Nice building. Free wifi. Tables w/power outlets on the second floor. Quiet. Everything I was looking for to kill time with my computers while waiting for my train. Well, it was until someone with ear plugs started music which can now be heard all across the floor. Still, a nice facility for hanging out. read more

So many books. So many activities for the kids. Excellent collection and über friendly staff. We couldn't live without our library! read more

Eugene Public Library - Building patterned towers after preschool Storytime on Wednesday. A MUST for preschoolers! - Libraries Near Me - Eugene, Oregon

I moved to Eugene 9 years ago, and the library has been a huge blessing. I'm disabled and often housebound for months to years at a time, and we live out by Lorane. The library has memberships for people outside city limits as well as a program where I can request my books online and my husband can pick them up. And due to my health issues, there are no late fees. And when I can make it to the library, if I start to have mobility issues, there are both walkers and wheelchairs available that I can use. The selection of books is excellent, and I was thrilled to find both Doctor Who and the Wild, Wild West among the DVD offerings. And the Children's Room is a dream! I've never encountered a staff person who wasn't pleasant and professional. The building is beautiful, check out is a breeze, the parking garage is easy to navigate. My husband loves the free wifi and workspaces. read more

Eugene Public Library: You suck. The library itself is just a standard small town library with a bunch of old, ripped up books that nobody really wants to read. And the staff is unbelievably obnoxious. Aside from all the other complaints, my beef is being charged for apparently returning a book with dirty bent pages. Whatever the hell that means. All of the library books have dirty bent pages. I guarantee my things are in nicer condition than anyone who works at this library. So for them to claim I returned a book that was unusable (as per their website) is preposterous. This sounds to me like someone on the staff ruined a book and didn't want to get in trouble for it which means I got charged 30 bucks. Which is also stupid because obviously the books here are new and purchased within the last six months (NOT). Nevermind these books are donated bringing this whole sorry claim to a level of extortion. So borrower BEWARE! Although you might be able to find something interesting to read, there is no guarantee that the poor library staff will respect your fair handling of the books returned. They might just go as far as burning the material itself just so they can get some funds from you making everyone who works there dishonest and stupid. What else would you expect? P.S. I dare anyone who works at the library to respond. I know where you work. read more

In the spirit of being able to review almost anything, I figured it was a good idea to review the Eugene Public Library. I came here when I was babysitting and spent most of my time in the children's section but I was amazed at how large the library was and how they even had a little snack bar right when you walk into the lobby. It seemed pretty clean and easy to find what you are looking for. I parked a couple blocks away for free two hour street parking. I think more people should come to the library for books but they also offer other things like use of computers and a children's area with toys so they can play and socialize with other kids. Yes, there are some homeless people in this area but they are just people and if they aren't bothering anyone then it's no reason to not come to this awesome library. I haven't been on each floor so I can't speak for the whole library but I will definitely be back. read more

