I wanted to write a review to thank the DC library for how wonderful they have been during the COVID crisis. Even though I have lived in DC for a few years, I embarrassingly was not a member of the DC library. It was really easy to go online and fill out a form. When I was confused, I was able to easily get help online. Although I have not had a chance to use the library building, I have been able to go there to pick up books. Each time I have been in and out very quickly. They have a system of how people walk through so that people are not too physically close to each other. The location is incredibly convenient to the metro. I really appreciate how nice everyone has been and how easy they have made it to take out books. Thank you to the staff of the DC Public Library and the Cleveland Park Library for making life easier in these crazy times! read more

Brightly lit multistory library with communities meeting rooms, a book sale rack, and clean restrooms, albeit without potable water or restrooms on the main floor!!! Librarians are really helpful, although automation is replacing a lot of their functions - while it frees them to concentrate on other tasks, it might also render them obsolete. read more

Cleveland Park Library - Why isn't the water safe to drink??? - Libraries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Beautiful space but the staff is really rude and unhelpful for people with children. Printing is also extras difficult here

Along Cleveland Park's Main Street, this library is well-designed with lots of natural light pouring in. Here's what sticks out: 1) Books for sale: On the ground floor is a little corner where books are sold for $1-$2. 2) Balconies: There are two balconies with tables and chairs on the second floor. One of them looks out onto the Main Street. 3) Kids section: On the first floor, it's an entire section with hundreds of books. 4) Public art: There's a panda sculpture and a mural outside the library. read more

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Hard to think of a kinder group of people in all of Washington DC! The staff here are incredibly kind and so passionate about the library. The collection is good on its own, but as part of the massive DC library system, it's incredible! A great public-accessible spot in the heart of Cleveland Park. read more

Cleveland Park Library - Adult section - Libraries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is one of my 3 neighborhood libraries and my favorite one. It's fully renovated a couple of years ago and the layout is excellent - 2 floors, lots of windows, lots of places to sit and read including the second floor landing section overlooking downstairs and an outdoor balcony areas on two sides (although one side doesn't seem to be open usually). Selection of books is adequate and anyway for books etc they don't have you can always request hold and get it delivered from another library. The staff is the best, they are the most friendly, courteous, and helpful. Location is convenient - steps from the Metro redline Cleveland Park station. read more

A fantastic library! Well-designed, lots of natural light, great book selection, an auditorium for speakers, and easy to check out books.

As an avid reader, I enjoy traveling to various branches of the DCPL System. Cleveland Park Library is one of my favorite libraries due to the outside balcony area. Additionally, the staff is very kind. This library has laptops which makes accessibility easier. All in all, this is my second favorite library after MLK Memorial Library. read more

The staff are def nice, but it's a little plain. Only two spaces really. The only interesting spot is the balcony outside with a few tables and chairs, that overlooks the street. There are better places with more atmosphere, not too far away. I know they can't really change the architecture much, but how it feels, matters. read more

The new building is a massive improvement over the one I used to visit. It's big and glassy and has three levels, with ample meeting space, good wifi, and some actual books. It's usually well-attended. There are a few design flaws where it isn't as user-friendly as it should be, most notably that the front doors are kind of heavy and awkward (especially for the youngest and oldest visitors). Still, it's an aesthetically beautiful and useful public space a block away from the Metro. This is a good thing for the city. read more

I love it here! This library is so nice, clean, and quiet. As a D.C. public library, you can loan from a large number of other libraries and get it shipped to whichever one for pick-up. The online aspect of this library is great, as well. Audiobooks, reserving study rooms, renewing and more can all be done online! This option is very efficient, especially if I forget to read a book or watch a movie and I need to renew it, but won't have the time to go in-person or call. The only critique is that I wish there were more spaces for individual studying that was separate from the open areas. Definitely recommend! read more

We love the Cleveland Park library!! It is a newly refreshed building and the selection is great. We love visiting to grab books. The children's section is massive. read more

So glad that this library is up and running! It is nice and new and they have a great selection of books. I mainly use the library to tutor and generally wish there were a few more meeting spaces. The study rooms are generally booked (pro tip: you can book online) but there are a few other sitting areas where you can talk quietly to another person. They seem to have a good children's book section, but I haven't really looked into it. read more

