This branch has a long history and was actually the second branch within the Indy Public Library…read moresystem. The branch started in 1967 as the Westlane branch in the Westlane Shopping Center area at 71st and Michigan Road. In 1974, the system purchased three acres of land from Pike Township in this location adjacent to Pike High School. The original 13,000sf Pike Branch was officially opened in 1986 and expanded to 20,000sf in 1999. Meetings are actually currently being held for another renovation in the near future (which it definitely needs). I had the opportunity to visit the Pike Branch last evening for a meeting. You can definitely tell it's an older branch as it looks just a little more worn and lacks some of the amenities of newer branches. Aisles are a little more narrow and even some of the ADA adaptations are a little antiquated - for example, while they do have accessible parking the actual ramps are located in unusual locations. I got out of my car and had to go around a sidewalk to access the ramp. I'm definitely a fan of Indy's public library system. Having attended Pike (though I graduated prior to this branch opening), I'm a fan of this branch. Geocachers should note there's a geocache located in the parking lot. This branch offers public computers with Microsoft Office, early learning stations, and free wifi. There are meeting rooms available for reservation and I saw at least four study rooms that could be reserved (it looked like the limit was four people in the study rooms). I did use one of the simply decorated study rooms for my meeting with one other person. Pike has a bike rack outside and automatic doors for entry. The branch has an accessible stall in the bathroom and I believe I saw two family bathrooms (though you have to get the key from a librarian. I'd imagine since it's next to a high school they're a bit more careful about that sort of thing, ya know?). They offer self-service check-out, scanning, copying, a color printer, and mobile printing services. They also offer exam proctoring, a walk-up book return, and a seed library from March-October. At this point, Pike Branch pales somewhat in comparison to some of the other branches with no really strong fun areas for kids. They do have an aquarium and at least one mural. I checked out the events and it appears that story events for smaller children dominate the schedule. Librarians were friendly, though perhaps a tad less outgoing than some other branches I've experienced. One was very helpful in terms of getting us into a study room where we could have a conversation. There's a strong multicultural flavor here. This makes sense since Pike is a very diverse township and the library reflects that diversity. Overall, I wouldn't call this one of Indy PL's better branches but it has a lot of history within the system and it'll be fun to see what happens with the new renovations. I look forward to returning in the future.

Why do we continuously choose to forget what a great resource the library is? I started coming to…read morethe PBL for prints and copies and fell in love all over again with libraries. Sure they "house books", but there are so many amenities to enjoy that you don't need to be a bookworm to visit. Although this library is a little older (in comparison to new ones in the area) it is still marvelously upkept. It is quiet and tranquil, lots of available computers, and quiet working spaces. Their hours are great, there's ample parking, job board and tools, and lots of community events. I've seen Cookies with a Cop, Crochet/Knitting classes, and so many more fantastic and *free* collaborations with talented people who devote their time to giving back to the community. The kiddo's section is my favorite as I was so amused to see all they provide for children now; there's two computer stations for kids to do countless interactive activities on, stuffed toys, learning board games, a great big sitting area, and a glorious fish tank. I hope to continue to see this library being a strong pillar for its community and I hope more people venture back into libraries to rediscover how resourceful they are. I'll be getting my own library card, after many years, to officiate the relationship and I have plans to "discover" more libraries in the area but the Pike branch will always be a favorite.

Wow! I was on the hunt for a new-to-us library on Yelp and stumbled upon this stunning newer…read morelibrary in the West Perry (south Indy) area. The sleek Scandinavian design of the exterior had me at "hello". Spoiler alert: the inside is just as beautiful. The space features large wrap around windows, a fireplaces, sleek lines and a dedicated children's and teens section that are clearly spaced off from the adult section of the library. I also appreciated their clean bathrooms and outdoor covered patio overlooking a treeline. The children's section was laid out really well with books displayed in a way that's easier for short kiddos to read the titles and explore what's available. We ended up leaving with a variety of recipe, travel and kid books. I can't believe there weren't more people here. It was a 20 min. drive from downtown but worth every bit of the drive. Can't wait to return!

