St. Louis Central Library was constructed between 1907 and 1912. This magnificent Beaux-Arts landmark was designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert, whose other notable works include: * United States Supreme Court Building * Woolworth Building * Saint Louis Art Museum * Detroit Public Library * State capitol buildings in Arkansas, Minnesota, and West Virginia In 2012, the library underwent an extensive $70 million renovation that thoughtfully blended historic architecture with modern amenities while preserving the building's original character. I particularly enjoy being able to check out periodicals, including architecture and fashion magazines. The beautifully restored building and extensive collection make this one of my favorite places to visit downtown. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I didn't have a ton of time but oh my God you would think this library is in Europe. It's so pretty. It's so beautiful the details on all the walls the ceilings the chandeliers so pretty. read more

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The library's Architecture is beautiful and the staff and book collection is amazing! The history of this library is crazy. My only gripe is the smell in the men's bathroom. I had to take my nephew to the bathroom and there was a guy washing up. That's okay because I understand the homeless situation but, I don't understand why the library can't employ some type of automated freshener situation. Kids will complain about smells anywhere. But, in this case I had to agree with him, it was unbearble. read more

Constructed in 1912 this building takes up a whole city block downtown. We visited just to admire the neo classical design and stunning interior. If you are an architecture buff you will not be disappointed. They have a display in the Grand Hall that chronicles the construction of the building. This is definitely a shinning jewel in St Louis! read more

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Every time I visit this extraordinary library, I see and learn something new. St. Louis is very fortunate to have this fascinating historical site which is available to all as a look at our STL history and as a currently running library! Our tour guide was phenomenal! Scott offered historical details above and beyond what was in front of us. Another reason to love our city! read more

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I love visiting with my daughter, the kids area is lovely. I also love that you have to walk through the adult reading room so I can grab something to read omw to get her to the kids room. The librarians are always amazing and so patient with the kids. Call the phone number for the parking code for the free lot off of Olive. read more

Centra Library is in a building so beautiful on the inside and out it rival the St. Louis Art Museum. I plan to go back and look up my genealogy and use the Creative Experience room to design a website and crochet designs to iron on shirts read more

Visited the Central Branch of the St Louis Public Library (STLPL) this past Saturday to attend the Special Collections tour open to the public. This was the first time they gave the tour since the pandemic and I was so happy to hear that they plan to continue every month or every other month now. The next will be August 24th. Throughout the tour, Renee Jones, Research Manager for Rare Books and Manuscripts, will walk you through the rarely seen Fox Steedman Architectural Library (an architectural and iconographical marvel in itself) and then bring you to the third floor special collections to review some special pieces she brings out. I love how much care and individuality is put into this tour and it makes me proud that St Louis has such a culture of open and free access to knowledge. read more

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Clean and well kept and just beautiful inside. Our toddler loved the kids room and there was a ton of stuff to do in the kids section so that was nice. Lots of good puzzles and chairs. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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What a gem of a library. It seems to go on forever! The ceilings are beautiful, and while the echos make it seem like a library where you need to be particularly quiet, it still has places set up for hanging out with others. I was there first for a history- related game night and second for a taiko drum show in their cute and really nice auditorium. read more

They love children! Lots of activities for children and adults. Today is trick-and-treat day! read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - My grandchildren walking to the Trick or Treat event at Central Library! - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This is definitely my favorite place to work remote! It's beyond gorgeous, and there are loads of rooms to get your work done. There were a couple of tables in the art room that didn't have working electricity (or we were too inept to figure out how to turn them on) for charging our laptops, but other than that, zero issues! Will definitely come again. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Main floor exhibit - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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This is one of the most beautiful buildings in St Louis. It is free to enter and would take a little less than 30 minutes to explore. I would definitely stop by if you are in the downtown area! read more

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Order- Print & Fax Documents Pros: Printing was free. You get $5 each month Cons: Bumbed that there is no fax! read more

Let me begin with saying my boys and I love hanging out for hours at Central Library! We were beyond ecstatic when the library opened back up for sitting and reading - that was our spot! We enjoy checking out the display cases as they frequently change. What you see on the phot is a picture of my youngest son and I checking out the architect of old building in St. Louis. He thought it was neat. Although the cafe isn't open, it's definitely worth visiting and enjoying the architecture of that building, as well. So much history there. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Display Case near Social Sciences - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

