I am writing to express ongoing concerns regarding my experiences at the Midlothian Library as a…read moretraveling therapist serving young children and their families. In my role, I work with children of varying abilities, including those with developmental differences. Unfortunately, I have had multiple unpleasant interactions with staff that have made the environment feel unwelcoming and, at times, inappropriate for the families I serve. I have observed what I perceive to be differential treatment toward families of color, including nonverbal cues and behaviors that come across as dismissive and judgmental. One particularly concerning incident involved a child with autism who was experiencing a brief meltdown in a private room. During this time, a staff member, later identified as Sue Eckhardt, entered abruptly and stated, "What the hell is going on? I can hear the banging in my office." The tone and approach lacked sensitivity and were not appropriate given the situation. The interaction escalated an already challenging moment rather than supporting a safe and understanding environment. Additionally, I have received repeated feedback that typical toddler behavior--such as speaking at an indoor voice level--is "too loud." I have also been told that my therapeutic singing is disruptive, despite it being a standard and necessary component of my sessions. At the same time, there appears to be inconsistency in expectations for noise levels among staff. I would also like to note concerns regarding the physical layout of the children's area. The toddler space is centrally located with high ceilings, which naturally amplifies sound. This design contributes to noise concerns that staff have raised, yet the responsibility appears to be placed on families rather than considering environmental factors. Public libraries are intended to be inclusive, welcoming spaces for all members of the community. Based on my experiences, I feel that the current environment and some staff interactions fall short of that standard. I strongly encourage leadership to reflect on staff training, particularly in areas of cultural responsiveness, disability awareness, and family-centered practices.

It was ok, staff has some attitude but mostly Ok…read more One time I went to the bathroom and they were all messed up. It smelt bad and what I think was soap on the mirror.

This library was okay. It wan't bad but it also wasn't the best I've ever seen. The staff was nice…read moreand everything but I think they should really update their books and get some new ones.

Recent renovations have updated this library's layout to be so user friendly and comfortable…read more Separating the adult and youth computer sections really helps and its so easy to sign in to computers and check out books. Very well-thought out upgrades. Thank you for providing such a beautiful, helpful resource to Oak Forest residents. Much appreciated.

Absolutely stunning, great for kids as well as adults. They have activities for the kids which is…read moreamazing, with packets to take home as well as a play areas.

I would recommend going to this library. Every time I go there everyone is so help and kind…read more Especially Katie and Colleen

Quiet library with good amenities. Private study or meeting rooms. Staff is not always friendly but…read morethey eventually come around.

Apparently you have to be a resident of Tinley Park to use a meeting room at 11a on a Tuesday while…read moreall of them sit empty. This is blatant prejudice and discrimination. I work remotely from Oak Lawn, Orland Park, etc. and never have they requested an ID or address to book a private room. They might as well hang "MAGA only" from the rafters.

This is a good library. The people are helpful and have a good attitude…read more The place is spacious. There are tables and outlets for laptops. There is a color copier. This is your quiet office away from the office wrapped inside of a library. It's a brilliant scheme.

Such a great library with a nice selection of materials and lovely facilities for patron use. I…read morevisited to get some work done and was blown away by their stunning reading room! What a gorgeous space!

Yessss Amazing place to bring the kids, making slime, playing B-I-N-G-O, and event planned for the…read morekids and parents to enjoy themselves too....

I've always loved this library! Before I jetted off to Jacksonville, this library was the hangout…read morespot for me, my siblings, and friends for years. It was refreshing to come into town and need to make a few copies because it gave me a reason to revisit. The best part? The friendly staff, comfortable environment, and abundant resources hasn't changed. What has changed its how much has been updated to accommodate your needs! Although this is a small town, the library has all of the modern necessities to make this a one-stop shop! Grande Prairie is just one of many comforts of home that has maintained it's community appeal and charm! I'm glad the youth of today get to experience one of few community buildings that resonate the togetherness and support of yesterday.

Great place to spend an afternoon, clean, quiet and always friendly librarians available if you…read morehave questions or need help.

The Homewood Public Library is another in a string of wonderful library spaces on the south side of…read morethe greater Chicagoland area. This one is spacious and two-story, holding thousands of entries. The on-line catalog was easy to maneuver - so you can easily find stuff when you are there or from home when you are researching - and the library shares with a number of others in a system - so you can get access to materials not in this library but in the system. Works very well. The entrance to the library has a number of large display cases where they highlight special exhibits. There is a childrens' room inside on the first floor (can get a bit noisy at times but they do the best they can with the space), and the library also has private study rooms where you can get away from all distractions for a few hours for study or reading. The Homewood Public Library is a winner...go and see for yourself next time you need library materials.

Very quite library where you can go to do your work if you want to get out the house. Oils maybe…read moreuse a face lift. Everything works, just not aesthetically pleasing.

Nice little library that does the best it can with what it has. Came looking for Sanborn Fire…read moreInsurance Maps for Blue Island as the catalog shows they have it on microfilm ... but when you ask for it you find it is buried in a storage room which they are reorganizing ... so it essentially is not available. Add to that the fact that they got rid of their microfilm reader and you're in for an unsuccessful visit. If you're looking for just the more current books and a selection of everyday titles, this is probably your place. Adult section on the ground floor, children's in the basement. Nice for everyday community use, not for any research.

Grew up going to this library. Always helped me find books and movies by requesting from other…read morelibraries. Nice, cool place to get work done.