Alright people think I am cranky because I give more critical reviews, however, I have to hold ratings to the reason they were created: to rate one by compared to others, how do they hold up...In this case, I honestly wish it were better. In 1994 this library and its system was stellar. They were in their old building, while cramped, had friendly service, did NOT charge outrageous fees that other libraries do not exist: * library charges out of area fee for patrons that live in surrounding towns. I've lived in Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Marin County, Rohnert Park, Columbus (OH) and other large as well as small towns. In no other situation was I told that there would be a charge over $200 to be a member of a not for profit library before, because I lived in a neighboring city. *charges for 'restocking fees", per book, per item not checked out but reserved. If you cannot go to the library due to illness, hospitalization, disability, or not informed of the book having been reserved (never received the email), you STILL will be charged for 'bad behavior' of not picking up the book/cd/dvd $1.00 fine per item. *If you loose a book, you will be given 30 days to have an investigation to find the book, if the book is not found: charge for the investigation ($60), fee per book based on their vendors decision of cost of book (YOU are NOT allowed to find even by ISBN another copy of the same book that was lost, they complained that patron's are not that educated to do an ISBN search (along with a lot of other nonsense comments, about issue dates, printing edition series and so forth) reality: they want the full extent of what they can charge for a book, regardless of fair price. I was told "they often do not even bother replacing the book lost if it's an older book, or less well known, because customers want current popular fiction pieces." This means that they rarely replace the book lost, but put it in a pool to buy whatever book they feel is deemed 'popular' regardless of number of already existing copies. This is not the end of the Fees, sadly. They will also slap on late charges for those 30 days they spent to find the book retroactively, as well as other interesting extra charges. In the end, you could end up paying as much as $350 for a book that cost $29.95. I do not know their general late fees, but I do know that they keep their return boxes at all of their locations LOCKED up on days they are not available as well after they are closed ( 1 hour prior and 1 hour after the library is closed it is locked with a padlock at the main, the branches are simply locked after the doors are closed). The physical building of the main branch is spectacular, most space, and made to look like the Gutenberg Museum, which architecturally spectacular, and I see they offer children's programs that are fantastic, their outlets (Barranger Road, Coburg Road) are rehabbed banks, and still looking that way, and over stocked with few sitting areas. About the homeless 'bums' that everyone complains about: this is the ONLY library to my knowledge to be in a city with an 'exclusion' zone....You fall asleep at this library or 'loiter' you can be banned from downtown for life....I am not a bum nor homeless, but something is wrong when we make libraries exclusive areas, if so, privatize them. The staff is very interesting. They claim they can't afford staff, mostly run by volunteers who don't know programs that the library is offering (like homebound services), or even know what the library congress is (wow), and certainly don't know about books for the blind. With the constant comment, 'we're sorry, we're only volunteers', begins to run thin. They claim they can only pay for their reference liberians, but if there is a problem, the volunteers take care of it, issuing policies and procedures, yet they 'aren't library employees'. This then can create additional problems when they are placing snarky comments about you on your account if you cross them demanding to speak to a library representative or god forbid, the library director (for disabled access, I felt any ADA questions SHOULD go to the director, they do in other states and other library systems). Now, I hold an OCLC account, I also have life long friends that either are/were library directors, administrators, as well as general library employees from several states. I would rather go to a library that is 'less posh' like downtown Cleveland's, or the Old San Francisco Library, as well as King County's general system, where the focus is on literacy, open areas for groups to meet (book groups, gee), a floor dedicated to grant writing for job/job hunting (Columbus Metro Library, Grant St), or even a one floor library like Santa Rosa Library, where the focus is serving the public, offering computer access, and willing to work with their 'friends of the library group' rather than running it as an adjunct program, not in the loop. read more

I've learned to be chary about giving five stars, but EPL earns them. One of the jewels of the city, well designed and well run. My kids have grown up here. Whenever I go, I FEEL GOOD walking through the doors. I like everything about it - everything! Rather than list the superlatives, my best advice is simple: go there and use it. A lot! read more

I love my Library! it's become really one of my favorite places to go to when I get out and about (Dont laugh) it's a daytime thing. When I found out that you could drink your coffee in the morning inside on the second floor reading your pick of 25ish newspapers I was sold. when I was flabergasted by the closure of the venerable flicks and pic's my pulse raced when I found out they sold/gifted to the library their inventory!!! You can borrow movies 10 at a time for weeks without late fee's & it's a 10 cent's a day fine when your over. (per movie) lastly but not lestly your can surf the net there free. Oh! and then of course theres that book thing and all those classes and community events Etc.. Overall, this is a great example of getting it right, & I love my library!! read more

Good library, have a lot of books and they have private study room, computers and more. The library is clean but since it's public library many people go there just chilling and sleeping. Parking is not convenient. read more

A nice spot to kill time downtown. There's parking underneath though I usually park at a nearby garage. It only costs $5 to buy a library card and the membership is free if you live within city limits. I can usually find an available computer and you can use it for an hour, print black & white for 10 cents per page I believe. Both the fiction and nonfiction sections are usually what I use and there's a lot of selection though I don't really have another library to compare it to. My only negative experience hear was being charged $18 for supposed damage to a book after I returned it. I'm not sure if I did it or it was that way when I got it. So now I flip through books prior to checking them out to look for damage and let the staff know. read more

It's the Eugene Public Library! What more needs to be said? I love this place. Aside from the bums & street trash hanging around, this is a great place to get a book, video, or magazine. read more

