Decent library. Often open and easy to get to. They offer a large amount of books. It gets a bit loud at times. Staff helpful! Review: 4 read more

I had the most wonderful experience with Bailey and Evan (a/k/a Abe ) today. I purchased a kimono pattern from Etsy and needed to print it. Unfortunately, it wasn't a download from an email. Bailey and Evan took the time to figure out that it had to be printed directly from my Etsy account. I never would have gotten there on my own. Additionally,they gave me a flier from the library that actually lists resources for sewers. Not to mention suggesting books I should borrow to learn techniques, etc. These two library employees are stellar!!! Good natured, patient, full of information. Excited and happy to be there helping diverse clientele with diverse needs. They are a valuable resource in the community. read more

Always loved working at "North". As a quite small branch, the one-on-one relationship with each Patron reached a higher level than usual. During my tenure, I noted that our staff would greet all visitors with smile; but would have book reading suggestions readily available for our cherished "regulars". read more

I really wish APL Washington Ave. branch had more love. Yeah, in the winter there's a bunch of homeless people but, you know what, they are mostly reading books and magazines, some of them taking advantage of the warmth and wifi. I'm a firm believer in only by the grace of god I'm not one of them so they deserve a place to hang out too. They've done some recent rearranging, new books are easier to peruse, still too many videos but overall, the staff is GREAT, helpful, conscientious, patient and couldn't we all use a little patience in our day? read more

It is the not the library content, it is the visitors that are uncourteous, shady and aren't there for the purpose libraries are intended for. You can enter this library disease free and leave with pneumonia or some kinda of viral infection, ill people takes shelter here, like this is an ER! It is these guys you give them a look to quite down and they don't care, then you tell them, then you just don't want to stay in this place anymore. It is the bathrooms that are disturbing, the father who brings his kids to the quite section thinking it is a zoo! He isn't wrong about the last part. This is unkept zoo! Still clean and look nice! But I am not catching tuberculosis here! I am out! read more

It's very nice, with the hanging lights and the giant windows that let in natural light. The library is well organized and the bathrooms are clean. And there security is good. The only down side I have about it is that it's in a not so nice area of Albany. read more

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH!!! Great selection of books, and they can order whatever you don't see already there. They're the nicest, most helpful group of people, who constantly go the extra mile for the community. Also they're very respectful of those of us trying to survive the pandemic (instead of forcing everyone else to breathe their covid cooties while crapping diapers about their "right" to endanger lives, like so many other places right now). You can get curb side service during the surges! They're so great. read more

I hate to hate on any place that has books- FREE book! But as others commented the book selection is extremely sparse (I request books online and pick them up there now). I, too, have had problems with having to pay fees twice, and also returning books and having fees pile up still. My biggest complaint is the extremely rude front desk staff. I asked to renew a book (for the second time, I'm the worst) and the lady was insistent that this was negligent of me to even ask and had a "no way, no how" attitude. Her manager overheard her and instructed her that if there were no holds on the book, there wasn't any reason for her to give me trouble and she should just renew it. This truly seemed to throw her in a tailspin. Libraries: please do not hire folks who get hostile when asked to renew a book AT A LIBRARY. read more

Possibly one of the worst Libraries I've been to my entire life. Only good for use of the bathroom or to get something notarized on the 2nd floor. As a previous poster commented, it's a homeless shelter with books and magazines. The worst part --- The staff are very guarded and unfriendly due to dealing with the local crap that populates this place. Homelessness is a big problem and I'm happy this library is providing the homeless a warm place to sit in the cold winter months. Better here than on the street. A wonderful library for newbie librarians and staff to appreciate their next library job. read more

