I love this library. The staff go out of their way to be helpful. It's a wonderful resource in our community.

I love Royal oak library multiple levels an outside sitting area. Located right by The theater. Coming here to rent books or buy books for me and my son is thee absolute best. This place also always has an event going on mostly free and open to the public . Great library to buy books to take home to start your own kids home library or your very own adult library at home. They also have vinyls you can rent . Which I think is so cool. read more

See all

Love the library but wish I could take out more than 8 on hoopla. Can't even watch a full season of anything.

This is such an underrated library. I like it better now that there's a front entrance, there used to be only the entrance in the rear for ever. Ramp that they put in last year was so much nicer in the front and now you can access it from front or rear of the building. I know they did some updates to the exterior of the building, towards the top of it, but it looks the same. I guess it doesn't matter, it's more important what's inside. I have a large size area for kids. They have a very small collection of videos to the right. The librarians or staff there are very helpful and there's usually 2 to 3 working a day. They have a small theater left of the desks, they have a lot of children's shows and events there. They have a lot of quiet areas sprinkled throughout the library. I don't come here as often as I should, but they do have a large selection of books. At least I have my library card now. I didn't have it for the first few years I lived here. I will come here more often in the summer time, since it's not a far walk for me. Make sure to support your local library and as my mother would say, it's cheaper to borrow a book than to by it, especially if you don't know if you will even like it. read more

Royal Oak Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

While not as large as Troy or others, i have always been happy to go here. The staff is super helpful. Their book-selling nook has a good selection and they have great events. And since i can search other locations and have items sentbfrom other branches to here, its been a huge boon during these covid times. Great for making sure I have books and dvds during stay at home time. read more

Lovely library visit yesterday; reference librarian was very helpful answering my questions. Impressed to see so many folks reading and studying inside on a beautiful, sunny Saturday! read more

See all

It was a very usable library. Then its dedicated parking lot was eliminated. Frankly - I don't know where to park for it - and haven't been back for years. Maybe someone will respond to me and show me how parking is still relatively available and easy. In fact, because my card lapsed, I can't use alternative libraries either - like Clawson (which is actually closer to me). read more

This library is well stocked.  The librarians here are professional and extremely good at their work.  The first floor features a full selection of books, periodicals, tapes and research books.  Of course, if there is something you are looking for that is not there then a simple request through MelCat will fix that.                 There is some extraordinary art in the place.  On the first floor there is a large carved sculpture on the wall featuring the work of several wood carvers.  It is all about Michigan and the impressions of Michigan that the carvers had.  My favorite one is the old fort.                 There are other paintings and items around the library that are interesting to look at.                 An amazing addition to the library is in the lower level.  Along the top of the upper most shelf of books there are large tile artworks.  They had been created by artists and children helped to assemble them.  The themes are reading and  history and learning.  The tiles and the parts that make them up are really something to see.  I highly recommend it.  They are not in plain sight so I suggest asking a librarian to show them to you.  Once you see the first one you can't miss the rest.  They just roll right along into each other - one from the other to the other.                 Parking is available but you might have to hoof it or roll for a couple of blocks.  Even in inclement weather it's a nice way to get there anyway! read more

See all

Not being super-familiar with the area, I had a bit of a struggle finding the library, then driving around the block to make sure I was pulling in the right parking lot. Once that was done, though, the library was a delight! The children's floor is awesome. We were supposed to be there for a mom's group, but there were honestly too many people meeting to tell where I was supposed to be. I saw lots of other activities for kids and adults coming up, and wish I lived a bit closer to take advantage of it all. read more

The ROPL is, architecturally, like all those other newish turn of the century libraries throughout Oakland County. Looks-wise it is very nice. They also do an annual Friends of Library used booksale, where books on average cost 25 cents, which is pretty hard to beat. I've gone a few times, and have never regretted the dollar or so I spent. The main downsides are the metered parking - there really should be some free parking for library patrons - and the often sketchy clientele, some of whom seem to have leapt out of the books shelved in the science fiction/fantasy section. read more

