Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Southwest Public Libraries

    3.8 (4 reviews)

    Southwest Public Libraries Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Southwest Public Libraries

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Libraries 556 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch

    Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch

    3.0(5 reviews)
    1.5 miHilltop

    If I could, I'd live in a library. There's just so much potential there. But the Hilltop Branch of…read morethe Columbus Metropolitan Library is so sad. It's a beautiful building outside and in. The outside has a simple architectural design but shoddy landscaping. The inside has tall, peaked ceilings; tall, thick display shelves; and an old-time check-out counter with spiraled wooden rails. The sad thing about this library is that there are hardly any books. I walked down aisle upon aisle of half-stocked or one-third stocked shelves. I even saw entirely empty shelves, lots of them. The books that are there outdated or plain out boring. The multi-media check-out section barely exists. It broke my heart to be in this place. I went around 5p, when a bunch of bustling low-income kids were hanging out. All of them were waiting to sit at one of the many computer terminals. I'm glad Hilltop has lots of computer stations, but I don't want the library to become a place to go just for free internet service. I did see a large room where homework help was happening. There were a few tutors milling around but only about two students, one of them middle-aged. The staff was friendly enough. There was a security guard at the front basically making sure the kids walked instead of ran. There were plenty of people behind the counters. No one bugged me while I looked around. At check-out, the woman who was manning my line was curt a bit impatient with the semi-annoying family in front of me. I could tell she'd had a long day, and this place is probably a bit disheartening to work at, so I can't hold it against her. The staff was doing its best, but they don't have a lot to work with. The surrounding neighborhood is rundown. The fact that there was a guard on duty and that the multi-media reserves are held behind the counter alerted me that the Hilltop branch has seen its share of trouble. Hopefully the city library system can put more effort into the Hilltop branch. The residents there were definitely using the facility. The place was packed, especially with kids. But there wasn't a whole lot to take home.

    The Hilltop branch has been undergoing a few renovations within the last few months! I am a bit…read morebiased, as I don't know how I ever lived without a library within walking-distance from my house, but I've yet to be disappointed by this branch. Many of the reasons why this library is so great stem from our great library system as a whole; making any request online and having materials shipped to the location of your choice, a diverse selection of materials, and friendly and helpful staff. This branch does not have enough computers to meet the needs of the visitors. As mentioned in a previous review, this has more to do with the lack of internet access for many patrons than it does for the library itself. I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a computer though, as I don't have a printer at home and sometimes use the library for its (fantastic) 10 cent printing. I don't have kids, so I don't know much about the offerings for anyone under the age of 18. It does appear that they have a really nice kids area, as well as community rooms for after school homework assistance. There are many stacks of books and a HUGE selection of audiobooks to peruse at any given time. They lose some points for their miniscule selection of music, but they make up for that with a bigger selection of movies and a whole wall of 'new' books. To be honest, it's easier to just order anything that you want online and pick it up when it arrives. This library is teeming with life. If you can't handle the youths loitering in the parking lot, or the snarky adolescents using the computers , then perhaps a drive to the downtown location would serve you better.

    Photos
    Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch

    See all

    Southwest Public Libraries - libraries - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...