A sight for sore eyes. This historic STL monument is not only excellent for reference material but studying, sightseeing, solitude, meetings & experiencing true Saint Louis culture. Totally revitalized & modern with original details brought back to life; from the stained glass to the tiles & wood work, Central Library is an amazingly beautiful structure you're sure to enjoy. I need an article from 1971 Post Dispatch. It was easily obtained with the assistance of helpful staff in the Microfilm department. Security on-site for your safety. read more

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Now, I admit I have never gone to this library in need of a book, but I have come here for their lecture series a time or two, and I've always had great experiences here for those. My most recent visit was to see Larry Wilmore here on Sunday. The auditorium where he spoke was a good size but not too large, so it was a lot more intimate of a conversation than in a huge stadium-sized auditorium. The sound system was great, and they have an overflow room for such events for those that can not get a seat in the main auditorium. There's always free happenings taking place here to check out. The architecture here is beautiful, inside and out. The exterior of the building is old and ornate. On the outside of building, there are beautiful guilded fountains with lion heads and quotes which are unique and nice. Now the downside... The main outdoor staircase that leads to the main entrance was closed on Sunday, so many of us were standing outside waiting for the doors to be opened, which never happened. We had to walk around to the back of the building and go through the north entrance. A SIGN WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH APPRECIATED! I was with my mom and she had an issue with her leg, so the needless and long walk was an issue. Also, i hate to say this, but it is the pink elephant in the room.... This library is close to the homeless shelter, so on that north entrance you will see a lot of homeless people across the street. They won't disturb you and there is heavy police presence there at all times. Now, I'm glad that Larry Rice has his shelter downtown and these individuals have a place to stay, but it is something to acknowledge. read more

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Books and a Beautiful Building, who can ask for anything more. The Grand Hall is absolutely gorgeous and I enjoyed the displays of local history. They had the bell from the KMOV-TV show Cookie & The Captain, which I got to ring when my Cub Scout Troop were the audience for one of the shows. Oh, the flashback of memories. Great quiet spaces to study and do work projects, with an endless amount of references available at your fingertips. If you need a computer, they have that too. If I lived downtown, I'd be a regular here and perhaps the Duke. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Bell from Cookie & The Captain on display in Grand Hall. - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This is the prettiest library that I've ever visited in St.Louis. Came to check this place out out from an article talking about its history and beauty, and was very blown away. Wish I could've gotten a tour but because of COVID, they've stopped for a while. Been here twice now, and every librarian I've spoken to is very kind and gave me the impression that they love working there! They are also super helpful! Crazy we can check out up to 75 books! Definitely a place to check out if you're strolling around downtown stl! read more

Came to this library hoping to get some work done in a new and comfortable location. Upon arrival I realized that the cafe was closed all day, or maybe even permanently, and wasn't not reflected online. There were no comfortable seating areas in the entire library and only wooden tables amongst busy and loud sections on the higher floors. The building has various facilities for children, technology, historical records, and art showings. Overall, I would not come again to get some work done or read unless there was an event. read more

Absolutely stunning and beautiful - the look and feel of what a central library should be. Built in 1912 - it is a classic building, with the look and feel of something which is sturdy and lasting - a true institution focused on knowledge, access and community. This building is a true institution and a must visit for anyone who appreciates classic libraries or merely is a fan of what an urban library should look and feel like. Congratulations to the citizens of St. Louis for having such a gem and investing the resources to maintain a true institution. read more

