My 1 1/2 yo son come multiple times a month, and I am very impressed by the library offering an entire floor for children. My son really enjoys the kids' room where there are misc. toys, and he can play there for a solid 30mins. The books offered are also wonderful, better selection than some of the other local libraries I've been to. I like that they have the flap books for little kids where the kids can open up a flap and something is revealed underneath. The books are taken very good care of. The library also boasts a really full event calendar, from story time to crafts to live music. I was thoroughly impressed that the live music performer goes an entire hour singing kids' songs, I'd have expected just 30mins! I took off one star because I've only used the outdoor book return dropoff box once when the library was closed, and 2 of 6 books I returned were never scanned in. I only found out when the library sent me a reminder email of the books I had to return still. I called the library, the librarian looked at the shelves and found the 2 books. She apologized and said I'm all set. I'm glad they found the books on the shelves because I'm not sure how long it would've taken to dispute that I in fact returned the books, but I was put off by the fact that the library wasn't careful with scanning all the books in. I recommend returning all books with a librarian so they scan the books in right away, rather than the outside book returns bin. read more

Hoboken Public Library - Kids music time on a Saturday - Libraries Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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I really love the Hoboken Public Library. The librarians are kind and helpful. I always appreciate the expansive collection and online offerings as well. read more

Don't let the 'librarian is a curmudgeon' reviews put you off! There are so many excellent virtues this library has to offer, that you must enjoy them, if you're in Hoboken! -- Great location - right opposite the park...grab a book, a cup of coffee and read under a tree. -- Beautiful building - one of the finest in Hoboken! -- Free Wi-Fi --Good selection of books and DVDs, that's updated regularly - it's not the largest, but you can order from the BCCLS system and pick it up. -- Order books and Blue Rays online and pick them within a few days and at times on the same day itself! (Helloooo Homeland and Downton Abbey binge watching anyone??!) -- Decent selection of e-books too -- Very quiet + large reading and research space upstairs and the latest magazines to browse -- Did I mention everything is Free?? Now coming to the librarians - yes, at times they can be a bit curt, but not all of them are of the same mold. I've met a few nice and helpful ones with a sunny disposition too! Looking at the list of pros the library has, it's easy for me to overlook this minor hiccup. read more

Hoboken Public Library - Summer Reading club! - Libraries Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

I want to give a shout out to the Hoboken Public Library for many reasons. First, the access to books and DVDs is tremendous as they are part of the BCCLS library network. Next, they have access to computers, internet, and printers (fee for printing) for members. Also, they are often open seven days a week (although hours do change seasonally). Additionally, they have interesting events and activities for all ages. Finally, the staff are the friendliest and most professional people you can imagine. This week, there is major construction going on outside the library building and they needed to close. However, the library managed to create a 'pop up' library at another public building several blocks away. I'm sure this took a tremendous amount of effort and planning, and as an educator that needs access to their services fairly regularly, I salute them for this undertaking. read more

The staff has never been friendly. The librarians/staff don't even acknowledge you when you walk in the door. Upstairs is bright and nice. It's usually over crowded and there's a homeless man whose been there every time I've gone and just stares at everybody. People were coughing without covering their mouths, and when the guy farted next to me. I just got up and left. I'd rather travel to a NYC library then go to that place again. read more

I am pretty impressed with the Hoboken library. Awesome collection of DVDs and Blu-rays makes it possible to get movies and shows you either cannot find on your subscription services or that you simply don't want to pay for on prime video. read more

Hoboken Public Library - DVD collection really puts Netflix and Prime video to shame. - Libraries Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Got a card today. Friendly, professional service. Looking forward to make good use of the place.

I went back in here to use the copier recently and needed to copies the woman who runs the section still hasn't been for staff training, rude as ever, I ask for help she basically pretends I am not there, then there's the guy behind me who just has one copy to make who takes all my money out of the machine I look round and notice lots of homeless people does everyone get scammed like this ? I go to FedEx much easier, seems to me that in the library the higher you go the Ryder The staff are in my experience read more

I like to think of Hoboken public library as my slow but free Netflix service. Unlike other libraries in the area (Jersey City I'm looking at you), they don't charge for DVD loans -- and you can use intralibrary loans for DVDs. Nice. The online system for requesting books works reasonably well as well. The only downside is that the staff is of uneven quality. There's some really great staff members; and some real dunderheads. read more

Great library, just don't be an idiot (like me) and return things late, and pay the fines. Instead, return things on time and give donations to the library! Pros: Great selection Nice people working there You can pretty much order any media, they will get it You can renew online or over the phone easily They have keychain cards, awesome Great kids section, and it is a great old school building Tip: They are super serious about identity protection, so don't bother calling without your library card number! Cons: $1/day fine for a DVD is steep, again, don't be an idiot like me and renew or return The DVDs are sometimes beat up, and skip in the most important scene of the Harry Potter final movie :) read more

