Beautiful library and friendly staff! Always has the best selection of books and movies.read more

We drove over the dam and also got a wonderful view from the 360 Grille restaurant at the Marriott…read more It is an amazing engineering achievement being built 1918 - 1924 and it is a National Historic Landmark. Worth a stop if you are in the area!

A favorite place to research and relax on a lunch. I have done a bunch of genealogy work here and…read morethe local history section is top notch. A really fine library for young people or for those with many years under their belt.

I love libraries…read more Sometimes, late at night, I find myself organizing my stuffed animals in accordance to the dewey decimal system. Libraries are so organized. So sterile. So quiet. So full of think-i-ness. I mean knowledge. Remind me to take "think-i-ness" out before I post this. Laugh if you want, but the Florence library is awesome. Nice building. New building. Lots of places to sit in comfortable chairs and read. Big windows. Thought-inspiring quotes everywhere. And the librarians are bitter idiots. But that's true of all librarians. One of my favorite features is the reading room. Walk inside, and you find yourself in Sherlock Holmes' living room. Wood panels everywhere. Greek columns. Newspapers and magazines out your saggy butt. I want to sit and smoke a pipe while I read in there. They also have a entire wing devoted to gynecology. I plan to spend a great deal of time in there. Did I say gynecology? I meant genealogy. Honest mistake. Thanks. spellchecker. Not my least favorite feature is the coffee shop, the disgustingly cleverly named "Coffee-ol-ogy." Coffee, sandwiches, and all sorts of snacks. The 14-year old behind the counter asked where I was from when I asked for a "drip" coffee. "No one around here calls it a drip," she quipped. I then beat her senseless with the cappuccino maker. But don't expect to pay three bucks for a sandwich, a luke warm Coke, and sashay into the library. Nosiree, Mr. Fresh-Ground Paris Pants. No food or beverage in the library. So you have to sit in the lobby and enjoy your meal. Bonus - free wi-fi all around (I suspect they've blocked myspace). Five stars for this library. They're open until 7 most nights, which gives me just enough time to stop by, order a "drip," and Yelp like mad.

Having lived in several states, one learns that not all postal employees are created equal. That…read moreis why I am writing this review about the Post Office in Sheffield. It has the most conscientious and friendly staff of any I have ever used (and that includes my hometown's in rural Alabama, where everyone knew everyone). This friendly attitude is not just from the counter people, as the letter carriers exhibit the same courteousness and conscientious work ethic. With regards to Sheffield's history: In 1815, General Andrew Jackson and his troops following the Military Road crossed the Tennessee River at what is now know as Sheffield. The exact crossing site is still called Jackson Hollow today. Two years later, in 1817 General Jackson and his troops returned to this area and camped on the bluff above the river. Around the campfire Jackson and his fellow officers decided that no other site was so promising for a township as the one where they were camping. A few months later Jackson officially recommended the site where the Military Road crossed for the establishment of a town. The United States Secretary of War laid off a town precisely at that point and called it York Bluff. At the United States Land Sales in 1818, Jackson himself purchased quite a bit of land. By 1885, the area was incorporated as Sheffield, Alabama. Sheffield features three historic districts with ante-bellum and Victorian-era buildings. Our rich music heritage goes back to the 1950's when new fad Rock n' Roll music began to sweep the nation and the roots of Jazz were being established as an American tradition. Many top songwriters and performers cut vinyl at Jackson Highway Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. The Jackson Highway Studio was even pictured on the cover of Cher's 3614 Jackson Highway album.

I would have given more stars if it had been opened..you need to call and make an appt. but it IS…read morean authentic log cabin, rough-hewn, built around 1815. It's tiny and easy to pass on the road which used to be part of Andrew Jackson's military road which he built for his supplies/army on their way to the Battle of New Orleans.

I have been dealing with this post office for a few years now. As nearly everyone else has, I have…read moredealt with multiple post offices. This one outshines the rest. Their people are what make the difference. I recently encountered a problem with another post office in Brooklyn, NY while shipping some items. Even though it was the fault of the NY post office, the Red Bay Post Office took up the slack and made it right. I could not ask for better service than what I have experienced here. It's difficult for me to give a 5 star rating for something called U S Government, but in this case I'll make an exception!