What's best about Royal Oak's library over others is not only the sheer volume of media they house - they have a collection rivaled only by DPL itself - but the amount of community event they house. Having completed the construction of the auditorium, they house anything from community art events, to workshops, to Q&As with political leaders, artists, writers... and the list just continues on. I think what helps this library over many others is its web presence. Go to their website, and they don't just have a single page with store hours, but full blogs concerning new additions to their collection of media (I just read the blog on Robert Hass and the new works of his they now have. Awesome!) but also full schedules on all their community events. Royal Oak is showing exactly what a community center should DO: offer so much to the public in cultural development and ongoing learning that the public cannot help but notice! read more

See all

I love the selection of books, the self check out is great , but quite often some staff is rude . There is an older lady in particular with blonde hair who often complains about needing another job.. and I've heard her so this more than once . well then go get one. If you can't help the patrons there and are put off by being there why do u stay? I think they need some better staff and this could be a phenomenally wonderful resource. read more

Unfortunately, I'm not at all impressed. This library has a great location and the potential to be such a great resource for residents and local families. But I've had a few negative experiences (mainly rude staff) and what prompts me to write this review is a recent experience where my child was denied access to a computer in the youth area because we have overdue book fines on our account. No attempt was made to engage my child in something else, and when I asked to submit some feedback on the policy I was met with a library director who acted as though she'd never had to speak with a library patron in real life before. If that's the case, maybe that explains her lack of care, concern or any sense of responsibility to her customers. She directed me to the library board and I have since reached out to them - will update review if they seem to care. I agree completely that people with overdue books shouldn't get to check out more materials. That would present a financial risk to the library. But refusing computer access (to a CHILD who has no say in their parent returning books) is punitive and unfair. As someone able to pay my fees, I feel compelled to share this story because those who cannot pay their fees might be the very people who need access to a public computer most. And even if the library does not agree with me, they should at least be able to publicly defend their policies when asked and then offer some alternatives for the kids you're refusing access to. By the way, only one of the many computers was even being used. Library attendance is way down in this country.. they might want to think about that before basically turning people away. read more

When I first walked into the RO public library, I was super excited - it's big, clean, and there seems to be a lot of books there!! However, after I pulled out my list of 15 or so books that I wanted to look at, I found that they only had 2. TWO!! On a list of 15! Now I know I can order the books from other libraries, but I'm an instant gratification kind of girl, so I don't want to wait 3-5 days (or more) to get a book to read. Aside from the poor selection of books, I was having trouble locating one of the two books that they had, so I asked an attendant at the desk. I had to make 3 trips to the customer computer area to look up info for her to tell me where it is! Finally she used her own computer and looked it up - but only after I got frustrated and asked her to. Wasn't a huge fan of her either. So all in all, I hope I never set foot in the RO library again. If anyone knows of a library in Oakland county with a decent selection of books, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll stick to Barnes & Noble. read more

Not much for community resources or fun kid activities/programs. They have several computer stations throughout the building, however they only want adults using the 12 adult computers all packed in together, whilst the other 2 computer areas with approx. 8 computers in each are unused and quiet. Not very happy that I set up my work station in a quiet and empty area only to be told that I had to go and sit with the 9 other people working all together because that's the "adult" area. When I inquired and stated that I wanted a quiet space to a librarian, they told me that only the adult computers have unlimited internet access. "But I don't need the internet, only word documents and a printer" was my response and again I was told to go and work with everyone else instead of trying to isolate. read more

I like this library, particularly for the FREE movie rentals! I have a television, but don't have any channels (no cable, no channels 2, 4, 7, nothing! p.s. nothing against those who watch tv, I just like to remain blissfully ignorant about pop culture, current events and politics). ANYWAY, there's a pretty good selection of DVDs to choose from. They have new releases, old releases, documentaries (lots of PBS ones, too!) and television series. I can't really speak too much on the books--I like to buy (not borrow) books because someday, when I have my own place (and not just renting a teeny-tiny apartment like I am now) I want a room designated as a library with books everywhere and a globe and a leather chair and a fireplace. Or something like that. Also, there are PLENTY of characters that frequent this library, i.e., drunk derelicts from off the street. And before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I know they're drunk coz I can smell the alcohol from like, 10 feet away! Not that there's anything wrong with being a drunk...or a derelict...to each his own, right? Also, the contingent of drunk derelicts adds some life to the otherwise drab environment that is the interior of the Royal Oak Public Library. This place, however, does not make for a good studying venue. I tried to study here once, but left within 5 minutes of sitting down. First, the chairs are fucking uncomfortable. Second, the tables are too small for one + sharing with a stranger. When I was there, I sat down at a table, got to work and starting chowing down on gummy worms (brain food!). Then, this dude sat down at MY table (even though there were plenty of other empty tables). This wouldn't be a big deal if the table was large, but it's not. And he was staring at me while I was eating gummy worms. It made me self conscious and annoyed, so I left. A word of advice: if you want a good studying venue that's a library (as opposed to a coffee shop), check out the Southfield Public Library--free wi-fi, giant tables, and lots of 'em. read more