I love the hoboken library! You can save so much money by using the library instead of buying books. It is kind of small, but they have inter library loans where you can borrow the book from another library near by. I recommend using FREE Public libraries! read more

Maybe I've been spoiled by awesome libraries but this one has a lot to be desire. While I feel that their awesome and vast collection of DVDs and books are excellent, I find it extremely hard to find anything upstairs (above the fiction books), in what seems to be some sort of rickety storage area. It's dank and dusty and the shelves are not well labeled. The staff is hit or miss. Even if there is someone lovely to check me out, I am acousted by the loudness of the staff during my visit. They speak very loudly, even yell, and constantly toss things around with bangs. I also don't like that I have to wait in line each time I want to return a book. There should just be a drop slot. I also wish it was open til 9pm Monday-Thursday and open on Sunday as well. Since the taxes have nearly doubled in this town, I'd like to know where it has all gone and why the library must stay closed on Sundays "due to budetary cutbacks" per the sign that was on the door. read more

Actually impossible. You can't call and renew anything here. If you are out of town and do not have access to your library card you are SCREWED. read more

I love libraries. I've loved libraries since I was old enough to read. I used to ASK my parents to drop me off at the library on a Saturday morning while they ran out to do errands. The library was the perfect babysitter. I worked my way through the entire children's and young adult section at my childhood library. When we moved, I worked my way through the new library's young adult and sci-fi/fantasy sections. My biggest disappointment was when they wouldn't get new releases in for over a year. I was ecstatic when they installed the do-it-yourself check out machine. Yes, I am a nerd. So when I moved to Hoboken, one of the first things I did was get a library card. The nice librarian lady gave me a verbal tour of the building and then I was off to explore. This library is in a building (which could have almost been a house once upon a time) that was built just before 1900. It's got three floors and I've only seen the top two floors twice. (I'm not into stairs and I believe they just recently got an elevator.) But it doesn't matter, because everything I need is on the first floor and the half floor above it. The Hoboken library has EVERYTHING. They have cds, dvds, books, books on tape, new books, old books, new movies, old movies. They even have sheet music! And if they don't have it, there's a 99% chance you'll be able to request it from another library. For free. The one thing that weirds me out all the time, though, is that the librarians are never quiet. They're usually the noisiest people in the building. But maybe the upper floors are reserved for quiet. I wouldn't know, since I never go up there. read more

This building is gorgeous and it's only going to get more gorgeous. When I last was here, they were working on renovations outside so I am excited to see what it will look like. It's worth a pop in just to see building's design itself. This place is more for those who are looking to study or use the internet than drown themselves in books and other circulation materials. With three floors and the second floor being almost completely devoted to table space and quiet, I was in heaven since most New York libraries rarely have either. The staff were overall nice enough, but I have to agree with everyone that it was hit or miss. But it wouldn't be a library without the curmudgeonly librarian! You can bet I'll keep studying for the GRE here now that I know about it! read more

A great selection of books with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The three levels include more than just books, but also CDs, DVDs, computers, printers, work space, and a children's and teens section. The reservation, check out, and return is easy and the online reservation and drop off bin outside is helpful to those with busy schedules. Set across the street from the park, a perfect afternoon could be made relaxing there after picking up a new read. read more

As far as libraries go, this place has it going on. They are open 7 days a week, they have lots of great technology resources and their Overdrive e-book collection is great for someone like me who travels a lot and wants to check out books on my iPhone for in transit reading. Some people may not realize this, but if you're a museum buff, they have free museum passes to many of the great NYC museums. I also like the old fashioned building they're located in. It gives the place a lot of character. read more

Love this library!! Staff is very friendly, always ready to help and answer all questions!

Plain and simple, some of the women that work at the Hoboken Library are PURE Misery. I'm not a big fan of small talk myself but if you can't respond to "How are you?", "Thank you." or "Have a nice day." You deserve a foot up your ass. After another non response today I asked the woman "What's wrong?" "Did someone steal your broom?" I'd drive to Princeton to avoid these hags. read more

If you are buying ebooks from Amazon you're missing out--I've been able to borrow so many ebooks since our library is part of BCCLS. The selection of old-fashioned regular books has also greatly improved. Wish the website was better; it's outdated and hard to navigate. read more

Libraries are so great! And the one in Hoboken is adorable and in a cool old building. It always blows my mind, a library is a totally free resource. Well I suppose 'free' is a stretch since our taxes pay for it, but it is a good thing to pay for, and I am happy to do it. The Hoboken library doesn't have the biggest selection but it always has something I want to read, so that is cool. And it is right on the nicest park, so it is just a serene place to go. I love Hoboken, and this is one of my many reasons why! read more

