Lawrenceille is the head branch of the Mercer County Library System. It is an excellent location…read morefor borrowing books, CDs, and DVDs (including TV on DVD). A large selection of local and national newspapers and magazines are available. I enjoy this branch as the staff are extra friendly. They never make you feel awkward for extremelyyyyyyyy late books. More recently, they have an e-book borrowing system online for kindle and e-readers.

Having moved recently from New Jersey, I have come to appreciate the main branch of the Mercer…read moreCounty library system (in Lawrenceville, off route 1) even more. This is a terrific library. Here's why: 1. It has an excellent fiction section, including a generous selection of "classic" authors. I have been in libraries where the focus is on the latest hardback best-sellers. They have those here too, but they haven't seen fit to "weed" out the traditional titles that really every library should have. 2. In fact, their whole book collection is good--history, religion, art--and their children's section is extensive as well. 3. They are one of the few public libraries these days that keep a paper archive of magazines, and it's quite extensive. I think there must be a library director here who isn't "up to date" with the latest trends in library science, and the patrons reap the benefit. 4. They actually still have books on cassette tape (as well as on CD and playaway, of course). I have a cassette player; they have quality tapes. Seems simple, right? Again, there's no reason to "deaccession" good material when it might be useful to patrons. 5. They have a very strong collection of foreign and Criterion Collection DVDs--much appreciated. In sum, there's someone here who's made a lot of good decisions on how to run a library. Building's a tad shabby, but who cares? I wish the library where I live were this good.

I know libraries aren't the "sexiest" thing to review on here. We all too often take these…read morewonderfully invaluable resources for granted: whether it's "out of sight, out of mind," or "hey, libraries have always been there, they're not going anywhere." Having lived in half a dozen other states let me tell ya: NJ has some great libraries. We all bitch and moan about taxes, isn't it great to know there's a tangible community asset provided in return for said monies? We're in some dystopian times, so it's refreshing (even comforting) to be reminded that one of society's great equalizers remains available for all to access. As far as COVID logistics: books can be reserved online and "contactless" pickup can also be scheduled there. As an older millennial, I went hybrid by reserving my book online and once an email informed me it was available, I called and spoke to an actual living, friendly human who proceeded to reserve a 15 minute time slot for my pick up. The librarian assigned me the number "2." To pick up, simply head to the rear of the building where you'll encounter a table under the portico. Here, you'll find your requested book (with your name affixed) next to the number 1, 2, or 3. Its location will correspond with the number provided by either the website or the friendly librarian via telephone during the final step of the reservation process. Upon leaving, a librarian came out and actually thanked ME. This felt a bit strange for a multitude of reasons. Rather than an entitled "hey, I'm a taxpayer," I thanked her in return. After all without free and fair dissemination of knowledge and truth, where would we be? That is something I hope to never find out.

Received my library card today and I had an excellent experience. I started the registration…read moreprocess online and completed it in-person. The nice librarian, Lindsey showed me how to use the Libby app and rent books onto my Kindle. Super cute small town library

Me and my kids love coming here So welcoming…read more Clean and everyone's friendly They got cards to take out new books every week

As a teacher and someone who tutors students at the South Brunswick Public Library multiple days…read moreeach week, I truly appreciate having a public space dedicated to learning. Unfortunately, my experience over the past several weeks has become increasingly frustrating. The biggest issue is that children are running, yelling, and playing throughout the entire library--not just in the children's section. The noise level has become so disruptive that it is often difficult for my students to focus during tutoring sessions. Instead of the quiet environment a library is meant to provide, it frequently feels chaotic. I am also concerned about safety. I have personally witnessed children running through the aisles, playing tag, climbing on bookshelves, screaming at the top of their lungs, and even walking around without shoes. These behaviors create safety risks not only for the children but for other patrons as well. I understand that libraries are community spaces and that children are welcome. However, there still needs to be reasonable supervision and enforcement of library rules so everyone can enjoy the space. Students, tutors, remote workers, and many others rely on the library as a quiet place to study and work. I hope the library can take steps to address these concerns and restore the calm, safe environment that so many members of the community depend on.

I love the children's section of this library! Now that the days are getting a little colder, I've…read morebeen scoping out places to bring my 1 year old to occupy him during the day. This library has a bunch of activities for babies as well as a cute little play area with a large selection of books. The staff seems to be friendly so far from what I can tell. Definitely a fan!