Quite possibly the worst run most mismanaged library in the State and definitely in Oakland County. There are a lot of weirdos in Royal Oak and they all come into the library and look at porn. They smell bad and stink up the bathrooms, as the library is too cheap to turn on the fans. Royal Oak's MS software predates the 2007 version also so dont rely on their computers. I have been in there countless times to reserve private study areas just as I have done for the past 20 years. The evening staff are pretty cool about using them but the daytime monitor is skinny and has blonde hair. She, on more than one occasion has violated the library's own policy of group study, which means more than one person and even had the nerve to bump me out of a room because there was supposedly another patron waiting and because I was a resident of a neighboring city, therefore I had to move downstairs. I kept checking every 10 minutes and there was never anyone in there and nobody was ever waiting. This other patron was colored translucent or was a ghost or something because nobody ever showed and the door remained locked. Meanwhile, she spends her days whispering and sneaking around and laughing at the clientele who get angry with her making up the rules on her own. Yes, that's right, she will laugh at you! And this isn't only her, I have been witness over the years to several employees who treat the residents of the library disrespectfully. Rosemary is also on the radar. I have talked with the director, Mary, on many occasions and she doesn't really seem to care. My advice is if you are a resident, write a letter to the mayor or attend a city council meeting to put these people on the radar. In the meantime, Berkley's library is quiet and peaceful and their study room policy is consistent. The bathrooms are cleaner and you will never be hassled or laughed at. I would then put Ferndale's in second place, almost as good. read more

I just moved to the area and recently stopped by to get a library card. I appreciated that they ask patrons to wear face coverings and kindly offer disposable masks to those who don't have them. I also appreciated seeing librarians politely enforce their policy, which isn't as easy job as it should be and as a result relatively uncommon in my experiences around Metro Detroit. This library branch has a lot to offer, maybe the most of any of comparable size I've visited in the past, including ample free car and bike parking, easy access to the new downtown green space, a library store, vending machines, study rooms, a maker space, free digital subscriptions, a variety of programming, and lots and lots of non-media items to check out, such as projectors, camping equipment, power tools, and jigsaw puzzles. Finally, I appreciated the spacious and beautifully maintained children's library downstairs and its proactive staff who explained the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program to us. Definitely make use of their free resources if you are in the area! read more

Since its renovation a few years back, I find myself visiting the ROPL (physically and virtually) more often than I used to. The location is very convenient and aesthetically pleasing, especially during warmer months. There are benches and greenspace outside where you can relax and read, just remember what time your parking meter expires! They recently installed u-scan checkouts at the front desk, but for some reason people seem reluctant to use them! Fine with me, I LOVE u-scanning! Watch me skip to the front of the line! Per one of the librarians, she THINKS you have the ability to pay your fine online at their website, but she wasn't 100% sure. I'll check it out next time I...err, I mean, if I ever neglect to return a book in a timely manner! They do have e-books and audio books available for download online as well (http://ebooks.mcls.org/27DA5375-EB84-472B-85D5-BE309B959276/10/282/en/Default.htm), although the interface is clunky (be prepared to click about five times just to confirm YES I WANT THIS BOOK!) and there is a surprisingly small number of available copies for popular e-books, which can mean a frighteningly long waiting list for some titles. Do yourself a favor and scroll down to the "Hidden Gems" section, though, those titles are almost always available and I've found quite a few that I really enjoyed! Helpful hint: don't even bother trying to check anything out without your card...I was told by one librarian that they'll accept your driver's license to look you up in the system, but I've been roundly scolded the two times I've had to do it, and apparently they can flat-out refuse to check you out without it! read more

