Wow! The main Worcester Public Library is amazing! It is large, open and airy-just lovely! The staff is welcoming and informative. Everything you would want in a library is available: books, study areas, sitting spaces, computers, internet access, and more importantly, an on-staff social worker. This is such a wonderful addition and should be available in more urban libraries. Kudos! read more

Worcester Public Library has a Program Called The Talking Book Library for the vision impaired. The Staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to help navigate the confusing resources needed or just to order an audio book. They have started to show audio descriptive movies (helps to narrate any action that is missed during the movie). Admission was free , in an air conditioned room . The Movies are shown at the Worcester Public Library in the Banx Room at 2:00 . The up coming schedule is: Tuesday July 15 The Book Club Movie Tuesday August 12 Going In Style I would really recommend taking in a movie and helping to keep this program going it is very important to share with the community some joy and safety. If You have any questions regarding this or any of there services : Talking Book Services Worcester Public Library Worcester, MA 508-799-1655 read more

Children's Section: We came here for the first time looking for a cold weather activity for our toddler, and had a great time! This section of the library is enclosed which is really nice. Highly recommend. Park in lot behind library $2/hr and they validate for half off. read more

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This is a large library with lots of resources. This include computer with internet access, DVD's, movies, CD's and of course a large book collection. The library itself is two floors with lots of sitting spaces and areas to work. I find the staff friendly and helpful. I think the library does a good job in handling patrons who use the library in all different ways. One day there was homeless person who collapsed and the staff responded quickly and with compassion. At times and in some areas the library can be noisy. It is possible to find quiet corners in which to work. read more

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They have a great system for online reservation and pick up! Also practicing safe covid protocol

Worcester Public Library has set the bar high for other public libraries in the area. The library was revamped for the better in the early 2000s. There is ample metered parking and the library is wheelchair accessible making it easy for disabled patrons to access the library's back entrance (facing Library Lane). There is a wide array of genre's, authors, collections, and documents, as well as digital collections, e-Books, and Digital Media. The library is very easily accessible for all and many of the same staff have worked there for years, which is good because they are great sources of information and are familiar with "the regulars." The staff here are very friendly, perhaps other Yelp users caught staff on an off day. If you need to print a document quickly, there are computers for that, if you need to stay a while and study, there is an area to sit down and do that as well. The further up you go, the quieter it gets, although I find the library very busy between the hours of 3pm - 6pm during the weekdays. The library also features a cafe, bookstore, and on any given day there is a seminar, class, or workshop in the Saxe Room. If the library doesn't have a book you want, you can always go on their website's "Suggest a Title" page, which gives patrons the ability to request books not in the library's current collection. In addition, once the book (or media) is purchased, the library will inform you that it is ready. I think the Worcester Public Library can fit the needs of anyone who comes through the doors due to the versatility of the space and staff knowledge. read more

I love the this library because it is really close to home and it is very clean inside. The employees are helpful every time I have been. The main issue is the parking as it's pretty expensive so the best thing to do is not to hang out in the library but pick up and go which is not my favorite thing to do. I hope they fix the prices of the parking so I can spend more time in the library ! read more

This library is awesome, with something for everyone. It is in a downtown area, so you have to pay to park :-( They pretty well have every book you're looking for, and what they don't have they can get. Staff there is very professional. read more

Worcester Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

What a gem. For such a (supposedly) rundown city, this library is top notch. There is a great section of books and media available and the inter-library system is great for accessing items not currently at the library. I'm impressed with their digital book library and you can even check out an e-reader at the front desk. There is a cafe inside for snacks and coffee, though my favorite aspect of the library is its used book store. There are lots of good reads that you can add to your own library for mere dollars and cents. The noise level here, however, is quite high. There appears to be no regard for the sanctity of silence here, which is exacerbated with everyone owning cell phones and mobile devices these days. I once had a guy ordering pizza on his cell phone while pacing around the second floor for almost 10 minutes. Fortunately, there is a small corner on the top floor of the library nominally designated as a "quiet zone" where there seems to be an effort to keep the peace, but noise is not easily foiled by man-made signs. You'll often find me here with my headphones on. Hopefully, this place will come around. Apparently, it was a zoo only a few years ago and you could never leave anything unattended without it getting swiped. I still get warnings from librarians and patrons to keep an eye on my things and I saw a guy ODed on pain meds wandering the floor on my first day here, but they say it's gotten better. Oh, Worcester... read more

