I love the teen room because it's so amazing to craft, play dnd, use the computers and borrow some cool anime books

When I was in grade school we lived very close, so I would bike to the library almost daily - they are quite large for a suburban location! The staff were helpful and the books are well organized. I would bring my younger sister here for some of the events they had always going. I will have to check out the upgrades next time I'm home! read more

Love this library. They have a whole section for children with a variety of activities for them. In addition to books you can borrow items (i.e. movies, video games, baking pans, stem materials) read more

This is an excellent public library and a real resource if you have a family member in at Christ Hospital for a bit. I kept ending up at the hospital having to wait in a room, worried sick, it was a big help to pop into this nice library and get distracted. Good collection, very nice periodicals area, excellent librarians, and it's very comfortable and peaceful. There's a display area with some interesting historic photographs and artifacts so I suppose this library could also be considered a little museum. Easy parking. read more

Dissatisfied is an overstatement. Some are so strict for absolutely no reason and make u feel like a burden. Children running around everywhere and no one is able to study or even communicate read more

I've been here with Oak Lawners on three, maybe four occasions. One of those Oak Lawners is no longer an Oak Lawner. The other is our dear Esther, who may be an Oak Lawner for life, although I've tried to get her to move many times. In any case, I've been stuck here, and that was annoying, but not because of the library itself--because of the people who got me stuck here, and let me be very clear: Neither of them were, are, or will ever be Oak Lawners; and Oak Lawn should be quite thankful for that. It's a nice place to read and get serious work done, and the librarians run a tight ship, meaning there aren't tons of ridiculous distractions all over the place. The bathrooms are clean but are hard to find, and the fall decorations are what you'd expect at a library in Oak Lawn, Illinois. read more

This library is one of the coolest libraries in the Chicago suburbs! There are two stories, which you don't see in your average library. There is also a coffee shop on the adult side. A nice kiddie area is in the library so it won't be a bad library for the kiddos. There are many books for the smaller kids. The novel section for the kids has a large variety of books! Another thing to add is that there are CDs, audio books, and a reference section for the kids. A self checkout for books is here too! Just have your library card, and scan the books there! Otherwise, the staff can check them out for you. This summer, there is a reading program. If your child reads 16 hours, you will get a prize. Every 4 hours your child reads, you come into this library to get a prize. This is all by age groups! There is more information by the staff. The service is great! The staff are nice and friendly to me when I check out books. There are smiling faces when I need help from the staff, which they all try to help me. All in all, great library. I will be back again for books! read more

Kind of surprised about the "really friendly and helpful staff" comment in another review! I've gone here too many times to count. In the children's section you might find some helpful staff and maybe even one or two friendly faces. In the adult section is a completely different story. I have never seen one librarian smile ONCE at this library upstairs. Come on, ladies! Dance on the tables sometimes just to mix it up a little. Finally I know it's a public library and everything but it would be awesome if the librarians could stop the gross smelly men from leering at web porn. I don't have a problem with the porn (although jeez dude just get a computer and do that at home) but the gross and smelly part I do. There should be a big sign in front saying "BATHE BEFORE YOU ENTER!" read more

Love this library so big and has so many things to offer. Even if you don't have a library card they will charge you $1.00 to use the computer for an hour. Thier computers are nice and upgraded. There's always someone to help if you need it read more

Oak Lawn Public Library - At the library writing a paper on the quciks - Libraries Near Me - Oak Lawn, Illinois

When I was a kid the library was one of my favorite places to go. I guess I have been out of the library scene for awhile because I was completely BLOWN AWAY by how nice this library is. The self check out was so fast that at first I thought I did it wrong. They even have a program where you can check out ebooks and a rosetta stone like language learning program. Awesome, awesome, awesome. As if libraries could get any greater. Also they have a librarian there named Erin and she's pretty great too! read more