Love Baby Story Time (ages 0-12 months)This is a great time and place for my 10 month old and I to interact together in a group setting while meeting new faces. The host of the Story Time is great. He keeps the attention of the babies, while singing songs and introducing books that are available in the Library. My baby and I always have a fun time. read more

This new library is spectacular the best I have ever seen. Great location. Great everything. Well parking is a bit of a bummer as this is Eugene, so ride a bike! There is something for everyone at the new library. read more

So here is my update. I talked to a homeless person who let me know that you can use the internet free, apparently, if you bring a certification from somewhere that you are homeless. I am less appalled now. Also I saw a great lecture about Shakespeare by a U of O professor there. read more

Love grabbing a latte and hanging out on the second floor in a comfy chair and reading while killing some time downtown.

Beautiful! That is all I can say about this library! The clean lines of architecture and rows and rows of books impressed me. Luckily, I am a resident so I do not need to pay for a library card but I do know if you are from out of the area, you will have to pay. I have never heard of another library doing this before!? I also think that 50 cents fee each day a book is overdue is pricey!!!! I am used to 10 cents/day where I am from! Regardless, I know the importance of returning books on time so that will not be an issue for me, but I would definitely recommend getting a card if you live here...Plus, it is a great place to get work done - lots of desk space and natural light - great for studying! read more

It's a library, but man, what a library it is. The Children's section is huge and phenomenal. A real boon to the city of Eugene.

An excellent library -- lots of books (including a great collection of comic books / graphic novels), a beautiful building, a great children's section, excellent events. There's even a very good cafe (though the seating area is too crowded with non-customers). read more

Great library but stars taken away for storytime. I took my 4 year old daughter to storytime this week and watched adults take video and pictures of not just their kid but all the kids and put on facebook. I asked one mother to please not put my kid in the photos and she laughed and said she will do what she wants. The storytime librarian saw what was happening and said nothing. Having no policy on filming or taking photos of other kids is a big no to me and we will be going back to Springfield....even though its a much much longer drive for me now. The library is supposed to be a safe place where kids can be free amd protected and for some kids getting posted online is jeopardizing their safety. I get the park or downtown at the fountain, but libraries are usually a safe haven that librarians protect. Not in Eugene I guess. Every library I have ever been to, volunteered at, or done classes at have had no photo/video policies...apparently not this one. And to the blonde lady yesterday who put my child on your facebook and instagram when I asked you nicely not too...you are very inconsiderate. read more

Being homeless in Eugene for quite some time now, I actually consider this library my home. I spend nearly all day and every day there. A great place to stay warm, use the bathroom, and use the internet. If you really need to clean up you can take a bath in the sinks. Bout once a month for me. Don't want to get too foul smelling. I don't mind it but others give me dirty looks sometimes. read more

It's sad to see something that appears to have so much potential fall short in so many ways. This is how I feel about the Eugene Public Library. Where to start? I don't feel safe there. That's not to say that I feel unsafe but I certainly don't feel comfortable enough to sit or browse the shelves for long periods. I'm referring primarily to the second floor. There's a constant, indecipherable smell that seems to linger throughout this floor. No doubt it's due to the high volume of homeless people (many times accompanied by their "service dogs") at all times. While I wholeheartedly agree that public libraries should serve everyone in their communities, it almost seems as though the library has turned a blind eye to what's wrong with the status quo. I assume there are other non-homeless patrons like myself who don't necessarily feel that the library has their interests at heart. I don't pretend to know what the solutions are to the problems of homelessness. The issues at play are definitely not confined to the library. It seems to permeate the whole of downtown Eugene. On a positive note, the library does have a good collection, both in terms of their printed and electronic materials. They should, however, think about investing some of their increased funding on updating their computers. Seriously, I think the computers are at least a decade old. Having said that, perhaps I shouldn't care too much about whether or not they select to upgrade their computers. After all, the computers are on the second floor and I'm very unlikely to ever want to spend more than 10 mins there. read more