This is the biggest library in the area. They have plenty of spaces where you can sit and read and they have a very nice children's area. I have always had nice experiences with the staff when I need to talk to someone, but because it can be very busy there sometimes there is usually a wait. It is in Worcester, so there was one time I went and the police had to come and investigate a reported assault in front of the building. The parking lot is large and I've never been unable to park, but bring some change for the meters. If you live in Worcester, nearby, or are just in the area it is a great place to stop and read a book. They also have a nice cafe inside with a book store and some food. The Wifi is free, so you can easily use your mobile device there. read more

I am 30 years old and this has always been my library I went to ever since I was a little boy. My father and I went here all the time when I was a kid. Every time I come her the staff is nice there are lots of books and most of all it reminds me of my father and how much I love him and miss him and the good memories we had. The Worcester public library is but car the best library in the United States and I am proud to say it. read more

I've come to this library several times and love it as I love all libraries. However, as much as I value their place in an open public society, there are some problems that should be noted and easily rectified. For instance, the pick up section is total dysfunction. Books to be picked up are alphabetized on the shelves. Only problem is, letters are missing so there is no way to quickly find your books. Easy fix. Just do it. Also, electronic check out never ever works and the staff is apathetic about it: "Oh yeah, it doesn't work sometimes" standard reply- well get it fixed or get rid of it. Further, there is no flow to getting help. Signs are inconspicuously hung out of view so unnecessary long lines build up for one worker while other library assistants are just diddling about doing nothing on their computers. Sure, they are more than willing to help, but will not go out of their way to do so. Nor will they proactively help their coworker who is swamped. Again, easy fix. I'm not sure how such a culture prevails in a library, but the result of it is a less than pleasant experience that is totally not necessary. That aside, the Worcester Library is a great resource for Worcester, has a nice cafe/used bookstore in it, and I will continue to go there, but for the sake of us perfectionist bibliophiles, please get your act together. A little attention to detail and management would go a long way and easily make this a five star place. read more

I've come here several times, and noticed that the staff is only helpful in a begrudging way. None of them seem to smile at all. And, during this most recent visit, there were several weird people loitering inside and outside. Also, the place seemed a bit more grungy, with the stained carpets. The one thing positive I can say about this library is that they do have a good sized book collection. In the end, I was able to get what I needed. read more

What a great library in Worcester I find anything that i need here plus is so calm and clean.

Great library. Modern facility with areas zoned for talking, quiet and silent working. There's a computer lab on the 3rd floor with classes and scheduled time for helping you with computer issues. And many other classes are held at the library from languages to small business basics. Truly a gem. read more

Coming from a larger metropolitan city/state in Calif , I find this library more to what I'm used to. We currently live in a small neighboring town in which I found their library not worth going to. Worcester public library continues to offer what my family needs. (Children's section, teen section, good selection of books, helpful librarians, easy to park) we will continue to support this library. read more

I went here to get a book for class I was taking and I went to the information desk to get help finding a book. I placed the book I had on the counter, smiled and asked the librarian if she could help me finding any books by the same author. She tersely replied that she couldn't read upside down, implying that I was to turn the book so that it was facing her. Yikes. Then when we were looking for the book I saw another book on the shelf that the library had previously told me they didn't carry. When I mentioned this to her, thinking she would want to make sure it was digitally or physically cataloged correctly, she just walked away without a word. Yikes. There are also many loitering people inside. I have had good experiences with the help there before, but I'd rather go somewhere else. read more

I've been coming to this library ever since I was little and am still in love with it. The librarians are super helpful and sweet. A lot of them know me by name since I go there so often and they never hesitate to ask about how my studies are going and what book I'm reading at the moment. Also, it's just a really nice atmosphere in there to study, especially if you go up to the upper floors, always plenty of space to spread out and very peaceful. Over the years, it has attracted some shady people and parents bring kids into the library that aren't always the most well-behaved, but still, that's to be expected with such a large library in the midst of downtown Worcester. I go to school in Boston now so don't really come here as often, but I still go when I get the chance. read more

The library itself is great, but they lose 3 stars because of the staff. They have acted snobby (or just generally unpleasant) many times. Mostly the staff who are downstairs all the time. My mom and I brought a ton of books to be donated but they only take a certain amount of donations..which is understandable...but they gave dirty looks to all the books we chose to leave with them and acted as if we were a huge inconvenience to them. Came off as very rude and ungrateful. Fuck you Worcester Public Library, there are people who love to read and will absolutely enjoy the donation. Sucks they have to deal with the horrible staff. read more