What a lovely library! Not the typical library from when I was a kid in NYC. This one has high…read moreceilings, lots of light and tons of space. Children's area is separate and colorful, the computer lab area seems to be well-kept and there are comfortable chairs here and there. Obviously, plenty of books to keep one occupied. Upon entering, it was comfortably air conditioned on a warm evening. Bathroom was cleaner than expected. Vibe was quiet-ish...but still noisier than libraries of my youth. Nobody was "sushing" anyone.

This review is for the "branch", not the county library system as a whole, and is relative to…read morepublic libraries in general. It's a medium-sized downtown branch and the flagship of the county library system, housed in a somewhat dreary and dated 1970s building that suffers from the nadir of institutional architecture. The new addition is supposed to open later this year and should make for a much nicer children's department and open up more space in front for adult readers. In the meantime the building is a bit depressing to linger in, and does not have a lot of the comforting aspects for the reader. The construction project has no doubt not helped. Free parking just next to the library, and it's in a neat downtown location across from city hall and catty-corner to the Jay walk. The collection is decent for a public library - not "downtown" quality, if you will, but as a very large library for a city this size and for a relatively small county, it's pretty nice. The county library system in general seems to function well (we've come from another part of the county so have some points of reference), and the staff are very nice and helpful. The collection does seem to be in need of sprucing up -- culling a number of older titles and adding new books more quickly. The computer facilities are below average, but they are entering the age of loaning e-books so I suspect this is a function of budget and not managerial foot-dragging. In any event it's a mixed bag with respect to ability to use the library for research as a whole. I'm a little torn as for rating this, since I can't quite give it five stars -- I've seen five-star public libraries and this is not one of them -- but in terms of patron service I think they're doing better than average for the country as a whole. Can you compare them to the brand new libraries in Saratoga County? Or do you compare it to the storefront library branches in the same county? Or to the smaller but swankier libraries in the towns in the same county system? I honestly don't know, but my sense is that the sheer (relative) size of the collection and the vigor with which it survives in a shrunken user base merits the fourth star. They're adding on: they're moving forward - full credit here where credit is due. For public institutions to actually expand in this day and age means there's something worth paying attention to about this place. That said, it is not a "destination" library, like, say, the Carnegie in Pittsburgh PA or the main branch in Berkeley CA, et alia - it's not the kind of library you'd go out of your way to visit if you were coming from out of town. It's an old armchair that's probably far more comfortable for its affable familiarity than it is for its design. Great to have for locals who can appreciate it. The attention of readers everywhere, however, should be drawn to the Whitney Book Corner, just down the street at 600 Union, which is the used bookstore operated by the Friends of the Schenectady County Library, which is really quite something and which we'll review separately now that there's a Yelp entry for it.

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and any times politicians needed money, they cut funding to libraries…read morebecause who needs to read, right? When I moved up to Clifton Park in 2018, I discovered this beautiful library and fell in love with it. Wonderful people, great events, very community minded. Thid library is, in a long life of reading, my favorite.

If not the Granddaddy of area libraries, this is at least the All-Star, with capacious reading…read moreareas, triple height ceilings opening up to views of the adjacent woods, and the best children's room in the Tri-State area. The collection actually isn't bigger than Schenectady's main branch, but the modern layout and extra air make it an extremely pleasant alternative. The main "criticism" (please note the quotation marks) is that by choosing a central location -- as in, smack dab in the geographic middle of the county -- it's not quick to get there. It is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, adjacent to a few older houses and not in a civic center. This makes accessing it by foot impossible, and by public transportation a chimerical experience. It's a heavily suburbanized concept, and one done at the expense of having several satellite libraries in many communities. That said, the flipside is that the library is able to keep extremely good hours relative to the financially-strapped libraries in most of the state. 9-9 weekdays, except 9-6 Friday; 9-5 Saturday; noon to 5 Sunday. They have a double-staffed reference desk and as many as four lines open at circulation, although no self-serve checkout as yet. Borrowing privileges are extended to other libraries in SALS, and cards are issued with some restrictions to most residents of the whole regions. They do honor Schenectady County cards as well. Any book borrowed from SALS or the Mohawk Valley Library System can be returned here as well, or books from this library can be returned to another member library. There are some byzantine requirements for some borrowing so it's best to ask a staffer and bring your local library card if you're coming from out of the County. For a few hours', or at least several intense minutes', entertainment, stop and try to find the opening lines of books on the sculpture just outside the entrance, and see if you can conjure up which titles they belong to. Very classy and the library uses it as its logo/icon, deservedly so. Don't neglect looking at the Free Book carousel near the exit, it rotates from books they get as donations that they can't sell, and it often has perfectly decent titles. Free open Wifi, with the usual caveats, but it seems fairly safe. My ideal library is in walking distance and has a lot of other amenities and businesses nearby and more outdoor space and maybe a little café adjacent, and has those spacious ceilings but is an old-school building, but you can't have everything, unless you live in Berkeley. If you take it against suburban libraries, hard to find better. And worth a special trip if you're a library devotee.