Very disappointed in how the county library system treats their community. I checked out a library…read morebook that was old and in very poor condition. Accidentally returned it to a library drop box in another county and it was never located. Bought a like-new replacement book with the same ISBN number and they would not accept it. They made me pay for a new book even though their book was in very poor condition.

I feel like an update is called for, especially after reading a disgruntled 1 star review that is…read morevery subjective and not( in my opinion) representative of many patron's experiences here. While I sympathize with that person's situation, a bad Yelp review will not remedy those conditions, nor will it accurately portray how good this library is. Since my first review I have visited a handful of other NJ libraries and feel that this branch exceeds almost all of them. As with many things in life, it is the little details that matter. Starting at the entrance, and even at the exit doors( which are somewhat interchangeable ) you encounter book shelves containing FREE books. The subjects vary widely but I like to take a minute or two to scope out the selection. I have found some gems too!( most recently a very clean copy of Hawking's " A brief history of time") As another reviewer noted, there is almost always a book sale going on, the costs are about $1-$3,these books are in very good condition and are organized by subject or genre. As far as their book catalogue goes, most of my favorite fiction authors are represented, and the more contemporary ones are updated with their newer works in a timely manner. Older and critically acclaimed authors are also present, and their better known titles can sometimes be found with more than one copy. Recently I've been taking advantage of their DVD selection and find it to be much better than most other libraries. They seem quick to acquire new releases and many popular premium channel series are available. Skip RedBox and come here if possible. There are many programs and events to attend here as well, mainly for children but adults are not left out. They are now doing Saturday afternoon screenings of various movies, some for the whole family, with others being more R rated.( a recent screening of " American Pastoral" comes to mind) I have found the staff to be very friendly and often find myself discussing books, movies or authors with them. There are plenty of work stations, some with computers and others set up for you to use your own. And some pretty cool seating options too, think cozy couches and big Papasan type cushion chairs. Heck, there's even a table with a communal jigsaw puzzle awaiting completion. As I stated in my prior review, I hope that Mercer County residents and visitors utilize this resource. You might hear me complaining about how my tax $$$ are used, but not in reference to our libraries. 4.24 RIF Yelps

Gorgeous library! It makes this ("real" book) non-reader want to become an avid one!…read more We came for movie rentals only on this quick trip but maybe in the future, we can just relax on their cozy, colorful chairs & read while relaxing. Scored a free pretty bookmark with lots of my favorite color - red - in it.

Tiny library, but they do have a little area for kids that is cute and the staff is always kind and…read moreaccommodating.

This small but mighty library has so many wonderful things within. They're not just books and…read morevideos, but rather a welcoming place where the community comes together. They have some of the latest novels and there are wonderful programs for people of all ages. The librarians and staff are all friendly, and if you ever need help finding a particular book or require resources, they are always ready to assist.

$3.90 later I can say this library is A-okay. It was my own fault that I recevied a fee because I…read morereturned the books late. However, I was very happy with the selection of professional books and audio books. This branch reminds me of a grade school library in its appearance, ambiance and size. There are study areas, a community board and multiple reference computers. (Standard things) They have an online system that is linked to neighboring branches, and that expands the selection of books available to everyone. There is really not too much to say about this library but I do wish the lighting wasn't so dim. I used the cherry hill public library before I moved here and that location is certainly more modern. Its a nice branch, I see a lot of people having study sessions, parents brining their children and postings of local community activities. This location is a short distance from the princeton junction station and very easy to find.

Okay, I came here to find the time my local library closes and read some really bad reviews so I…read morehad to chime in. First, lets remember that this is a public library, not a co-share office space that needs superior Wi-Fi. Its main purpose should be to cater to the local students whether your a baby or an adult. The library runs many programs that all ages can participate in. The library has sincerely nice people working here. I've never had to ask them about specific books because they can be looked up in the index, something that most elementary students learn and should know how to use. They have a wide selection of books. My kids of 8 and 10 spent hours picking out books. They have a decent selection of films, a small but appreciated selection of art books and lots of areas where kids come to get tutored and do their homework. Someone compared this library to the one in Princeton but that's really unfair. The library in Princeton has 1,000$ Louis Poulsen Lighting in the Kids section and original knoll chairs for their furniture. They have video games for rental and miles of books that can pretty much match most libraries in this country. Most local libraries will fall short in comparison. I've spent summers going to the Manhattan Library everyday; the big one and the little one. This library is perfect for this community and is a pleasure to visit on a daily basis. I just don't see the logic in out-of-town visitors, inclined to give a local library a bad review.