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James B. Hunt Jr. Library

4.8 (24 reviews)

James B. Hunt Jr. Library Photos

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Amazing Library!!
Harish V.

One of the good places to visit in Raleigh.The James B. Hunt Jr. Library is the second main library of North Carolina State University. This place is Amazing in terms of architecture and technological integration, including a large robotic book storage and retrieval system. Been there around 3 pm and did street parking in front of campus building and took walk to the library.The Place is so vibrant with the Yellow stairs,lights and the sun light that steeps through the glass. The best part is the bookBot robotic system. The system consists of four 50-foot-tall robots at the center of the book-delivery system.The bookBot is able to barcode, sort, and store books (as well as other items) in more than 18,000 bins. Visitors can watch the bookBot retrieve materials through a glass wall on the first floor of the library, called Robot Alley. The seating place is amazing that is spread across 3 floors and they have sky terrace study area too. Lot of students have been studying quietly and some in the desktop booths working . There are guided tours as well but you need to contact them over email and they do the rest. Pros: ---------- bookBot robotic system Great Atmosphere Help Center 3-D Area exhibits developed by students Clean Restrooms Parking is free and open to the public after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and throughout the weekend. Parking lot opposite the library. Game Lab(available for casual use when not reserved by Students/Staff). Cons: ----------- None to me. When in Raleigh Make sure you check this for sure. I wish we had something like this when I was studying in India.

Ann H.

I think I have a new obsession. It's part visual, part virtual, part interactive. Throw in some books retrieved by a huge robot (the bookbot), and it's nearly an all-day adventure. The Hunt Library, newly opened on the NC State Campus, is stunning. From the outside, it looks like an art museum, and when I walked in, it still looked like an art museum. However, once I started the tour, saw the bookbot in action, the technology showcases, the immersion room, 3-D printers, rain garden reading room (it's a LEED green building) the stunning views from the skyline room, there's no way it didn't make sense for this to be the main library for engineering, textiles, and sciences. And the game lab? Wow. I'd never have to leave this place. There's even a café and vending machines. It's a huge theme park for technology geeks (guilty). Oh, and I guess for people who like to study, too. There are so many kinds of furniture -- chairs and tables, it's like being in an Ikea store. I could visit this place every day for three months and not sit in the same type of chair or table. There's lots of open space, glass, bright colors, and chrome. The study rooms have monitors capable of connecting to your computer. It's surprisingly quiet here, particularly in the conference/study rooms, despite all the technology. And that's part of the problem: with all the things to see, how does anyone study here?

Ron W.

Wow, wow, wow! All I can say is wow! In the world of libraries, they're normally staid and boring not the Hunt Library on Centennial Campus! While I wouldn't go out of my way to visit the spot, if you've got some research or studying to do, this place is impressive. From the modern metal sculpture outside to the colorful sunlit interior, it's obvious they've sunk a lot of money into this building. The huge book-bot pulling tomes off of huge shelves might be something you see out of a sci-fi movie and pictures don't do it justice. The shelves must be 40' to 50' high and you can't visualize the scale. There's one main atrium that's great for lying about, a quiet and darker study room along with a bunch of modern private study rooms. Lots of high-tech equipment including a cluster of Macs upstairs. Overall they've done a great job with the space and it really makes a great impression for anyone visiting the NC State campus. And befitting a university that is known for its engineering and design. Check it out the next time you happen to be in the area.

Book-bot
Lori R.

FIFTY stars for this place, folks...this is a MUST-SEE! When Parents said, "we want to take you to the library" after breakfast this morning, well, let's just say we weren't exactly jumping up and down, even though we both have a respect and love for libraries in general. Well, by the time we got through checking out every stunning, innovative, high-tech level, we were both wanting to go back to school! The book-bot that retrieves books is a huge "wow"! And I do mean huge...2 million books or so huge! There are something like 100-different types of chairs in the building, and each one calls for a try-out. From 3-D printers to study-group rooms with white- board walls, complete music and media studios to a high-tech gaming room, this is a dream destination for almost anyone! So entertaining and stimulating...and for those of us who aren't students, can only imagine how useful it all must be as well! Also at this location is The Institute for Emerging Issues which has a few fascinating exhibits to poke around in. Want to wow a friend, relative, out-of-town guest? Take 'em here and watch their jaws drop!

Janet R.

One of my favorite places and parts of NC State's centennial campus. Always a great place to get work done or to hang out with friends. The architectural design is amazing and I've seen people/families visit the library just to look around and gawk at its beauty. I would love grabbing lunch and going up to the rooftop terrace where you can get a view of the surrounding areas.

Jill M.

Amazing space, beautiful art, lovely vista views, bright, airy, and oh so modern. There are more seating options than you can imagine! Each uniquely comfortable and artistic. Don't expect stacks of old books. The bulk of information available here is digital. This space is wired and a virtual library. This is truly a gem on Centennial Campus. Bring your out of town guests. NCSU alumni come back for a visit. Convenient pay lot across the street.

