This library is an excellent place to host an event and a true community resource. I have attended…read moreseveral events here, from CreativeMornings to a minority career fair, and every experience has been well organized and welcoming. The space is gorgeous, flexible, and works beautifully for both professional and creative gatherings. We also host our neighborhood meetings here, which has been a great experience. The library consistently offers free classes, helpful staff, and access to a wide range of resources that make it more than just a place to study or work. It genuinely serves the community. When I am there working or attending events, I always try to sit by the windows overlooking the courtyard. The view of the skyline is a bonus and makes long days feel lighter. Highly recommend this library for events, meetings, or simply spending a productive day.

The central library is an amazing resource for families and individuals. They offer great classes…read moreand programming. I participated in a linocut workshop and enjoyed learning a new skills - for free! I have also attended some great speaker series and conferences here. The kids zone is a great place to spend an hour or two with a toddler. The parking garage only costs a few dollars and there is a ton to keep my daughter busy. She loves the magnet wall, toys, and visual displays. I also check out digital books through the Libby app. The team there is always helpful. Thanks for all you do!

We love the Glendale Library - it was recently redone and is gorgeous, full of natural light and…read morethoughtful details. It was designed specifically to be energy efficient with things like solar panels, electric vehicle stations, and recycled materials. The kids area is thoughtfully designed and full of activities and toys for a range of ages. There are lots of meeting rooms and tables, chairs, and seating area options. They even have a large multipurpose room I've seen with classes, kids parties, and bigger group activities.

Updating my review, because the Glendale Branch Library is completely new. New location, new…read moreeverything. If you've been to the Michigan Road Branch, then you'll feel like this one is similar. The children's area is small but nice. There's a hill in the middle that kids can climb up and sit on, and some games and toys and things, as well as lots of books. The children's area is sort of open to the rest of the library, so it would be interesting to see what it looks like when there are lots of kids here for story time. There are lots of little nooks to hang out in, and lots of power outlets. There is also an outdoor reading area, which I saw was being used when I visited on a beautiful day. Another cool thing is that there's a drive-thru book drop, which is convenient. Overall, this is a much-needed improvement to this branch!

Wow, what a nice public library! Just off Michigan Road and 62nd St, there's ample parking…read moreavailable at this location. As others mentioned, the natural lighting inside the building was amazing with so many windows. It also features quite a few "nooks" in which you could get lost in a book, study or get some work done. I really enjoyed the modern architecture, and from my seat I had a beautiful view of shade-loving plants. The desks along the west wall of the building all featured outlets as well as usb ports. There's also a bay of PC's, a children's room as well as what appeared to be a good-sized meeting space on the far north wall. The building itself and restrooms were very clean. Next time you're in the neighborhood, I'd recommend checking this library out!

It's a smaller library, but it's very clean and modern inside. Great place for studying! The tables…read moreby the windows have their own charging outlets which is nice.

The Carmel Clay Public Library is as fabulous as you'd expect from Carmel. Think an upscale version…read moreof 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.

I absolutely love this library! With an in house Java Coffee shop, the greatest library store and…read moreplenty 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.

The Indiana State Library is an amazing structure filled with art, history and information. The…read moreLibrary was built to house the collections of the State Library and the Historical Bureau. The original building was completed in 1934 and an addition was opened in 1976. Both sections have different styles with the older section more ornate and the newer section more functional. The building is currently undergoing renovation of the massive limestone exterior. But you can still visit the inside through the entrance on the Northside of the building. A librarian welcomed us as we walked in. We told her we wanted to visit and she described the layout of the library. There is a brochure to help guide your walk through the building. In addition to books, the library carries microfilm with decades of newspapers from across the State. There is a large room filled with computers and microfilm equipment available for public use. The older part of the library was constructed mainly of materials and labor from Indiana. The building is filed with incredible art (murals, carvings and more), marble foyers and magnificent chandeliers. There is a room filled with publications by Indiana authors. A large center for children has fun interactive displays with information about the Statehouse, genealogy and local children's authors. Librarians throughout the library are engaging and eager to assist with research. There is a small gift shop near the entrance called the Nook. Metered street parking is available adjacent to the building or within walking distance.

