One of the workers at the technology center, Will, was a great help to me! I called about metal…read moredetectors, of which they didn't have. However, I got a call back a day later after they found one at the Paoli library. They went the extra mile to help me, thank you Will!

Great selection of fiction and nonfiction. Online renewal access and drive up after hours drop…read moreoff and pick up. Parking lot is too small and almost always requires parking in the mall area across the road during peak hours.

Passport Service Office…read more They have the rudest most unhelpful person working there to run the passport office. Yes, we were 10 minutes late however her lack of any iota of customer service was shocking for such a nice library and other very lovely librarians. This lady could not answer any questions in regard to the form and made no effort to be helpful in any way. She kicked us out 20minutes later as appointments are apparently only 30 minutes on the dot. It is also $35 processing fee per person applying, I guess that's the price for extra rudeness.

Called on a Thursday afternoon to see if I could come in for a Passport photo and application…read moreprocessing. They were able to accommodate my last minute request and took me on Friday morning. My appointment was for 10:30 and I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Everything was very straightforward and the processing fee was $35 and the library charges another $10 for the photo. I highly recommend coming to the library over waiting at the post office! Everyone is very friendly and accommodating!

I was attending a political organizing event that was held at the Tredyffrin Public Library…read more I did not have a chance to look at much of the library because I spent most of my time in the main meeting room. The room itself had a couple of tables and did not have a cramped feel at all. It probably has enough room to hold around 100-150 people. It seemed like the library had plenty of books, computers and other resources. There were a couple of parents at the political event and some of them let their kids out in the library to read or do some work. This library had a couple of signs for events at the library including movie nights. Across the street from the library are a couple of pairs of tennis courts, which looked to be in good condition. Once it gets warmer, I wouldn't rule out stopping odd here once in a while to hit some balls. Altogether, the Tredyffrin Public Library is a nice space to hold gatherings/events or do some reading or other work.

Nice librarians. I've been taking my kids (ages 4 and 2) here every couple of weeks for the last 2…read moremonths. The children's section is in the basement and has a ton of books. Signage is great and it is very easy to find the type of books you are looking for. It is also very clean. And there is a decent playground right next to the library. There is lots of parking and an electric charging station in the parking lot for electric vehicles.

First of all, I have to say that I am very impressed with this library. This has a great…read morecollection of everything. Plus, I am grateful that they have a pretty extensive collection of DVDs with new release ($1.50 rental for 3 days on new release and a week for old titles). With all the Blockbusters closing around the area, this is the only place where you can browse through DVDs on a shelf. Pretty much everything around me are just RedBox and Blockbuster Express kiosks. There is a nice computer cluster with reference section. Also, you have Children's downstairs which is nice. Plenty of conference rooms for study groups which is nice. My only gripe about this place is that this is a cell phone dead zone. You literally cannot get a cell phone signal unless you walk outside from the building into the parking lot. It would be nice just to set your phone on vibrate and receive calls when you are studying.

Needed to do some literary research today, and the only library anywhere nearby who had what I…read moreneeded was Bryn Mawr's Canaday Library. I am a local resident, and am not currently a student anywhere, so I called first to see what access was allowed to me. Swarthmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr colleges work together for inter-library loaning on the Tri-pod system, which is an online catalog of all their collections, accessible to any i-net user. You don't have to be a student to visit the libraries and read, but you do need a school card to check out. I had used Tri-pod to ascertain which library had what I needed, before calling for more info. (According to my local township library, there is an inter-library loan process which would allow me access to Tri-pod items and be lent something through my library, but, since it takes over a week to process, I have not personally done this. I am relating the info I was given, but I do not know for sure how much access is really permitted via inter-library loans, to libraries outside the three Tri-pod schools.) I was very impressed with the politeness and helpfulness of the young woman who answered the phone at the Bryn Mawr science library, however, I ended up calling her only because I could not get a live soul on the line for Canaday, even after multiple calls, and leaving a message. That part was a really poor experience, especially when we finally got there and saw FOUR staff members sitting at the circulation desks, doing nothing but their own classwork, while on duty. Come on. This would not fly at other libraries. I even called McCabe at Swarthmore just to see if they had someone answering at that time, and a very helpful young man was live on the other end, ready to help me, so Canaday, seriously, answer your phone! The helpful staff member at the Bryn Mawr science library told me that "Visitor Hours" for Canaday Library, which I guess are different from student hours, are 8-6 M-F, and 10-5 on Sat. Upon visiting on a week day, it was well after 6pm when we left, and they were making no signs of closing, so I assume they run late for students (normally campus libraries are open until closer to midnight) but would like visitors to leave earlier. For safety reasons, especially since this is a women's school, I can certainly understand and respect that. The library was organized and clean. I did not see any features on display, such as an art collection or those snazzy decorative architectural niches, that many other academic libraries have. Normally a school library is a showplace, even at private schools, on an upper school level. While I like looking at the neat things academic libraries normally display (glass cases of rare books, Native American artifacts, antique local photography, etc.), it was also a little refreshing not to have the pomp and circumstance, and we certainly did not explore the entire building, so I could be missing something outstanding. But for what we saw, it was a plain old library, with books as the main event. I hope to have more time to explore next time. For the section of literary journals where we were, it was very inclusive of all I needed, and actually had several other literary reviews that were really helpful as well. Definitely strong on their collection for all my research purposes, and then some. I had a positive experience, as well, speaking to the main reception at Bryn Mawr, another student who was very helpful. I call there to ask about visitor parking and she patched me through to Campus Safety / Public Safety, who unfortunately did not have a name for the lot, but confirmed what I saw online on their interactive map, which called it "Campus Center Parking," off of New Gulp Road. I posted a map with visuals to help anyone needing to know where this is. This was my first time at Canaday. When I took some undergrad classes at Penn, and then grad classes at Penn and Rosemont, I had always used the HUGE library at Penn, or McCabe Library at Swarthmore College. I have to say I really like McCabe, and that is normally my go-to when I have a choice. They have the perfect aesthetic for a college library (decor combo of tasteful architecture, sculpture, art, and an amazingly comprehensive book collection). But, while I didn't feel as at home at Canaday, I did feel comfortable enough to get work done there, which is the whole point. All in all it was a strong positive experience at Canaday. The Bryn Mawr campus, like many, has a strong Gothic architectural influence. I also cannot help but think of Katharine Hepburn, one of their most well-known alumni. Katharine's "Bryn Mawr accent" is a joy to watch, as it comes and goes, when she thinks about using it, in her earlier movies, especially "Philadelphia Story." It is so shamelessly snobby, but ballsy of her, which makes it hilarious at the same time.

