I have seen staff call police on people with backpacks selling a bus token. Why?
They assumed they were homeless and assumed it was a drug deal.
Staff then lied and claimed some concerned citizen called the police.
A disgusting display of bad judgment, mendacity, and bigotry.
This library is by no means comparable to those of big research universities, but it does have a very welcoming, reader-friendly ambience. The librarians and staff are very nice. My only complaint is that sometimes the wifi does not work very smoothly.
The online features for digital books is a time saver no more forgetting to return books.
Great little library, great staff and love the e-books.
I see they cracked down on important things, like making sure patrons don't use more than one half hour guest pass for the pc's. Gotta make fully sure as many units as possible sit unused. Meanwhile the only restroom for all the guests is the foulest public restroom in the entire downtown area.
Way to go.
Seems like a lovely library! Cool (and eery) to see the old school fallout shelter signs. Always glad to see libraries doing well
The secretary was the rudest person I've ever had to deal with in my life. She was the woman on the first floor, I never go there I always goto the one in Holt and I was just asking for a tour or where the DVDs were and where to find the computers and she put her finger practically in my face, as if i needed to hold for her to finish her text, and told me there was a map of the library by the elevator. The lady upstairs, where the dvds are, was very nice and helpful! There were two ladies behind the desk.. They were both very nice and helpful!
Great organisation. Provides many services to the lansing community.
The biggest library around Lansing. The staff has always been helpful and they have a nice selection of items.
If I could give 1/2 a star, or no star at all, I would gladly. Security is unprofessional, as they are selective regarding enforcement of conduct rules. I have witnessed them harass people for having a quiet conversation, while completely ignoring loud, rude, and obnixious people on their phones and walking through the library. Staff is entirely unhelpful and wholly lazy, and most act as if they hate their jobs as well as their patrons. Lotsa changes need to take place before this can even be considered a valid, professional facility. Very sad and pathetic!!
There's a fairly large selection of books of all kinds of variety, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
However, on the second floor especially, there are homeless people of the bad variety. I was there for less than an hour, and I witnessed 3 people being escorted out for drinking alcohol, smoking, and one who was harassing someone. I mentioned that there seems to be a lot of crazy people in the library to the receptionist, and she commented that bad people getting escorted out is a typical, daily occurrence.
So, I can recommend this library if you just want to go in and out to check-out books, since they have a pretty good selection. But if you want to stay and use a computer, read, or study, you might want to go to another library, use a study room, or just make sure to sit in a far away corner.
They are doing well despite the virus. Getting people the books they want but not being able to get in and look for themselves
Been going to this library since the mid-nineteen seventies. I love the nostalgia the great selection of reading material. I would only change the staff not being very helpful or friendly. Like they don't even like working at that beautiful library!
Good selection of books, audiobooks, etc. Seem to be plenty of PCs for patrons to use. They also did a nice job with their remodeling, as the old library downtown looked like a waiting room out of the 1970s before they took the initiative to change it.
However, I kind of feel like something can be done with the amount of indigent people in the library. My heart goes out to these people, even the ones who reek of pot. Some legitimately have library cards and are patrons, and are using them to improve themselves. However, it seems the majority do not have one nor do they wish one; they just want a warm place to be left alone to nap incessantly while patrons have to deal with all the junk surrounding them. Also, hygiene seems to be an issue with some of these individuals. I was in the library one day during the winter for a couple of hours, and there were times I avoided certain places due to the smell. I don't even try to use the bathroom facilities even today. I feel like there should be someone every so often going around, and unless they are actively doing something library related, moving some of these folks who are actively dawdling. Security, library staff, whomever could easily do this. Whether by fear, whether staff feel it's beneath them to go from their desks and do something about it or by just indolence from staff/security, nothing happening to change the atmosphere. Let's try to change this.
Also, how long will the library remain closed? It would be nice to see the CADL people make as much of a big deal (noise) as gyms/theaters that want to open up do. I think they know they cannot due to the amount of personal interaction needed as well as continuous sanitary facilities needed that are in contact with the people. The library cannot due to CO-VID 19 and it's effects, but there has to be some happy medium. Any ideas CADL? You can only do drive thru book checkout for so long. The theatres and gyms will open up this week due to the uproar, I would like to see the same at my library, some sort of effort.
Love this place. They actually have stories printed on the ground up remains of living beings pulped into sheets and bound in animal skins. Try bell hooks.
Great place to read relax and enjoy the book of your choose
Good staff. Rules of conduct seriously wanting and should include 1) whispering only (importantly and especially exemplified by staff), 2) young children on main floor only, 3) on second floor, phone use restricted to texting only (no voice conversation except for public emergency notices or medical necessity). Thank you
There is NOT a parking lot or structure. Today is Nov 1st and it's cold outside. The library is full of what looks and smells like homeless people. The staff I've spoken to are friendly and helpful.
I have been there just few time in the last month and half first Tim ever in 40 yrs I lived in lansing. Very nice people that I have worked with when I needed help learning to use the computer to reach family. And the employees are patient with me. I really enjoy it... Thank you
Not very good for families of younger children. Seems a bit outdated. Delta Township library seems much better.
It was a nice library and the bathrooms were clean.
cadl.org