Back in '98, I was at a writers' conference where a dreamy-eyed participant asked our instructor just how one goes about getting inspiration to write. Is it placing oneself before a window looking out on beautiful scenery? Is it the comfy afghan around the shoulders, or the warm cup of honeyed chamomile tea? Ina, who worked for Knight-Ridder, replied, "Each week, I write three columns on deadline. If I don't write, then I don't eat. That's my inspiration." Well, I'm not a journalist, but my job involves writing on deadline. If I don't write, then I won't eat very long. Worse, If don't write well, I may eat, but I'll have indigestion caused by looks of disappointment or boredom. Where to write? Offices don't work. Too many interruptions. Notes on the door "Do not disturb" look pretentious. Holding calls or refusing walk-in visits does not create goodwill. Home can work. But the phone rings, the dog wants out, the dishwasher needs loading, there's laundry to do, and the grass is six inches tall. All these distractions are why, I believe, God and his agents on earth created libraries. Today's visit to STL PL Central, coulda shoulda been a 1500-word session, but ended at about 600 words. Lots of kids in there today, and all that marble seemed to carry their happy voices to all levels. Lots of talking in the two spaces I tried, much of it by library staff. I'm pretty good at blocking out distractions when I need to get things done. But I don't go to a library to block out distractions; I go to avoid them. Still, it is a beautiful place, in its own magnificent marbley way. And I appreciate the diagonal parking spaces on Olive. It's like pulling up to stately Wayne Manor, minus the Batmobile. Above all, STL PL Central served as the subject for this little diversion, which may be just the refreshment I need before turning back to the deadlines. Word 601, here we go. read more

This is the best-looking library in the entire city library system. The two-year renovation and expansion of what already was a beautiful building has served the old dame well. I recently toured Central Library with a docent-led group. These tours happened just about every hour on January weekends, but call to see if the library still offers them when you want to visit. Our docent was incredibly knowledgable about the library's history and the work that went into the renovation. She pointed out so many of the building's design intricacies that I wish I had been taking notes. She was a volunteer, but golly, you'd think she was highly paid staff. I wanted to tip her afterwards, but it was clear that would have been odd. I'm still getting the lay of the land on my own. The Grand Hall is a beautiful area on the main floor where you can plug a laptop into an outletted table. It gets a little noisy here, though, simply because you can hear the nearby doors echo through the cavernous chamber. The lower level contains my favorite areas -- the ones for teens and children. I'm not a creep or anything, I simply love the modern design that doesn't condescend to either age range. The children's area features murals and quotes from beloved books like "Madeleine," "Where the Sidewalk Ends," "Winnie the Pooh" and more. The teen/young adult area boasts a gorgeous, inspiring wall of text and color, along with some modern room dividers. Both areas include furniture that encourages lounging with good reads. It's just so damn inviting down here. There are plenty of renovated wings and niche areas to the library -- geneology, St. Louis history, science, media and more. The library also has been updated with modern meeting spaces. You can hold classes, presentations, networking events and more here now, and you'll have all the tech you could possibly need. This gorgeous library that's just two blocks from my home has Sunday hours, which is extremely useful. Many areas of the library are closed off on Sunday, though, so finding a viable laptop space is a little tricky. So why four stars instead of five? I'm still getting the hang of this place, and it's a little intimidating. While there are signs outside each of the niche rooms, it's not easy finding signs to guide you to wherever you're going. Also, I'm leery of the printing system. I assume that printing documents is a nightmare here like it is at the other branches (with so many steps, no online procedural help, not-so-knowledgeable tech leaders, etc.), but I haven't done it yet. I'll let you know how that pans out. Overall, though, this is a gorgeous gem of an institution. I wish it were on a more trafficked street to pick up additional walk-in and tourist traffic. I feel so cosmopolitan when I visit. read more

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I love, love libraries. This is the first time I've visited the Central branch. It is gorgeous! The decade-old "new" area is bright and open. What I love is the architectural beauty in the old building. There are numerous historical photos showing construction of the original structure. I found it difficult, though, to find the section I was looking for and wish signage included call numbers to lead me to the books I most wanted. So, I wandered around. It is very spacious with a fair number of tables and far fewer people using this amazing resource. There is a self-checkout machine and the curb-side book return is on Locust Street. I had no trouble finding parking. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Gorgeous. Awe-inspiring. Amazing. This library is my happy place and I am so glad I work across the street so I can run over several times a week to pick up books. The librarians are always available and eager to help patrons find what they need. There are numerous special events in the auditorium (former coal storage basement). It's been updated to be completely modern and tech-savvy. On a sad note, the number of St. Louisans I run in to who've NEVER been here depresses me. Get here, people. You are missing out on one of the best places in the entire metro! read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Beautiful building. I love the way it has been renovated. It seems you can find everything and anything your heart desires! They have great meeting rooms that can accommodate parties in various sizes. My organization has utilized them a few times and they allow you to bring light refreshments in to serve your guests. They also have a cafe. If you haven't been in a long time, dust your library card off and come see this place! read more