A fantastic public library. Spacious, with a huge selection of books for adults, children and young…read moreadults as well as dvds, magazines and plenty more. The library is clean and welcoming with lots of tables and seating for reading. The staff is friendly and efficient. So grateful to have such an amazing public space in the area!

This is definitely the best library branch in Albany. The staff is nice and helpful and it's bright…read moreand clean here all the time. I feel safe at this library. I book the study rooms all the time.

This is an amazing library with tons of resources for people of all ages and abilities! It was such…read morea fun welcoming experience! Loads of programming and activities for kids. A quiet playroom for younger ones, computers for older kiddos, a scavenger hunt, large fish tank, coloring pages. I mean there is so much for kids to do here! Easily spent two hours here without any kids (inc a 20 month old) getting bored and without sitting reading together (as crazy as that sounds lol). If my youngest didn't get tuckered out by the fun we easily could have stayed another 45 mins if we did pick books and snuggle up. The adult section had loads of meeting rooms, quiet nooks, large windows to sit by, and tons of variety to choose from. Video games, movies, music, and books of all sorts! Truly a gem to the area. We can't wait to come back.

Love this place & the renovation made it that much better. The kids area is great and they always…read morehave fun activities planned. I love that they have virtual author speakers, too, and have watched several of them.

Great place and excellent wifi. I beautiful building on the Hudson River with incredible views…read more The first half of the library is built and dedicated to Carnegie, and the second half is a modern structure that is breathtaking. Highly recommended.

Staff was very helpful when I wanted to create a library card. Glad I came to visit when I was in…read moreSaratoga Springs!

One of the best libraries in the area! The librarians all care so much and provide so many programs…read moreand such a welcoming clean environment for children! There is a beautiful community that frequently comes through here also. Thank you all for all you do!!!

I am an Albany resident who went to Miko Peled's recent presentation at Bethlehem Public Library. I…read moream stunned that the library was so conflicted before and after Peled's talk with the board considering canceling it. And then to hear that somehow the board is supposedly "sanctioning" "Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace" after the presentation. Have the board members heard of "gas lighting?"--where someone is blamed for what someone else does? The only outrageous behavior was by a group of women (this was their observed gender) who absolutely did not want to hear Peled's reasoned interpretation of what is frankly a vicious religious conflict that will never be allowed to end. Repeatedly they stood up and started shouting from the back of the room at Peled. There were library staff there--is there no "room use policy" to evict disruptors? Similarly, the only threatening action came from an anti-Peled man who said he "wanted to kill Palestinians." The cops were called on him, and no reason to call them for the quite docile "Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace" people who answered the anti-Peled women with "let him speak." And "Bethlehem Neighbors" is said to be under consideration for sanctioning? The authoritarian proscription by library staff of saying "From the river to the sea" is, sorry, ignorant authoritarianism. The next sentence is "Palestine will be free." It has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing of any group. This phrase has somehow been contorted into "anti-semitism"* and is thus something that "should not be said." *You do know that Arabs (whether Muslim, Alawite, Druse, Christian, Jewish etc.) are semites?--a designation since the 1800s of a language family. You also presumably know that "anti-zionism" is not "antisemitism?," and is is opposition to political control of an area by Jewish people--with the ultra-orthodox "anti-zionist" by their interpretation of religion. Have you noticed the ultra-orthodox men who join anti-zionist demonstrations? Do I have something "controversial" that I could speak about at the library? Yes, insights over a long career on the early evolution of life and all the evidence for "deep time" that is now quite quantitatively and precisely calculated. Now, I have had creationists shout their "beliefs" (a belief is not an observed fact) at several of my popular talks. I can only presume by my observation of the Peled talk that the library would not evict a "protester" under its "room policy" and would likely "sanction" me for any protest by anyone claiming to be hurt/threatened by reasoned free speech.

I take my kids to a local library at least once a week. We started going to this library a few…read moreweeks ago and it has quickly become our favorite. My kids love the children's section. It is bright yet cozy and the book selection is great. We've discovered many new titles just browsing here. There are numerous comfortable chairs and nooks to read in. One unique offering at this library is that they rent out Nordic cake pans in all different shapes, themes, and sizes. What a neat idea! Who wants to store a cake pan that you only use for one holiday? Now you can rent it. I haven't tried it yet but love the idea. This library also loans out passes to local museums and we recently checked one out to go to CMOST for free. There were passes available for almost all of the local museums. I also appreciate that this library has spacious family restrooms with changing tables.

They recently remodeled this library to reduce noise. Well, ladies, no amount of remodeling will…read morereduce noise if you speak alta voce at the circulation desk and laugh like school girls. Could we return to a time when librarians spoke quietly and shushed loud talkers? I'm not even 50 yet but I remember the good ole days.

The library is better than my expectations! The interior is very nice and clean, also quiet enough…read morefor me to study here since my house is in construction. Besides the reading area, there are comfy leather couches to relax! You can also view the trees outside through those windows. Moreover, it opens until 8pm in ALL weekdays including Friday, unlike many other libraries, which is super convenient! Generally it's a good place to whether work or study!

A wonderful small-town library, with an equally wonderful staff. (Beautiful and homey…read morearchitectural decor, and a superb collection of books and DVD's.)