Best library in town. Well, except for Mt. Pleasant. Staff is wonderful. :D

This is a great place to do trainings and book tours. It's clean, quiet, and the staff is super friendly. It's only one block from the metro so it's easy to get there. The library's meeting rooms are available to anyone for free, so long as you're not charging attendees. Simply go to the DCPL website and reserve your space. However, be sure to do is well in advance because the slots do fill up fast. Additionally, it's good to note that the library is located in a great neighborhood. There are many restaurants around so meeting up with your group before or after for a meal or drinks is an excellent way to spice up your event. I'd recommend that you contact establishments before hand to inquire about group rates or specials. read more

Cleveland Park Library - They have great space for trainings and community events that you can rent without cost. - Libraries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I never saw this library before it was redone, but it looks absolutely beautiful on the inside. This is a great place to study*, as it has a lot of inside seating, two tables outside, and a few study rooms that can be reserved for a couple hours at a time. *a great place to study if alone... I've been asked a few times to quiet down by other guests for talking with friends about my work. Finding books here, however, is a bit more difficult. I would suggest putting popular or new books on hold to be picked up here (since it's a smaller library). read more

Beautiful facilities with tons of natural light. Staff is very friendly. Great place to study.

(3.5 stars) The first time I walked into this library, I was kind of shocked at how small and old it looked. Since then, I've been back numerous times to study/write and now I find the Cleveland Park Library to be quaint and charming. CPL is essentially one large room with a half-wall concrete divider between the children's section and the rest of the library. The children's section is pretty large in proportion to the rest of the library, which is good for the kiddies but sometimes frustrating for me when I'm trying to get stuff done. I can't speak to the library selection since I've yet to borrow anything from here, but if you can't find something, the staff will definitely help you find it somewhere else. On that note, the staff is super friendly here - nothing but a boatload of helpfulness and cheer. Trust me - I've sat for hours near the checkout area, and most of the staff seem to have unending patience, unlike the librarians in my high school (I shudder even thinking about them). Two major drawbacks to this library are 1. the only tables with a power strip to plug your computer in are on the left side of the library. My power cord is pretty short so if someone beats me to the closest table, I have to do some finagling to get my computer cord to reach. 2. the bathrooms are disgusting. Worse than some bars at 2 AM on Saturday night. Yuck. read more

Walking into this library makes me feel like a little kid again. Not because I'm excited about the library or anything (even though I am), but because of the decor. Seriously, it looks straight out of the late-eighties or early-nineties. Even the lighting reminds me of my youth. If I were going to direct an artsy movie about the early nineties, I would ask the Cleveland Park Library for their lights so I could get the right mood lighting for my movie. Looks aside, I love the library. They let you take books for free! And you can request any book from the DC library system, and it will be sent to any DC library for your convenience. There is a great cookbook selection in addition to the standard fiction and non-fiction collection. And DC has a good selection of foreign language books and "Learn to Play Guitar" books. The kids section is really great. There are all sorts of chairs and tables for kids to read at, plus a computer just for child learning games. Every week there are multiple events for children, including a story hour, a film hour, and sometimes foreign language hours. I don't have kids of my own, but I love taking my niece here for something free to do. There is also a decent DVD selection, which is how my boyfriend caught up on the first 2 seasons of Mad Men, and an audiobook selection for long car rides. The library also has a website where you can download e-books for your e-reader. I've never used that feature because I love the feeling of holding actual books, and smelling real paper, but apparently e-readers are quite popular. read more

So, not so secret confession: I love books, and anywhere you can get books. I think I might love libraries most of all, because of the sense of community and the fact that they are, blissfully, free. This library is cute, quaint,and cozy. There's no denying that it is a bit run-down, but it's clean and has bright lighting (some of it natural during the day) though it can get a bit fluorescent for me as night comes on. The staff is always friendly and helpful and I've never had a problem placing a book on hold to pick up here. The selection in the library itself is a bit scanty at times but big enough to satisfy most literary appetites, I would think. If not, it's easy enough to order what you want right to the door. Don't miss the small bookstore off to the left when you enter. You can find some real gems for cheap if you have some time to sort through it. read more

