My afternoon "office" for a few hours, I spent my time here pounding out emails and (quietly)…read moredialed in to a Zoom bridge or two. A comfortable work space in the corner where my laptops and phone plugged in and charged. The library is quite large and spacious. Lots of interesting spaces, tons of stacks of books, I thought the shelf of role playing game kits was a unique offering. You do not need to be a local resident in order to use the library, only to borrow materials. [Review 20560 overall - 98 in Indiana - 1541 of 2023.]

SO I was nervous to go to this location which was so silly in hindsight (to go to the downtown…read morelocation) because I'm spoiled by the Southside location by my house. Extensive water damage has closed the Southern location till at least June 2024 so here I was looking for kids' North Dakota books for a school report. Not only did I find an extensive amount of books for my son, I got him some graphic novels, some launchpads, some free seeds from the seed library and a free subscription to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. I was also intrigued by the library of mysterious things upstairs. The ambience was clean, well thought out, and the staff was superb. I will be back without hesitation. I heard there is a drive-through to drop stuff off for parents with young kids. I have noticed there were a ton of parents and small children there for various groups. Looks promising!

The Bartholomew County Library is another amazing functional architectural structure in Columbus,…read moreIndiana. The building was designed by I. M. Pei in 1969 with an addition by James Paris in 1987. What I noticed first was an incredible sculpture that stands in the Library plaza. The sculpture, known as Large Arch, was created by Henry Moore in 1971. Inside the library are high ceilings with a modern and spacious feel. There are large sections of adult books on the first and second floor. On the first floor are public computers, newspapers and other resources. There is a large teen area with skylights and comfy seating. In the basement are conference and a class room and an incredible children's library, complete with play areas and a puppet show stage. There is an outdoor patio off of the children's section. On the second floor is a indoor garden atrium that brings in natural light. The staff is helpful. There is a space where they sell excess and used books. There were several oil paintings by notable Hoosier artists. There is also a small veteran tribute near the front entrance. There is free parking on the west and back sides of the facility. I would put this library at the top of the Indiana libraries that I have visited.

Very nice, well kept, clean, and organized library. Lots of books and free use computers. Friendly…read moreand helpful staff can help you find what you seek. Cool large piece of artwork on the grounds. Nice place to find a real book versus an online book, for those who prefer the old fashion way of reading, ha. Plenty of relaxing and comfy private seating along with nice tables for multi book researching. Located downtown and walking distance to many other businesses.

When Danville Public Library, also known as Danville-Center Township Public Library, was first…read morecreated in 1902, Danville was home to Central Normal College. Local businessmen felt that the community should also finally have its own public library. Danville received a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (the first of four Carnegie libraries in Hendricks County), and the library was birthed in 1903 with 1,000 books. Over the years, the library has grown with additions in 1979, 1999, and in 2016. Now, the library offers books, audiobooks, e-books, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, streaming digital services, and computer access/free wi-fi. While the library wasn't accessible in its early days, with each subsequent addition that has improved. While you still get the historic facade (and lots of steps), it's pretty easy to get into this two-story building now. As Katherine A. noted in her review, adult books (get your mind out of the gutter) are on the second floor, kids are on the first floor, and there are study areas and a classroom. There's a small parking lot and the area around the library is pretty good with access. I'm also a big fan of the Indiana Room, a source for genealogy (especially Hendricks county related) with cemetery records, court records, land records, church records, newspapers, and more. As an out-of-towner, sometimes you feel awkward when you go into a different town/city's library. I do it often when I'm on one of my Tenderness Tour events because they tend to be a safe place to rest, use internet, and use a restroom. Yet, I found folks here to be friendly and welcoming. I definitely would return when I'm in the area. Yes, this is a smaller library. If you're expecting to compare it to Indy's libraries, you'll likely be disappointed (except some of Indy's smaller branches like Spades). However, it's a lovely library with friendly people and even the patrons I met here were quite hospitable.

Danville Public Library began its roots as an Andrew Carnegie funded building which first opened in…read more1903. The original limestone neoclassical building stands as an entrance to the modern facility today. The facility has undergone three expansions and renovations over the years to modernize and accommodate the growing collection of books, audio and video collections and more. The most recent renovation was completed on 2017. Most of the historical features of the Carnegie interior were removed or relocated during the modernization . One of the original marble fireplaces was moved to the Genealogy Room on the second floor with some of the early paintings. A second fireplace mantle was relocated to the Children's play/work room. A new main entrance was added to increase accessibility to the facility. Adult books are stored on the 2nd floor, while children's books and a play area are located on the lower floor. A classroom and study area are also located on the first floor. Library administration has offices on the second floor as well. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful and willing to describe the history of the facility. The library sponsors summer reading and other programs throughout the year. There is a small dedicated parking lot behind the building and street parking around the building.

