It is good for kids and I know because I am a kid. And I think that a parent should definitely take…read moretheir kid.

This is the closest library branch to our house. It's small, yes. It's also adorably antiquated…read more With that being said, you can get any of the books through the Minuteman catalog of books that you want. This is also the poll I head to when I vote, and they do a good job in turning it into a polling station. There's a cute little park next to the library if you want to hang out, though it isn't a dog friendly park, so don't bring your furry friends.

After moving to a new area, I always like to check out the public library. This library was very…read morebusy when I went, but like other reviewers mentioned - after school hours are expected to be the busiest. I didn't' stay long on this visit but will definitely come back during some quieter hours. I must have looked a bit bewildered, because a friendly librarian approached with a smile and offered to answer any questions. Sadly I did not catch her name, but I was thankful for the greeting.

Social distancing practice is perfect! Library person takes care of each person outside. I can…read moresafely borrow and return books.

Super cute library- It's bright, has a lot of desks (!!!) also has a gorgeous reading room. Sort of…read moreclose to the Red Line.. I visited for the first time recently and I liked it!! :)

The Hive, audiobooks, DVDs/blue rays, and of course books, there's nothing this library does not…read morehave. Staff is always so kind and friendly too. Lots of fun events/classes to check out!

To think we almost left Boston without stopping into the library. It would have been our loss. This…read morelibrary was so impressive. We entered the new section by the cafe. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There were people at almost every table on three different floors. The children's section was very cute. The library appeared to have an extensive collection for both adults and children. We walked into the older section of the library and we were amazed. It was definitely more like a museum. The murals on the wall and ceiling were stunning. The outside fountain area was beautiful. There were people taking photos for special events and many people like us just in awe of our surroundings. What a great find!

The Library has improved over the years. I had to revisit the Library once more and I do enjoy it…read more It's a nice place to study. The staff is wonderful and helpful; I enjoyed watching the live talk show at the Newsfeed Cafe. Overall, I'm impressed! I recommend it to anyone who wants to study, sign up for free events, get resources that can help them, or read books to enjoy their time.

I was in Boston for a conference this week, and it's always a shame to not do or see anything in…read morethe city where you've been for work. I knew I wouldn't have much free time and needed to get some work done between the end of the conference and leaving for the airport. When I discovered the Athenaeum, I thought - perfect! So what is the Boston Athenaeum? It's a "unique combination of library, museum, and cultural center in a magnificent landmark building . . . One of the country's oldest and most distinguished independent libraries..." It's a great place to work, study, and socialize. The first floor of the Athenaeum (where they have several galleries, including one for temporary exhibits) is open to the public. The rest of the floors are open to members only. Annual membership is currently $506/year or $338 for people 40 and under. However, they offer a day pass ($40), which is how I took advantage of the Athenaeum for a day. There are desks, chairs, patios, tables - tons of places to work and study and read. There are incredible views. The collection of art on the main level was worth seeing, and I also enjoyed their temporary exhibit: "Allan Rohan Crite: Griot of Boston." I wish they had provided a map, because - as a first time visitor - I got very confused by the floorplan. I couldn't find stairs so used the elevator, but one elevator only went to the second of five floors, so ... I wandered, found a place on the fourth floor to work from, and explored. It's really beautiful and it was a great place to get some work done while learning a little about Boston. $40 was a little steep, but it allowed me to get a little bit of a museum visit in while also allowing me the opportunity to work in a more beautiful place for a few hours. I'd happily check it out again. If I lived in Boston, I'd definitely consider becoming a member.

We've gone to so many incredible talks at the Athenaeum. In addition to it being a beautiful…read morelibrary, the author talks and events really make this place special. Most recently, we went to a talk on George Washington's private library collection.

Really nice new library with huge new open windows. You feel like you are outside when sitting…read moreinside.

Beautiful space, friendly staff, easy to use online system! I was thrilled when this library…read moreopened as it is right next to my office and easy to go to on my lunch break. It is easy to request a book and if there is a wait, it always goes faster than you think. During COVID they had drop in and pick up hours which was fantastic for someone like me who relies on the library for their books. Love this library!!!

This is our local library branch and we feel so lucky to have it. My kids love to come here, the…read morechildren's room and librarian are fantastic. The outdoor space is lovely as well. Have not spent time here using workspace as an adult but would consider doing so! Grateful for this public resource.

This branch has the STUPIDEST F*CKING HOURS EVAR…read more I'm sorry, i get it, you can't staff all branch libraries every damn hour of the day, but the hours at the West Branch are not only paltry (to say the least) but are COMPLETELY FREAKING ARBITRARY. Want to go on Monday to pick up your book from interlibrary loan? Well you're in luck my friend-- we're open from 10AM to 9 at night! Hooray!!!! Oh, did you have some other Monday commitment? No problem, why don't you stop by on Wednesday! Oooooh, sorry man. Nice try, but we keep a strict 2-6PM policy on Wednesdays. It's just the way we roll. And same with Fridays. Oh, did you say you wanted to pop by on Saturday? Yeah, tough sh*t. We take the weekends off too. Try next Monday! I mean, for the love of God, the whole point of branch libraries is that it makes it more CONVENIENT for local residents to pop by and grab a book. Instead, it would have been more than worth my time to drive/walk/crawl/take the 88 down to Somerville Central and grab that damn copy of Yo, Rigoberta Menchu. I've learned my lesson. And seriously: how much $$$ does it take to staff the library? $10 an hour? Seriously. Time to call 311 Direct. ANGST! OUTRAGE! ENTITLEMENT TO MY BOOKS!!!!!111111

Also got kicked out of an empty "children's" section even though I was looking for YA books to…read moreread. Some parts of the walls look really under disrepair. Otherwise it's a solid library.

I love this library! I only discovered it pretty recently after I moved closer to Allston. First of…read moreall, it's so nicely designed, with an atrium and a cool park with green grass and a cement structure in the back! There is a small parking lot as well as street parking too! I love all the glass and the rose wood looking paneling. The children's section is SO quiet and calm compared to the other libraries I have frequented. Same for the toddler singing time on Tuesday's. It is small and intimate, friendly and fun! There are plenty of puppets, pretend play toys, trains, paper and crayons etc for the kids to entertain themselves. Whether baby, toddler or big kid, there's something for everyone! Thea the primary children's librarian that's ive come in contact with is super nice and has always greeted us with a large smile. She recently helped me find various books on telling time and Paddington Bear. She was so helpful and kind, knowledgeable and quick. The staff at checkout is always the same bunch and they are so low key and cool as well! The fines are pretty steep if you have over due books. They even once helped me resolve a fine that I was confused about. They took my word that I never had that book and removed the fine immediately. There is a used book sale every so often and it's a cool sale Bc I have gotten a lot of treasures at this sale! I plan to donate my books here when I no longer need them Bc i feel good about supporting this library. This is how libraries should be...comfortable, friendly, clean and pleasant.

This library is great! Many resources like computers, dvds, cds, books, newspapers, magazines,…read moregames, and arts. You can deliver books from other libraries in their network to the library with lookup on their database. Nice staff! Recommended!

My 1.5 year old and I love this library! It has everything we need. In addition to a wide book…read moreselection, it has so many activities throughout the week that keep us occupied and stimulated. There is story time, block building, and music sessions. There are even more activities for older kids. The space is always clean. It is wheelchair (and stroller) accessible and a decent amount of parking next door.