Book sales! That is the most important thing to know about the Cleveland Park library. Two or three times a year, they have massive books sales where they sell hundreds of books for very little money, like $5, $1, or even free! I went to a sale last fall and got several good books for free, including a history of the New York Times and a biography of Michael Dukakis. They have some community programs like weekly children's films, monthly book clubs and volunteer activities. I spoke to Donna at the information desk, who was very helpful and informed me that the next book sale was scheduled for September 26-28, 2008. I always see children entering and exiting the library so it's a family-friendly place. However, there is a bus stop right in front which results in occasional street characters. Location: Connecticut & Macomb NW, 1 block south of the Cleveland Park Metro stop. Note: The website is in need of updates, so call for the most accurate information. read more

As the child of a librarian, I've got to say that I still think this library is so weird. That said, I live less than a block from it, so I stop in a lot. Stepping into the CP Library is basically like stepping into a time machine. It feels like 1992 in there, like they haven't quite gotten the hang of technology. They still stamps books out, the librarians have no idea how to use the wifi, they have about a thousand VHS titles & approximately seven DVS, they often lose materials that are supposed to be on hold for you... But this library has a certain charm, too. It's teeny tiny, but it's very friendly with a middle-of-the-neighborhood feel. You know, it feels like a hometown hub. It's a nice change of pace form the rest of D.C. They have books for sale for 50 cents in one corner; a goldmine of free magazines in another. The librarians sometimes waive your fees if they're feeling friendly, and there are, of course, always a bunch of super-cute kids around. If you really need to get something in a hurry, go straight to MLK, but if you've got time to meander and let your D.C. life feel a little bit more small-town, the Cleveland Park Library is a welcome change. read more

Visited the newly renovated library today. Of course..it appears "state-of-the-art" and I'm sure it is. Plenty of conference rooms, comfortable chairs, nice view of the neighborhood from the 2nd floor. Obvious a lot of money was spent so I feel compelled to be nice to it. But hard to avoid the sterility and the general unfriendliness. I suppose escaping to a book would help, but mostly I just wanted to leave. And why would it still have temperature issues just like the last? And I mean bring a winter coat especially on a summer day. Hoping they have a liberal policy on overdue books (like the city of Baltimore just initiated) or chances are... once you borrow... you won't hurry to rush the book back. read more

Even though the Cleveland Park Library isn't much to look at and appears to be pretty dated, it's a great place. There is ample seating and plenty of computers. Every time I come to the library to pick up books, the staff are friendly, personable, and quite helpful. The location is also very close to the metro. read more

Nerd alert! I love libraries! This particular one isn't very fancy....or remotely fancy - the bathrooms are straight-up raunch - but I like it anyway. I enjoy the section right when you walk in with new books and travel guides. My insider tips for the library: 1. ALWAYS put the book you want on hold. Why in the world would you go hunting for a book at a library? Log in. Hold it. They email you when it is ready. All you do is walk in and pick it up at the front desk. Simple as a pimple. 2. Use the Freegal music downloading program. When you log in online, you can download 3 songs for free per week and it goes straight to your iTunes. There is a decent selection of artists which means in a month you too can own Lil' Flip's 2002 breakout cd, Undaground Legend. read more

Love the Cleveland Park Library! It is so much nicer and has a much more personal feel than the MLK (main) branch, where I used to go on occasion. It actually reminds me of (a smaller version of) my hometown library. I've been borrowing books, movies, and music from here on a regular basis since I moved to the Van Ness area last summer. I usually stop in at least every other week. It definitely has a strong "neighborhood" vibe, and a good selection of materials despite its somewhat small size. The library is clean, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and materials are easy to find. The ceiling/lighting was redone a few months ago, a much-needed update (previously, the interior was kind of dark and dingy). I've found that they often have new/recent books in-library, but you can easily place a hold online (so long as you have a library card), which I often do. Also, the online "My Account" is a great way to easily keep track of due dates, hold requests, etc., and you can also renew materials online. Even for new/very popular materials, usually the wait is just a couple weeks at the longest. For example, I got the latest Dan Brown novel just a week or so after it was first released. Same with the new Audrey Niffenegger novel. I think the longest I've had to wait is about a month (so far), for the second Stieg Larsson novel, which is obviously very popular, but I'm slowly inching toward the front of the queue! Personally, I think the public library is an easy way to access most or all of the books, movies, music, etc. that you want without having to spend money at the bookstore or on iTunes. So long as you're patient (trust me, I know this can be hard at times), I think you can always or almost always get what you want from the library. And since the DC public library system is so large, there's a good chance it'll have what you want, even if you have to place a hold (and wait a bit) to get it. So far this year, I've bought just one book (new novel by James Rollins, one of my favorite authors - I couldn't resist - bought it the day it came out), but because of the library, I've essentially been able to read/watch/listen to everything I've wanted to. By the way, about a month or so after I spent $20 on said book, I saw it on the new fiction shelf at the CP Library! Last, I recently went to the annual fall book sale here, which I believe is sponsored by (and benefits) the Friends of the Cleveland Park Library group. I got there before the doors opened, and there was already a line outside! The selection and prices ($0.50 soft cover, $1.00 hard cover - at least for fiction; also, toward the close of the second/last sale day, prices were 1/2 off) were phenomenal. I got some great books (including essentially brand new-looking recent fiction paperbacks) and probably didn't spend more than $10 total! I *think* they have a similar sale in the spring. Definitely worth checking out! PS: It's too bad that Cleveland Park (and all the other neighborhood libraries) are now closed on Sundays, but if that's what it takes to keep them open (and for people to be able to keep their jobs) the other six days of the week, I'll take it!! read more

