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    Library West, Smathers Libraries

    4.1 (7 reviews)

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    Headquarters Library: Alachua County Library District

    Headquarters Library: Alachua County Library District

    3.9(9 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Wow! I haven't had a library card in decades! Why not?!? With all the computers and programs, games…read moreand software, sometimes it is nice to just have a book in your hand that is full of information that you are passionate about! I went to the front desk with my ID and asked for a card, and I got so much more!! Not only can I get books of fiction amd non-fiction loaned to me for a whole month, I can get audio books and books online as well! There is so much information out there, and all you have to do is pick your favorite subject and take a deep dive. The front desk librarians were so polite and informative! I was actually excited, almost as if I won some kind of lottery! I am so happy woth my bird books and my books helping me learn Mandarin. I can't wait to read them! Find your passion, then get a library card! You will not regret it!!

    I grew up coming to this library with my granny and my mom. However, this library is a far cry from…read morewhat it used to be. I decided to catch up on some work and went into the study room, which was pretty empty and nice to be in. The room was filled with high ceilings and multiple tables and outlets for charging laptops or phones. There were only a few people in there so that was very nice. It also has a view of the outdoor area, which was nice to look at since it was a beautiful day. Onto the main part of the library, there are a lot of homeless or displaced people that frequent the library and utilize the services. There is a security guard that is walking around to ensure the safety of people. One thing I really like about this library and comparison to other county libraries are that they have great signage and labeling for the different sections like nonfiction or fiction. I wanted to check out a book however it was not available at this location. I was able to place it on hold for a location closer to my home very easily. Since this is the headquarters, they have a vast amount of books and resources but the library itself is very outdated. If I'm on this side of town, I would stop back to the library to utilize their study room since it's a quiet area and I was able to get work done while I was there.

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    Headquarters Library: Alachua County Library District
    Headquarters Library: Alachua County Library District
    Headquarters Library: Alachua County Library District

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    Alachua County Library District - Tower Road - Beautiful ceilings

    Alachua County Library District - Tower Road

    5.0(2 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    4 words: FREE LANGUAGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM…read more This review is specifically for the Tower Branch Road location of the Alachua County Library District. This location is near and dear to my heart, because it is located on Tower Road and in a close proximity to Gainesville's best schools and many families of various nationalities that use the library space in an amazing way, as a community center for learning. Tower Branch Library is also very unique because of the free language exchange program they offer. At the time, I was able to volunteer as an English language tutor to a wonderful group of Korean and Mandarin speaking adults. Along the way, making many lifetime friends and acquaintances. Also, learning some Korean in the process. As you can see, I HIGHLY recommend their language exchange program at this location. It is a rare find. Many people that I have talked to say that public libraries are a daycare center for the homeless, aging, and children. At this location, that is very far from the truth. This is the best community based, learning environment library that I have been to. The management and librarians at this location are so down-to-earth, kind, and organized. I was blown away by their professionalism throughout the year that I volunteered there. The Alachua County Library district is funded in many ways, but I do notice the public library fee on my family's monthly escrow property payment. It is not that much per month and is totally worth it.

    The reconstruction on the library is fabulous! So many more options here now. My daughter is 8 and…read morelove going to the library even more. They have classes that are relevant to all ages (babies all the way to seniors citizens). You can check out their events online to find the most updated list. The staff is always very helpful. I usually have no clue what book my daughter is wanting and one of the librarians helps her in just a few minutes.

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    Alachua County Library District - Tower Road
    Alachua County Library District - Tower Road - I have the entire reading room to myself this morning!

    I have the entire reading room to myself this morning!

    Alachua County Library District - Tower Road

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    UF Health Science Center Library

    UF Health Science Center Library

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    This library is like my second home. It is conveniently located in the heart of the Health Science…read moreCommunicore building, with a Starbucks right outside. The location is great. If you're studying for a long time, you have plenty of food options. Starbucks, Panda Express, Chik-FilA, Einsteins, and Salad Creations are all located within two minutes in the Sun Terrace. If you want other options, you can walk over to the Shands food court for the Global Exhibition, burrito bowls, pizza, sushi, Wendy's, Subway, froyo, or the cafeteria food (which is cheap and delicious). The sushi they serve is the Sushi Gusto kind that comes from Fresh Market, which is the best grocery store sushi in my opinion. Ever since the new renovation, the second floor has been the place to be. The new seating is reminiscent of Marston. There are plenty of options and even the couches have outlets. You can choose to stand at certain workstations since they have adjustable tables. The overall atmosphere is very calming with the soft blue and silver hues. It is a definite upgrade from the cold, hospital like thing it used to be. The library is organized by noise level. The higher you go, the quieter it is. The first floor gets REALLY LOUD and depending on the day, so does the second floor. It is a great place to collaborate, but a major con would be the noise level. The HSC library is food friendly so you can eat whatever you want wherever. The students are very respectable since they are mostly in professional school so the library is very clean. There are even little cleaning kits dispersed around to ensure cleanliness. The cons to the library are the hours. It is only open from 7:30AM-midnight. If you want to study later than that, the Blue Room is located on the second floor and is open for 24 hours. This library also has weird times when there is no one working on the second or third floors, so you are not allowed to exit from those floors to use the restroom. Overall, this is my favorite library on campus. I basically live here on most days so I am glad it is such a comfortable place to be.

