This library is the stuff of dreams. Located next to the original Missoula Public Library (which now houses the parks and rec dept), the town of Missoula truly did an amazing job with the design of this building. There is a cafe, living lab, design rooms, meeting rooms, plenty of study areas, an outdoor deck with seating, a kids floor, etc. It is truly a beautiful building, and a must see when visiting Missoula, MT. read more

Missoula Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Missoula, Montana

Traveled to Missoula for a leadership retreat for work held at the public library downtown. What a gorgeous venue! Clean, bright and modern. The fourth floor has amazing meeting room space and a building length outdoor deck with seating, umbrellas and unparalleled views. The library offers catering for meetings and was generous with us when we ran out of meeting supplies. The library is designed as a community center with many resources for all different segments of the people who live here. Well done! read more

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I've been taking myself and my kids there for 22 years and I love it. The adolescent staff is especially helpful in finding young adult reads for teens. I love that it is free, especially when we were struggling financially early on. (movies, magazines, books on tape, music, classes and more!) The only downside is that it often resembles a homeless shelter. It is a public place and everyone is free to use it of course, but it appears to be used as a place to sleep more often than as it is intended. read more

I think this is the first library where the staff has made my daughter cry. She's huge into books and was super excited to visit this library during our trip to Missoula. The building is huge, new, fancy and looks very expensive. It turns out though, that the staff was extremely unhelpful. While the words were polite enough, the tone and body language screamed 'you're not from here--get lost, kid!' Truly an awful library experience. We visit public libraries very often (both at home and when we travel) and I don't think I have EVER been made to feel less welcome at a library. Maybe this should be called the Missoula PRIVATE library, and the city could open a new library that is accessible to the public. read more

The education system is abysmal. Not for the usual left/right political reasons volleyed off with sorrowful cries of "Think of the children!" like cheap cannonballs. The education system is failing simply because it does not ignite, inspire or encourage an appetite for learning; a desire for discovery, and personal evolvement. My last year of high school took place in Helena, MT -Helena High School, to be exact. The teachers there did not give a damn, and made no bones about the fact that they were there just to collect a paycheck. Think of a much more apathetic version of The Simpson's Edna Krabappel, and you have the teaching staff HHS during the early to mid-eighties. I found sitting in those classes to be a huge waste of my time so I left, choosing to, instead, haunt the local museums. I was an official juvenile delinquent/high school dropout. Now let's move forward in time a couple of years and relocate from Helena to Missoula, MT. It's winter, and I'm stone-cold sober for the first time in years. I have no job, no money, no friends, and nothing but time. I'm biding my time while waiting for my official first day and intake into the Job Corp program. Being that Missoula is a University town, there was only one place for me to go: the library. It was here in this very hall of knowledge that the dying spark of education was fed, becoming a roaring inferno. I must've read an average of two or three books a day, getting more of an education in just a few months than I did in the twelve years I was in the public school system. Missoula's library is not just another warehouse of dusty tomes, ignored by other communities and described best by Zack De La Rocha as "mind cemeteries." It can be described metaphorically as a living thing. It is filled with life, warmth, and inspiration. It's a place for the community to gather, for individuals to learn, and the soul to improve and shine. In many ways, it's almost a holy place. Admittedly, this library has on average just as many facilities, programs, and offerings as any other -the difference here being that they are used extensively by the community. These programs range from kids' reading programs to genealogical research assistance, to various book clubs and author discussions and lectures. While not exactly a maze, the shelves are laid out in such a manner that it's quite easy to find a quiet, out of the way place to read without being bothered or bothering other patrons. And the book selection is great -there is something for everyone, figuratively and literally. All you have to do is look. Can't find something? Simply ask. This is a golden age we live in: the computer revolution is still underway, with no current end in sight. An unfortunate downside to this is that books, the kind that are printed utilizing "dead trees," have entered a very dark period of neglect. People assume that reading text online or via a device such as a Kindle is a reasonable substitute. Honestly, neither really can hold a candle to holding and reading an actual book, and there is no better place in Missoula to do this, than the Missoula Public Library. read more

Our poor little library needs some loving. It's so sad every time I walk in there. It serves it purpose but one day maybe they can spruce it up. Don't judge a book by its cover ;) read more

I LOVE the library! I've gotten great books, taken awesome classes and the staff is always friendly and helpful here at MPL :) The few times I've gone to study here have been a little odd though. The furniture by where I plug my laptop in is old and dirty when I can find a place to sit (no big deal, I bring wet wipes). Then there's always A TON of vagrants burping and farting and sitting really close to me (because the very few spots are already taken and there's ALOT of them) and striking up conversation...which don't get me wrong it's nice to talk, but I'm there to study not talk with anyone haha and it can be scary sometimes when someone just stares you down and sits basically on top of you and says WHAT ARE YOU READING and keeps talking and talking and talking and....the smell is pretty bad......AND no one can see where I am in the back of the library at the one place I can sit---eek scary!!!!! I'm not a prude, I think it's great the library is packed and EVERYONE feels like they can enjoy the MPL.......but to go with the GREAT books and staff, it needs a facelift!!!! More furniture (tons of garage sales they can get it at!!!) or at least furniture organization and maybe someone to roam around and check to make sure everything is clean and safe once in awhile for us young, single college students there alone studying. Keep it up MPL :) read more

This library is quaint, with lots of friendly staff. Whenever I come to this library, I always find what I'm looking for!

They have a maker space that seems underutilized. Very reasonable rates for 3D printing. The staff is eager to assist you. They have some Arduino boards, a CNC cutting table, and lots of other stuff. Go online to the library website to find their schedule since they aren't open all the time. It's also posted by the door to the makerspace. read more

I just moved over 1500 miles to the Missoula area, and the library was one of the first places I had to check out! (HA! You like what I did there?!) My first impression is that it's clean and up-to-date. I got a card with a two book limit until I could bring in a piece of mail to prove residency. A week later I hadn't gotten the card they mailed me, but I did have some other mail. The librarian at the desk said it wasn't good enough and said they'd mail me another card from them. Several days later (still no card) I went back in to get two more books and was telling a different librarian what was going on. She said that the mail I had brought in was fine and she didn't know why the other had said that. So I now have full privileges! :) Although it's a great library, it is frustrating that they don't separate the fiction books into genre. I've NEVER seen a library that doesn't do that. Also, the furniture needs serious updating. It's gross and uncomfortable. There's lots of homeless hanging around, so I wouldn't leave a kid or belongings alone. There's lots of books, DVDs, etc and the self-checkout kiosk is really cool! read more