The Hoboken Public Library is essentially a glorified homeless shelter. There are countless people that come to this library strictly to get out of the cold weather. They take up valuable study cubes and spread their miscellaneous items around and dirty the place up. They never are actually reading or studying just merely sitting around, routinely falling asleep which leads to them get consistently being threatened to be kicked out, yet they never actually are kicked out. There is an entire floor dedicated to children, yet parents/babysitters consistently bring their children to the quiet study area, where their children are loud and disruptive to those of us trying to study in quiet. There is a nasty old woman who thinks that she runs the place but doesn't even work here, pushing in chairs, reorganizing newspapers, generally just acting insane, and starting arguments with people on the daily. The security guard you can tell does what he can, but it seems the rest of the staff doesn't care about keeping the place quiet or clean unless something really bad is going on. The staff is even a bit loud themselves having personal conversations in the quiet study area at full speaking volume. This library is vastly underfunded, has a terrible staff, and bad hours. Come here only as a last resort. read more

As a graduate student, the Hoboken public library has been my oasis in a city that offers few other places to study in a relatively low-key environment. The building itself is charming; an old structure on the north end of the park, packed in tight between apartment buildings. The inside is bright and open, and though there are always a number of adults and children running about in relatively close quarters, you never feel claustrophobic. I give credit to the staff who may come across as strict, but keep the chatter to a minimum and the space clean. Spend enough time at the library, and you'll notice the "regulars" who don't miss a single Saturday morning, with their crosswords or study materials. Though I can't bring in my morning coffee, I'll choose the library any day over the usual undergrad haunts on Washington Street. read more

I've been using the library for the past month or so to study for a licensing exam and finally have had enough. The staff is helpful when you need something but bothersome when you need to concentrate. The main feature most people look for in a library when staying for a long time period is quiet. This library is not quiet. If its not the staff gossiping or taking about meaningless nonsense at a high volume, its the people on the computers watching music videos with no headphones that never get told to turn the sound off. I also do not understand the need for the entire third floor to be a children's section when there are never any children in there. Last week I could not find a seat on the second floor to study and tried to sit upstairs. There was not a single child upstairs and two workers just talking and yet i was told I was not allowed to sit in the "childrens" section. BUT this past saturday, when trying to study on the "adult" floor, they brought it 30 children and took over an entire room to put on a production of Little Red Riding Hood for an hour. (not quietly) Lastly, can we get some firewalls on the internet? Its amazing how many people i have seen looking at porn on the public computers. For a library so concerned with being child-friendly, the internet regulation is non-existent. From my esxperience, the majority of people (at least on weekends) are in there to look at inappropriate or social websites, while people that want to do actual work or learing are forced to wait. I'm not easily offended, but when i turn around to see a disgusting picture staring back at me while im trying to study, somethings got to be changed. Avoid this library if you really need to concentrate or get work done. I can honestly say I will not go back unless I absolutely have to. Drastic reform is needed. read more

I wonder when was the last time this place got new books! Pretty outdated with a small selection. As a Spanish nerd, I was very sad to see that there were only a few outdated Spanish/English dictionaries, and NO Spanish textbooks available. The music section is pretty good though. Take deep breaths when dealing with the surly staff! read more

Had not been to this library in about seven years since it became unusable when our historic park was converted into a six flags over Texas. Went in for a quick use of the computers and very quickly remember the god aweful environment except it is even worse now. Reviews regarding many of the librarians are spot on including the director. Advice - use another welcoming library or get in and right out if you dare! read more

Lovely, old-fashioned little library, with very friendly and helpful staff and a fine selection of books, videos and music. Occasionally they make the odd "clerical error" -ie-mistakenly charging late fees- but they are always quick to correct these when pointed out. read more

Growing up in Hoboken, I used to go to the library very often. It was a great place. I remember the Children's floor very well. The librarians were very helpful and kind. However, coming back as an adult has been a nightmare. Many of the people on staff on the first floor are rude and seemingly unwilling to help. I always get the feeling of "move along" when I interact with them. I go to the third floor with my children and find that the librarians are much more friendly and go out of their way to help anyone who needs it. This inconsistency puts me off. I think I can say the reason for this disparity is the director of the library. Many of the policies are inconsistent and when I needed help a few times I asked to speak with her and she did not seem to want to make any time and was very dismissive towards me. She was very defensive for some reason and I have heard the same from many of my friends who frequent the library. I guess a good "business" begins with the leadership... And that certainly is lacking. read more