review for my beloved local library! ICYMI: the Carmel Clay Public Library main branch in downtown Carmel (across from Carmel High School) is currently under construction through the end of 2022. They are undergoing some massive renovations, including a parking garage. So, for the next two years, CCPL is temporarily housed in the old Marsh grocery store at 2140 E 116 Street in Merchant's Square. Relocating to an old grocery store is actually genius. There is a large parking lot for patrons, automatic doors for contactless entry, and TONS of room for all the books and materials. It's a hoot to see books, audiobooks, movies and CDs in the unplugged freezers and shelves where I used to buy my groceries. If you don't want to go inside, they have six curbside spots and you can text them and they'll bring out your book. Each time I visit the library, I feel very safe and I'm thrilled they have a new temporary home as they make the main branch better than ever! read more

I recently checked out the Carmel Clay Public Library and was completely in awe of how beautiful and modern it is! The layout reminds me of a college library and there were people everywhere on a weekend afternoon reading and studying. I also loved the creative idea of a Blind Date with a Library Book featured for Valentine's Day. The Java House inside the library is an awesome amenity and the library used book sale room feels like it could be its own independent bookstore. Unfortunately since I live in Indianapolis I can't become a member but am looking forward to coming back to enjoy the beautiful space to catch up on work or reading! read more

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Amazing library. Beautiful interior and I know there will also be solar on top! Definitely a great place for a group study since they have plenty of large rooms. Also a good option if you work remotely and want to get out of the house. They have a Java house (coffee) right at the entrance so it's a win win. Plenty of parking, clean restrooms and they even have self check out for books. This is the best public library I have ever been to! read more

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Beautiful library! This is a really nice place to spend time and use their extensive resources. It's really impressive and has a great staff who always seem willing to go above and beyond. The library was great before and then, subsequent to the renovation, it's just superlative. If you live in Carmel or are visiting, you shouldn't miss seeing the library. read more

Beautiful space. Good internet. Lots of selection. One of the nicest public libraries I have been to!

This is one of the prettiest libraries I've seen, and the employees are all so polite, professional, and kind. They have a fabulous makerspace with recording studios, 3D printing, and more! This community is so fortunate to have such a beautiful library. read more

Went in a pinch today after getting attitude at FedEx/Kinkos. I needed to scan a 35-page document, and I didn't want to pay for a flash drive AND $10 for the scanning. A friend suggested the Library. What? What? Their scanners are downstairs in the lobby, and it could not have been any easier! I could scan to a Word doc, PDF or several other formats and email it to myself and others. (Why was that so hard FedEx/Kinkos?) Best of all, it was FREE! #taxdollarsatwork. I love you Carmel Clay Library! We stayed to do homework in a reserved room and browse and check out books. It was a very fruitful hour. read more

Working from home every day makes it hard to find good places to collaborate with others but this library is perfect for a few people to get together and knock out a lot at one time. I, along with 3 other colleagues, needed to work on a few projects and going to one persons house just isn't that practical sometimes. They offer small work rooms with tables and chairs and plenty of places to plug in a computer. They definitely fill up fast so if you aren't there early then you should cross your fingers you can catch someone leaving. Very nice library. Clean and so many book options! read more

What a refreshing place! An expensive supermarket turned into aisle after aisle of adventures. I love how the refrigeration units were turned into bookcases! Minimal seating, but I had no problem finding a place to sit and read for a bit. read more

One of the better public libraries I've ever been to! It is definitely the kind of place where you could stay all day, just hanging out in the peacefulness and browsing all of their great selection of books, periodicals and audio/visual. There are even little rooms you could check out to watch movies or listen to music. That's so neat! The children's section of the library is almost the entire half of the first floor -- that's how big it is. The selection of books is enormous, and they look well-cared for. Upstairs, there is a big quiet room with lots of computers, as well as individual work rooms with power outlets to bring your laptop to work or study. The checkout area is self-serve, with easy instructions on how to do it. You even check out movies at the self-checkout! It's basically a two-step process: scan your library card, then scan your item and you're done. One of my favorite things about this library is the fact that they have a little cafe on the first floor. I've only tried their coffee and blueberry muffin, but both were good. read more

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Lucky us! The Carmel library is awesome for so many reasons. I took my parents there for a visit and we walked all around each floor, to each corner, to check it out since it reopened last week. It's beautiful, spacious, and many awesome chairs & reading nooks, meeting spaces, great technology, etc. Nice & spacious for young kids, then a cool area for middle school kids, separated appropriately. I didn't think I'd like the parking garage, but it was laid out well & is well-lit & spacious. The only part that wasn't great for us is that it is a LONG way to walk to get to the adult section of library from the parking. My father uses a cane, and it was too far. There is not any way to drop off someone closer than the southern edge of building, and the adult section is the north 1/3 of building. I'm also not sure about the drop-off area; seems like it will be congested with cars waiting to pick up students & people wanting to stop to get out & return books ... we'll see. Can't wait for the coffee shop to open in the near future, and to investigate this building further (tech area, magazines, etc.) The northwest glass corner on the second floor where the magazines, newspapers, and graphic novels are (weird combination of items) is the hot area .... it was full of people. I look forward to programming in the large gathering rooms and visiting this location for often. read more

