Architecturally an extraordinary space of light and height and airiness. When you first walk in…read morethere is a circular staircase leading up to a beautiful glass dome. But don't miss the gray spot on the floor directly beneath the dome which is the axis point for astonishing acoustics. Four floors. Spacious and bright. a comfortable place for reading.. but also so much more. The sitting/reading areas are filled with community members grateful for outlets to charge their phones and technology. There are puzzle tables set up on each floor and they were always occupied. Record player and LP collection. A "silent" electronic piano where someone was practicing with earphones on. Area to access assistive technology for patrons with more severe disabilities to facilitate communication. Also a braille printer. There was a teen area with comfortable chairs, free access to feminine hygiene products, computer gaming area. The proximity of the library to the bus station makes the library a welcoming space for teens who might need a break. The public library also partners with 15th Night, an intervention program that seeks to interrupt the problems leading to youth homelessness before it becomes a lifestyle. There's a snack bar in the foyer at the entrance to the library where tables permit patrons to enjoy a food and drink break. The library of things is a wonderful concept. It permits community members to borrow unusual items like metal detectors or shredder or bun pans in the shape of Harry Potter castle as well as Oregon state Park passes... And then return them when they're done. There's also a seed library that allows you to take seeds that have been brought in and take them home for planting. The children's book selection is extraordinary. And the spaces are comfortable and designed to accommodate children... including the largest enclosed outdoor space in Eugene so children don't have to feel that when they get to the library they are constrained by the requirement to be silent. The outdoor space has giant size Lincoln for building and benches for parents to sit. The area is also targeted for renovations and expansion to permit both families and classrooms to enjoy safer outdoor respite. Now easily one of my favorite places to spend time in Eugene

I love the herb section! Great for my little garden. The game room was an unexpected bonus as well…read moreand I'm really happy with the variety of services. Being able to rent out kitchenware or other household appliances is such a game changer

I love this library branch! The librarians are all very friendly and there is always something good…read moreon the lucky day shelf. I used to go to this branch every week before I moved to the other side of town, and I definitely miss it.

Really awesome service. Kind and efficient employees, but loud...so loud. This is a library, right?…read moreThe staff should model quiet for their patrons, I think. Otherwise great!

What a beautiful campus! From the impressive tower at Hayward Field to the several museums on…read morecampus, the University of Oregon is impressive. Walk down the paths to find lush trees, beautiful architecture, and more.

The U of O is my hometown university. For as long as I could remember, I've been a Duck! That's…read morejust about how it is when you grow up in Eugene. I attended UO for a couple years before transferring. The education was good, but it's a large university so there are going to be those courses where you're one of 100 other students in a huge lecture hall. I also took several Japanese and music courses that had 20-30 students, so it all depends upon what you're taking, of course. The university itself is nice, a lovely setting. It's an arboretum, with over 500 species of trees on campus, and there are several thousand trees on campus as well. Pioneer Cemetery cuts through campus--yes, I've used it as a shortcut. The Oregon Bach Festival is kind of headquartered here, with Festival events taking place at the Hult Center as well as other venues around town. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History sits on the east side of campus and shares history of the city and larger geographical area. I visited and saw a really interesting exhibit about Black history in Eugene and I really appreciated this perspective on my hometown that I didn't learn about in elementary, middle, or high school. There is the ugly, of course, which is Nike's relationship to the university. The company started in Eugene when the famous coach Bill Bowerman used a waffle iron to improve the shoes his runners wore, and student Phil Knight partnered with him and it took off. Federal and state disinvestment in higher education makes for partnerships that are vital to the university, which is happening here. Buildings, athletics facilities, etc. are heavily influenced by or downright decided by the man himself, I'm sure, which is uncomfortable. Hopefully it frees up money in other places to hep students attend. I can't say my review is totally unbiased because of the hometown connection--it has a special place in my heart for that reason. If UO had had the major I wanted, I would have stayed there to complete my education--but that's easy for me to say as an in-state student. But I know several folks from Eugene or beyond who went there and are also happy with the education they received and the setting in which they received it, so it's worth checking out.

Adorable library with a great children's librarian (as of April 2024). I was home visiting my…read morefamily and friends and while here decided to check out the storytime at the library since that's a favorite activity of ours in Chicago. The branch is very small--it's basically one room--so the children's area is smaller and it was packed to the gills. There were 15-20 families here. We sang songs and listened to a couple stories, and the librarian was very animated and engaging. After the stories and songs portion ended, they brought out some toys for the children to play with. And we were given a "welcome baby bag" since we had not been to storytime before, which included a couple of egg shakers, a couple of teething rings, and a small bilingual board book. Cool to get a little welcome gift from the library. This branch was once a Wells Fargo so it has an interesting library/bank combo bank thing going on since there's a working ATM still located on the south side of the building. Inside, the bank remnant that remains (at least the obvious one to patrons) is the vault, which is now the Teen Vault. That's such a fun idea; there's a table in there, some bean bag type chairs, games, a white board asking for ideas for what the teens want to see at the library, and a comfort cabinet that contains things like toothbrushes, pads, lotion, condoms and dental dams, chapstick, etc. Really thoughtful touches, which I'm sure help a lot of local kids. The branch is an official voting drop off location, so if you drive around where the bank's drive-up window once was you'll see there's a big white ballot drop-off there. The library's book drop-off is here as well. There's plenty of parking since this branch has a small lot in front plus it's next to the grocery and pizza place so there's a huge parking lot.