    The health science library is the one stop destination for pre-health, graduate, researcher, and…read morequite honestly anyone in particular. It's been my study spot since the beginning of school. Hours do fluctuate between semester but if you're a graduate student, you can request to have 24/7 hour access on the 2nd floor. The only thing is that to access a computer you need a UF ID! With a UF ID, you can also rent out skulls, equipment, and rooms! The higher you go up the library, the quieter it is! It

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    UF Health Science Center Library
    UF Health Science Center Library - 2nd floor after renovation. The furniture is identical to marston's

    2nd floor after renovation. The furniture is identical to marston's

    UF Health Science Center Library - First floor

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    First floor

    University of Florida Smathers Libraries & Special Collections

    University of Florida Smathers Libraries & Special Collections

    4.7(3 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Oh Boy I like this place so much!! The UF bookstore offers…read moreyou a huge variety of books, school supplies and all the Gator gear you can imagine. I love to go to this two stories bookstore, always neat and with amazing staff ready to help with a smile on they faces. You can either rent or buy your books from here. The Gator section it's to die for, they have almost anything you can imagine Gator !! Cups, mugs, cloths, house stuff and so much more. I felt in Gator Heaven ;-) Thank you, Go Gators!! Ay Dios me gusta este lugar muuchooo !! La librería UF le ofrece una gran variedad de libros, útiles escolares y todo el equipo Gator que te puedes imaginar. Me encanta ir a esta librería de dos pisos, siempre limpia y con un personal increíble listo para ayudar con una sonrisa en sus caras. Puedes alquilar o comprar tus libros aquí. La sección de Gator es para morirse, tienen casi cualquier cosa te puedes imaginar Gator !! Copas, tazas, paños, cosas de casa y mucho más. Me sentí en el Cielo Gator ;-) Gracias, Go Gators !!

    Special collections and a gallery that usually showcases local history, located in the historic old…read moreLibrary. Worth visiting just to sit in that lovely reading room and soak up the history of the University. Excellent collection of rare books and ephemera. I found an amazing 1938 thesis on Gainesville one time that really filled in some gaps in my knowledge of the neighborhood where I reside. Every student should visit here at least once.

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    University of Florida Smathers Libraries & Special Collections
    University of Florida Smathers Libraries & Special Collections

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    Marston Science Library of the University of Florida - 5th floor is bae

    Marston Science Library of the University of Florida

    4.0(6 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    The Marston renovation made this library spectacular last Fall. The new comfy chairs, addition of…read morestate of the art study rooms, outlets, and Made@UF lab really made Marston the premiere library to study in. It was a nice well kept secret during the Fall. By Spring time, Marston became ridiculously crowded. It's central location and new amenities made it the most popular library. This all made sense when it became UF's new 24 hour library. Ever since Marston became the new 24/5 library, it has become less and less appealing. Students really do not appreciate the facilities we are blessed with. It is now the dirtiest and most uncomfortable library. For some reason, it is too hard for students to clean up after themselves. The study rooms are filled with old food, empty Starbucks cups, and scraps of paper. Everyone needs to realize that is it THEIR OWN responsibility to clean up after themselves and not the custodial workers'. There are three delightful, hard worker ladies working tirelessly every morning to maintain the cleanliness of the library. They are doing their part, but students are not doing theirs. Every morning, they report to work, with smiles on their faces, ready to tackle the catastrophe that is Marston. There are garbage cans everywhere so there is no reason why someone can't dispose of their garbage on their way out. There is no reason to draw on tables or to leave boards unerased. The facilities are spectacular. Every computer has the entire Adobe suite. We can print posters at Marston now. Students can use the Made@UF lab to create apps. (UF will not in any way obtain compensation from an app developed here. You sign a disclosure before using the lab. It's great!) The way students have treated Marston is not. This library would be awarded five stars if students cared more and treated the library with respect. As for now, three stars is more than enough.

    Ha! Mike beat me to Marston... but honestly I'm not there often enough to say a lot... BUT…read more The building itself is another of those horrors from the late 70s, early 80s... a big ugly bunker that will one day be blown up and no one will miss it. The French Fries and the cut thru so you can see Century Tower are nice touches... but really, this building should never have cut off the lawn leading to the Union from the auditorium. Terrible place, bad location. Now the good: The map library is a damned cool place. They're working on getting it all online, but there is still a LOT of value in looking at the original Sanborn fire maps of various cities. So, my verdict is based on the parts I have used, and as an Urban Planning grad student the maps are MY space in this building. Too bad the building itself is such an affront to good planning and architecture.

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    Marston Science Library of the University of Florida - That ceiling though

    That ceiling though

    Marston Science Library of the University of Florida
    Marston Science Library of the University of Florida

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    Library West, Smathers Libraries - libraries - Updated May 2026

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