this library is awesome! i'll explain: staff: the librarians and other staff i've interacted with have been friendly. when i applied for a library card, the woman who helped me was really nice and when i spoke to two librarians upstairs, they were both helpful. building: the building is beautiful and comfortable and intuitively designed. i find it easy to navigate and figure out where things are. as another reviewer said, it is so easy to request books or dvds online and then come in to pick them up when they're ready. they have self check-out and the whole process is really smooth. the children's section is great! very welcoming and they have a beautiful courtyard in the back. i like how the librarians have created colorful sinage to identify subjects in the non-fiction section in case dewey throws people off. i also like the fact that kids can display their random personal collections (toys, figures, etc.) in cases in the library. how cute! and i love how they put old paperbacks out in the lobby in a "read & return" display. people can take as many as they want and bring them back whenever. this is so much better than throwing old books away, which some libraries actually, sadly do. collection: they have an awesome collection of books, dvds (including tv shows!), and music. they actually own flight of the conchords and curb your enthusiasm! these librarians are really on top of things. and they have graphic novel collections in the kids, teen, and adult sections. you can check out magazines as long as it isn't the current issue. programs: they have a of programs for children (story times, etc.) and also interesting adult programs, such a film series. overall, i find eugene's library to be one of the more progressive and welcoming public libraries that i've seen (and i always make it a point when traveling to check out the library of whatever city i'm in. i'm ultra nerdy that way. but seriously this one is really great.) it's obvious that people here love their library because whenever i've been there, it seems that it's pretty heavily used, which is a refreshing and hopeful sign for any city in this day & age!) read more

Before you start reading this, yes I know it's long, but if you are ever planning on bringing your children or any children here please read through this. I took my little brothers here tonight because they wanted to check out a few books. We went to the teen section I guess you would call it which is kind of in this back corner of the library on the first floor. There's a bench back there behind all of the rows of books and there was a group of teens back there. I realize that they are smoking weed back there and I here one of the kids say "dude stop there's a kid right there" referring to my brother in the isle alone next to me. The one that was smoking the blunt replied saying "b*tch I don't give a f*ck" and then proceeds to say to my twelve year old brother "hey kid come here come hit this" my brother obviously turns around and walks over to the next isle where me and my brother other brother are. Usually I would've just handled this conflict myself but I didn't want my brothers around these kids any longer, so I go and talk to a worker and they get security. It wasn't a big deal the security asks them to leave and then all do. After they leave we walk back over to the teen section because that's the only place my brothers want to look for books. Not even a minute after the kids were asked to leave they walk back in one by one and go back to the same corner. They then all start saying things to us like "snitches get stitches" and things along those lines. At this point my brothers and I go to leave and one of them gets up and starts following us. We walk to the exit to leave and he's still right behind us and I will say that I was genuinely scarred and felt like something bad was going to happen the second we left the building. Once we got outside of the building the kid turned around and went back inside so luckily nothing went down and we made it to our car safely. My whole point of this review was just to inform parents or anyone bringing children to the library to try and stay as close as possible to the children and don't have them all spread out throughout several isles or areas even if you trust them and think they are old enough to go off by themselves. I'm not saying the library is always like this just be a little cautious because anyone can come in to the library and I'm not sure how that would've played out if I hadn't been within one isle of both of my brothers and if I hadn't been able to hear what these kids were saying to my twelve year old brother who hasn't ever had a situation like this and didn't really know what to do or how to react. read more

The customer service staff is rude, and quite frankly, hurtful. I moved to Eugene in the fall, when I first applied for a library card. However, I moved a few short months later without ever receiving the address confirmation from them that I was not even told about. (Yes, I forwarded my address). So, I took my three year old step daughter to check out some books around a week ago and found out my card had been suspended. The lady told me that I needed to come back when I had proof of address. I came back today with my paycheck with my name only and my written address on it, given to me less than a week ago. The first thing the man says to me is "we hate paychecks". He then asks if it is within two weeks, I say yes, he then instead tells me it's not good enough. He says that I am on the highest level of security for changing addresses and never sending back the confirmation that I never got, and to not come back until I had something that had been actually mailed. I was treated rudely, and like a criminal for no reason. This is a public library. I'm not trying to open a bank account. What kind of person would even go out of their way to change an address with their company to get a library card? read more

It's large, crowded, and the best city facility in this part of town. It's aimed at families, students, more floor/study/table space than shelf space. read more

Even if you have no interest in the extensive art galleries in this location, it is worth coming to for the spectacular setting high above Los Angeles. The uncompromising buildings are set in beautifully maintained gardens with fantastic views across greater OR. read more