This library is not too far from home and has been a great place for me to work when I just need a…read moredifferent environment to be in every now and then. With a huge field outside and a playground a lot of the kids play out there in the summer. But when you walk inside there are 2 floors with large windows making it bright with natural lights, plenty of seating and computers for folks to use if they need. The staff is incredibly kind and willing to help if you need it. They also have tons of activities for families.

For now I will be rating this library 3 stars because of the noise level on the second floor. I…read morehave been going to this library at least 2x a week on the weekends since August and had interesting experiences. My husband loves the collection of DVDs and books this location offers. It also seems like a great library for children. The playground next door looks amazing and there seems to be many activities offered. It's nice that there's also ample parking. I will be sharing about two specific experiences in this review. First, I had a situation where I was sitting at one of the booths and was approached by a stranger. At first I was trying to be friendly and allowed them to say hello. After they passed by they suddenly sat next to me and touched my feet. I was so upset and alarmed that I immediately got upset, yelled at him and then went to the librarian to report what happened. I appreciated her help and soon after on the following weeks I noticed there was an employee that patrolled around the second floor. Now today, I was at the library between 12pm-2pm. There was a man near the copiers who was on his phone with the speakerphone on. Even with my noise canceling headphones on I wasn't able to hear my lectures online with his phone blasting and him talking. After 30min of continuous phone usage, I went to the librarian and asked her if she could ask the man to take his phone off speakerphone and take his call outside. When I meant outside I meant just not the second floor where right behind him there were many people studying. Couldn't he be asked to go downstairs at least? I was told that this is a "social library" and that if I needed quiet that I should move to the back corner of the library or get a room. Or if I need earplugs they can provide some. I'm sorry but when did it become acceptable to have long phone conversations on speakerphone inside a library? And what's a social library? I expect the first floor to be louder because there's many children activities that go on throughout the day. But why can't the second floor be a space respected for people who want to get some quiet reading or studying done? What if I don't want to go to the back of the library where it's not as brightly lit or don't want to be secluded in a room? The noise on the second floor has been complained about from previous reviewers and I wish this library can really hear us out. It's understandable that certain parts of the floor have different voice levels but if someone's behavior is being bothersome to others around then please do something about it. I don't feel like it was appropriate to tell me to move or wear earplugs when I specifically went to the study section at the booths. I go to the library making sure my actions don't bother others. I walk, use a whisper level if I am with someone else, use headphones, respect the space I'm in and I take my phone calls downstairs by the front entrance or outside. Why can't I expect the same from others as well especially in a library environment?

Horrible experience here. Tons of homeless people and entitled library staff. So many staff for a…read morehuge library but no one wants to help. Many disheveled people loitering and soliciting. Library staff wasn't much better. The staff are very condescending and rude when you ask for help. Thank god I don't pay taxes here or else I'd be pissed.

Very Slow! I tried to use the inter library loan program but waited over a week to get an item…read morefrom another LOCAL library. (still waiting) Since there are no fines you will wait a very long time for an item before its returned. No reasonable options, wait for patron to return it on the no fines system (haha will not happen) or order from interlibrary loan and wait forever!

Mount Prospect PL continues to knock it out of the park with their programming…read more They have some signature programs, I'd call them, that take place throughout the year apparently, in cooperation with the MPPL Foundation. The first of these that we attended was the Teddy Bear Walk. Apparently this is a program that has been happening for something like 60 years and it's become a family tradition--grandparents are now coming with their children and grandchildren to the event. We were running late this day so we missed the "walk" part of the program--not sure what that entails. But the children are encouraged to bring a teddy bear and there are some great activities: times tickets to visit Santa; craft stations in the children's section; rotating story times; costumes characters outside, in this case a bear and the MPPL mascot, a duck; and a children's music drop-in session. I was so pleased with the event b it I didn't realize it was just one of many. Most recently we went to the Lunar New Year celebration they host. Again, many fun activities, with the craft tables again (making a sparkle dragon and a Lunar New Year sign), a dragon set-up in one of the program rooms for photos, a scavenger hunt, and the pièce de résistance: the lion dancers. This was a timed entry ticket, and we were amongst the first people to arrive at the library for the LNY celebration (score one for putting the start time for this in my calendar 15 minutes earlier than it actually began) so we were able to get in. Whilst waiting for the performance to begin, they gave us little tissue paper rings and said to wait until we were told to use them. To prepare the crowd--particularly the large number of small children--the librarian led us in a a song or two, including a fun call-and-response, and explained a bit about the pillars of Lunar New Year. And at the end, just before the dancers began, she told us to rip open our tissue paper rings to let out the "fireworks" inside. I feel like I must be a child myself because I was gleeful at that myself, though the room did erupt in oooh's and aahhh's so I wasn't alone there. (And you can guarantee I'm going to find and order some of those paper confetti pouches.) The company they hired to do this performance was phenomenal. I have never seen the lion dance in person and I was enchanted. My daughter was fascinated too, and I was actually worried she might be frightened. The performers did most of their dance up near the front but did wander through the audience for a bit, during which a lion stopped in front of my daughter, who promptly plucked an orange from its open mouth. I later learned that means good fortune in the year ahead. I left this event in such high spirits, having had so much fun, I couldn't stop talking about it to friends and took tons of photos. Their events just keep getting better. Never change, Mount Prospect Public Library!

Overall a nice library with kind and helpful staff. Be mindful of where the entrance is before you…read morestart walking (if you drove for the first time like me). I was in the area and needed access to Microsoft office suite and a printer- so incredibly thankful for our public libraries and free resources! At first I was told I could access the computer using my park ridge library card and PIN but I couldn't recall my PIN for the life of me. They provided me with a guest pass that allowed me to use the computer for 1h45m. That's 45 more min than PR guest which is a plus. Color copies cost .25 and B&W .10. I got what I needed and was in and out in less than an hour. Only one less star because as others have stated, it's a really loud library. Babies crying, people whispering, slamming keyboards lol, etc. But it seems the staff works hard to manage it between their work and borderline ridiculous calls- they do it all! Again, very grateful and only first world problem complaints.