Despite working about a block away from the Indiana State Library for the last few years, I'd never…read moremade my way over until an event today required my attendance and I finally got the chance to check out this wonderful resource in downtown Indy. The Indiana State Library was first established in 1825. In 1841, a law established the library as a separate institution. In 1867, an act established that the law section of the library would be placed under the control of the Indiana Supreme Court - this arrangement remains true to this day. In 1895, the State Library was placed under the Board of Education. The Public Library Commission was established in 1899 and by 1925 what was officially known as the Indiana State Library was birthed out of a combining of the State Library and the Public Library Commission. In 1929, the General Assembly authorized a special levy with the expectation of raising one million dollars for a site and building that would be located at Senate and Ohio Streets - it remains at this location, though expanded, to this day. The State Library was originally conceived as primarily for use by state legislators and officials. It has obviously expanded greatly over the years. Any Indiana resident is eligible for a borrower's card (free). The library offers Ask-A-Librarian, exhibits, events/public workshops, a genealogy collection, county collections, federal documents, preservation/conservation services, rare books/manuscripts, reference and government support, the state data center, state documents, talking books, braille, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Center for the Book, Indiana Authors Center, and the most recent creation is the Indiana Young Readers Center. You can take a virtual tour of the Indiana State Library. In fact, the online resources available are quite remarkable. Because it's downtown and more government connected it seems like it's much less utilized than the Indianapolis Public Library system, though in talking to the children's librarian I learned that they do tours (though this has been impacted by the pandemic) and the amount of kids who visit can vary greatly. The building itself is beautiful, though also surprisingly accessible in both street-level entrances and other entrances. State employees (badge required) can access the library via tunnels (I did this today - very confusing but convenient). I even contacted them via Ask-a-Librarian before my visit and messaged with "Jamie," who was able to explain how I could get to the library without going outside and how to get to the room where I would be (the Indiana History Reference Room). There are four floors, though for the most part only staff persons are allowed on the third and fourth floors. They also have a little store called the "Nook" near the main entrance that offers a variety of Indiana-themed items including books by Indiana authors. At one point, I know they carried my book (I had someone tell me they bought it there). I really fell in love with this place, though it's certainly more beneficial for the serious library user than the casual book-reader. It's a dream come true for genealogy research and for any research actually related to Indiana. However, if you've never been I definitely suggest a visit. It's within walking distance of the canal, Indiana History Center, and only 1-2 blocks from White River State Park. Make it a day. You'll enjoy it.

Wow! I was on the hunt for a new-to-us library on Yelp and stumbled upon this stunning newer…read morelibrary in the West Perry (south Indy) area. The sleek Scandinavian design of the exterior had me at "hello". Spoiler alert: the inside is just as beautiful. The space features large wrap around windows, a fireplaces, sleek lines and a dedicated children's and teens section that are clearly spaced off from the adult section of the library. I also appreciated their clean bathrooms and outdoor covered patio overlooking a treeline. The children's section was laid out really well with books displayed in a way that's easier for short kiddos to read the titles and explore what's available. We ended up leaving with a variety of recipe, travel and kid books. I can't believe there weren't more people here. It was a 20 min. drive from downtown but worth every bit of the drive. Can't wait to return!

One of my favorite things about living in Marion County is having access to ALL of Indianapolis'…read morelibraries, and there are many! This location is our current favorite, almost solely for their kids section. You'll find a stack of grocery baskets when you first enter, and we love that. We like to get enough kids books to have at least 2 bedtime stories a night, plus extra for our calming nook. Each kid can grab a basket and so do I. I believe they have plastic bags available to take your collection of books home, but I use reusable totes for the 20-30 books that we end up with. They do a great job of putting a nice selection right up front of books that compliment the season and current events, and that includes children's books. That's the first place I look before we head to the children's section. Not only is the children's section large, it is sectioned off quite nicely, so I don't feel the anxiety of trying to keep their voices low. I feel completely secure in allowing the 3 of us to wander around, independently, collecting books. My girls enjoy the games available to them on the computers and also the interactive area that holds Legos and fun seating. Books are also separated by topics and themes for the younger/learning to read crowd and placed into bins with photos as labels. I absolutely love this and it's helped my 5 and 6 year olds pick out some really great, age appropriate books. There is also a really pretty outdoor patio that you enter thru the children's section, where you could sit and read or study. I would love to check it out when the weather is nicer. This location also has a step stool up at check out, so younger kids can check out their own books. The girls have their own cards and check out the books they've chosen themselves, and they really enjoy the process of checking out and loading up their books on their own. This location is definitely a gem for local youth and their parents.

