Pikes Peak Library District- Penrose Reviews

Definitely not the environment I d expect from a public library. It s loud, and has a very distinct odor. You can hardly move around in there because every single space is taken by a homeless person and their belongings. I didn t realize the library doubled as a hangout and mess hall for the homeless population. Don t even think about trying to use a computer there. This was my first, and definitely my last visit. This should be a quiet and peaceful place to do some learning.

It's a relatively large library with a good selection of books. I would love to visit there more if it wasn't for the awful smell sometimes. Instead I go to a different library and if I need a book from Penrose, I put it on hold and have it transferred.

I love the location of this library, although the homeless always come and use up all of the computers while also asking you for change and whatever else you may have. It could provide better safety measures as well.

Good library. You will encounter an amalgamation of personalities here. The facilities are well kept, the security is tight. Large selection, helpful staff.
They allow chess to be played in a certain area, quietly. Fun way to meet people, from homeless to blue & white collar.
Keep an open mind and you'll enjoy yourself.

Garbage has been taken over by junkies and baggers the staff aloe them to do what ever they want,eat,drink,shower in bathroom found needles in garbage liquor bottles hidden all over do not take your kids or family here.

Not the biggest but has conference rooms and convenient location downtown. Be prepared to pay for parking.

One word to start with...disgusting!!

Would be nice to pop in to the downtown library and have a nice experience, it stinks in there and don't go on a cold, snowy day, body odor will meet you at the front door, felt like I was going to get some kind of disease in there.

FYI too, several of the staff need to take a shower every day, seriously....what's going on in there.

The guards are ridiculous, who hires these people.

If you think gagging and catching some kind of disease is appealing, go for it.

This was my first visit, and I walked past 6 staff members at various posts. None of them spoke, smiled, or even looked up. I wandered on.
The Carnegie library rooms looked fascinating to me, for the architecture and due to my own experience as a graduate level researcher. What a wonderful place to visit! As I entered the wide door, suddenly I was stopped by a security guard and an employee, who told me kindly but firmly that I was not allowed to enter carrying my shoulder bag, but I could leave it with her or she would escort me for the duration of my visit. I don't leave my laptop in the care of strangers, and the thought of being escorted and watched like a potential thief quickly stole my interest. I willingly agreed to escort myself out.
I stopped by the restrooms on my way out. Trash was lying here and there, and the toilets were dirty.
I am really disappointed by what I expected to be such a great first visit to this library. No desire to return.

Some of the staff at this location are very disrespectful. I've experienced discrimination each time I've visited this branch. I complained to Antonia Krupicka-Smith the branch manager and she informed me that she would have a meeting with her staff and let them know that Everyone should feel welcome while utilizing the offered services of a Public Library. Obviously she brought the matter to their attention because I returned the Next day and was greeted with the exact same situation. As I used the computer I had a man stand for an entire hour directly in front of me until I left. The next day I returned the woman I made the complaint about was utilized as a guinea pig attempting to get my attention on numerous occasions as 2 of the Security Officers stood in close proximity watching me to gauge a potential response from me. I've never said anything to the woman but once and that was asking to use a computer, I'm new to town so I didn't know the process but when I asked her she didn't respond too me at all, rather a member from my Population told me what to do. He shouldn't have had to do her job when she looked me right in the face and completely ignored me, but my complaint put a Bigger Target on me!!! I find it sad how some of the other homeless are being used to discriminate as well. I know many of the individuals because we all live at the Same Shelter, so they can deny the facts all they would like but Rain falls from the Sky.

The staff is really friendly at the library they offer free Activities at the library

The pandemic has made everything difficult, including our community resources. Luckily the PPLD staff are handling it well. They have protective barriers, sanitation stations throughout the facility, and plenty of helpful staff members to ensure smooth operations.

The woman that checked out my books, chris, was extremely rude!

Excellent location for browsing, phone charging, PCs, WiFI, toilet needs, accessibility, books, and whatnot.