Nikki C.

This facility opened in January 2013 and is best known for its architecture and technological integration, including a large robotic book storage and retrieval system which houses most of the university's engineering, textiles, and hard sciences collections. Among its noted features are a makerspace, 3D printing, technology-rich study rooms, audio and video production rooms, a video game lab, a teaching and visualization lab, and a technology showcase room demonstrating products such as tablets and Arduinoavailable for lending or use in the library.

View from the third floor.
Katie S.

I love the Hunt library! A huge place to come and study or write your thesis. This place is super innovative with plenty of unique seating options that are comfortable for long periods of time. Every floor has something awesome to offer students and it even has a nice deck area on the top floor with some great views. Lots of natural light to make you feel like you aren't in a prison while doing school work. Provides computer use, technology rentals, group meeting rooms, music rooms, game rooms, and pretty much anything else you can think of!

topsy turvey chairs that you can spin
Mimi C.

this is the most awesome library ever! do not miss this FREE trip - no card necessary. fantastic visual spaces that'll make your library seem dweeby. futuristic and comfy chairs (egg, bean bags, pods, topsy turvey... the book bot ... actual bot finding your book megafun room with wall to wall projections whiteboard desks for collaborations staircase seating pantone design! interactive walls that change when you get close and... you can check out a maker bot!! or ipad ipod, dslr, ti-89... etc! with card of course ( fee required and alum ) a must see for any true techie!

Natural habitat!! Haha

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Hip and comfortable place for quiet study while surrounded by beautiful fields and interestingly designs.

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11 years ago

Incredible asset to the State of NC. Every state could learn from this well designed building. Idaho needs this!!

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Review Highlights - James B. Hunt Jr. Library

Set on the NC State University campus, this is a hidden gem for book lovers and those who love Swedish design.

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Wake County Public Library, North Regional Branch

Wake County Public Library, North Regional Branch

4.3(26 reviews)
8.2 mi

I love this library! Ever since they reopened last year it has become my library of choice. It…read moreisn't the largest library in Raleigh by any means, but it still has everything you need! I really love the drive-thru book drop off. I usually swing by before I bring my son to school and it's very convenient that we all don't have to get out of the car to return the books. I also love the self checkout stations inside the library. They are pretty magical, especially if you are checking out a ton of books. The children's section is great! It's set up in a way that is very clear and easy to follow depending on what age group you are looking for. I loved the candy land inspired interactive game they had setup in December. My son had so much fun checking it out. I especially loved that it was open if the library was open, you didn't have to go in at a specific time. I also love their Lucky Day section at the front of the library. You might get lucky and score a book that would otherwise have a super long waitlist. Such a neat concept! In general Wake County's online library system is awesome. It's so easy to reserve books and e-books as well. At North to pick up your books just head straight in towards the back by the main checkout desk. You can easily find what you need in alphabetical order there. I used the word love a lot of times in this review, but I really do truly love our Wake County library system. It's the best!!

This library had a remodel at the beginning of the year. They did a great job updating the…read moreelectronics and making the checkout process way more user friendly. It is always really quiet and there are always really nice workers. However, I have noticed a few times when I've gone there that the restrooms aren't that clean. Overall, the experience is really awesome though.

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Wake County Public Library, North Regional Branch
Wake County Public Library, North Regional Branch
Wake County Public Library, North Regional Branch

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D H Hill Library - I'm locked up, they won't let me out!

D H Hill Library

4.8(12 reviews)
1.3 mi

This review is for the Howling Cow Creamery ice cream located inside the D H Hill Library…read more I love ice creams and howling cow is one of my favorites! Weekday late night ice cream cravings? This place is open until 1 am on some days since it is attached to the library. You do not have to enter the library to get ice cream. They have a window right by Hillsborough street. Locally produced by the university, this is a must try if you are visiting or living in the triangle area. My favorite flavor from there is s'mores. Also, their milkshakes are too good!

A great place to study, but more importantly, a better place to get ice cream. The ice cream at…read morehowling cow is the best ice cream you can get in Raleigh, better than Cold Stone, Ben and Jerry's, etc. The ice cream is very smooth and soft, but packed with creamy goodness and delicious flavors. I would highly recommend wolf tracks, Roberts raspberry, and campfire delight. Campfire delight is my favorite. It's basically a s'more and is so good and delicious without being too overly sweet. You can definitely taste all the elements of the s'mores in it. Give yourself an excuse to go to the library now and "study." The ice cream is also cheap compared to the other ice cream shops. Single giant scoop on a waffle cone is $3.50 with tax and double scoop on a waffle cone is $5. Without the waffle cone, it's even cheaper.

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D H Hill Library - Double scoop campfire delight and Roberts raspberry. The second scoop is hidden inside the cone.

Double scoop campfire delight and Roberts raspberry. The second scoop is hidden inside the cone.