I am a bit sour with this library location. This is about a mile from my place so I assumed it would become my library of choice. I am not so sure. Granted I have only been twice (one to get a library card, the other to attempt to pick up a hold). My qualms about the library are from the second visit. I recently joined a book club and our first read is the ever popular "The Elegance of the Hedgehog." Personally I don't like purchasing books, especially ones for $15 unless I know I absolutely love them (yea I know, why the hell am I in a book club). I thought everything would be ok when I put a hold on the book on disc version. I placed the hold online, which is quite convenient if I can get the correct login information, and I waited for that e-mail saying it was in the library. That day came the 25th, a day I was unable to make. I called back on the 27th to see if it was still on hold and if they can hold it for one more day since they were closing before I could get there, but I could definitely make it the next day to pick it up. "Sure, we can do that!" Wrong. I walked in the next day to find out that they removed the hold and it was gone. They say library policy is they are unable to hold longer than initial hold date, but why tell me it is ok one day and tell me no way the next? Also, when you are telling me this, don't act like I should have known this and the fact that the CD is gone is my fault. I will give them the benefit of the doubt (especially since we just picked our second book) and try again . Maybe they just have a problems with holds? i haven't had a chance to really peruse their sections or take advantage of the "cozy" feeling. Fool me once, shame on you Cleveland Park Library fool me twice and I will not be happy. read more

This review is long overdue. I love this library b/c it's so cozy. There's nothing like going to the library on a rainy day and exploring the shelves (it's small, though, so exploring doesn't really take that long...but it works for me!) The best thing about DC libraries in general is that reserving books online is quick and easy and you never wait too long. The longest I've waited for a book was two days. You can even renew online which makes life so much easier. The people who work at the desk are really nice and don't make those judgmental faces that some librarians make when I check out chick lit. Ok, so he laughed at me once, but that was only b/c my eyes got big when I saw that "Everyone Worth Knowing" was over 300 pages. I was like, "Phew! This is a long one!" read more

Eh. Came here for story time with my son. I've passed this place a million times but never set foot inside until this past Tuesday. The building is old. There were computers and books. Yes, there were books. Overall nothing special. It's a library and an average one at that. The lady that led story time has a really pleasant singing voice. There seems to be a steady group of moms that come to this. They seemingly knew all the words to the silly songs, each other, and that on Tuesdays we wear taupe. The stories were kind of ... eh. At the end of the story time a bunch of toys are dumped in the center of the circle so that the kids can crawl over each other and get their drool on everything and share ... Germs. My son is pretty young, 7 weeks old to be exact, so I'm sure he could not have cared less about the stories and songs but he was intrigued by the other babies so that in itself was worthwhile. I probably won't be coming back for story time (we have books at home) but it is something to do at least once. read more

The facility itself is a bit blah, although they have recently touched up the place with new lighting. It has a nice neighborhood-y feel to it as it is much more personal than the flagship MLK library. The librarians know their stuff and have been working there for a while. I absolutely love the two children's desk librarians, especially Mary. Not only are they well read but they go out of their way to help you and can recommend excellent books that are not heavily marketed. Honestly, without their help or my own background research prior to a library visit, I'd be at a loss over what books to choose for my child. It is surprising how many awful children's books are published each year. Moreover, unlike other libraries within the DC system (I'm familiar with MLK, West End and Georgetown) they have an entire bookshelf with multiple copies of books they have recommended for each age group. I applaud such an effort. The children's librarians are extremely welcoming and remind one of another era. read more