Went to my local library to research "Pinterest". Ashley at…read morecirculation desk was quick to locate my source material. This place rocks. Highly recommended!

My husband and I went to the Vernon Area Public Library for the Games for Grown-ups program. This…read moreis held once or twice a month, where adults can come in and play board games with other adults. They had a wide variety of games to choose from. We played a game with some other people and had a nice time. The library itself looked nice with lots of other things to do. I highly recommend the Vernon Area Public Library!

This is by far the best library that I have been to, it may be smaller than most libraries, but it…read moremore than makes up for it with a staff that is always friendly, helpful and professional, and while having the intangibles like warmth, character and familiarity, it also possesses a greater quantity and quality of books, that you do not see in the much larger, but somehow more empty libraries.

ALWAYS SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! Over the past few years, I have utilized my library for their…read moreaudio books using the Libby App. Because I prefer physical books, and have not been traveling as much this year, I finally checked out my first physical book since moving to the area! They had in stock Laila Lalami's, The Other Americans. I checked out the beautiful hardcover and have three weeks to read. Lately, that hasn't been an issue, I've been tearing through books in less than a month. I also noticed that they have Susan Abulhawa's, Against A Loveless World: A Novel in the digital library. I asked if they planned on getting it physically and they ended up ordering it because I requested it! That is pretty amazing. I have had a number of questions about the library resources and they have always responded to me quickly. They are also taking precautions with COVID-19. Support your local library and return your books on-time! :)

It's a lot smaller than the main branch but it's a nice place to go when you don't want to deal…read morewith the sheer size of the main branch. This branch is often underutilized but carries the most popular materials and therefore can sometimes be more convenient and faster than going to the main branch. Alike the main branch they too have funding en route to expand the collections and update the building which is much needed. My main qualm with this branch is how outdated it looks next to the main branch. They offer many of the same services that the main branch offers and it is disappointing that it is so underutilized. So if you are a Palatine library cardholder, go and use it! Pro Tip:This location can take back books & materials from any other Palatine branch so if you are in the area of it but don't have the main branch on your route that day you can dump your books off here!

I've been a regular at the Northbrook Public Library for 20 years now, and honestly, it's been a…read morejoy to watch this place grow alongside our community. It has evolved from a quiet spot to grab a book into a true hub for creativity and connection. I like that Kate Hall, the director, is always looking for input from the patrons on how to make the library even better. One of the many things I love about NPL is their 'Library of Things.' Over the summer, I used their recording technology to digitize a bunch of old VHS tapes from the comfort of my home. Last night, I participated in a virtual glass fusion workshop. The materials pickup and drop off, and the class itself was all well-coordinated and user-friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed that class as well as others I have taken in the past, such as book-making. Additionally, I love the fact that I can put books on hold, and that either the NPL staff will pull the books for me, or other libraries will send them over to NPL. It's super convenient to then be able to just walk in the door and grab my books off the shelf. I seriously could go on and on about all the things I love here. The Northbrook Public Library is easily the best resource in Northbrook!

In the recent years, the reason of we going to the Northbrook Public Library is to watch movies in…read morethe auditorium. The library has showings of Oscar contender movies every year for card holders for free! My hubby and I saw La La Land and A Star is Born (Lady Ga Ga's version) from there. Other than Oscar contenders, they also have classic and even first-run films! Last Sunday, I heard that the library would be showing the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once on March 15, as I was very curious about this movie, I immediately went on their website to register. It used to be very easy, however, after several unsuccessful trials, I called the library and talked to a friendly lady named Liz. She checked and told me that since I had not used the library card for more than 3 years, it had mysteriously disappeared from their system. She suggested that I went to the library to get a new card with my drivers license. So, I did. It was the first time that I went to the library in years! I had noticed that the long checkout table had been replaced by 4 self-checkout stations, and there were 2 small "front desks" at both sides of the library. The young man, Nolan, at one of the front desks was friendly and polite, and it was a short wait for him to process a new library card to me. My hubby and I went to see the movie on Wednesday, since it had become an Oscar Best Picture winner, it was a full house. The auditorium is on the first floor, it had been renovated in 2015, and has 212 stadium seats. Like the rest of the library, it is always clean and comfortable. Food and drinks (except water) are not allowed inside the auditorium. Since it is not a review of the movie, I would not get into it, but I would highly recommend it! The Northbrook Public Library was a very important part of the growth of our daughter. Since her kindergarten years through her childhood, my husband took her to the Northbrook library to borrow 7 books every Saturday. He read one book to her a day, later she read by herself, that were 365 books a year from the library! I remember that our daughter's Second grade teacher once told us that her English "blossomed", and I believe all those story book reading helped a lot! Before we had Google and the Internet, my hubby used to borrow travel books and local maps of our destinations from the library as well! He couldn't have done his travel planning without the library in those years! I saw exhibitions of artwork inside the lobby, it also brought back memories of my daughter having her artwork exhibited in the library through her school as well. I feel thankful for an excellent public library in our town. Our property tax money has been put to good use!

I work at Rolfing and I think we have a strong theology collection, especially Protestant,…read moreevangelical theology. We also collect in other areas including education, history, and bioethics. The physical building could use some work but hopefully you'll find the staff friendly and helpful. The general public is welcome.

Good place to study. A great selection of books, and if you can't find the one you need. They'll…read moreget it to you through the iShare system.