Very Disappointed in this Library.
The entire building smelled like body odor. There are homeless carrying around there belongings in hordes. I had just returned my books and done a few minutes of research with my daughter. After we were done we had planned on checking out the Carnegie building. When up the steps the women behind the desk said can i help you? I told her we were just checking out the building. She told me she would not allow me to take in my backpack style laptop bag. Looking around there were several other people with laptops and their bags. I told her I was not leaving my several thousand dollar computer with her. she offered to put it in a locker but she was rude about it. I feel I was discriminated against because I had on jeans, a t-shirt, and a backpack. Granted the library has a major bum infestation problem, I did not stink, I have taken a shower, brushed my teeth, and my clothes are all new. All I wanted to do was look at the architecture of the building, we were not even going inside the place where the old books are kept. My daughter is home schooled and seeing an old building or museum once a month is part of our curriculum. I will no longer visit this library again. Shame on PPLD for having these egregious policies.

Great staff, better if the homeless smelled better , but i hope they get more help soon! Wonderful genealogical area! FREE! HELPFUL STAFF!!! Always been a great library, over all of the changes over the years!

I love this library, I use the Special Collections for family history, the staff is very nice and knowledgeable.

Its a decent place has alot of books some computers and movies one big issue people complain about is the homless witch there are alot that come there but besides that ive found alot of local colorado history books that were really cool

great public resource !! trying all to stay warm
GOD BLESS

Penrose PPLD has a few handicapped parking spots at front entrance and no parking meter month required. Library staff are kind and knowledgeable!

This is not the traditional library that you are thinking of - the staff and members do not respect quiet areas and no matter where you go, you cannot get away from noise, especially people talking on their phone. Rent what you need and get out. Well, unless you want to hear about teenage drama and older people discussing their terrible parenting habits.

Great library, a lot of helpful staff and great resources but they do need to get handle on the body odor smell that is prevalent. I find it hard to concentrate in there with that smell wafting through the HVAC system.

Must not be a volume rule because a group of patrons had some noisy children. Libraries are supposed to be quiet places.

This place is more like a hangout for the homeless. It's noisy, a little bit rowdy for reading and the restroom sucks. It's simply not conducive for reading.

This branch of the PPLD is pleasent and welcoming. I stopped off here to print out some documents that I submitted from my phone. After submitting your documents to the print queue you simply walk up to any printer in any PPLD branch, scan your library card and your documents print imediatelly. Library card holders get 10 free pages a day.

Excellent! DVD's, books, great employees to help you find what your looking for!

Nice, quiet, restrooms are clean, good selection of books overall great

Library is very nice inside and connected to a neat historical building. The only bad thing is the parking and actual location as downtown can be super busy making it hard to turn here.

Printed out my resume and it's not here. The librarians are ignoring me. This is sensitive information.

Wow! I was searching for Daily Weather Summaries for The Summit of Pikes Peak from the 1800's. Tim Morris, at the Special Collections Desk, was a fabulous help. He kept digging and he found what I needed. Thank you so much! All staff at this branch were helpful and friendly!

Someone in the computer section smelled like a wet cat and maybe had fleas. My skin has been itching since I went. Had to put the clothes we had on in a bag for wash and take a second shower.

Save yourself the hassle and go to 21c. Tables and computers available 95% of the time- hardly ever taken up by certain people who just sit there.

This is the library of bums. The staff does not pay attention to the bums with knives, when it states at the door no knives or firearms, that's really important considering that most of them are mentally unstable. This place stinks of butt, feet, and extreme body odor. Male bums perform personal hygiene in the men's room. They also change outside the stalls.

This place kick out a reporter for doing a story these people can t even read The US Constitution

I love everything about this library, it's nice and clean with lots of amenities. The kid area is spacious, and security does a great job of checking in on everything. The kids and I love ppld. I love the garden they have on the side of the building. Fresh veggies, with beautiful flowers

To the reviewer who felt discrimated against. Wow, clean clothes, a shower, AND brushed your teeth? Lucky you!

Seriously, the guards at this library have a major issue handling their authority. They will make up rules on the spot and ignore you when you ask them to point out the new rule in the Patron Code of Conduct. I was in there with an empty water bottle that I was going to refill later and was told I couldn't have it, though there is no rule stating I couldn't. These folks should be fired.

Location location location. Being that this place is smack dab next to the soup kitchen and major homeless shelters, this is THE main hangout for homeless people of all stripes. Most people in here are homeless. The computers are always packed by homeless, and sometimes in te school year on warm months you have the teens. Luckily there is a children's area and a teen area and the homeless don't go there. The tough part about this place is that if you aren't used to experiencing mentally ill people it can be a little intimidating in the computer lab. I'm not kidding. People often will talk to imaginary people or themselves or yell at the computer, and there are regulars here who have been doing this day in and day out for years.
As for the actual LIBRARY part. It's good, they have books, lots. And the computer and internet access is fair. you can even rent a laptop.