One of my favorite things about living in Marion County is having access to ALL of Indianapolis'…read morelibraries, and there are many! This location is our current favorite, almost solely for their kids section. You'll find a stack of grocery baskets when you first enter, and we love that. We like to get enough kids books to have at least 2 bedtime stories a night, plus extra for our calming nook. Each kid can grab a basket and so do I. I believe they have plastic bags available to take your collection of books home, but I use reusable totes for the 20-30 books that we end up with. They do a great job of putting a nice selection right up front of books that compliment the season and current events, and that includes children's books. That's the first place I look before we head to the children's section. Not only is the children's section large, it is sectioned off quite nicely, so I don't feel the anxiety of trying to keep their voices low. I feel completely secure in allowing the 3 of us to wander around, independently, collecting books. My girls enjoy the games available to them on the computers and also the interactive area that holds Legos and fun seating. Books are also separated by topics and themes for the younger/learning to read crowd and placed into bins with photos as labels. I absolutely love this and it's helped my 5 and 6 year olds pick out some really great, age appropriate books. There is also a really pretty outdoor patio that you enter thru the children's section, where you could sit and read or study. I would love to check it out when the weather is nicer. This location also has a step stool up at check out, so younger kids can check out their own books. The girls have their own cards and check out the books they've chosen themselves, and they really enjoy the process of checking out and loading up their books on their own. This location is definitely a gem for local youth and their parents.

You can find nicer library branches in Indianapolis than the Irvington branch…read more You can find newer library branches in Indianapolis than the Irvington branch. You can certainly find bigger library branches in Indianapolis than the Irvington branch. Yet, there's something about the Irvington Branch of Indianapolis Public Library that is simply dazzling. It's warm, inviting, comfortable, and just fits really well with the unique community that is Irvington. This branch has served the Irvington area since 1903 when the Bona Thompson Library was donated to what was then Butler College (and was originally located in Irvington). It soon became a public library branch. The branch relocated in 1914 and 1921. In 1956, a new facility was opened on East Washington Street and named for Hilton U. Brown (Hoosiers should recognize the name). He was also an Irvington resident. The Brown Branch closed in 2001 and made way for the late 2001 opening of this 16,000-square foot branch. The Irvington Branch is directly on East Washington Street, though parking is actually behind it. Accessible parking is easily available. While nearly all branches offer push-button automatic doors, Irvington has actual automatic doors. I was super impressed (and grateful - I was tired.). While I wouldn't call the Irvington Branch small, it's definitely smaller than most newer branches and definitely feels smaller. That said, it offers the usual amenities: The meeting room here is actually still named for Hilton U. Brown. The branch also offers internet access, public computers with Microsoft Office, early learning computer stations, free wifi, meeting space, study area rooms, accessible work stations, self-checkout, color printer, color copy machine, document scanner, mobile printing, outgoing fax, exam proctoring, walk-up book return, and bike racks. The bathrooms do offer accessibility. I did not see a family bathroom - which most new branches are offering. The layout was very wheelchair friendly. I was easily able to get everywhere I wanted to get. The librarians were super friendly - I actually found a copy of my own book here and asked a librarian if she would take my photo with it. She did. In fact, she took three just to make sure. So kind. The lighting here was rather dim and the atmosphere subdued. They offer a variety of community events. I will note that they are closed on Sundays. I also noted they had a memorial bench in their yard and a neat little plaza garden area that I really appreciated. I'd been in this branch before, though it had been a while since I'm closer to Glendale and Fort Ben. However, I'll easily return to this location when I'm in the area.

Visited this location for the first time yesterday to get a library card. The folks working there…read morewere very friendly and helpful. It's a great old nostalgic smelling library with lots of seating available and plenty of space to look around.

Absolutely love this library. Lots of opportunities for adults and children!…read more Slow-flow yoga is the best!

First visit since getting my library card. Wasn't really looking gir a specific book so spent some…read moretime just browsing the aisles. Love that the kids area is separated so kids can be loud without interrupting library patrons. Also Love the section for teens.

I brought my niece here the other day. It was my first time really spending time in the children's…read morearea and was so impressed with how many stations they had for the kids. They had a special playroom with kids toys, a nature center, computers with kids games, an amazing selection of books, and more. I really love this library. They also have a free seed library which I think is so neat!

Talk about an incredible library! I have had this place bookmarked for quite some time and finally…read moregot to check it out after a farmers market visit. The children's section definitely did not disappoint. The library is walking distance from the heart of downtown Zionsville. Even the garden of the library provides entertainment with musical instruments for play. Once you enter the front door, you will find a massive children's section that includes a fish aquarium, playroom, toy train model set and wonderful book displays. It also appears that they have an extensive events programming calendar throughout the week. If we lived closer, I would definitely visit here often. There's also a nature center room off the back of the children's section that features snakes, turtles and more fish. Overall, you can easily pass an hour or two with your kids exploring the different areas. I can't speak for the adult sections, but I'm sure it's Equally impressive. Highly recommend recommend this library!

