I am not sure if the purpose of this location since it is so small and limited in terms of resources to pick from to then take out on loan. It feels like it may be more of a place to return books and pick up books that were on hold??? It is always clean and organized. You can enter from outside the Crossroads mall or from within it. And the foodcourt is right there so makes for a nice outing if you need to return books or get some on hold. read more

Convenient location for picking up holds. Used to have great hours pre-pandemic but now so much less. Not open as much and often.

Library Connection is a mini library located at Crossroads Mall. The Yelp picture is not the actual location. That is a picture of the Bellevue Library in downtown and immensely larger than this one. Though the library is small, it is located at a mall and there is plenty of parking around. The Lake Hills Library is just down the road from here and they have more of everything compared to here. Still, you will find an assortment of books and periodicals. Of which some are in foreign languages. Though I am really here more to use their wi-fi. Wi-fi is okay if you are in a leisurely mood, but not if you are working as the connection is not very fast. The library has some seating, though you might prefer just sitting outside in the Crossroads food court area if you don't want to be disturbed. If you are looking for a comprehensive library, go to the downtown Bellevue location. However if you are just looking for a library to leisurely browse and use wi-fi, this location is fine. read more

Crossroads Library - Exterior - Libraries Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

HI-TECH CAN'T FAKE FRIENDLY LIBRARIAN! I had been coming to the "Crossroads Library Connection" (as it is formally known) for years. Today, July 23, 2019, their librarian, Louiza, was very friendly and helpful in looking up my library card number as I have not been here in a while. But once I saw their "telephone" keypad at the librarian desk, my fingers were able to remember my library card number. Nevertheless, Louiza was gracious to print it out for me to confirm that I had entered the correct number. Give her a raise! BUT HI-TECH CAN REALLY HELP. Today, I downloaded the "Libby" app (easier to use than the older "Overdrive" app). I simply enter my library card number, my four digit PIN, along with my local library and my email, and I'm ready to browse their library, and put a hold on any book, or audiobook. The Libby app is fairly intuitive. When held items are available, library members are contacted by email. Then they go to the library and pick up books in the "hold" section, or downstream audiobooks with a limited number (5?) days to listen to them, on their computer, laptop, tablet, smart phone, or smart TV, without ever having to set foot inside the library! "IT'S BACK TO THE LIBRARY!" Most of us have independent (home/business/cellular) Internet access nowadays. But for those who cannot afford or who will not tolerate overbilling from Comcast and CenturyLink, whose employer does not permit personal Internet use, or who live in a Cellular dead zone, it's nice to know that this place has 22 Internet terminals, including five children's terminals. MORE HI-TECH, AND NOT SO HI-TECH Also, there are three library catalog terminals, three "self check-out" terminals, a self check-in kiosk just outside the exterior entrance, and two printers (one B&W and one color) and a copier. You can still wait in line to manually check in/check out materials (especially if the scanners are not working). There is also a special lo-tech children's library section, as well as a lo-tech alphabetized "hold" area for reserved items. Oh, and they still got lo-tech bookshelves, magazine and newspaper racks, with lo-tech books, that don't freeze up, don't give "error messages", nor spinning "buffering" messages, nor "bomb" messages! BUT CAN HI-TECH DO THIS? Usually this place is fairly quiet. If somebody talks on their cell phone, library personnel will politely ask you to not talk on your phone, or put on your earphones if listening to music. However, historically at least, they have not been as firm on asking parents to keep their young kids from screaming out loud. Perhaps they could use automated ordinance violation citation kiosks like those used in the 1993 movie "Demolition Man". But if cited parents angrily react the way Sylvester Stallone did in the movie, perhaps the King County Library System (KCLS) will need the Terminator as well. UPDATE OCTOBER 9, 2019: Starting October 2019, the Crossroads branch of the King County Library System has installed two new printing stations, to replace their old printing stations.. One of them is right next to the library "holds" section, and the other is by the west interior entrance. First off, I wish to thank their employees Diana, and especially Kyla for helping me sort through the confusing new print stations. You now enter your library card number and PIN on a large rectangular touchpad, that requires bending down to input your numbers (which is annoying). As before, one can print up to 75 free black and white pages per week, or 25 free color pages for week. But be advised, I had to have Kyla explain that to me. The advantage of the new system is that if you have more than 75 black and white (or 25 color pages)pages to print during one week, you can now print above that limit. But if you have 75 or fewer black and white pages that you have selected, you must now remember to simply select "release all pages", (after you have selected "select all print jobs", or only the ones that you want to print) as the system appears to now require that you must pay for pages below 76 pages in a given week. Also, it can be tricky (see photo) to find your print outs after the printer is done. But it's easy to remember after the first time. read more

