So excited to finally have a library card that I can use to access books on the Libby app! I was dreading having to come in but the ladies up front were friendly and the gentleman that signed me up for my card was nice and it was super quick! The entire process took less than 5 mins. They also have a large selection of books and other resources. The building was clean and organized. read more

Great Northwest Branch Library - Entrance - Libraries Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

at least the place is big and full of book. It is way more quiet compare to other places. Well typically it is library whoever once go to school and have enough education know that they should try to respect the quiet of the library right? unless you dont go to school or you deliberately make noise to annoy certain people. If you have efficient education at your school then there is no reason anyone should have to ask you to be quiet. Even with that common sense, occationally there are still people come in and slamming door like they have never go to library or go to school even once in their life time. But come on we are in United States, " No child left behind" how can we have those people graduate from school without learning the most common sense in society right? Well unless they did it intentionally. But who would do that we all educated and should respect the library rule right? That is why we have quiet space in library and Do Not make loud noise in library signs. Am I right or wrong? read more

I love this library. I take my 10-year-old son every Thursday from 4:30-5:30 pm for Tween Time. The kids have so much fun creating crafts and playing games. read more

Really enjoyed coming to this library. I don't go to the library often but when I do I take my little girl to find books. This place was big and clean and had tons of books everything looked pretty organized. I did come in specifically looking for kid's Christmas books and was hoping to see a display or 2 in the kids area. Unfortunately there was no Christmas books anywhere and I had to go search which I wasn't that familiar with so I asked for help and someone did help but came up with one Christmas book and that was it. So just a suggestion , around the holidays it would be super aww for a display with those books to be put together. Other than that I as well as my 4 year old had a good time. read more

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It may be very easy to drive right on past this location. But I'm glad we found it. My family of 4 has a variety of interests. This library has always been able to provide resources for us. This includes their online browsing and on location browsing. I love that they have free coloring sheets for my youngest, a teen section just for my oldest and lots of helpful staff to help us navigate the library. They even have this cool fish tank in the children's book section that my little one loves to just sit and stare at. Though, it is not without difficulty to keep him from tapping on the glass and bothering the poor fish. My bad hehe. It's never crowded when we're there. There is always parking available. The hours are convenient. The library is clean and well maintained. It's close to home. I highly suggest this location. read more

The most incredible librarian that helped me with getting a new library card and helping me to figure out why I couldn't get my Libby to work and so many other things. I had had an issue at another library trying to renew my library card with a somewhat strange address And he just dismissed me and wouldn't renew. The lady at the library was fabulous. The Libby problem was because the two library cards had to be merged and she was so apologetic that I had to come back in a second time. read more

I strongly dislike this library. Their system doesn't have the capability to text patrons about holds that have arrived, approaching due dates, or fines. I think a texting option is pretty standard. If local mom-and-pop businesses can figure out how to text me, so can a government-run library. Also, and this is a huge factor for me.... this library is not always organized in the traditional way. I taught my children the correct way to find books in a library - (can we please bring back an appropriate education?!) - and what did we find in the kids section but a whole lot of errors. Readers are organized by title name, not author's last name. Fiction readers. Why??? We learned that there's an entire section of graphic novels that aren't included in the fiction section - they're separated. Some of those are organized by title also. But then some of them are organized by author's last name, so good luck finding them. I found Goosebumps graphic novels in both the G section and the S section for author Stine. And some graphic novels aren't even in the graphic novel section; they are in the regular fiction section. Don't even bother looking for Jane Austen novels here. They have zero. She is probably the most popular authoress of 19th century Britain, and they have none of her books. They do, however, have entire shelves of trash romance. Literally shelves of them. One of the employees told me it's due to demand of the demographic, so clearly I live in the wrong part of town. Also, as if this isn't bad enough, they also have sci-fi separated out from all the other fiction. Why freaking why??? It's fiction. Add it to the other fiction so that patrons aren't searching the fiction shelves for fiction that isn't there. And.... the works of J. R. R. Tolkien aren't sci-fi. They are considered fantasy, which is distinct from sci-fi. His books shouldn't be in sci-fi. read more

Comfortable seating, spaced apart, outlets right by the table. Staff is nice and friendly quiet and clean library. There was a bit of distractions I found at this library not sure cause it's located next to an elementary school. But parent coming in with elementary kids and being a little on the loud distracting side. But over all the library was fine and clean. read more

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I was in the area and had a large bag of books to return. I have never seen a library without a book drop. Maybe I missed it, but I couldn't find one. It was annoying that I had to make a second stop by later to return books. read more

My family has been frequenting the San Antonio library system for over 10 years. We have never had any issues and have always enjoyed the services offered. Today was the final straw after several weeks of constant harassment towards not just my children, but every child in the kid's section. The library is a public service and librarians are public servants who are supposed to foster a love for reading and learning, not tell children that they are to be seen and not heard. I am absolutely appalled by the way adults were treating minors and also mothers who needed help. This library runs more like a prison system than an environment that loves serving people. read more

With all the years I have been coming to the Great Northwest branch (on and off), I have never given the thought to reviewing it. Well, here is my opportunity. It has changed over time, with renovations being done, as has been done to just about all branch libraries. There are now a couple of multi-person meeting rooms available on a first come first serve basis. A while back they put In why I think is one of the greatest innovations to the library system, and that is self-checkout. Much different than the old days of waiting in a line with a bunch of other people. Is practically step up, scan, and you're in your way. There is still plenty of comfortable seating and a good number of tables to work at. The book collection itself is good with a good division between fiction and non-fiction. Their blu-ray and DVD collections are fairly large. The children's book area is very sizable, really taking up a wing of the library. Wish it had been that big when my kids were small. With plenty of room and plenty of resources, this branch is my go-to for anything I might want to find in a library read more