Great library! Huge Selection, really friendly and helpful staff. I'm a Chicago resident and there's a Chicago library three blocks from my house but I still drive the five or so miles to Oak Lawn to go to their library because it is so much better. And they have coffee now too. read more

I love the Oak Lawn Library. It is very peaceful and there is no better place to get work done. Plus their travel section is extensive for when I want to plan dream vacations and real ones. Also, all the books are well organized and easy to find. A very relaxing place. read more

The Oaklawn public library is kid friendly. It has wonderful decorations on its walls. It has many programs and events. It is a two-story building that is Open to the public and a basement for programs and events . It has a small cafe for the patrons. The librarians are kind and help find the things you're looking for. You can borrow a lot of books and movies. They also have audiobooks and games. They have fast check in and check out kiosks everywhere. read more

I just went to Northbrook's library today. It's so amazing! It has 3-D printers, wood carving machines and glass etching machines. They have sewing machines, a cricut machine and classes for all of the above. The staff is incredible and so very helpful. Now this area was only opened a few months ago, so I'm truly hoping that Oak Lawn has similar ideas. What a great resource. Lots of well-educated, well-trained, friendly staff available to assist with these projects. Our Oak Lawn Village staff should go there and take a look. Wow! read more

I practically live there. I've been a long time patron and that will continue for as long as I'm a resident. Best thing about the place is the self-checkout lanes. I love those. When you order materials from other libraries, these items are off to the side with your name on it so you can reach for it yourself instead of waiting for someone to go get it for you. When I wrap up my first "go-round", I enjoy looking around to see if there's something else to catch my eye - and it usually does. That's where the self check-outs come in. Like the late great Borders, you can grab a book and take a seat anywhere, mostly on the second floor - nice and peaceful...get a cup of whatever gets you through the night and it's like you're at home. Great activities as well - concerts on Sundays, writers group meetings every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, a quarterly open mic to read your stuff to the public if you're into that sort of thing (I am). Lectures on just about everything from Beatles to Yoga; a computer lab on the second floor. Ample parking on both sides of the building, one side is across from the Oak Lawn Police Station. so make sure you're license plate sticker is on and that you park well within the lines, and you don't have to become incontinent if you see a cop drive by, for the police officer is our friend. (NEW EDIT 01-02-2017) On the down side, there are a few bad apples in this bunch. Recently, I went to pick up an item on reserve and it was misfiled. Turns out it was mixed in with someone else's items when I searched for it myself. I asked a librarian about it and she walked away shrugging "hey, if it's not there, it's not there, what can I tell ya". This was an employee I overheard ridiculing a child (behind his back, of course) who was crying uncontrollably. She scoffed "I was going to call security on him". read more

As a college kid who can't ever focus at home, it's really a blessing to have an awesome place to get out of the house to study. The people are really respectful and pretty much will never bother you. It's very clean and tidy, as well and quiet (unlike some libraries). They also have a quiet room in the back if the regular ambient nose/walking really bothers you. They have a nice little coffee shop, but the hours are a little crummy. bring your own coffee/snacks if you're coming past 5pm. I just wish it were open later for college kids who stay up late like me, but its to be expected that it closes at 9pm. If anyone else has a nice coffee shop or cafe around oak lawn thats suitable for studying late nights, please do let me know! read more

I really like what Oak Lawn Library did during their renovation of the building. The space is laid out better and feels so much more open than it did before they redid it. I love the quaint little coffee shop and the new gallery. The outdoor grounds are a nice finishing touch to the library, with benches and adorable landscaping. It fits in just lovely with the downtown Oak Lawn location. Definitely the best library I have visited. I always find what I am looking for here, the staff is friendly and now it is more of a place to hang out. read more

Oak Lawn Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Oak Lawn, Illinois

We love this library, very huge and kids have a great area to move around and have their own space. All the staff there are so sweet and friendly. I recommend this library for everyone :) read more