Okay, I am a long time public library patron and enthusiast, but right now I am strictly reviewing the library as a study space. Pros: ROPL is very quiet, both in the main table area, the computer lab area (which seems quite large, but I've never actually used it), and in the separate study carrel area. There is free wi-fi, and a computer tech assistant who is always available. If you can't connect to the wi-fi -- this has only happened once -- the tech desk has an ethernet cable you can borrow. Every staff member I've encountered is gracious and kind. Also, the front desk sells headphones for $2 if you happen to forget yours. Cons: There is insufficient study space near electrical outlets! This is a huge pet peeve of mine because I'm neurotic and tend to panic when my battery life dips below about 50%. There are floor outlets by the tables near the computer labs, but they are often full. There is a beautiful study room filled with carrels and a huge sunny window, but I could only find a single outlet (two plugs) underneath one of the study carrels. I couldn't find any outlets near the tables in the side room where you pick up your books on hold. Other: I suspect there is a No Food or Drink policy in force, but I have never tested this. It would be great if there were a cafe section in the library, as I would prefer to eat a sandwich while studying (yes, I am a fattie), but this only a minor drawback. Also, sometimes the teen section of the library gets a little rowdy (for a library), but that is largely forgivable in light of how precious it is to see young people hanging out there. So, the library is a pleasant and quiet study place, but I would recommend coming with a fully charged laptop before settling in for a lengthy study session. read more

I heart libraries. Royal Oak Public Library is a respectable size and has a great selection considering you can order from all the associated libraries as well. I've found that most of the books I've recently wanted to read were elsewhere, but they usually get them in within 3-5 days of placing them on hold. On the downside, DVD rentals are no longer free :( I understand libraries need to pay the bills somehow, but it's disappointing when a service that was free becomes paid. Booo. Also, I have also found that homeless people gather here for warmth or whatever (I never see them reading, so I assume that is not the reason). Though I fully understand that the library can't do a smell test on everyone who enters, it's pretty unbearable to get a whiff of urine and stinky human body odor while you're looking for cookbooks. read more

They plan the most wonderful thoughtful programs, and not only that, but you couldn't find nicer staff. Emily, Barbara and Tracy are *the best,* and go above and beyond! Thank you for all that you do, and for always making us feel welcome! read more

Unfortunately, I did not appreciate this establishment's very rude staff. The times that I've stayed until closing, I have had the staff approach and hound me until I left...it seemed like they had to leave "oh so bad." If you close at a certain time, I should have every right to stay until, and leave at, that appointed time. I had a staff member tell me, "It just doesn't look like you're leaving," as closing time approached- MANY minutes BEFORE closing. How rude! I'd also like to add that this is just one of multiple examples. Definitely put a bad taste in my mouth and I haven't been back since. I will only go there if I absolutely need to, due to being a student and needing the extra research resources. read more

The individual working the circulation desk was condescending and implied she would not look up my library account number when I presented my driver's license. It should not be an inconvenience for a library worker to look up an individual's account when one does not have their card. She suggested it would cost me $20 to get a new card...which sounded both outlandish and rude. Her behavior was noticed by my son who also thought she was unprofessional. This has the unfortunate result in making me, and my son, disinclined to use this service in future. I am a professional librarian by training and practice, having worked in the field for close to twenty years. It is my earnest hope ROPL improves its customer service immediately. My time, and monetary support, are better spent in an institution which values its patrons. read more

Larger than you would expect, a really wide selection. The book sales are great and I appreciate the seed library! The building is cleam and well lit. While parking is free before 5pm on weekdays, evenings are pay to park which is a downfall for a public facility. This is a city issue and not a library issue. read more

ROPL is just fine but there are other Public Libraries nearby that offer more. A few thoughts: -- I have noticed homeless people IN the library taking a nap or relaxing on the chairs up in the front area - a few times. -- The Children's area downstairs seems nice! It's large & inviting. I haven't noticed a lot of activities/events at varying times for children. They seem to stick to the same 3 events & meeting times. -- Parking is a pain... COIN metered parking is your only option. -- I rented a TV series & it cost me. It was like a few $$ a season but really? I've never had to pay to rent/borrow anything from a library. Isn't that the point of a library?? Again, ROPL does the job - ok. read more

