Ames Public Library Reviews

The staff lady that I dealt with to get a library card was super rude and overall made my first experience here unwelcoming.

Helpful staff. Great selection. Meeting rooms and other community oriented facilities.

One of the best uses of taxpayer money that I've ever had the privilege of using. I really appreciate the dedicated and helpful staff.

This library is one of the best I've been too. It has an open atmosphere but still cosy places to find. Very clean and updated with capabilities to save your book online, pick it up, and use self checkouts. Check it out to see all the features they offer!!

My son who's 1.4 years old loves it there. It's a wonderful place for both kids and adults!

Modern library, clean and lots of light. Good for focusing on studying

Nice library with great staff and good collection. The place is clean, sunny and well lit with a modern feel.

The librarians are so so nice! Even during covid, they do their best to serve you! They are only allowing two inner Library loans but are recieving them! They have never said no one time recently and even in the past, not often. They can get you hard to find items that go for crazy prices if you were to find them online. I'm pretty sure I'm driving them crazy calling and asking about inner Library loans but the girl in my town doesn't ever want to get me anything so I have to rely on Ames. Boo for slacker librarians lol! Stop in for just the regular items too. Well technically you can't stop in but you can look up the catalog easily and they will gladly put things on hold for you for curb pickup. I'm kind of bummed they closed the doors because they were taking great precautions but I understand safety first! Overall great Library with friendly staff. Very pleased.

I live in a town close by and I hate my library. Most people here use right and if they don't they tell them to calm down. I LOVE this place. Great place to study!!!!

The best library! Helpful staff, great programs, and a great collection of resources for the Ames Community!!!

New facilities and large collection of books and dvds. Plus, it has a large kid's area and is really family friendly.

Awesome library with useful books and colorful activities.

This Library has clean and beautiful environment, rich collection of books, friendly and kind librarians, and also held learning parties for 3 kinds of languages, reading sessions, movies, handicraft gatherings; This is a multifunctional library.

If you sign up for a library card and give your information to staff, they will share this information with police and government agencies. Staff is more interested in money (fees) and their politics than walking around to help users. Homeless group gathers upstairs in the computer area. There is no safety or concern for safety at this building.

Ames public library is the crown jewel of the Ames community. It is an amazing building filled with amazing dedicated people. The library hosts many programs for all corners of the community, and are always happy to help.

Such a great place for kids to socialize and parents to browse. (pre-covid)

The library is great! During the pandemic they've really adapted. There's remote printing and curbside pickup!

The staff as well as the library it's self are amazing. As so the staff are very kind and helpful to all the people in the library. I Have never had any problems at the library.

The Ames Public Library is one of our favorite places. Their children's area is really wonderful. My kids love going there. The library offers frequent story time sessions. Every member of the staff has been friendly and helpful. This library really feels like the heart of the Ames community.

So many useful books,dvds, and magazines. One of the best libraries I have ever been to.

Beautiful place with a wide selection of bookies, movies, audiobooks, and magazines! I went on a Saturday morning and saw a lot of people coming and going, but it was still quiet! There is really good lighting and tons of space to study, read a book, or even hold a small meeting.

Voted today! Great location, A/C was on, people working the polls were friendly and helpful!

Quality of children's experience here is borderline dysfunctional. The area is usually cluttered and librarians don't make a habit of circulating to meet the children and get a pulse on things, positive and negative, which can be alienating for any parent looking for assistance and for help creating a positive experience in early literacy. We've been coming here fairly regularly with our child for about two years and a librarian approached us *once* in that time. In general, the tone is neutral to grumpy. Staff looks and acts like they'd rather be anywhere else and seem happy to do the bare minimum of service. The arrangement of the space itself is not very intuitive, very unfriendly to children, and not conducive to librarian involvement: play spaces like the kitchen and puppet theater are shoved into back corners, toys and books are poorly labeled, and high-shelved stacks block the view both of the other material and of the circulation desk. My husband and I dread coming here, which is sad. Ames can do so much better for its children.

I Love this library. They are helpful and kind. I'm GLAD THEY ARE HEAR for us all. Thank you to everyone that make this happen. Candy

One of my favorite places to visit in Ames! This place has it all. Books, movies, cds, a wonderful children's library, audiobooks, public computers, large conference rooms available to rent, self-checkout, tax help, and a really great Ebook collection (access their collection by using the Overdrive app on your phone or tablet).

I used to spend many hours reading books at the Ames Public Library years ago. It is a great place to educate yourself.

Huge comic book fan and their selection is amazing! Truly impressed

The Ames Public Library was not originally a free public library. During the 1890s, subscribers paid dues to keep a small reading room open. For example, in 1897 a local P.E.O. Society purchased 33 shares of stock and later voted two dollars per month to support the library.

APL circa 1904
In 1902, the P.E.O. local chapter appointed a committee to investigate how a free public library might be established. Ames Mayor Parley Sheldon met with the group and then later wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for $10,000 to erect a library building. Ames received the grant. By 1904 the city voted to accept Carnegie's gift, created a Board of Trustees, received a land gift for the building, constructed the library, and hired a librarian. October 20, 1904 was the first day of business.

Building expansions in 1907 and 1940 made it possible for the Library to increase collections and serve more citizens. The Library tried to reach more people with a branch near campus which opened in 1946. It later closed in 1950 due to low use. Outreach, however, was still a goal so in 1966 Bookmobile operation began.

APL present day
By the 1980s, the Library building could not support the growing demand for services. In 1983, a bond referendum for a library addition passed. In 1985, the new expansion and the remodeled original building were dedicated.

In November of 2011, voters approved a $20 million bond issue to once again expand and renovate the Library with 76 percent of the vote.

In fall of 2012, the Library moved to a temporary location in Lincoln Center, where it operated for a year and a half.

On September 14, 2014, Ames Public Library reopened the renovated and expanded building at 515 Douglas Avenue. Designed by MSR Architecture, the renewed building blends and contrasts the aesthetics of the original building and all of the expansions with the contemporary addition.

Fantastic community resource. Great programming for all ages.

Very nice place to relax, study, or read. Great job on the renovation.