Chicago Public Library Review

What a noisy place? Employees are running around with carts in study area, people talking on the phone, people eating food and making noises in study area. Bathrooms full of homeless people making mess. What a waste of tax payers money?

This has everything you want in a library and the building itself is fantastic. Located in the middle of the South Loop, its is definitely a place to visit when you're in town, or to come by whenever you're downtown.
Don't miss the Winter Garden on the top floor! It is breathtakingly beautiful and serene.

I love this place. It's so big and lots of stuff to do.

Very beautiful library. Very quiet too! And you can always play puzzles. There's many resources, too.

Amazing place to be. The real gem is the rooftop atrium. Perfect for a special meeting or occasion.

This is a luxurious library. I ve never seen anything like it. My first visit was very confusing though because the inside of this library looks like a 5 STAR hotel of some sort. It is very clean and neat.

The security guard who noticed I was confused about whether I was in a library or not was extremely enthusiastic and showed me a bit of the ground floor and how to maneuver and find my way throughout the library.

This library has a huge selection of books as well and the experience was very calming. In my opinion, it s the best library in the city of Chicago and I would definitely recommend it to family and friends.

I went to the library for my first time several years ago. I found it amazing! Chicago is very lucky to have such a great treasure.

Not the most clean library and the wif is the closest to abysmal you can get. Add that to the constant problem of homeless people in the library itself and its hard to even go to the bathroom without packing up all your stuff and having to relocate. The books found here may not be the most up to date and they may not have everything but their book sharing program with other libraries is phenomenal and they can easily have a book brought to the them or put on hold for you to pick up at another location. The staff is very friendly and welcoming and is always happy to help. However, they will look strictly at you if your phone accidentally goes off. Oops.

This library is quite amazing. Its workers are nice enough to ask what you are looking for, and they are so hard working. It has many floors that serve different purposes. Its very spacious with many open tables and is a great space to do some work. Its a quiet environment that is needed in a busy downtown setting. Perfect.

Such a great library. Filled with so many books and resources including computers and printers. There are dozens of different places to sit so it never feels crowded. The Winter Garden on the 9th floor is beautiful.

Good study spaces available. However, it can be noisy with people who don t respect others desire for a quiet space.

Beautiful architecture, friendly and knowledgeable staff, fully stocked, great programs, convenient location. Wow!

Great library! Wonderful selection . I will highly recommend this for families

Amazingly silent and pleasant environment. Someone in love with inner peace would find this place calming.

Amazing library and oprn long hours so its very easy to access when needed

the hours are great and the place is as a big as the white house

I went to the 9th floor and it was kind of difficult for me to breathe, but it has a very vast collection of books

Great place for kids on the second floor with quiet playground

I love this library. It is to date the largest library in the United States. It was commissioned by Richard Daley, the son in honor of the late Mayor Harold Washington who died in office. Harold Washington was the first African American Mayor of the city of Chicago. There is a gallery on the top floor of the library preserving his legacy.

Really beautiful library with eloquent design and a very large selection of books. My only issue is that, upon EVERY visit, not a single automatic hand sanitizer dispenser had hand sanitizer in it.

Wonderful flagship library. Many sections closed for the pandemic. But still functional and accessable.

It's beautiful and historic, but not the most interesting place to be inside. I do like the many places to study and read, though.

Give yourself at least an hour and explore the library. Fantastic curated displays, thought provoking quotes and a beautiful atrium on the top floor.

Pro-Tip: Skip the crowds at Cloud Gate and find a much more manageable size that you can tower over on the 8th floor.

9th floor is worth the time but watch foot wear, heels will echo and people are trying to read and study.

Check out the installation: Above and Beyond as well.

Beautiful 9th/10th floor. It's a must see! And it's free! Take a book or take a friend and spend some time up there. Especially on a raining day, it's simply splendid.

The best library in Chicago . I go there every day to study and also to borrow books > The library has WIFI and quiet place to read

This is a beautiful library with a great study/ work place on the top floor!

It has its downsides but you can't avoid some of that while being in the center of a big city. The elevators take a while to reach you, the bathrooms aren't very pleasant, and you'll likely come across disruptive people from time to time but make no mistake, this is easily one of the best libraries in the city and has a huge amount of resources. I'd also recommend the CPL app. It's saved me a few wasted trips and it's very easy to renew and hold books.

It is the best, kinda biggest, most historical, most good looking library you can see...

I've been here since i was a teenager. Always has great books and service.

I don't know why this library let's bums in here to hang out. This library use to be an enjoyable place to come and study. It has turned into a shelter for homeless instead.

Great architecture. Quiet interior. Good selection of books. You can also see the the Cloud Gate replica on the topmost floor.