Great library, has a cafe, loads of books , movies/videos, CD's/music, computer software, video games, computers with internet access/Wifi, printers, scanners, copy machines and used books for sale. Plus armed security guards to ensure public safety from book thieves and pickpockets. read more

This is my absolute favorite library, and I've been to many. Huge selection of books. The librarians are great about keeping the library current and if there's something they don't have, you can get it through inter-library loan. It's a great place to study for a big exam or just curl up with a new book. One thing to note though - the good seating gets taken quickly on weekends! read more

For the second time in 18 months, a book I deposited in the Oak Lawn Public Library (OLPL) drive-through book return was not properly checked in, resulting in my receiving overdue notices followed by the loss of library reserve and check-out privileges. Finally, I received a billing notice, with the statement, "Unless your account is settled immediately it may be sent to a collection agency and additional charges assessed." Ultimately, in both cases the book was found, but only after several weeks of lost privileges. In the first instance, a change in the item's status in the Library Catalog provided clues to the book's location in the OLPL library. In the second instance, a librarian to librarian call on a slow morning resulted in the book being found in the originating library. I do not know if the loss fee and the processing fee, if paid, would have been refunded after either book was found. Additional check-in procedures, and possibly a more formal way to initiate a trace while retaining library privileges, may be ideas to consider going forward. I no longer use the drive-through book return, and instead I either ask the librarian to check-in materials at the front desk, or I use one of the automated kiosks, which allows one to print a receipt for the returned items. This review is only for the two instances and is not my overall opinion of the OLPL. The new physical arrangement, the enlargement of Children's Services, and the ongoing expansion of and support for digital content are only three of the several adaptations to be found at the OLPL. read more

Update: Service has improved significantly. The last couple times I have been in the employees have been extremely helpful, warm, and kind. I also want to add that they have a really sweet section with used books & other misc for sale. The prices are ridiculously cheap. I also find a ton. It's located in the back corner past the coffee shop. Love the library. Great play area for little kiddos. Huge A/V dept. Only complaint is majority of employees I have interacted w/have been less than friendly. I felt like I was being a nusance when talking to them. Like they hate their jobs, or can't wait to go home. Was bizarrely complicated when time to renew my card. I am from Hometown. Don't know if that makes it that much more complicated. Had to go back 3x. Last time was because I came in minutes after their cut-off time (which I knew nothing about). Considering I was the only person in line, and the library was open another 10+ min, it seemed very rigid. The lady let me know she would have to call the Hometown library to validate my card, so she refused to help me. Couldn't renew book I had checked out while card was still good. Ironically when updated card today, it took 3 min tops. Still got dinged late fees. Customer service is definitely lacking. Other than that, great facility. read more

The library is a great place for our students to come on field trips. The staff is always helpful and spend time reading to the class . We also love the special events hosted there throughout the year. read more

Good selection of printed materials. DVD wise, however, most of what I want comes from other libraries. Some helpful staff members. In the video/audio section; however, I find you're on your own. That department has really gone downhill in terms of patron service in the past several years and the people they have now are rude and arrogant. The library had much, much better staff in that department years ago. What happened OLPL????? Check-out staff isn't much better. Many of them are annoyed when questions are asked. Why do people who don't like customer service take those jobs? Overall, decent research center but don't expect much from some staff. Know what you want when you go in and be able to find it yourself to save yourself aggravation from the staff. read more

Wonderful people who go above and beyond to help out. Very knowledgeable on kids books and gave my son some great recommendations as they took the time to show him around. read more

I have been a long time patron of the Oak Lawn Library . Between the excellent cafe and great selection of books it is a joy to visit. I always been very impressed with the circulation desk especially, iris who always gives me great book recommendations! The Oak Lawn Library is a true asset to our community and if you ever get a chance, stop in, pick up a book and enjoy lunch or a cup of coffee! read more

The library is amazing! There are just so much to do here other than read books. They have wifi, music, and movies! Great place for me and my kid. read more