The best library. A great staff, and so helpful and informative. I appreciated the special Eclipse…read morelive event, it was totally cool, and litterally cool too with nice airconditioned room on a hot summer day, and watching the eclipse live it was spectacular. Cafe is awesome great cups of java sold reasonable priced. Old books are all about for reading collecting also sale cheap enough for chidlren of all ages. Wheelchair access and disabled access was easy throughout building awesome very open and welcome feeling. Liturature also quite varied, they have awesome book selection, and if they dont have it they can order it usually for you. Very freindly staff to people of all lifestyless too. Thanks. Getting library card was easy and check outs were easy once I got the card and we got set up. The only improvement could we have an easer way to log in though than 16 digit code. A librarian always helpful got me logged in. I give you five stars. The only downside as with any public place is the public. The few bad actors as I like to call them. On one visit there were some bad young men who vandalised the lawn chairs in the front. Special Alert: If you're disabled or blind be careful of those chairs bent up legs they will tip over and someone will get hurt. My sister is blind and if she had attempted to sit in the chair as it was well, I am just glad I was able to see the chairs were vandalised!

Great library with very nice people working at the check-out/circulation desk. They have hours to…read moreaccommodate those who can't get in during the day (open to 9pm!), lots of events throughout the month and a cool section called "The Library of Things": luggage scale, baking pans, a rug cleaner and more (look at the website for the list of things that will make you say "yes, I need to borrow that")! They even have museum passes which will get you into the MFA for $10 vs the usual $27!

Beautiful library in the heart of downtown Arlington center. The building is stately and a good…read moreplace to work, read, and do research. The Friends of Library sale on the fourth floor is also a good resource; some really interesting books you can get for $2.

I've driven past this library for decades but never went inside until the past few years. After my…read moresecond visit to,look around, I just had to get myself a library card here. Besides being an architecturally appealing building, I love the layout and offerings. I've found books, and other items that other libraries either don't have or are hard to get, being checked out frequently. I recently discovered their nice DVD section. I found all seasons of Get Smart and rented them all over a period of about 5-1/2 weeks. They have a decent selection of Blu-Ray discs as well. The first room on the left as you enter is where they keep newspapers and periodicals. It's also a wonderful spot to sit and read. There's a small but adequate metered parking lot behind the building , which is managed by the Town. There's on-street metered parking as well. Just a block or two away, you'll find free parking on the side streets. They also offer passes to museums and some other local attractions, although, in most cases, the discount is somewhat less than those available from the Boston Public Library. The advantage is this is both easier to get to and park at. They do also offer,some virtual passes that you can easily obtain online. It is near at least two MBTA bus routes (77, 87). The staff is very helpful and friendly. They are associated with several other libraries within their network as well.

Echoing all of the above. Small, friendly, helpful - and connected to all the big boys, so they…read morecan get what they don't have, and help you with a smile. Really, what more could one want from a library?!

The beauty of the Minuteman Library system, as any member knows, is that you can request pretty…read moremuch anything from any library and they will bring it to your local branch. But what I love about Collins branch transcends the stock available. It is the coziness, the neighborhoodyness. I feel welcome, both by the super friendly staff and the comfortable atmosphere. It's tiny, yes, but it has a gigantic heart. Plus I always feel like I can find a DVD I want to see even after looking at the same ones for weeks.

Tew Newton Library really is great! It is very big and has a wonderful kid's area. They have…read moreactivities every so often (they have a music movement class tomorrow!) and story time both Tuesdays and Thursdays (at the current moment) The staff in the kid's area are also very kind and the little one I nanny loves to go and play there.

I came for some magazines and found a movie that interested me…read more I decided to watch at least half so I stayed 2hs, I went to the 2nd floor for my magazines there was a woman in the desk. But when I got downstairs for almost those two hours NOBODY sitting in that desk. I called the attention at two woman who were passing by one even didn't say nothing even when I said "excuse me" and the other "give a minute" and she never came back I had problems with the DVD but I left it So many walking by and nobody to help. Maybe they are not happy working over there

This library has reopened in Oak Square and I couldn't be more thrilled. The renovation is amazing…read more It's mix of preserving original architecture and also giving it some new modern touches. There's an elevator and stairs right when you walk in to make it accessible to everyone. The librarians are super friendly and when you walk in you have the option to take a left (heading into the children's space) or take a right. No matter which direction you take, you can do a full circle and end up back at the front desk area. Great flow and setup that creates a community feel. This library is full of books, seating, natural light, study desks by the windows looking out at Oak Square, computers and a printer, and more. So glad to see it back up and running in the neighborhood!