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This place has a lot of resources for any age, print and internet - multiple other media options, multiple summer activities for many age groups. Of course it is funded by tax money (so it's not "technically free") but you pay nothing to visit and use anything they have. The checkout limit is 50 items total (with specific limits on certain things like DVDs. read more

Great Northwest Branch Library - June 2018 calendar for kids stuff.. ages are on the right of the picture - Libraries Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Family fun and learning center! Always rich and rich learning environment for the kiddos! That's what it's about right ? THE KIDS ARE THE FUTURE !!!! Shine bright shooting stars! With you the world is nothing my loves ! read more

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The unsung COVID Hero-- the librarian!! I called and they said they'd put together a bundle of children's books for my kids! Although my kids never seem to tire of the same book over and over, I'm so tired of reading the same children's books for the past 11 months! Thank you for your kindness to a desperate parent! read more

A clean, not packed and helpful staff give my experience here a 5 stars. The SA public library system has a print system that could be confusing to newbies. Thankfully, the staff not only greeted my buddy and I with a smile but a lady got out of her seat to walk us newbies through their processes. The online catalog is easy to navigate and every staff member we approached was extra friendly and helpful. Can this place be a model to some of the other locations. read more

I was a loyal patron of Great Northwest Library for years until they started accusing me of not returning books that I had returned! Usually I would go back to the shelf where I found it and there it would be right on the shelf - someone had just re shelved it without checking it back into the system. Next, they said that I hadn't returned an audio book and wanted $100 for it - I was so mad because I had turned it in to a PERSON - not the book drop and they still were saying that I hadn't returned it. I paid the fine and carried on. Then it happened AGAIN, this time to my dad - he's about to write them a check when I insisted that they check the shelves again and where was it - right on the shelf. We don't visit this library anymore because of the poor service :( read more

A smaller community library with helpful staff. The kids area is quite nice and extensive. Offers self-checkout, too. Their video library is rather small but you can have them do an intra-library loan. read more

A hidden gem, located just off Grissom Road next to the H-E-B (Grissom @ Tezel). I've been coming here for 20 years. My daughter (who graduated from high school in June 2017) started coming to the Children's Story Times when she was just 2 years old. Looking to get your kids off the couch this summer? Sign up for the Summer Reading Program, they offer excellent activities. One summer my daughter even learned to Square Dance here!! Missed that movie you wanted to see, but you never made it to the theater? You can check it out from the SAPL! Sign up for the Wowbrary emails and you'll never miss another movie. You can reserve books and movies on line, and pick them up at the nearest SAPL branch location. Don't have a library card? Get one today, so you'll never miss out again!! read more

This is seriously the BEST library. My children love to come here. They have the best librarians and the best activities. You won't be disappointed with their children's programs. Everything is developmental appropriate and scaffold to various learning stages. This is the highlight of our week. read more

This library is really small but they still have a decent selection and the inter-library loan system makes the size pretty much a non-issue if you know ahead of time what you're looking for. Very helpful staff and I love that this is clearly a very family-friendly location. There are always a lot of kids enjoying the kids' section, yet I've never had an issue with noise. Several little nooks where you can sit down and flip through a book and plenty of computers for patrons' use. I do wish the hours were a little more extended, but it's still a good location with decent services. read more

Love this Branch!! They are fast and friendly!! Love that I get all my holds delivered to this location near my house!!

If you don't have a library card, you should get one! This local branch of the SA Public Library (SAPL) system isn't the largest one around, but they do an excellent job. They have about a dozen computer stations for use and if they don't carry a book/cd/dvd you can easily request it as a transfer using their online system and the hold shelf for these acquisitions are easy to find and check out using the "self serve" kiosks. I don't have children myself, but there are always kids activities taking place in the children's wing of the building. They also have a little book cart at the front of the library where they sell paperbacks in great shape for $1 a piece to raise funds for the branch. It is a bit like a treasure hunt when I go to pick up books to see if they have anything I would like to purchase from the cart. Even though they have a small parking lot, I have never had trouble parking (except during election season) and the staff has always been super friendly and helpful. SAPL also have e-books and audio books available for kindles and other e-readers, although this part of their system is limited compared to other libraries I have seen around the country (probably due to poor funding :( Seriously, look into voting/contributing to improving our libraries!) read more

Nothing great it really needs to be updated and cleaned up but it has a good selection of books and movies and the staff is quiet and nice. It feels a little dirty but I got used to the libraries in other states being updated and clean and involved but I like that they will get you items that are at other libraries for free and it is quiet despite a populated kid section. read more

The library is too loud. I thought libraries were supposed to be quiet so people can study and read. I went there to study for a military test I take next week. Not only was the place loud, but then add to the fact they invite 2 flautist to play music. It is bad when you have to go into the soundproof room (made originally for talkers) just to get quiet (but that room had talkers too). I will not be returning to the library. read more

overall this is a nice library. if you are looking for a friendly environment that's is not silent, by all means try this location. however, if you are looking for a quiet place to study this is probably not the place for you. i went to take a practice test for my board exam. they had a group study room open to the public and one that was first come first serve (minimum of two people) where no one can just walk in or out, which is the one my friend and i chose. being patrons of quite a few libraries we've never had an issue with quiet rooms not being quiet (acknowledging that there isn't always complete silence anywhere but a place where people respect being quiet). there were multiple children running around without parents and talking loud, multiple people talking on their cell phones (loud enough i could give advice on their situations), and doors slamming numerous times. anyway, considering there is no cell phone policy there was nothing the front desk associates could do to help us. upon leaving we made the suggestion that a "no talking on the phone policy" be put in place since most libraries tend to have something of the sort. the reply we got was that not all libraries are like that and he seemed annoyed that in the "age of technology", two people would ask for such respect as being quiet in a library. read more