The best library in Chicago! Except for the transients that come to sleep and snore from opening to closing, and the loud talkers. Besides that, there's so much information here it's unbelievable.

This imposing building is full of magnificent touches in the custom furniture and lightning, the ornate flooring on the first floor, and of course the famous owls on the roof.

It is a shame that there are very few actual librarians or relatively few books compared to other major cities. The maker lab, though, is a wonderful example of how libraries are adapting to new needs, as are the many classes and resources for people learning job skills and job hunt skills. The teen lab is a wonderful resource for arts, science, and other important needs. Again, though, it seems like a more modest building would have allowed for more resources like these.

Signed, your friendly neighborhood curmudgeon.

It can be a little confusing to navigate, but has tons of books and movies. The library policies have gotten better since I started coming here and you can now keep things longer if no one requests them. This location has long hours which is awesome and the staff is very helpful.

Four stars because libraries are great in general and this has the goods more than any other CPL as far as I know, and has had something on whatever I was looking for. But yeah, for the experience I definitely prefer some of the smaller branch libraries. This has many times the selection, but it feels...the best word is depressing. The staff are sullen. The area they call main or something, the sort of basics, popular matuerial like DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, some travel, is lit the way I imagine the waiting room in hell is--I thought it was going to run into beetlejuice browsing the popular DVDs. The staff in there are particularly surly and just generally seem resigned to misery. The rest of the library is more nicely lit and less awful, and the furniture is decently nice, and it could actually be a comfortable pace to work, despite the utter and apparently deliberate banishment of natural light [update -- I saw some windows on the north side a few floors up recently!].

My first time here I was taken aback when the security guard sidestepped into my path as I left the third floor, where the circulation desk is, apparently wanting to make sure I'd checked out the book I was carrying. That's fine, I'm opposed to library pilfering, but there could have been a sign or something so it didn't seem so menacing. And isn't that what those sensors are for?

The building is this beautiful red brick and it seemed like it should have nice big windows everywhere, but it doesn't. Anyway, the collection is better than any other CPL, but this is a place for infrequent visits or reference material; anything in circulation one really wants can be holded to a branch library. There's bike parking around, and the el practically runs through the library, it's so close.

The business/technology department is especially helpful

I love this library. It has All The Books. And if it doesn't have All The Books it will find them for you. And there's great art everywhere and the work tables are big and plentiful.

Note: Sometimes, as a lady, I do some side-eye at the HWL; there are a number of roving males who are not there to read. But it's a big city and this is a public library. You're gonna get some weirdos. Girls, just be aware of your surroundings and if you're getting skeeved or harrassed, tell someone. There are librarians and security there to make the library a safe and happy place and if the person is a repeat offender, they'll show them the door when they see them walk in.

It's the best place to sit down and get work done. The library has a really calm atmosphere. Any book that you could possibly need can be found there. I always go there to study and do research.

One of my most favorite places hang out at in Chicago. They always have tons to do here, too.

Large, open, and expansive. Features tons of amenities that frequent visitors can use to explore the endless depths of knowledge. You can spend days here, barely scratching the resources available.

Harold Washington Library has helped me get my education from across the street at Robert Morris University Illinois! They always have the research material needed to help me educate myself on the topics of my classes.

Good place to warm up on a cold day, except that in some day it doesn't open before noon and on others it closes at 5:00 pm.
Lots of books, especially for research on Chicago commercial institutions and political history. Excellent programs for children.

The Chicago Public Library in general and the Harold Washington Main Branch in specific, is an amazing resource - the architecture of the building, the art it contains, and the books books books.. plus the staff are friendly and helpful.

Make your way up to the top floor to explore the beautiful winter garden.

I went today to get a pass to Brookfield zoo. The website said the pass was available at this location. The old lady said it was not. This is the first time I am denied a pass when it clearly says on the website that it's available. After that, I asked her for the Art Institute pass that their white board showed it was available. She then, without looking for the pass, erased the check mark from the Art Institute and from the Adler Planetarium( just in case I asked for it) and told me they were not available. I felt terrible. She didn't want to give a pass. I don't know if she denied me a kids passport because of my appearance. I was never rude to her, I don't know why she was rude to me!!

Coolest and most underrated site in Chicago to visit!

They're good people in here. They let me read a Voting Rights & Wrong book and let me do the facial high fever recognition software twice to make sure I don't have COVID-19. All yeah they was about to close in 34 minutes.

The 9th floor is the only place in this place that gets any natural light.
U Media, the teen center is always smelly and slightly depressing.

As far as libraries go, this one is a bit sterile - everything is sectioned out and you have to go through security more than once depending on which department you're looking for. Sometimes things are hard to find and their wifi is almost non-existent. They are pretty good at putting things on hold, so if you're just running in to get your book and go, then this is the place for you. If you're looking for a place to stay, do research and camp out - I wouldn't recommend it.