Stunning- also, not surprised…read more I had heard for awhile that we would enjoy this library so on a recent day date with my four year old, we ventured north to check it out. We spent a majority of the time in the children's section which boasted several interactive play areas, a private room for events, a STEAM focussed room for workshops and hands-on learning and well-organized book stacks. I appreciated how many book covers they had easily on display and their shelving system. They also have a pet gecko in the kids area. We could have easily spent an hour plus here. Next time, I'll set up for remote work and check out the coffee shop and other seating areas in the library. They have free onsite garage parking, in true Carmel fashion

The Carmel Clay Public Library is as fabulous as you'd expect from Carmel. Think an upscale version…read moreof the Louvre with books and you are getting close. And they've got so much more than books. I visited today and was offered a tour of their Digital Media Lab. Patrons of the library can take advantage of several 3-D printers and only pay for supplies. Cricut machines and software are available to create card, paper products, tee shirt transfers, mugs and more. A state-of-the-art video studio and several audio studios are available for aspiring performers. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and proactively helpful. I got inspiration for an upcoming project that I am working on for a family reunion. One of the staffers printed off information that I needed for my project. The children's area of the library is huge, filled with books, discovery lab, reading areas and an activity room. Toddlers were playing with a few toys during my visit. Upstairs, I found a massive collection of videos and adult books. Several banks of computers were buzzing with patrons taking advantage of the free service. The staff was friendly and happy to show where to find specific books. Comfy seating and work spaces are scattered throughout the facility. Several conference rooms can be reserved for community use. The building is beautiful with a modern architecture that lets in lots of natural light. There is a featured art wall in the lower level. A bookstore and coffee shop are available near the main entrance. There is a parking garage on the south side of the building complete with EV plug stations. Restroom facilities are upscale and immaculate. The library is an easy 5 stars and sets a high standard for libraries.

I want to give a sincere thank you to Ryan Donnelly for the outstanding assistance he provided. He…read moretook the time to patiently answer my questions, explain information I didn't fully understand, and made sure I left with a much better understanding of everything. His professionalism, knowledge, and willingness to go the extra mile were truly appreciated. Thank you again, Ryan--I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you spent helping me!

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.

An excellent little branch library on the south east side of Indianapolis. It's a very comfortable…read moreplace pretty building very open. They have periodicals, audiobooks, movies, tons of books, music, and even a seed loan. As in most libraries, it's very quiet with books on the racks and a number of computers around to look at the catalog. There are also a number of individual computer stations with online access for those who do not have their own available or want to use it for research. They have a big welcome desk in the middle that can help with customer service issues, as well as the checkout area with a few librarians there helping through the completely electronic process. I didn't even need to talk to anyone to check my books out. I scanned my card, scanned my books and printed out my own receipt. They have a couple of training rooms or public rooms that are able to be utilized by the public and run a summer book reading program for children, which was always very popular with my kids. I usually can find what I'm looking for. Sometimes things are checked out, but you can go online and check other local libraries in the system and reserve the books, have them sent to this library for pick up later, or just go pick them up myself at the other branch. Lots of kids in here today and activities going on all the time but they kept the kids quiet and did it in a way where the kids could have fun and learn all at the same time.

This library branch has a small but mighty feel. It's not the biggest branch of a library I've ever…read moreseen, but it's also not the smallest AND it has plenty of books, movies and music available on site. The children's section is the majority, it seems, which makes sense as most events here seem to be for kiddos, too. The teen section is limited to one of the shelves, which I find really sad. YA books are important, and having resources and "fun" reading material for teenagers matters. Plus, I myself enjoy a good YA read, so teens aren't the only ones missing out. The "adults" have plenty of shelves and they seem to divide out the content pretty well between categories. There are two small private rooms available for studying or working that would likely fit 5-8 people from what I've seen. Maybe a little more, even. The main library is pretty quiet every time I've gone, though, so it may not even be necessary for you if you need to settle in to study, read or work awhile. The hold pickup system and checking out is great! I can waltz right in, head over to the pick up shelves and find my items. Then the self checkout is so convenient. I've been in and out in five minutes before, which is so nice! Overall, it's a decent library branch! Things could be a little better, but I'll take it as is for now. :)