New moms or nannies: Come here Thursday afternoons for story time with your 0-12 mo old baby! It wasn't too crowded, they offer it at both 1:30 & 2:30, there was a big parachute, we sang songs, etc. Think of it as Gymboree for free! The room it was held in was large enough to accommodate strollers, should you chose to take Metro. Street parking is a bit of a walk in an old neighborhood with uneven sidewalks (best to leave the stroller in the car). This was a totally awesome, free thing to do with my baby. I'll be back! read more

I went here a bunch of times in the past couple months to study for the October 2010 LSAT, so I'm going to analyze CP Library from a study venue perspective. First thing you should know: there are some characters that frequent this place - people who talk to themselves and fart out loud and jabber on to librarians about nonsense. Second thing you should know: Don't ever go near the bathrooms unless you are a deadly pathogen seeking a moist space to spawn and create an epidemic. The floors are always wet. The soap dispensers don't work. The toilets don't flush. It's a mess so just stay away and hold your pee pee in 'til you get home. Other than those minor disturbances, I actually really like CP Library. The librarians, while seemingly pretty unhappy with their life choices, are for the most part, very attentive. There is ample seating and the chairs are nice and rigid, so you don't get too comfortable and fall asleep next to a guy whose been rubbing his feet against your leg for the past hour. They also have a lot of resources and a user-friendly computer system with nice computers and a state-of-the-art printer that's relatively cheap to print from. For the most part, it's quiet with the occasional crazy or baby whaling away from time to time but never for long. Overall, great place to study and a nice little library in my hood of Cleveland Park. read more

When it comes to registering for a library card, I've been a major procrastinator. A couple of weeks ago I registered online and this weekend I finally got to a DC branch library to pick up my permanent card. The people at the front desk were friendly and I got my card within 4 minutes. Talk about great service! read more

I love the Cleveland Park Library. It's such a warm and welcoming place. I've been a regular for years. The staff is incredible: so friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to the new building at 3310 Connecticut. It will be spectacular!! read more

I love to read so I'm a frequent library visitor. This location is super old and outdated so the upcoming rebuild is super necessary. The bathrooms are gross, the book selection is not the most extensive, and the seating isn't super comfy. BUT the pros! The librarians are super friendly and remember frequent visitors which is really nice. Also DCPL has a good holds system so it's easy to get books from other libraries. I've found that wait lists--even the super long ones--go very quickly. This location also has DVDs for rent as well! read more

I love the CP library. It's perfectly cozy, and so bright with the new lighting! The staff is very friendly once you get to know them - particularly the reference librarians, who have been great. Library wi-fi is nice and fast, and of course free. It's a particularly good library for kids - a beautiful children's section, with computers, activities, and a great neighborhood feel. Just check out the stroller parking on a weekday morning! I go here to work quite a bit, and I always get a lot done. read more

Brand new building with a great selection of children's books. I'm usually a fan of libraries that aren't bustling with people but unfortunately this is one of the busiest in the entire system. When I come here I spend most of my time in the children's section, so busyness means more kids to play with and that just delights my daughter. The librarians overall seem nice and helpful. After coming here for awhile you start to have your favorites because a few are just completely off-putting. My daughter likes to ask a lot of questions so I appreciate patience, helpfulness, and attentiveness when librarians interact with her. If you have a little one the story time here is inert, I'd recommend going to the Chevy Chase (DC) Branch on Thursday's at 4pm because they are way more interactive with the kids and it's more of a circle time. I would recommend the Science for Tots program here at the Cleveland Park branch, they did a great job with the activity the last time we attended. read more

This library looks like it's out of the 1960's but I love that. Has everything you may need and great staff.

Renovated in the last year or two to make it much brighter inside. Access to all of the materials in the DCPL catalog. Sturdy wooden tables for studying. Cozy. read more

I love libraries. No, I *really* love libraries. And this is an ok library. They have some book, not too many, but plenty. The librarians are nice in their awkward-librarian fashion. The building is dated, but the DC library system is pretty cool; they even did a summer reading program for adults! And, hey, free books with very forgiving late fees. I'll be back next week. read more