Visitando una biblioteca principal en el Valle del Rio Grande…read moreVisiting a main library in the Rio Grande Valley (2 of 2) I had to spend about 1.5 days in McAllen, Texas, which is one of the bigger cities in the Rio Grande Valley, along with Brownsville and Harlingen. If you look at what you can do in McAllen, their main library, the largest one on one level in the United States, will be on that list. I asked myself how that could be ... and in McAllen. I had to take a look. The answer to that shows how it gets 5 stars from me, with one star for each word in the following phrase: "Walmart Becomes A Stupendous Library" I did not know that until I got here and asked if the library was built from scratch. I learned that it was not. A Walmart that was no longer operative was repurposed to become the city's main library and, in so doing, became the most spacious one-story library in the U.S. of A. Overlooking the aesthetics of McAllen's main library branch, which is hard to do, the library does everything very well. The collection is vast, with stacks in every direction. In between the stacks are pleasing seating areas and broad expanses of tables, all under excellent illumination. There is a very large children's room and some of its features are humorous and innovative. In fact, art installations throughout the library are clever and interesting. Upon walking in, there is a large tech center with computers and other available features. There's even a small cafe' from which I was able to get some tasty, small, and nicely priced desserts after having had dinner. Even the restrooms are spacious and kept in excellent condition. That everything looks new(er) goes without saying. While I didn't need as much service as I needed at Brownsville, where I handled the technical matters I needed to attend to, the staff was definitely pleasant. They answered my few questions and seem proud to be a part of this progressive library. The main McAllen library's repurposed exterior is also very pleasing to look at. Built into the outboard side of the covered auto canopy is a water feature that drips into a fountain. Additionally, there is an adjacent glass tower that changes colors, which is much more commanding when it's dark outside. The parking lot, with entrances off of a main artery, is capacious. If all this wasn't already making for a very good vibe, I had an experience that was a first and really funny, at least to me. As I was walking back to the car in the parking lot, an obviously local woman comes careening around a corner and rolls down her car window to frantically and excitedly ask me if the library was still open ... in Spanish! With a baseball cap on, I don't think she got a good look at me and, being in the Rio Grande Valley, she must have assumed that whomever she spoke with would speak Spanish. She got lucky. I took my collegiate Spanish courses very seriously (since they were usually comical and good fun) and responded with, "Creo que esta abierta por quince minutos mas." At this point, some Americanized cadence might have filtered through, she looked a little thrown off, and she then landed on a parking space. And, here, I had taken Spanish electives with the hopes of one day visiting Spain and Argentina. A few decades ago, speaking Spanish to someone if you were obviously not Hispanic could have been seen as patronizing, especially if the person doing it was one of those "dos cervezas por favor" types of idiots. Things keep changing and now I feel that more people in America welcome your speaking Spanish to them. This definitely appears to be the case in the Rio Grande Valley. I turned on the ignition to the car, howled with laughter at what just happened, and drove off. Most people, especially if younger, go to the library to get something done. Someone who doesn't have to get something done may go for the enrichment it provides. I can't imagine anyone needing to have their teeth pulled to go McAllen's main branch of their public library. Even just reading about it and the record the McAllen main branch holds, I didn't need to come here. I wanted to come here. And, if in this area, or even in and around South Padre Island, I will probably make a special trip to this unique library just because I want to.

Amazing spot for the latest books and other resources! Really enjoyed their vast collection of…read morematerial, from popular fiction to the latest nonfiction books. Also, the study rooms that you can book in advance were amazing! Online reservations and the check-in process were easy. Spent a string of days working here and the tasty Texas Pecan coffee from the Rise and Shine cafe at the front of the library was perfect. Librarians were incredibly helpful.

This review may be a little biased but I've been coming here since I was a little kid. The place…read morealways feels like home and it's so nice and comfy. The study rooms provide a quiet and sound ambient for studying. Their wide selection of books is good for when you want to check out or come on your free time and have a good read. The staff are always welcoming and so helpful with all needs and inquiries. All in all, comfort is by far the best way to describe this place.

Excellent place to study, have a group study, use computer. You can find books, magazines, movies,…read moredocumentaries and information by internet. Everything here at the Pharr Memorial Library. They have also activities for Kids and more Staff really helpful and friendly. The installation so clean and organized.

We like to visit the big things. After our trip to SPI we stopped here on the way home.read more

The public library and its surrounding areas are a great place to see in Hidalgo post-Black Friday…read more Hidalgo City has a touristic route called The City of Lights. Arguably, the beginning portion of the tour starts at the library. After Thanksgiving, you can begin to tour the City of Lights and other statues that are taken. You can see characters from Disney such as Star Wars as well as Dreamwork's Animations characters like Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots. During Christmas time, it's a sight to behold, and you'll want to come here with e Pugh memory on your phone to be taking loads of pictures and video. A trolley begins to circle the area in the evenings, which is free. Just pick it up at one of its pre-designated stops and you can tour on the trolley as opposed to walking. The closer it gets to Christmas, the more packed it gets, so come early and get those shots in before the crowd takes over.

They routinely refuse to pay their vendors. I have been a guest speaker 5 times, and every single…read moretime it is a massive fight that lasts weeks/months and they make up different excuses. I sent my invoice early this time, they already have all of my info on the payment profile, and they are still trying to make up excuses and not pay me.

Got book that cook for me thank you nice service nice books Nice library this help a lotread more

This location is my favorite because it's consistently clean and offers an excellent selection of…read morebooks and various items. Each visit is met with a warm greeting, and the staff are invariably helpful and efficient. Enjoying books and coffee here has become a cherished activity for my family.

Barnes & Noble's staff has exceptional customer service. Especially Nikki who value's customers'…read moretime by providing excellent service with a pleasant attitude. Thank you.

super boring, dum dum, i hate it so much…read moreahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. anyways, i do not recommend this campus in the slightest bit as the environment sucks and the teachers there don't even perform their duties correctly. there are fights almost on the daily and overall, it isn't worth the hassle. i was genuinely excited when i applied for this college however it is now my biggest regret i've ever had done. i'm now in debt for a horrible college, why do they even pay so much to participate in a hilariously stupid campus?

Terrible college with terrible professors. They advertise that their online options are great…read morechoices for working individuals with a need for flexible schedules, then proceed to treat you like a lazy high school graduate with the strictest deadlines and severe automatic-0 policies. Lots of technical difficulties that can destroy your grade (twice in two different courses, the website deleted my assignment and I got a 0). Want to contact the professor about anything? Well, there's five different ways to contact them and good luck figuring out which one they respond to because otherwise it'll be weeks before they respond if ever. I had to to schoolwork through a hurricane and severe power outage because they refused to give me any extensions for any reasons. They do not care about their students at all. And the low, low price that they advertise so much is still nowhere near as good as other online colleges (which also provide high-quality education and a wider array of degrees, mind you). Absolute joke of a school. I attended in 2021 for their Bachelors in Computer Technology because I loved coding. They came very close to making me hate it. I wasted an entire semester's worth of my life on this school. *UPDATE, 12/15/2021* And now they are so slow with sending my transcripts to another college that I may have to delay my start date. Ridiculous! Avoid at all costs!