The Carmel Clay Library is one of the nicest libraries I've been to. It's not "my" library, because I'm not nearby, but I've been a few times for events. The building is huge and beautiful, with tons of windows and space. Every time I walk in the door, I remember that there's a cafe stand serving snacks and drinks like hot chocolate and it impresses me every time. That may not be a big deal to you, but I didn't grow up around libraries with areas like that. There's also a nice little book store area where they sell books and I enjoy perusing the used books inside when I come in. The event rooms are what I have more experience with, the one at the end of the outer hallway in particular. It comfortably fits our group of 30-35 and could easily fit more. The staff who allow the programs I've been apart of to happen are fantastic -- super kind, excited to have us, and willing to do their part to help us have a wonderful time. I can't speak much on the ins and outs of the library check out process itself, but I do know they have shelves on shelves of books available and if I lived closer, this would be a great spot to come study or work on a project. read more

This is a huge library in the old Marsh building on 116th. I have been frequenting this location to do in-person testing with students. I love that there are tables right at the entrance so my students can easily locate me. I've not used the actual services of the library but it always seems to be pretty busy no matter the time of day. My only complaint is that the wi-fi is not super strong. I often have to get out my hotspot because the wi-fi loses signal. read more

I wound up in the library one afternoon when my ISP decided to go down for the afternoon and I needed a place to work. It was easy enough to get set up and get work done in a quiet, relaxed setting. There are plenty of private study rooms for small groups to use, and the book selection is plentiful (though I can't speak to anything other than the volume). The lobby also has a used bookstore as well as a cafe, which is a nice touch, especially if you're there to work on a project or something else that would keep you there for an extended amount of time. There aren't many times that I need to use a library (I'm not a big book reader, and when I do read, my Kindle does the trick), but for those that are still inclined, this is a great place to visit. read more

Love love love this library! We moved to the area late last year and have started to explore around Hamilton County. This place is awesome. The kids area is very nice. I love the setup and all that they have to offer. read more

I recently retired and rediscovered the Carmel Clay Public Library. I visited frequently years ago when I had small children but now I'm going for ME! So many resources available --- workshops, author meet and greet, online research tools and classes, media lab, and of course books, magazines, and digital media. Beautiful facility with lots of parking and quiet spaces to read, work, and meet with others. Friendly and helpful librarians. Love borrowing and downloading digital books to my Kindle. Snack bar and eating area in the lobby too! read more

The CCPL is a great place to be. Whether studying, checking out books and/it'd movies, or bringing your children for fun - it holds so many adventures. Personally, I went to print off a couple things for work and was having difficulties. When asking for help, the lady at the desk immediately stopped what she was doing to make sure I could get along with my day. Funny enough - she could not figure out why the printer was charging me extra, so she ending up not charging me anything at all (: It's a beautiful, fun, and happy environment!!! read more

This library is like something you've seen out of one of those teen movies...it has everything! The staff is very friendly and willing to help. It is kind of intimidating when you first go there, I couldn't find the actual entrance to library the first time I went. But once you figure out where the sections are, it is a beautiful library! Whether you need to study or just looking for a good book, definitely one of the best libraries I've been to. read more

The library is located right before you enter the Carmel Arts District and across the street from Carmel High School. Great location for starters. This building is just amazing. A wonderful space for gathering together in education and learning. So many nooks for reading and informational resources. It's great. So great. And you know how all of our Blockbusters & Holly Videos are no more? Well just go to the library, they have a large section of DVDs & Blu-Rays... for FREE!! read more

Wednesday is Library Day at the Ash Family Residence. Every time we go, it's an adventure. My soon to be two year old runs the show. I really need to invest in a two seater stroller. I get tired running around chasing him. Thank you to the staff for always being kind and understanding with children approaching their terrible twos lol. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

What a beautiful building! They have so many great activities for kids. They're so digital too! You can borrow online books for your iPad or kindle. Plus, they have a cafe and a bookstore. Such an amazing community library! read more

Awesome library! Love coming here for some quiet time. Plenty of books, cd, etc. selection galore.

Beautiful building, free parking, loads of nooks and spaces to browse and find the perfect read. A resale book shop at the entry and a coffee bar round out the welcoming atmosphere. My favorite discovery was direct download of audiobooks to my iphone. The tech desk gave me the handout and information I needed to get started. A really great staff. read more

The first time I came here to look for books, it was so good, all kinds of books were complete, the children love , I also found a few books I wanted to read, I recommend read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We love the Carmel library! The programs for kids have been a favorite for our family

Nice library! Very big with lots to do. Great summer program. HUGE selection of books. I like the checkout kiosks--very fast & efficient. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library - Playing in the kid zone. - Libraries Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We love our library! As new residents from Los Angeles, we always brag about how great our community library is to family and friends. We are so proud. read more

Carmel Clay Public Library has to be the best community library ever! I am a retired teacher/principal who frequents the library to tutor students and to check out personal items. The facilities and selection are outstanding, but the most amazing quality of this library is the staff. They are so very friendly, knowledgable, and helpful. Please make sure the librarians know how much they are appreciated! read more