A beautiful and historic library that has been maintained very well. Even the wooden carved chairs…read morefrom the 1880's still bare the Charles Hackley initials like they were made yesterday. The details in this library are absolutely breathtaking inside and out. Come here just to see all of the beauty, and wonder why people don't put nearly as much love into making buildings today. The employees and volunteers are very kind as well.

Such a cozy library! It looks like a restored mansion or something, but no, it was originally built…read moreto be a library. It's a very beautiful space. They also have a cool kids play area. Prior to the shutdown, I visited and looked for several books for my son. I did notice that some of the kids books, at least in the "dinosaur" section were pretty worn and old, so I was already worried about germs. Post pandemic, they are open limited hours and don't allow browsing in most sections, but I have still popped in several times to pick up books. They "quarantine" books upon return to make sure they are safely ready for the next visitor. Reading is a great thing to do during the pandemic, so keep visiting the library!

I had a great experience here this morning. I was taking out a book and a book-on-CD to listen to…read moreon a long drive. I'd planned to mail the items back when I got to my destination and was done with them. But the librarian suggested that I renew them such that I could keep them until I return. She then marked them as due Nov. 6 which works perfectly. Nice customer service!

I am continuously amazed by this place. The staff is excellent. For a smaller library they have a…read morehuge selection and what they don't have they will get you in such a short amount of time. Every summer I am doubly impressed by their children's summer reading program. They go the extra mile to involve the children in reading and make them readers for life. I just attended a children's program--Rainforest Animals and it was wonderful. The kids enjoyed it so much. It's an excellent way to keep them occupied during the summer so that they aren't getting bored. I know that most people already have their own assigned library but I believe that you can still come here, especially for the children's programs. If you are from out of town I highly recommend coming to this library. Best staff, best selection, best programs.

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

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.

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!

One of my favorite places to go do some reading, studying, and working even if that means having…read morethe computer and my books open all day and daydreaming. There is a rather spacious parking area right in front of the library, but is usually packed in the afternoons. Still, there's a lot of parking on the streets, near the restaurant, and if it's such a nice day with so many people all over the John Collins Park, you can always park at DSW and walk all the way here. I love the tables alongside the big open windows that look right down at reed's lake. The best moments are when you can see the breeze and just stare at the blue sky from the inside. The tables along the wall have outlets, but the table in the middle of the space might not, depending on where the tables are. There are also spaces which look like an airplane VIP seating, kind of secluded and can also make you focus a bit better. I've noticed that there are times when it gets louder, especially when there are lot of people in the computer area. (I've seen some kids come to play games for hours). Other times, it's not too bad. If you want quieter spaces you can always walk to near where the bathrooms are located inside, and you'll see 2-3 rooms with glass walls all around. It works on a first-come first-serve basis, with a 2/3 hour limit. The glass walls are surprisingly real sound-proof. Spacious circular working table with enough chargers. You can always take a study break by going out to the patio for fresh air. There are still lots of people out on the benches working and reading. If you're trying to find a study place, but tired of cafes, I recommend!

One of my absolute favorite places in Grand Rapids area. It's the perfect gem that I am afraid to…read moreshare with the world. Kent Library is honestly one of the best libraries and study places I've been to. Located in the beautiful (yet bougie) East Grand Rapids, it's accessible by car, bike, bus, etc. The library is connected to the Town Hall with spacious, aplenty parking. The bus line, 6, is also an easy route to trek from Medical Mile/Downtown GR straight to EGR. Inside, the library is two stories with the top floor being the "adult"/general floor with books, DVDs, newspapers, magazines, etc. The bottom floor is the children and teen section with...AN AQUARIUM!!! Not only is Kent Library located on Reed's Lake, they also have an indoor water wonderland! I was elated to see the fishies and turtles-- #red #eared #slider #TURTLES! I spent a solid 10 minutes being completely fascinated and engrossed with these magnificent creatures. What a treat! :) The best spot to study is the area facing towards the lake. There are about ~10 tables and a handful of comfy chairs with plenty of outlet plugs. The library hours are also good and people are generally respectful there. If you get bored, you can also literally go outside to the patio overlooking the lake or hop over to Gaslight District and grab Starbucks or a delicious bite to eat. I cannot gloat about Kent Library enough. It's one of my go-to places for studying!

lots of parking, clean environment, no steps to get into the building, very organized and well lit…read more Yi

My daughter and I love coming here. The staff is always very friendly and it's always clean.read more

I either go to this library or the Comstock Park Kent District library on Alpine Ave, but this one…read moreis significantly larger than the one on Alpine. I've come here to browse for books and to study/do homework. It is quiet and there are plenty of seating options. I wish electrical outlets were a little more prevalent, but for the most part it is conducive for studying and connecting to the Wifi. I have also used the printer services here which has been very convenient; I can send a document to the library either by uploading online or emailing it, and the printer stores the order under your library card number to pull up once you arrive at the library. I also just placed a book on hold 2 days ago, and the next day I received an email that it was ready for pick up. I have had a positive experience thus far with this library and its staff!

honestly this library makes me sad. we loved going here because of all the options for kids to…read moreplay, but it's gotten bad over the last few months. the workers try and parent your own kids for you and are so picky about kids being kids. they can't move around freely and be kids without someone working here having something to say. everyone always looks sad and miserable to be here and it's always an uncomfortable vibe when we walk in. it's close and accessible so i love that aspect, but the only welcoming people seem to be the ones who sit at the front desk. it could be a lot more friendly in terms of how they interact with the kids. i'm not saying kids don't need boundaries because they do, but they micromanage your own kids and it's inappropriate