I guess it's not their fault, but there are a ton of scary and stinky vagrants who hang out here.

PPLD is a great library system, this location is no exception. Serves all sort of people fairly and staff is willing to help, Dennis & Tim are fantastic!

The police are now in the public library. With all the security I hardly think it's appropriate for police to be "making rounds" in our public library. My response to the librarian was "police patrolling the library?- that's strange."

You cannot get on a computer without a lengthy wait due to the computer room being monopolized by homeless people. Seemingly every chair or place to sit is usually taken. If people aren't talking loudly to each other, they are talking even more loudly on their cell phones. And the Wi-Fi signal is very hit or miss, a lot of times you can't even pull up a website without getting an error message. Seriously, unless you are Downtown and absolutely have to go to a library, you are better off going to a different library. Any of them.

Love the old section. There's so much local history information, it's amazing. The staff was extremely helpful. I could easily enjoy spending a whole day there.

This place is disgusting. Don't even try to go there if you need a space to work.

I just loved this library , it's nice to read different books

Large library with a vast selection of various different material. A reference section, with helpful librarians on hand. Kiosks make checking out the material a snap! Nice place to get online with free WIFI, and a fairly comfortable atmosphere. With plenty of places to recharge your electronic devices.

Good library. Ok parking, but not enough spaces. I don't mind the homeless. Just wished they didn't bathe in the restrooms. It would be better if they would deodorize that area daily.

It was a great experience! They are doing the best they can with their location. Staff is respectful if you are in return. I have to vent on some of these people calling homeless people "stinky vagrants" or "hobos." I am a 39 year old professional and I have been homeless due to curcumstances out of my control. Shame on you for your elitist comments and hopefully... you will have circumstances in your life that create a situation similar for yourself! You will then understand what it's like to be alone, have severe mental illness, displacement, etc. Maybe then will you be a little more sensitive about these people's situations???

There are many other libraries to go to, especially having to pay to park. The staff is very nice and helpful but since there are many homeless being there, there is a smell. I wish there was some kind of facility so they could at least be able to shower and stuff nearby. I know it isn't the libraries fault, but I really just didn't feel comfortable being there. However, it is free and a very great resource to have.

Great library, wonderful selection, and very polite, helpful staff.

I enjoy this library, helpful friendly staff. Always find what I need here. Clean facility with plenty of parking. Security guards at facility always feel safe. Great kid section and good summertime activities for kids.

Called to make sure we could print something was told yes only to go all the way down there and be told no

It's a great library. Politeness is there way. They have a great slection of books and DVDs. They even have E books avalibul to the public. The draw of any popular place is the amount of people drawn to it. And this is a popular place. Many people complain about the homeless, that is not the problem of the library. The library is a learning center designed for people to learn, get jobs, socialize and more. It saves lives. Let's be thankful that we live in a city that can afford state of the arts library's like this.

Owned and operated by HOMELESS VAGRANTS - Stinky, Dirty, and Loud!!! (Taxpayers: You are the MINORITY here!!!) It's NOT a library anymore...

Good assortment of things to choose from, as well as wifi.

The library is open for business. The staff is friendly and helpful. Not very busy right now with the covid 19 going rampant. Lots of parking. Computers are open as well.

Why any manager dont separate the computers from a rasonable distances?? Why we have to smell every single day every different homeless who smell so bad, their crazies o they talking with themselves???? Is complete rude.

They have a good selection and the librarians are quite helpful.

The Penrose location has been serving my needs for over 17 years. The only Library location that I use. Amazing Staff, great selections.

Great selection of books, and also have new release DVDs.

As of today was asked to leave multiple times had a friend with me she had the other half of the papers i needed to finish. She needed help with printing so went to help. Was asked again to leave rudely by a library staff lady was packing up to comply, will not recommend this library branch if you are disabled and take more time to get your stuff toghter.

I always enjoy this library, the staff is very friendly and helpful. Yes, there are a fair amount of homeless, but I'm not stuck up so it doesn't bother me. They are mostly friendly and offer a wealth of information that isn't in the books.

The staff is very nice and it is clean. However, the amount of homeless that come in with their bags is very offputting. Other than that, it isnt a bad place.

Has become much better since the COVID implementations. Quite, clean, and more availability to access a spot to do what you show up to utilize the place for.