I love this little Oak Square area branch of the library. It is always super clean, organized, and…read morelight-filled. I like how it is smaller. It feels homey and I can peruse the shelves without feeling overwhelmed. I mostly just order through my account and pick up on the holds shelf which is very convenient. A plus is that there are a couple of street parking spots outside!

After reading some pretty negative reviews I am here to defend the Belmont Public Library! One…read morereason why I love this place is because of it's hours... many libraries in Greater Boston close on Sundays, but not the BPL! Sure, the building is old and there is a slight mildew smell, but I think it makes the atmosphere much more welcoming. Computers are available to those with a minuteman library card, but you can also ask the staff for a guest pass in case you left your card at home or are visiting from out of town. There are plenty of individual desks, larger tables, and comfy chairs to choose from. It's rare for me to come here and not find a place to sit. All the staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. If you are looking for something that isn't in the Belmont collection they can send an order for that exact novel or book on tape to other libraries in the minuteman network. When the ordered item becomes available they will call or email and you can pick it up right here in Belmont! In elementary and middle school I always participated in the creatively-themed summer reading program hosted by the children's room. In the spring and summer the adjacent garden area offers wooden benches with a view of the stream. The Claflin room has limited hours but provides a look into Belmont's past, and the stockpile of local records is impressive. I have to say that the well organized nonfiction section is my favorite area to browse. Oh and I can't forget to mention the awesome free wifi! Overall, the quiet and cozy environment keeps this library at the top of my list for everything from cram sessions and research projects to reading just to pass time. To wrap this rant up, a couple of hints: 1: library staff are lenient; they allow coffee and other beverages, but please don't be rude and eat your entire lunch at a table! 2: sometimes parking can be difficult, there isn't a ton of space in the lot so be ready to parallel park on concord ave! 3: don't attempt to form giant study groups here, the noise level will attract some dirty looks from people trying to read.

This physically beautiful new library lacks parking spaces and makes it difficult, especially for…read moreseniors to return and pick up books. If all the spaces are taken there is no easy way a person can go inside. Plus there is no outside drop box that they previously had on the far side of the building. One can no longer drive around the building but must enter and exit from the same driveway. The parking space is almost identical as it originally was but the building is twice the size. What was anyone thinking when they designed it?

This is a neat community library. It reminds me of the neighborhood libraries of my youth. The ones…read morescattered in a city's neighborhoods. They have a solid children's section with books, puzzles, and games. They have a nice collection (small though) of adult books. and best of all it is air conditioned making it a nice walking destination for the family. Note: it's not big and it's not exquisite but it's neat!

I love the Boston public library system!…read more To provide some context, as a kid I loved going to the library but in the country I grew up, libraries weren't free. And they definitely did not have any non-reading materials that the libraries around here have. Anyway, I was a voracious reader back then but I lost touch along the way. So I'm thankful to the Boston libraries, especially the Brighton branch, for reintroducing libraries and the love of reading to me. The Brighton branch is great! The reason I chose this branch was because it's close to home (I visit once a week is probably an underestimation!). But the librarians are friendly, the space is well maintained and clean, and the timings are great (open on Saturdays, say what?!). There are even comfy chairs throughout the library to sit and read. Apart from traditional books, the library provides DVDs (movies, sitcoms, documentaries, etc.), graphic novels, organizes events, etc. and caters to all age groups. Thank you, Boston, for such a wonderful public resource.

My 1.5 year old and I really enjoy this library. We loved story time on fridays and occasional…read moreSaturdays. There is a small play area with puzzles, kitchen area, and blocks. There is a good though small parking area.

I spent three hours here working at one of the study carrels today. The library is quiet, the wifi…read moreis speedy and the seating is comfortable. Very large selection of CDs and DVDs (I saw one gentleman ripping down a bunch of CDs) and the stacks are nicely organized and broad. This is a super spot, especially so for a non-resident who just wanted to do a little work.

So kind - so helpful! Nice place to be! Check out Tech hour - they teach you stuff. Love the…read morelibrary. A true civil institution. Esta muy bien para todos!

One of my favorite libraries in the city (or collection of neighboring city states that is Boston)…read morebeautiful, classy, well organized. So in short amazing atmosphere, super helpful staff. Amazing kid, young adult and adult programs and activities always happening. Super safe, and you almost kinda find street parking here compared to the main library in the city that you absolutely cannot. Great place to skim books, act like your reading and people watch, or actually escape to finish homework.

The Hive, audiobooks, DVDs/blue rays, and of course books, there's nothing this library does not…read morehave. Staff is always so kind and friendly too. Lots of fun events/classes to check out!