The Trafalgar Branch Library is pretty amazing. Even before going inside, I was struck by the…read morenatural wildflower/prairie garden that surrounds the building. A trail winds through the garden with the Kelsey Anne Devine StoryWalk for kids. (Kelsey was a local resident that passed away too young). In front of the building is a large art sun sculpture. There is also a patio with chairs to sit and read surrounded by additional garden. Inside, the library is large and open with beautiful high ceilings. Wood and stone give the building a natural feeling. The Children's Area has a small play area and a separate room dedicated to play. There are lots of books for the kids. The Teen Area has comfy seating and a chess set set up. Besides books, there is information posted about important topics for teens. The Adult Area has more comfortable seating surrounding a fireplace. Lots of natural light comes into the space from large windows that overlook the garden. This is my favorite spot to read the daily newspaper. Plenty of small tables are scattered throughout the building. A set of public computers are available near center of the library. A large community room with small kitchen near the entrance was being cleaned during my visit. Baskets of free vegetables from summer gardens for visitors to take home stand near the entrance. Outside, an emergency box with opioid antidote reminds us of the struggle with addiction in our rural communities. There is plenty of parking outside with several handicapped spaces. This library offers much more than books and I'll be back.

Beautiful library with great staff, plus it has a fireplace. Fast wifi and quick checkout!read more

This library has a small town feel with a big sense of community…read more As with most public libraries in Indiana, the Shelby County Public Library's roots were enabled by a $20,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie in 1901. The original Neo-Classical building opened June 1903 in Shelbyville and bears Carnegie's name. The limestone facility has undergone several renovations and expansions resulting in today's library complex, which includes the main building and annex. The main building houses adult books, dvd's, and other reading materials. There are a few tables and comfy chairs to study or read. The older Carnegie portion houses large print books and retains some of the original woodwork and leaded-glass doors. The lower level of the library houses the Children's library collection with play, learning areas and publicly available computers. The area has a recently added sensory wall. During my visit, the area was packed with boisterous children and parents for a summer event. There was a distinct energy in the space. To the east of the main building, the annex houses genealogy and history resources. The staff is busy helping patrons throughout the complex. The sprawling, busy library has a campus feel. Patrons come to socialize as well as find reading material. There is a lovely courtyard behind the main building with dedicated parking. Additional free street parking is available in front of the buildings.

This library is easy to find and located close to a CVS, not far from Walmart or fast food…read moreestablishments. The computer room is across the street which is highly inconvenient. There are several tables but, they lack a lot of outlets for those with laptops. They are unaware of hope to operate the scanning machine. They are nice to talk with and very willing to assist you but, they lack a lot of knowledge when it comes to higher levels of technological needs.

This library is an excellent place to host an event and a true community resource. I have attended…read moreseveral events here, from CreativeMornings to a minority career fair, and every experience has been well organized and welcoming. The space is gorgeous, flexible, and works beautifully for both professional and creative gatherings. We also host our neighborhood meetings here, which has been a great experience. The library consistently offers free classes, helpful staff, and access to a wide range of resources that make it more than just a place to study or work. It genuinely serves the community. When I am there working or attending events, I always try to sit by the windows overlooking the courtyard. The view of the skyline is a bonus and makes long days feel lighter. Highly recommend this library for events, meetings, or simply spending a productive day.

The central library is an amazing resource for families and individuals. They offer great classes…read moreand programming. I participated in a linocut workshop and enjoyed learning a new skills - for free! I have also attended some great speaker series and conferences here. The kids zone is a great place to spend an hour or two with a toddler. The parking garage only costs a few dollars and there is a ton to keep my daughter busy. She loves the magnet wall, toys, and visual displays. I also check out digital books through the Libby app. The team there is always helpful. Thanks for all you do!

Seymour, Jackson County Public Library. April 14,…read more2018....ahhh, spring into this wonderful Library! Clean and modern inside, and a nice place to get your "me" time indulgence in. Newspapers, magazines, DVD's, Films, and all the latest in publishing and digial media too!!! Folks here are helpful and friendly too. Go indulge your brain!

This place is the best! The librarians are so nice but take library cards without telling you.read more

I am constantly pleased to live in a county with such a good library and to have a branch as fine…read moreas Ellettsville. Staff are always so gracious and pleasant. Loans or transfers come from the main library so efficiently that my requests online take only a couple of days and I do not need to go downtown. Parking is usually (but not always) available without hassle. Inside is clean and fresh an open. We should all have an annual, appreciate your library day. People just do not realize what a huge thing this is if they have always enjoyed these benefits! They have also had the easy check out for years, buzz your card, press your pin, pop down your book and hey presto, you are out the door. I love to speak to the librarians but when they are busy or I am ni a hurry this is terrific.

Love love love this library! We are frequent patrons of this library. Our family has a great time…read morehere. Our son has read over 1000 books over 4 years n is thirsty for more great reading experiences. We love abundant resources for learning and information. We also love their movies DVD rentals options. Love it!

Wow, what a nice public library! Just off Michigan Road and 62nd St, there's ample parking…read moreavailable at this location. As others mentioned, the natural lighting inside the building was amazing with so many windows. It also features quite a few "nooks" in which you could get lost in a book, study or get some work done. I really enjoyed the modern architecture, and from my seat I had a beautiful view of shade-loving plants. The desks along the west wall of the building all featured outlets as well as usb ports. There's also a bay of PC's, a children's room as well as what appeared to be a good-sized meeting space on the far north wall. The building itself and restrooms were very clean. Next time you're in the neighborhood, I'd recommend checking this library out!

It's a smaller library, but it's very clean and modern inside. Great place for studying! The tables…read moreby the windows have their own charging outlets which is nice.