The man who answers the phone should be fired. I was put on hold after inquiring a simple question about their printers. After I was put on hold for 5 minutes (no big deal) I was hung up on. When I called back the man was completely unapologetic even saying "I'm not sorry" that the call got dropped. Then he proceeded to give me a lesson on attitude. He should get a job at Comcast not the public library. What a tool! read more

I love libraries. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I love that I can use the inter-library loan program and have pretty much any book delivered there for pick up. There also have decent movie and audiobook selections. The employees are great and the little store has some good deals if you are looking to make a purchase. They also host some great events - speakers, used book sale, tons of kids activities/programs. All in all, a great community asset... read more

I have a very long history with this library. I grew up in Royal Oak and spent many a day here with my mom when I was in grade school, and I once served on the library board here. I recently began frequenting the library again after a while away because of work and other IRL concerns. It's nice to see that it seems much improved in recent years. I've found some unexpected treasures among the newer books, I like the U-Scan check out system, and I like the ease of doing things like searching for books and reserving them online. It's also a more pleasant place to visit these days, although I don't find it a particularly pleasant place to stay to read or study for long periods of time-I don't like the harsh lighting, and I wish there were some more comfy chairs there (the chairs up in the new book section, for instance, are downright uncomfortable IMHO). The books in some sections are still a little too dated, and the selection is a little too skimpy, for my taste as well (computers and art, for example), but I've had decent luck with finding newer fiction and biographies I want to read. Having to pay for parking most of the time (you have to feed the parking meters after 11 a.m.) and the fact that the library doesn't open until noon on two of the six days it's open are inconveniences. Being able to return your books via the drive-up drop box on 11 Mile is a nice convenience. I also wish we were in a network that included places like Troy (my mom moved there recently, and I just took her over there to sign her up for a new library card--the atmosphere there is more pleasant to linger in, and I found several new books I really want to read that are not available to me at Royal Oak). The Friends used book store is well worth stopping by. It's open many days, and I've bought some great books there at great prices. read more

The ROPL is a decent library in most aspects, friendly staff, clean bathrooms and a large amount of resources. I love the book store, it's open frequently and I find great books almost every time I stop in. read more

Friendly staff. Very pleasant atmosphere. Has everything I need from a library, including interesting events.

I enjoy the ROPB. They have a good selection of free dvd rentals. Not a vast selection but hey...it's free so I can't complain. I also enjoy the free cd rental where I can check out bands I haven't heard before to see if I dig 'em. The kids are is GREAT. They have a ton of books (of course) , computers with kids games they can play, and a great selection of kids dvds/vhs. With the dvd's just watch they are all scratched, I've had a few that kept skipping. They have free internet but sometimes there's a wait. The staff is always cool and helpful. Can't really say much about the books as I haven't really looked....the only downside to this place is being that it's in downtown Royal Oak parking can sometimes be a pain especially if you have children. read more

I recently realized that I have been foolish buying books over and over to just turn around and give them away once I'm finished with them. I love this whole library business! And they staff here is so friendly and helpful. read more

Librarians tend to be "different" by nature, but this library has some of the weirdest/strangest librarians and staff of any library I have been to. I sometimes avoid checking out books or I'll use the self checkout because nearly every conversation with a librarian here turns into weird vibes. read more

the royal oak library is pretty darn cool... huge section, an entire floor for kids to be kids in a library. imagine that, a place where kids can have FUN with books in the area. but the good stuff is upstairs, and if you can't find what you're looking for, they'll be more than happy to help you out... or order whatever it is you need. unlike a good chunk of the people in charge of the city of royal oak, the library is doing its best to make sure the dollars are put to the best use and people are given whatever they need. michael touched on the workshops & community events, which, if you've ever been... speak for themselves. a great computer lab for any of your needs, sometimes a wait, but usually there are one or two available. and they even sell reusable bags made from recycled pop cans. how cool. i've never understood why places like barnes and noble are so successful and libraries struggle for patronage and funding. just another example of over consumption of a society falling deeper and deeper into debt. is it the starbucks in the b & n? take a friggin coffee to the library! save yourself $20! participate in PSS and save some trees. i wish they had bike parking tho... altho that goes for a good portion of the city. read more

The ROPD has terribly inconsistent hours of service; terrible parking conditions and the place frequently smells like a urinal. Other libraries open at 9:00 am every day, but Saturday and allow food and beverages to be brought in. read more