This is a very large library, I love their large study rooms. I've been to other libraries that…read morehave a few study rooms, this one has. I think nine of them plus conference rooms that you can request or reserve. They have a very large children section, a separate teen area, and I love that they always have out recommendations of books or movies, and it usually follows a theme. The parking lot is well maintained too, but I wish there were more lights at night.

The Palm Beach Gardens branch Library is a very large, spacious County library--and nicely laid…read moreout. After passing through the bathroom/book check-in entryway area and through the security panels, an inviting middle walkway lined with dvds invites one to browse. Modern comfortable seating - living-room style - provides an inviting space to chill and peruse one's findings. There is a 'local authors' section next to the security panels when you walk in, a nice touch. There is a room just for teenagers and young adult fiction; I would have loved this room if it had existed when I was a teenager! It includes tables and computers. Awesome for teens to have a 'safe' space away from adults and small children. The children's area is quite spacious, with a large entryway and open corridors between sections. The area is placed far from the regular library-goers so that children might squeal without disturbing too many patrons. It also features: lots of lights entering from windows, whimsical wooden bookcases and chairs, and a family bathroom (complete with child-size toilet and sink). The leather seating is pretty worn out, but otherwise the space is well-kept. The parking lot features a ton of parking spaces and a drive-through book drop-off.

They have real food at the library wow. Everything is nice small library and emergency center in…read morecase you need help.

I am in love with the new location and how friendly the employees are, from the officer and…read morerestraint in the front, to the staff in the main library. It is always so peaceful and such a hidden gem! Go riviera beach library!

The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach is the oldest public library in Palm Beach County,…read moreFlorida. The roots of the library are in a free reading room in the Congregational Church at the corner of Datura and Olive Streets that was offered by the City of West Palm Beach in 1895. In 1899 a $100 donation was given by Henry Flagler and with the reading room book collection, the library opened in a houseboat donated to the Palm Beach Literary Society by Commodore Charles John Clarke. The City's first permanent library was in a Spanish style building that faced the Intracoastal Waterway. It was dedicated to the men and women who served in WWI. In the 1960's, a new City library designed by architect Norman Robson opened. In 2009 the library moved from the water to its current location on Clematis where it is part of the $30 million City Center Complex. Today the library is focused on providing its half a million visitors a year programs, services, collections, and technology. There is so much to love about this library. The lobby has public art pieces. The first floor has an extensive book collection and a café serving coffee, shakes, smoothies, and pastries. The second floor has a children's room, computers, music, and movies. It was surprising to discover that in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Clematis Street is a historic institution that has been offering free education for over a over a century.

I have never felt so humiliated, intimidated, and unwelcome in a public library. My experience with…read moreSupervisor Bethany Hankin was one of the most degrading customer service interactions I have ever experienced, and it left me questioning whether I was treated this way because I am a Black woman. As a nursing student preparing for the NCLEX, I drove to this library specifically to study in a quiet environment. Instead of leaving feeling supported by a public institution, I left feeling emotionally shaken, embarrassed, and deeply hurt. The issue began because library staff made an error when booking my study room. Rather than acknowledging or attempting to resolve the mistake professionally, Bethany immediately approached me with hostility and aggression. I remained calm and respectfully tried to explain the situation, yet she spoke to me in a confrontational manner, discussed me within earshot of other patrons, and publicly embarrassed me over an error that was not mine. The most disturbing part of this interaction was Bethany's decision to threaten to call security on me while I was calmly trying to explain what had happened. At no point was I disruptive, threatening, or disrespectful. Being threatened with security simply for attempting to resolve a staff mistake was frightening, humiliating, and completely unnecessary. As a Black professional, I cannot ignore how this interaction made me feel. I left believing that I was treated differently because of my race. Whether intentional or not, the hostility, intimidation, and lack of respect I experienced were unlike anything I have encountered in a customer service setting. A supervisor should lead with professionalism, empathy, and conflict resolution--not intimidation, public humiliation, and escalation. Bethany's conduct reflected a complete failure in customer service and de-escalation. Her behavior was not only unprofessional but also damaging to the welcoming environment that every public library should provide. Because of this experience, I will never return to this library. I sincerely hope library administration conducts a thorough investigation, reviews any available security footage, speaks with witnesses and staff members, and provides Bethany with substantial coaching in customer service, de-escalation, implicit bias, and respectful communication. No patron should ever leave a public library feeling degraded, singled out, or afraid simply because they tried to discuss a mistake made by staff. This experience is something I will not soon forget, and I hope the library takes meaningful action to ensure no one else is made to feel the way I did.

I recently attended an adult Intro to Crocheting class at this library branch. I came to this…read morelocation specifically for this class, which I signed up for online as soon as the class opened up! Thank you to the awesome librarian who created this opportunity. She was so patient and kind, limiting the class to a very small number in order to give 1:1 attention to each and every attendee. I knew there would be no better place than to truly learn than in a library environment. I love our library system, and I am so grateful for this programming! The classes offer so many different types of things, and learning to hand crochet (and knit, also on my list) has been something I have wanted to learn for so, so long. I have tried before and failed, and trying to learn by book and video has just not worked for me. This in-person class allowed me to fail repeatedly until I got the basic first step. Success! Thank you again to our kind leader who only just started crocheting in the past year but loved it so much she wanted to share. This kind of intro really helped me to embrace her instruction, and her demeanor and attitude was just so wonderful - thank you so much! She also hosts a regular crocheting circle and other levels of learning at this branch. After my class, I wandered into the main section and checked out a couple of cookbooks. Thank you thank you thank you to librarians everywhere.