One of the best libraries in the city! Clean, orderly, and bright. The employees are pleasant and helpful. I come here sometimes just to chill and relax. Make sure you stop by to check it out!

This library branch is stunning. From the atrium on the top floor to the stacks to the special exhibits (from a comprehensive Charlie Trotter exhibit to a multimedia Burge victims space to etch-a-sketch art) are impressive. Love, love, love!

Lots and lots of books!!! Books you can't find in your local library

Very uncomfortable wooden chairs. Washrooms are always full of junkies that are always acting suspicious and might stop and stare at you and then the wreak of marijuana is always present also. Very poor weekend hours. No decent priced car parking available in vicinity either.

I like that Chicago library I was in high school and with my friends

I just got a new library card with no hassle and immediately began using some of the many services that are provided. Everything about my experience today has been wonderful. Thank you to the people of Chicago.

English / Portuguese

Amazing Library the largest municipal, public in US. Clean, great materials, talented staff.

Highlights:
2nd floor dedicated to kids, with toys, Labs and great materials
- friendly staff
Winter Garden on the 9th floor

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Incredible !! Largest Municipal Public Library in the United States !! Beautiful, clean, organized. Worth the visit !!
Highlights
- for children, the 2nd floor is dedicated to them, with toys, costumes, laboratory, computers
- fantastic staff, helpful, polite

A very beautiful library and very large with each level catering to a number of sections. The escalators is preferable to the elevators, since the wait can be annoying. There's always a place to sit down and just write. The 9th floor, the Winter Garden, can only be accessed via escalator through the 8th floor.

Very nice place to get work done... U can bring drinks but not food... The bathrooms are very clean... The only problem is that some people come to sleep there and snoar!

Essential visit whenever in Chicago. Stunning building, inside and out. Massive collection has most anything you many desire. There is an auditorium in the basement featuring speakers often. Music CDs, especially jazz is extensive. Discarded items from the collection can also be gotten for free in a small room right off the media department on ground floor. Lots of space to study and relax. Nice exhibit room on the top floor with changing exhibits.

Amazingly beautiful library. The art on display is worth stopping in for even if you are not a local. I was surprised by how small their makerspace is and would love to see that area expanded.

I haven t been to this library since I was 12. Moved out of state. Paid a visit recently and I must say it s changed a lot. They remodeled the whole place and I feel like they should ve kept a lot of features like the beautiful columns and ceilings. It feels modern and bland now. It s cute and there s a lot of kids activities but I miss the old charm and gold this place used to have. It was so beautiful back then.

A beautiful place to be as time flies by.. It's like a sancutary and the open wide space, yet closed off... It calls to you.

This is a beautiful library in both content and architecture. As a library card carrying bookworm this place gave me goosebumps. When I make the move to Chicago I'll probably spend more time here than at home.

When in the Loop and looking for a book as a Chicago resident be sure to stop at the Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library, 400 S State St, Chicago 60606. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the impressive collection and staff. The architecture of the library is absolutely top notch well worth your browsing hours.

This library is a MASSIVE wealth of knowledge that is very helpful with any sort of research project, like mine on bat anatomy. While the sheer number of books on each floor was a bit overwhelming, the staff were more than willing to help locate what books I needed in a very short period of time.

This library has multiple stories and and endless amount of periodicals and resources that will help you with anything. Each story has a different genre of books, but there's also a quick stop on the first floor if you need to get a common book quickly. No need to spend a lot of time here, but you can get lost for DAYS.

There are lots of books and toys option for the kids. If the weather is not nice tourists can prefer it. Kids can spend 2.5 hour or maybe more there.

Although visits are cut down to an hour and services/hours are limited, it's nice to at least have the library open again for use. It was actually kind of nice to have the extra space between computers on the third floor!

The dumbest policies ever. How do you charge people to get a library card if you're paying thousands of dollars in property taxes to fund it??? And then when you present cash, they can't make change... after being told by another staff member that they can make change. ONLY A GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION CAN BE THIS STUPID. Thanks for nothing.

Love this place very large library in an old beautiful building. Everything is extremely organized in this place, the markings are clear. Multiple levels to find different books, 7 I believe. The staff is extremely helpful. They have computers you can use for free to when the are available, great place for people who don't have a computer. While downtown you need to check this place even if you just walk through.

Lucky to live is a big beautiful vibrant city and enjoy this library! Great place for studying, exploring, and reading.

Giant library! Be careful not to lose yourself in the escalators.

Amazing architect and beautiful setup. So now... why 1 star? Way too many homeless people sleeping and believe me... you can not go near any of them within a 50 yard radius because that B.O is just toxic. Kind of sad and I feel bad for the homeless, but they really ruin this nice library.