I love working at the Bryn Mawr College Libraries, which are open to the general public. In…read moreparticular, the Science Library (Collier) is a beautiful, quiet place to get work done, and parking is easy and free in the visitors lot. Carpenter is quite pretty too (but the chairs aren't as comfy). Beautiful campus, and easy to get lunch/coffee at the student cafe.

My parents have dial up at home, so come Thanksgiving weekend when I had to do major Internet…read moresearch, I opted to come to the library. I didn't have my laptop with me so Panera or other free wi-fi locations were not an option. And so to the local library I went. They had 3 computers set up for Internet use, as well as wi-fi. Did I mention it was free? The connection was pretty good and fast. The library itself is pretty small and is connected to Wachovia. Back when I lived at home, I'd come here for books and movies. They also sell used books as well. Thanks, Paoli Library for your free and fast Internets, without which my 15 minute search would have taken easily an hour at the 'rents.

I bring my kids here all the time because we live close by, but the computers are so outdatedread more

Love it here!! Such a clean library, and I love their selection. Stop in and say hello!!read more

First came here through 52 First Philly event and instantly loved it. It's a small, quaint museum…read moretucked right next to Washington Square Park, which already sets the vibe. During the First Flight event it was a bit busy, but still felt intimate and special. There's a members-only reading/library area that feels very old-world and scholarly, and a general exhibition space with rotating displays, historic prints, books, and artifacts tied to architecture, design, and Philadelphia history. It's quiet, thoughtful, and the kind of place where you naturally slow down and look closely at things. I went back again yesterday for a very specific and slightly heartbreaking reason. I realized I grabbed the wrong collectible pencil before. Mine said "52 Weeks" instead of "First Flight," which meant my collection was incomplete and yes, I was genuinely sad about it. I stopped in just to ask if they maybe had an extra one somewhere. Renee was INCREDIBLE. Truly the nicest human. She took the time to look and actually found one for me. It absolutely made my day. I honestly wanted to write this review just to thank her because that level of kindness and care really sticks with you. Also, on my second visit I realized how much I missed the first time around. The building itself is beautiful, classic architecture, warm and elegant without being intimidating. It's the kind of place that rewards repeat visits because you notice something new each time. A hidden gem, wonderful staff, and a really special Philly institution. I'll definitely be back. I'll admit the non member area is small. But it was very informational. I think it would be perfect for civic engineers.

I like going there. The general atmosphere is very unique and welcoming. I would encourage them to…read moreban the use of laptops in the library, it is a place to read, not to do the work.

This is a really great place to work and study. It's always quiet, has ton of natural light, and a…read moregreat view.

A fantastic library, even to this day. It even has that coveted library smell... books old and new!…read moreIt is a large library for the town The employees are always helpful even when you need to find that one special book. Check their website out for events and information. The property around the library is great for sitting outside and reading a book.

The loudest library in all of the USA. Congratulations. Even the librarians are loud. They used to…read morehave a very hard of hearing lady answering the phones who would SCREAM INTO THE PHONE. Absolutely no respect for the patrons. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NOISE. PUT UP SIGNS. I saw 3 people on their cell phones in the 10 minutes I was there. I left because of the noise caused by a patron and the library staff. DOES THE LIBRARY STAFF KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN A LIBRARY AND SHOULD WHISPER. HOW RUDE!!!!!!!! This place is ridiculous. Check the other yelp reviews that mention the noise in this place. WHEN YOUR LIBRARY STAFF ARE CLOWNS, YOU SHOULD EXPECT A CIRCUS.

Great library! My kids love the large kids area. Lots of…read morethings to play with, books all around, and even computers with kids learning games. DVD rentals are free. PRO TIP: with a library card (free) you can rent /borrow digital books for FREE and read easily from your phone or iPad. I like the "Libby" app which makes it super easy! Another PRO TIP: you can reserve free family passes to museums around the area, including the Elmwood Park Zoo for FREE!