It smells like feet in here. Other than that, no complaints. The one staff member I interacted with…read morewas very nice.

I have a deep love for 1920's Mediterranean Revival architecture like this building in the tiny 2.3…read moresquare mile town of Lake Park. The Lake Park Town Hall served as the municipal center of the town of Kelsey City, founded in 1921 by Harry Seymour Kelsey, a wealthy Bostonian who joined the Florida land boom in 1919 when he bought 30,000 acres in north Palm Beach. Eventually he went on to own 100,000 acres. He founded Kelsey City and invested a million dollars in his new town. The town hall was designed in a Mediterranean Revival style by architect Bruce Kitchell and built in 1927 by the Arnold Construction Company. The building contained the police and fire and departments, town administration, library, and courtroom. The next year in 1928, it survived the Okeechobee Hurricane and provided refuge for residents of the city during the storm. Many people left the town after the devastation of the storm and the collapse of the land boom in the 1920's and the Great Depression that followed. Eventual money problems with the IRS forced Kelsey to sell his town and in 1939 residents voted to change the name of the town to Lake Park. Through the years the second floor housed a ballroom used for dances and theatrical events. The Palm Beach Junior college was located in the town hall building in the 1950's. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and still serves as the town hall today.

Beautiful Antique book store! They sell mostly first editions from all type of books and languages…read moreyou can think of. The value depends on the type of book and how old it is. The librarian there was very nice and told us if we needed any help to let her no. Highly recommend to anyone to take a visit and check it out!

As a bibliophile I couldn't help but be drawn to this elegant book store on Worth Avenue, but this…read moreisn't just any book store. Raptis Rare Books specializes in rare, antique, and first edition books. As a young child, Matt Raptis had a deep love of history which led him into a future career of collecting and selling rare books. In 2016 Matt and Adrienne Raptis moved from Vermont to open their rare book business on Worth Avenue. In 2021 they moved to the gallery space they currently occupy on Worth Avenue next in Via Roma and in 2022, Raptis Rare Books purchased The Harcourt Bindery, the oldest and largest book bindery in the United States. The couple once purchased for $1 a signed first edition of "Catcher in the Rye" near author J.D. Salinger's home which they sold for $80,000. Other rare books that have been in their collection include an original 1859 copy of Charles Darwin "The Origin of Species" and an original printing of "The Cat in the Hat" inscribed by Dr. Seuss. Books in their collection have influenced generations and shaped history and culture. The books here are worth thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to selling individual books the couple will consult with rare book collectors to help them to build their libraries. In an increasingly digital age it is nice to see that books are still valued in our society.

The best place in Palm Beach County to enjoy nightlife, green market on Saturdays, wellness events…read moreon weekends, or just a simple stroll on the waterfront. Clematis Street is the cultural hub of the area with things going on every week. CityPlace is a few blocks south, NORA district is a few blocks north, Northwood Village is a few blocks north, and you've got Palm Beach across the bridge.

USA Today calls Thursday evening from 6:00 until 9 o'clock the best outdoor concert series…read more Tonight we enjoyed David Michael & Twisted Cypress on Clematis at night. It is going strong here with a lot of seating, food vendors & a live band at the waterfront. The colorful Adirondack chairs were inviting & the music was great. WPB.org/events posts all of the bands performing here.

I live in Singer Island and I believe that Riviera beach is the most poorly run city in Florida…read more Just incompetency. Water dept is a joke! Getting a permit for something as simple as a generator can take months! The inspectors in the field overseeing the permits are rude and nasty to deal With! They need to start over and hire new people who care and want to be part of a great city!

Stopped in today to file a police report. Someone has stolen my 2016 decal from my tag…read more Arrival time was 10:10 met a few nice officers around 11:20 that got me the report I needed. Thanks City of Riviera Beach.

I had to come here to do a name change for my global entry. The staff by the parking lot was very…read morehelpful and they told you where to park and what floor you need to go on unfortunately the website said walk-in started at 1 PM but when I got there, it's at 3 PM. They were not busy so the officer was able to take me back and help me out by changing my name for me overall good experience and I recommend having an appointment or making sure you call ahead to know what the walk-in times are.

This was a teaching drive from Tampa but so worth it. 3.5 hour drive and it's at the Port of West…read morePalm Beach. Getting in was a breeze, I told the guy what I wanted (they have the path blocked) and he let me pass. Went upstairs say in the waiting area to be called and they essentially asked the same info from the application, checked your docs, took your picture and it was a done deal. This was a 3.5 hour drive for a 5-10 min interview lol. It's all good though the officer was nice and personable and overall good journey. I can now get back to the states a little easier when I go overseas.