I think there may have been some remodeling going on during my last review. I've been to 5 of Albany's public libraries. I appreciate the true separation of kids from adults at this location. Many other libraries in Albany are unable to physically do this (Howe Branch for example). Makes a ton of difference if you want some quiet time. The study rooms on the second floor are hidden from the constant influx of those simply seeking shelter. They are also across from the kid's space, so it can get a little loud in the afternoons. The staff is ok. They seem a little jaded at times and prefer to not interact with patrons... perhaps that could be reduced if employees rotate through branches instead of staying at one. Washington AVE is definitely different than Bach because of the population. read more

Had to write a positive post after my sister and I took shelter from the rain here while waiting for our Megabus. We found the place to be spacious, clean and quiet. What amazed me was the book selection. There were scores of books and I may be prejudiced but plenty of James Patterson editions. Tons of other books were proudly paraded on the shelves. My old book worm soul wanted to cry because I ddint have an Albany library card and I couldnt stay to read all those books. Upon leaving I told the friendly librarian woman that I was jealous over the selection, this library is way better than my neighborhood library in Brooklyn. read more

I hate to disrespect but the APL Washington Ave. branch is nothing more than a homeless shelter. I give a ton of credit to the folks who have to work there because I wouldn't be able to do so and remain professional. read more

Dang man, where to start. I ordered a CD from the 161 Wash. Ave. branch and got a phone call for ready pickup, great. I call back the number from my caller ID and it's not that branch, worse it just tells me to look up the number on the net. I did and called 518-449-3380 as listed. I'ts not a working number. I had to scroll through three sites to get the correct info. Not really a big deal except that I'm partially blind and cripple. Oops!! I mean handicapped. Just saw a question about covering up mural on the facade of Washington Ave library branch.That's an easy answer. Because the powers that be in Albany are idiots! What kind of moron would do such a thing?? A better question is... If the library is FREE why are property owners FORCED to pay a library tax every year???? I guess it ain't very free to Albany property owners. Maybe the library should be "pay as you go" so everyone gets to help bare the cost. It would be a fairer way to fund the library system, don't ya think??? Fuhgeddaboudit. read more

i have a hard time giving any place that has books less than 5 stars. but i need to mention a few things about the main branch of the APL. they need more strict security gaurds. and more explicit rules. now i am not one of those librarian types with her hair in a bun and glasses low on her nose that will look up and "SHUSH!" you every time you adjust yourself in a chair but really. there was a group of 15 to 20 young kids running, yes. RUNNING around in the back aisles of the first floor. i was searching for books and kenz was with me. she had to plaster herself to my side because they kept zipping rudely thru the aisles we were in and loudly shrieking when they would see each other. keep in mind they were around 10 to 14. where the hell were their parents? or if they were in an afterschool or learning group where were the adults supervising them? they kept knocking into us, Hard. i pulled kenz to me, located my book and went on to another aisle. only to have it happen again. but even more rudely, one of them pretended to be looking for a book because the one guard was looking over. and she wouldn't move for me to look on the shelf she was in front of (which of course is where my Other book was located.) i almost said something but bizarrely i wasn't in one of those 'line monitor/no cutting line' moods. i just wanted to get my reads and exit. another thing about this branch is that i think a huge quantitiy of the patrons are only there for the free movies. that isn't either good or bad but i thought a library was for books. the video section has spread to take up about 1/4 of the first floor. that is what the video rental stores are for. ok, maybe i am just a book snob. (they also have a crappy selection, you would have to be pretty desperate for a flick to come here. and then i say, why not just get a book? it takes up waaaay more of your time.) the saving grace for this location (beside the Location that is) is that they really do have a good selection of books and the desk people are, for the most part, very nice and friendly. once i had kenz and nina there and they got all 11-year-old-little-girl-giggly and i asked why. it turns out that their substitute teacher was also a librarian there. he was quite sweet and obviously touched that the girlies liked him. oh - keep your receipts if you have to pay late fees (like i do all of the time. i think i keep them in business truth be told) as sometimes there are computer glitches and i have had to pay my fines twice, more than once. of course, even with all of that good advice i just gave, i still chuck the receipts as soon as i leave. read more