Working remotely at the Southport branch was a great experience. Free wi-fi at Indianapolis Public…read moreLibrary branches is always a plus. It was easy to find and connect to the network. I always enjoy browsing and checking out books when I stop by. The seed library was the highlight. There were many varieties and other gardening resources that make home gardening accessible. I also enjoyed the layout. There were cubicle type spaces for semi-private working and easy device charging. There were also group private spaces and collaborative spaces. Working next to the collaborative spaces was a little distracting because I could hear others' conversations, but other than that it was a great experience.

We are slowly but surely working our way through all of the libraries within the IPL system. This…read morepast weekend, we popped into the Southport location because we have never visited and found ourselves on the southside. It was a great time to check it out with all of the summer reading program activations under way. We quickly made our way to the kids section to pick up a few audiobooks and baby books, and then grabbed a few recipe books as well. The staff was very friendly when we went to check in our summer reading chart and retrieve a prize. Overall a positive and smooth experience. I would say this isn't one of the more refreshed or stunning locations. I wish it had more natural light and kids activity stations similar to some of the other spots. They all are getting so sexy-it's hard to keep up!

We spent our morning bopping around Garfield Park neighborhood and I was excited to knock out…read moreanother library with my toddler. This location is congenitally nestled into the actual park neighboring the conservatory, a bus stop and several restaurants and bakeries. In the summer months, it neighbors the fabulous Garfield Park farmers market. Parking can easily be found on site and it's less tab. A fifteen minute drive from downtown. As for the library itself, it's a bit on the older side with not nearly as much natural light as you'll find out the other newer libraries. I also found that the staff wasn't as engaging as I've seen elsewhere. Nonetheless, we enjoyed finding some new books and kid books to take for the road. I also thought the kids book section was organized in a somewhat odd way making it hard to see very many covers, they had a few displays, but otherwise you had to pull them in and out, which can be a little chaotic with little hands. Overall, a lovely neighborhood library, and part of our rotation.

This branch of the library is small but mighty. Located on Shelby right off of the park- the branch…read morehas a computer lab, amble kids & adult section and tables for studying. When I worked closer to this branch- I would stop by to pick up holds. I did a program a few weekends ago out of this branch and the library staff member was friendly and helpful.

I have been to the Joyce Winner West Branch of CCPL a couple times. Joyce Winner was a local…read morephilanthropist and avid book reader. When she passed, her husband James Winner, seized the opportunity to support the newly constructed library in her honor. Joyce was well known in the community and within local book clubs. Today, her legacy is vivid throughout the beautiful library facility in West Clay. There is a photo of Joyce in the Children's Area of the library. The library is new, upscale with lot's of book-themed art and fixtures. The children's section has a great selection of colorful and award winning titles. There are study areas upstairs offering a quiet work space. And of course, there is free WiFi throughout out. The librarians are wonderfully helpful and engaging. This week, I took my granddaughter to the library. We read several books by the cozy fireplace in the sunroom area. I also read the daily newspapers. We picked up several of the monthly craft kits available to stimulate creativity of the patrons. My granddaughter also worked on the large mosaic puzzle that changes monthly in the library. Books that are not available at this branch can be ordered from other branches. There is street parking out front. This is a wonderful little library with a lot of interesting activities. Don't forget to pick up the Spice of the Month packet at the front desk (the April spice is rosemary).

I'm a big library gal and have enjoyed having two Carmel library locations! You can return or check…read moreout books to either location and there's even a mini book drop-off window. The staff here are amazing and always so happy you're there. They hide a little stuffed animal in the kid's area for kids to find and always have a little kids recipe and mix that you can pick up over there too. They also have an adult dinner recipe and spice mix each month that you can pick up and shares info about a book to learn more. Such a cool idea. There is a main book area, upstairs private rooms, and a side room that's full of windows and beautiful natural light. It's quiet and peaceful, a great respite in The Village of West Clay neighborhood. We're glad you're here!

What a fabulous, low-key and today Indy library! I've been intentionally placing our holds at new…read moreto us libraries to work our way through all of the locations. We had the pleasure of visiting the Eagle Branch over the weekend and were delighted to find an abundance of natural light, lots of folks busy reading, studying, etc, a great kids section, sees library and easy self checkout kiosks. They also had an impressive recipe book and children's book selection. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here and will be back soon!

A spacious library with sections for everyone! I was able to find a seat and get some work done…read moreeasily. There are private rooms for if you have a study partner/group.