I had the unfortunate pleasure of renewing my tag at this awful place. First time and hopefully it…read morewill be my LAST time after this year renewing anything and dealing with anyone in this awful state. On August 21st I went to renew my tag and I wanted to get custom lettering on my license plate. I encountered a very rude and nasty black woman named Debra. I explained to her 3 or 4 times the lettering I wanted on my license plate. I did not want a special plate like some people here get whether it's the "God Bless America"(), Wildlife, UNA, etc plates. I just wanted the traditional Alabama nature plate. This fool argued with me for over 5 mins telling me I could not have that and that I had to get a full custom plate. I told her no and that I have seen other drivers with that same traditional plate with custom wording on them. She again argues with me and tells me no but then she laughed at me twice while doing it. She told me I had to pick a license plate from a book of custom plates they have. I again told her no and tried explaining what I wanted and again she argued and laughed at me. That's when another lady named Missy walked by and I asked her to assist me which offended Debra because she so rudely told Missy I did not know what I wanted. So Missy also said I could not have the traditional plate and that I had to pick. At this point I went ahead and picked a plate because time was being wasted and I needed to get back to work. I ended up spending over $70 for something I did not want. The next day on Aug.22nd I called and asked to speak to the highest up supervisor of that department. That's when I got yet another "Einstein" who was even more incompetent and nasty. I spoke with Catherine Miner and explained what happened and she too said I had to get a custom plate. Catherine refused to give me the name of the worker so I could report her. In fact she just laughed and brushed it off. When I asked to speak to her boss which is Judge Rosser conveniently he wasn't there and she did not know when he would be. This past Saturday while leaving Walmart a driver in front of me had the traditional Alabama nature plate but with custom wording. That is what prompted me to call the tag and title office this morning. I spoke with Jennifer and specifically asked if one can get custom lettering on a traditional Alabama plate and she said yes. So I ask why was I told that you couldn't and was forced into picking a special plate when that's not what I wanted. She then chalked it up to a misunderstanding and that Debra and Missy didn't understand what I wanted. Lol I don't see how when I said what I wanted and explained it to them multiple times. When I told her my biggest issue was the customer service and explained how Debra was rude and nasty she said "I don't think she was" to which I said when you laugh in a customer's face and make snide comments that is rude. So I asked to speak with another supervisor specifically the one I spoke with last time and that's when she transferred me to that awful Miner woman. Note to Catherine MIner when you want to be "nice" don't refer to another grown adult woman as "honey". That is a word my spouse and I call each other. If you want to be "nice" refer to grown women as ma'am or Ms. I asked her to explain why she lied to me about the plate and she said "I never said that" and "don't ever put words in my mouth I never said and I've been doing this job 25 years". If that's the case you should know your office policies. You nor your workers should be telling customers no they can't have something when they can. I notice the people in this state that mess up never take personal accountability, blame you, won't listen, and fly off the handle when they are exposed. Had I been told the CORRECT information I would not be writing this review nor would I have had to call up there twice to get the correct information. Catherine then proceeds to tell me they can switch plates at my expense. They mess up, give me false information, don't bother owning up to it or apologizing, and I have to shell out another $70 something to fix their mistake? These are the people that are hired into these government jobs? The bar is set extremely low with their hiring process. I emailed Rosser about this incident not expecting to hear back from him but he emailed me back apologizing, gave me his desk number, and told me to call him Sept.30th so he could investigate my complaint. I called him that Monday morning and left a voicemail. He never returned my call and 3 days later I emailed him, let him know I called, and never heard back from him. This fool emailed me back and said he spoke to his staff and that I was treated well, received good service, and there is nothing his office will do. This man lied and had no plans to speak with me and correct the situation as he said in his email. I see why Alabama and it's citizens have the reputation it has. That "southern hospitality" is a myth.

I always get fast, friendly, and courteous service. It's a little inconvenient to get in because…read moreyou have to go through a security check now prior to entering, but I guess that's a sign of the times. I also like that you can pay car tag renewals by mail, saving a lot of time for a minimal fee.