D H Hill Library
D H Hill Library

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Southeast Regional Library

Southeast Regional Library

4.5(10 reviews)
5.4 mi

With a little bit of time to kill and I'm technically supposed to be at work, I stopped at the…read morelibrary and powered up my laptop for a bit. Comfortable table with a power outlet nearby and it was of course, nice and quiet. It's not a very large library but they do have a more than decent selection. From where I was sitting, the fiction section contains quite a few recently published books. Good size for non-fiction and there were several libraries feverishly reshelving books. Clearly an active library. [Review 12455 overall, 2243 of 2019.]

One of my favorite Wake County Public Libraries. I've visited before and after Covid-19, and I have…read moreno complaints at this library location. Along with other Wake County libraries, Southeast Regional Library has been doing Books-on-the-Go for the majority of 2020. This has been a life savior for bookies like me to get hands on the books - You request book(s) on their online account and you will receive an email when the book is ready to be picked up. This service has been decreased as some of the libraries, including Southeast Regional Library, has partially opened up. However, you can still use the service if you wish to. I currently do not use the Books-on-the-Go service, but I believe this is an amazing service for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable to visit the inside. I usually request books online and when it's ready (you get an email notification). Then I visit the library for an easy pick-up. Upon entering the library, a security guard or a librarian will check your temperature to ensure you are healthy before letting you enter the library. You can browse around the library for random book finds (how much I missed this!) or you can simply go to the main desk for checking out whatever you requested prior to the visit. Thank you everyone who made it possible to re-open the library during the pandemic. I missed you guys dearly!

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Southeast Regional Library
Southeast Regional Library
Southeast Regional Library

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State Library of North Carolina

State Library of North Carolina

3.0(3 reviews)
2.4 mi

This is not really a public attraction, although it is pointed out on some tourist signs in the…read morearea. It's kind of a beautiful 1960's-ish building from the outside, and apparently from the inside. If you leer through the windows and walk past apparently a uniformed police officer will come out and ask what you're looking for. But he's a nice guy and you can chit chat about what actually is in this building? He says mostly offices, and some public geneology references on the first floor. And there's stuff to see nearby and oh where are you from? I'm from there too! So overall very nice, just, I guess, nothing to see. (but it only makes me more curious about the ancient décor and furniture inside!)

This is really two libraries in one. On the first floor, there is the Information Center. This is a…read morereference library. It is also both a state and federal government docs repository. Some of the reference collection is open stack and available for browsing, but the bulk of the collection has to be requested via call slips. The second part is upstairs in the mezzanine. This is the Genealogical Research Center. This is the largest genealogical library in the state and has a wealth of material not just on North Carolina, but for most of the eastern states, as well. particularly for Maryland and further south. The bulk of the collection consists of published materials, books and periodicals, and some microfilm. There are some vertical files, but most manuscripts and all original North Carolina public records are held by the State Archives (a separate institution). The staff here is very knowledgeable and helpful, and they always seem glad to answer any questions. The library was just renovated this summer, so the space is very nice.

Wake County Public Libraries

Wake County Public Libraries

3.2(13 reviews)
6.8 mi

Green Road Community Library is a small and very open library. Because it is a community library…read moreand not a regional library, it doesn't have as many spaces for studying/working and there are no public conference rooms to rent, quiet rooms, or semi-private study spaces. Many desks are very close to each other so it may be challenging if you need to work on something confidential (would be ok if you have a privacy screen, I guess). I tried working here for a short period and had to seek out a different location. It was hard to find an open space at a table because there is limited seating, so I ended up sitting with my laptop literally on my lap in an adult chair in the children's area -- there were no children there fortunately. Nice place to get free WiFi and a cool space to sit and read if you are a local and don't have other options.

This library is awesome! So kid friendly. My daughter and I came here for the first time today for…read more'storytime stay and play'. "Storytime Stay and Play is a fun, interactive, and energy-filled storytime experience. Join us for a short storytime followed by creative activity stations featuring playdough, building materials, crafts & more! Designed for ages 3-5, but all young children are welcome!" The librarian was very energetic and engaging during story time singing songs and interacting with and answering kids' questions. They've got so many things around the library for young children to play with: a magnetic wall with different animal and letter magnets, mega blok wall, love the alphabet on stars across the carpet, and activity cubes, and magnet activity provided in the kids area. There are adorable kid friendly rugs in the kids section too (Pete the cat, alphabet/words, and Gerald and piggie). They even have a little step stool for kids to check out their own books in the children's section. They've really thought of everything. This library shares a parking lot with the park so the kids can play at the playground before or after the library! It's a smaller library but you can really see the effort put in with all the little details in the way they decorate and label the different sections of the library.

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Wake County Public Libraries
Wake County Public Libraries - Crocodile rock hahaha

Crocodile rock hahaha

Wake County Public Libraries

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James B. Hunt Jr. Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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