Always helpful and welcoming. What a wonderful addition to our community!…read moreThey even have fun craft learning sessions. Small but MIghty! Thanks for providing us this great resource.

I have lived in Springfield for 9 years, and it took me the full 9 years before I even went into…read morethe public Springfield Library. I have been going to Barnes & Noble and spending a fortune on books. My friends got me to go into the Springfield library and sign up and get a library card. It is 100% free since I live within the city limits. I had no idea how far libraries have come since the days of being in school. You can order books online. You can read books online. You can have them brought out and get delivered to your car curbside. It was such an eye-opening experience of how much money I have been wasting buying books only to not finish reading them. The girls inside the library were so helpful and friendly, teaching me how to scan and bring back my own books if I'm in a hurry. I have had a great experience going to the Springfield Public Library. They have comfortable seating to read a book before you check it out. I had noticed several people there seeming to just relax and enjoy themselves. They have tables in the back for people who want to study. I noticed people with laptops, possibly doing homework or work. It was quiet and peaceful. I have found myself going to the Springfield Public Library twice a month now. On the plus side, I'm no longer spending money buying books that I can read for free. Great for the budget!

This is my library. The library is my favorite place on earth. Sadly, the stress of budget cuts…read morehave taken its toll. 95% of the staff are a sheer joy and delight to work with. I applaud the fact that it is not a pseudo homeless shelter. The facilities are in the City Hall building so maybe they have better control than Eugene. The book store is absolutely wonderful. I've found a myriad of interesting things in addition to some amazing books. The prices are still reasonable. Libraries are the backbone of civilization. Please remember that.

The balloon arch in front of my cell was a nice touch. The desperate sense of existential dread and…read moreskin-crawling loneliness kinda sucked though.

I had a lovely time. The guards were very gentle during the strip search. They didn't even finger…read moremy butt. That must be a Corvallis thing. Either way 10 out of 10 highly recommend.

I have seen the library sign on River Road pointing down the street, and been curious about what it…read morecould mean since the Eugene Public Library doesn't maintain a branch in this area since it's outside the city limits. There's a e-newsletter in Eugene that mentioned the library and its Monday story time so we went to check it out. The RRSCVL was established about 20 years ago to serve the residents in Santa Clara and River Road who aren't city residents (although city residents may use the facility and check out books). This was a response to the library charging residents $60+ for a library card each year, whilst a membership here is only $20. The library is entirely volunteer-run, and the River Road Fire Protection District donates the building for the library. I was surprised by how large it was! There's a front and a back room, and I thought it was just the front. They have a large collection of children's books, as well as some children's toys, in their front area, which is where the story time with Gail took place. My little was the only one there for a story on this day but she loves being read to, so she was in high spirits. There are some kids toys there as well that kept her happily occupied whilst I checked out the facility. One of the volunteers mentioned that mysteries and thrillers tend to be their most popular genres. They also have a relatively large selection of large print books too. And their hallway is filled with DVDs and audio books. The library just reached its goal to raise enough money to offer Libby access to patrons, which is so cool. They have passes to places like the art museum, raptor center, and so on. Honestly it's a real, true library, just run by volunteer power, which is awesome beyond measure. The folks who were here volunteering when we visited were so friendly, excited to show off the library, and (understandably!) proud of the work they do here. There's a good deal of parking so that won't likely be an issue. They have various events throughout the year, so it's worth taking a look at their calendar. Their annual book sale is taking place here at the end of August. They also have a summer reading program, for kids at least, and a "crafternoon" on Thursdays. So much thought and care has gone into making this a great resource for RR & SC residents, I wish this had been around when I was growing up. But better late than never.

Very small but diverse collection. One of the galleries was closed, so even smaller…read more Only $5 admission

First- check out their website for free days. It's only $5 but that's a barrier for some & they…read morehave monthly first Friday as well as other days free. Second. This museum is excellent -& I admit, I've been misrepresenting it. Pre Covid I went to a show and was deeply underwhelmed.This past weekend while visiting, I ran into an acquaintance and we both commented "did they change something? Wasn't this kind of a meh experience before?" Maybe they got the bigger Schnitzer collection out? New curators? I don't know what happened but it was GREAT. New works are top notch Japanese & Korean collections are small but stellar Contemporary & modern North American artists very broad and high quality choices. Single user bathroom on the second floor also a big winner as is the elevator and the tiny but compelling gift shop. Kudos all around (Wish the cute cafe would open back up. Fingers still crossed)

I visit indie bookstores when traveling, and J Michaels Books is no exception…read more It was delightful to find a newer compilation of essays by Vivian Gornick. What I wasn't expecting was the fabulous greeting by the 30 something male cashier. "Vivian Gornick - she's so wonderful." We proceeded to discuss much of her work. Delighted to hear his appreciation of the 89 y/o fearless second-wave feminist thinker!

Bookstores are heaven for me and this didn't disappoint me. Friendly people, current books and the…read moreonly problem is the lack of parking. I will always be a customer

Lane Community College downtown is a great place to take classes because the teachers are nice and…read morethe classes are small enough that you can talk to them. It's right by the library bus stop and close to 5th street. You can ride the bus grab a book and go to 5th street to have something to eat. This a new updated building with all eco friendly amenities. The toilets use rain water to flush.

I have tried several times to correct the address but the Yelp team refuses to do it. The correct…read moreaddress is Downtown Campus 101 W. 10th Ave. Eugene, OR 97401 (541) 463-6250 http://www.lanecc.edu/locations/downtown-campus