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Cozy little place, staff is super helpful.Good place to get hold on your desired books or just use the internet or get print outs too.

I love that this library is located at the mall and stays open so late. I came to use the free WiFi, but I ended up talking to the librarian about the eBook program using the Overdrive application and the eMagazine offerings using the Zinio application. I downloaded both apps in very little time using the free WiFi offered by the King County Library and began using them both right away. I was able to checkout one of the eBooks which had a black book icon indicating it was available and put a request (hold) on another that had the grey book icon indicating that all copies of it were already checked out and that 74 people were virtually waiting for it ahead of me. It seemed like only three eMagazines were available for free, all others had to be purchased. This wasn't quite what I had in mind as a library service. I expected more titles to be available for free, but perhaps I wasn't accessing the library's features quite right. During the day, the place was heavily used, but there were still a few seats available. In the evening hours, the place was packed so I ended up in the children's section along with some other grown-ups that found themselves sitting in miniature chairs furiously working on their laptop at the kiddie table. Seating ranges from computer stations with computers provided, laptop stations where you can bring and plug in your own equipment, or a variety of lounge chairs for relaxing while reading. I was amazed by all of the foreign languages I heard spoken around me. It is good to see that the library system is so successful serving and supporting a wide variety of the public. About 15 minutes before closing time, the library makes an announcement, puts on some music and begins making the rounds to notify customers that the library will be closing soon. The announcement is made again at the 10 minute mark. When the music stops playing, the lights are dimmed and everyone is asked to leave. It seems like a very gentle, yet effective way to close the library. I will definitely return to this location due to its free WiFi, late operational hours, and convenient location inside the mall. read more

Crossroads Library - Libraries Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I went to observe a Tamil immersion story telling class at Library Connection @ Crossroads as I was interested in learning about how one can introduce literacy to young children who are immersed in multilingual environment. Given that Tamil is a specific language used mostly in the Southern state of India (and not as prevalent as Hindi), I was curious as to how much support a public library would provide to a somewhat "rarer" language speaking children (than say, French or Spanish etc). This library is a small one with an equiv space of just 1-2 stores (just like any other Library Connections in other malls) but is nice, quiet and clean. The whole language immersion story telling session was done in the Children's Area of the library and lasted 30 min. It was definitely much more engaging than what I would have expected. The instructor (Anusha?) was able to cover at least 3-4 story books along with at least 7-8 songs within that time frame. I thought of and appreciated such high level of preparation the instructor made to ensure that session ran smoothly and engaged so many children. I came out of the session extremely impressed with the King County Library System to even introduce a language immersion session even of a rarer language such as Tamil (I peeked at their offering and they even have Farsi immersion, too!) and was pleasantly pleased to know that a public library place such as this library provided such high quality of language immersion session for its community, all for free. If you have a child, check out the activities they have. Though you may not be interested in this language in particular, I'm sure they have some other children activities that may be suitable for your child! read more

Another flagship regional library, this one seems to serve a broader constituency than some of the other libraries on the Eastside. I've noticed more Russian, Spanish, and Japanese-language programs on the schedule, and you hear lots of languages other than English when you wander through the huge building. With its own underground parking, beautiful huge community meeting rooms, and multiple librarian stations, this library really hits the spot when I'm craving books and neighborliness. Now if only it were open late! read more

Crossroads Library - Libraries Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

