I recently received my Master's degree, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without Allegan…read moreLibrary. Each time my WIFI connection acted up or my laptop crashed, I went to the library and completed all my assignments there. Sometimes I would spend hours taking tests or doing research, extending my computer time over and over, because nobody else was waiting. This, of course, was all free of charge. The staff is very friendly and helpful compared to many libraries in larger cities. I came from a big city in Florida where the libraries had armed guards and time was limited to 1 hour of computer use per day.Compared to that, here I had a different experience. Lia Kea

I am so very excited about the new library!! This is an expansion of the historic Carnegie library,…read morewhich is still there right next door, and will be remodeled. Located on Allegan's riverfront, the library stuns from both sides. From across the river, it looks like an origami book. From the road, it is also gorgeous, with broad windows, and stairs and a beautiful accessibility ramp. Head inside, and you'll never want to leave. Besides the aforementioned windows, there are gorgeous lamps that look like book pages, plenty of space for the stacks, quiet study centers, a media lab, a teen space, and my favorite part, comfy seating all along the riverfront windows. Wow! Downstairs (pass a wall of copper fish, quite appropriate for a waterfront location) will be a robotics lab and a friends of the library bookstore (yay!). When finished, the historic Carnegie building will house staff offices and an expanded children's section. I worked at the old library from middle school until summers in college. There was never enough space, even way back then. The staff workroom was cramped, and the rest of the library felt that way, too. I never could have imagined this beautifully designed, light-filled, welcoming to all ages space. Bravo, and thank you, Allegan, for investing in such an important community resource.

I love libraries and visit them in other cities whenever I can! I've been to this branch of the…read moreHerrick District Library a few times now and I'm always impressed with the selection of items. The parking lot in front of the building is free. Walking in the main entrance, new books are in the front and there is an info desk nearby. The new book section of any library is my favorite, and they even separate out the new cookbooks, which is my other favorite section of any library. I had fun looking at lots of great new books and then wandered around a bit. There is a great section of DVDs, video games, and even board games that you can check out. They have an extensive seed library, and I saw kits to test your home energy levels. Lots of great resources at the library beyond just books. I liked the touch screen kiosk that you can use to browse the library catalog or search for events. There is ample seating and I found a cozy spot to sit and use their free wifi to get some work done. I was impressed with the library staff as I noticed them acknowledging all patrons and handling all situations and interactions with care. I am a strong supporter and lifelong user of libraries, and this is a good one.

Lots of great kids actives!…read more Whenever I am here there seem to be a lot of kids actives happening! I love this because they also have a good age range for kids. Will be coming back soon!

#fabulousfennville has a special place in my heart and as a voracious reader this little gem packs…read morea whole Lotta written word into a smallish building.

I love our library. It's always been one of my favorite stops in St Joe. Reading a real book is so…read moremuch nicer to me than a kindle. It's also a lovely building that is well cared for and has the feel of what a library should be, right down to the brick exterior and interior old beautiful hardwood floors.

I love this public library because I grew up in St. Joe and as a book lover I basically grew up in…read morethe library. I love this library so much I remember loving a series they didn't have all the books for. I contacted the author with the missing books and got about 6 books sent for free to me to donate to the library. The YA series Replica? That's mostly complete because of the author. That's the great thing about loving your local library: you can choose to make it better. I did reading events here as a teen (including being able to spend the night), listened to story time as a child and recieve my first library card here on a school field trip in elementary school. I will always have fond memories of this library. Thank you to librarians everywhere that encourage kids to follow their love for books and never stop reading.

Great break out rooms to study! Near some cool places to eat and parking was super easy!read more

As a former librarian, I have a deep love for libraries that started when I was a kid. There are…read moretwo library systems in the Grand Rapids area: Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL), and Kent District Library (KDL). GRPL is my home library system, which covers the city of Grand Rapids. KDL's service area is anything outside of GR proper, including Byron Township, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids, Plainfield Township, Wyoming, etc. Library cards are free to residents with proof of current address. GRPL no longer charges fines on late materials, which is amazing and a great step for accessibility for the library. (If you lose or damage items, you still have to pay to replace them.) The main branch of GRPL is housed in the beautiful Ryerson building, which was originally built in 1902. The limestone exterior and Italian carrara marble steps give the building a historically regal look. The interior has been updated and added on to over the years, but it's always fun to find old touches inside the building. Multiple floors make up the main branch, so it can be an adventure to find things. Just ask a friendly librarian or staff person and they can direct you where you need to go if you're in a hurry. Self checkout stations are located on the main floor right inside the entrance, and new books are located nearby. The library houses an amazing collection of books, vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, used books for sale, a great local history collection, computers for internet access and library catalog searching, and more. They host many community events and lectures throughout the year. There is a designated parking lot for the main branch. The first two hours of parking is free - just get your ticket validated on the main floor. Parking rates are $1.10 per half hour during the week, free on weekends and for library events. I love spending time at the main branch and try to get there at least once a month, as the selection is huge and I can always find something great to check out when I'm there.

Wonderful small town library! Doesn't have every book, but it's a great place to study or relax…read morewith a good book. Staff is very helpful - couldn't be nicer. I pray they don't ruin it by caving to DC's mandates

Very clean and quiet library with friendly staff. Husband got his first library card here and the…read morelady helping was so kind explaining all the things they have to offer. Can't wait to dive into more activities they offer

This is a great library, better than the St. Joseph one in terms of policies. You can rent up to 50…read moremovies at a time for 2 weeks at no charge, yes 50. At the St. Joseph one you can get 5 for a week and they want to charge you $1 a movie like you don't pay a ton in taxes as a resident. Friendly staff at both places but this is a library that really respects local patrons.

Absolutely love this library. More than once I've come here just to get out of the house and the…read morestaff are always friendly and helpful when I need something. They have awesome renting policies and a really nice selection of books.

Take note: The library is temporarily relocated while a major remodel is being completed on the…read moreoriginal building. The new location is at 5528 Portage Rd., and it is officially open as of yesterday, Thursday, May 27. The library has wauved fines during the pandemic, in part because the materials have to be quarantined before they can be checked back in. Please consider wearing a mask at the library, even if you're vaccinated, because so many elderly and immunocompromised patrons rely on the library services and are at extremely high risk of COVID co-morbidities.

What an incredible resource for parents in this area! This was my first visit to the Portage…read morelibrary, and I was super impressed. My 4 and 5 year old could have stayed hours longer. Tons of toys and books in an imaginative, brightly-colored space. Couldn't have asked for more. We've only scratched the surface of what is offered here. We'll be back.

This is a beautiful community library. There are lots of places to sit, read, study, etc. There…read moreare high ceilings and lots of natural light. The library, including restroom, is very clean and well maintained.

Amazing selection of books and multimedia equipment. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful…read more Highly recommend for everyone