If you don't like libraries, your opinion doesn't matter to me. If you don't like the sweet librarians at this library, you are probably a jerk. I can't say much more than that, as it is a library inside a mall and it doesn't have as many books as a "normal library," but this library provides WiFi to the surrounding mall area [thank you, taxpayers!] as well as a wide variety of programs in different languages [as Julia Z. noted]. The foreign language learning section has a wide variety outside of the "standards" and there is usually not a long wait for a computer to use the internet, if that's what you're in need of. A nice little sanctuary in the hustle and bustle of busy suburban life -- yay for libraries. read more

Good place for kids to read books, browse on computer or play games. Has a small collection of books there, but a good place to pick up or drop books. The staff is super helpful.It is located in the mall. read more

Crossroads Library - Libraries Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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This place's selection of books has suffered a LOT since the last remodel. I don't even really register this place as a library any more, and believe me, I came here for the books - not to just sit down next to random people in a chaotic environment which seems to be the main purpose of this place now. Before, I used to come here and be able to get NEW and CRISPY titles that appeared as if they were purchased straight from the bookstore across the street. Those books often wouldn't even be in the system yet, they were so new, so I would frequently walk away feeling like I'd secured a "steal of a deal!" in a library sense. It made me feel good about my library experience. Not anymore. What once was a whole wall dedicated to teen fiction is now a single vertical shelf; what once was an engaging fiction/choice reads/nonfiction wall has devolved into smaller sections that for some reason only carry "book two of this trilogy you've never read!" titles that I don't care for, for obvious reasons. Maybe today just wasn't my day. So, given that this recent remodel was to expand the place, the book selection has dwindled. The space now is being used for a bunch of chairs that I wouldn't want to sit in anyway (there's always kids running around and getting up in my face). The newer, fancier return system is great and all, but as a patron who was fine with the old book drop, to me there's no real improvement there either. I have a million places I'd rather sit and enjoy my coffee, or use my laptop, or study, or chat with my friends, than here - but those purposes now appear to be what this place is designed for. I don't even want to "just have a quick look!" anymore... which is telling for a book addict like myself. read more

I love this little library. Like a good sculpture or painting, it's the bare essence of a library: books, magazines, mental stimulation, community. You won't find a ton of books here -- it's probably less than 1000 at any given time -- but it's enough to remind you why libraries are great places. PROS: Constantly rotating selection of new release books. Lots of Asian books, CDs, and DVDs. (They know their demographic.) Magazines and newspapers from all over the world. Convenient location (in the mall, outside the food court). Generous computer usage and printing allotment. Friendly staff. Wifi. CONS: Not that many books. Not very many tables. Wish they stayed open later! read more

Quite small a library...however, given that they have provided for this in a mall, you cannot be asking for more. Round tables with computers around may be 10-15 of them. Couple of ' may I help you' counters and aisles of books categorized, not many though. May be if you want to drop books, collect some holds its a good stop by. Everyone can see everyone, so personally I would not recommend it for quiet and longer reading times. read more

Without the barnes and noble this is the best thing after 1/2 price but it is very noisy. Tip:get your books to go home

This mall sucks. The people in it sucks. But, more importantly the people that works inside the library are to me the most unprofessional and incredibly uncivil in my opinion. Highly unsatisfied with this library. The staff I am highly dissapointed in. KCLS must realize this some time ago and has tried to get one or two new half way civil workers but that doesn't seem to be working for them. They need to redesign this library. There is no privacy to type or work on the machines without some angry transient highly likely to be near or around you. This is also a problem in the Kirkland and Redmond libraries as well. read more

I love this library. The location is very convenient, the staff is generally very friendly, and the services are great for such a tiny space. I can always find something to check out, whether movie or book, and I can reserve my other choices online and pick them up here. It's certainly not the place to browse a wide collection of library media, but it is fabulous for what it is. Check out is very easy and quick, returns are decent (although those return machines never seem to operate as effectively as they could), and lots of room to sit. Lots of computers, too, for the size of the location. I absolutely love books, I binge check out books like some binge shop or binge eat. I almost always come home with a book I'm excited about here, along with others I've reserved. Best yet, lots of delicious food choices right outside the door! Crossroads has one of the best food courts for a small mall. read more