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Not really a big fan of renovations. Yes, there is more open space but this library seems to be more of a beautiful museum than a library based on its inner appearance. Just take the main hall, It use to have tables that allowed people to work , study, and wait for books to be delivered from the selves. Now it seems to more a display case room that would better situated in the Missouri History museum. read more

We have no libraries like this in Houston. Even the Carnegie libraries in Cincinnati cannot compare. The buildings are beautiful, the staff helpful and the programming is relevant and well attended. So jealous! read more

I was totally blown away by this beautiful library. The fiction section is huge, and many of the books are displayed face-out, for easier browsing. There's a media room where you can record a podcast, make a YouTube video, and they even have classes for kids to learn about film making. Each room was a treasure trove. The staff is ridiculously friendly, and clearly so proud of their library, as they should be. Parking at the meters right in front was $1.50 / hour and super convenient. Loved every second of my visit. read more

Went there last Friday, October 1st with my family, we all love libraries. While the building itself is beautiful, I felt very unsafe visiting. Multiple patrons were walking around and sitting at tables without masks on, despite the library requiring them to wear them. I saw one woman cursing at one of the librarians because they politely asked her to put her mask back on. The restrooms were filthy with one of the sinks being full of loose hair. My oldest daughter need a couple of music scores out of the stacks and a super nice librarian on the second floor pulled them for her, however while she was waiting she said one of the men sitting at a table kept leering at her, and that she felt super uncomfortable. When it came time to check the items out we were blatantly ignored by the woman at the front desk till one my wife was forced to get her attention. Overall while the building is nice I can't recommend coming here at this time. I may come back another time without the family and see if maybe it was just that day, but even then I'm not sure I'll be back to this location. read more

What everyone has said about the beauty of the place is true. However, if you are looking for a place to study, I would suggest looking elsewhere. There are not many tables and options (i.e. completely quiet, little noise, or coffee shop environment) for someone to get comfortable, plug in their laptop, and study for a few hours. The security guard there approached me twice about not being allowed to use a certain outlet next to my table (Reason being that the room was for reading only) and not having shoes on while I studied. I felt as if I were in a museum more so than a library. I also couldn't find free parking anywhere around the building and had to pay to study, which wasn't ideal for me. Maybe I will come back here for a lecture or a talk, but not for studying :) read more

Two girlfriends and I went for a FREE docent-led tour of the renovated library. Tours are conducted every Monday and Saturday at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/central_tour.asp There is a FREE large parking lot designated for library visitors at Olive and 15th Street. http://www.slpl.org/slpl/library/central_parking.asp You just need to stop at the front desk on your way out of the library to get a token to put in the box to make the gate go up so you can exit the parking lot. The tour lasts about an hour, and you are taken through the entire library. Our guide, Penny, was full of anecdotes and "fun facts" about the original library constructed in 1912, and interesting discoveries and dilemmas encountered during the renovation. Throughout the hallways, there are many old photos of the original library and its patrons, including much history about the initial building of the library photographically captured by a female photojournalist -- quite the unusual in the early 1900s. The library was originally built in Italian Renaissance architecture (http://faculty.uml.edu/CulturalStudies/Italian_Renaissance/11_12_13.htm), and the renovation has held true to that. Based on what Penny told us, they went to incredible lengths to renovate the library to its original grandeur. There are a lot of resources in this beautiful building, including a St. Louis Room that has so many specific details about the origin of the city and its residents, including maps created during hot air balloon trips. And there is still a card catalog! read more

This is a beautiful space. I was never there before the renovation, but post-renovation I can say it is gorgeous! The windows and wood work are impressive. That said, it is a terrible place to study or work. I am a graduate student and was counting down the days for the library to reopen. I've tried (and failed) to study there 5 times. I've gone in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I have tried every wing and room. Every time, I am interrupted by staff members speaking loudly to each other or to visitors. The library staff is oriented more towards informing tourists about the renovation and the history of the building than ensuring a quiet place for patrons to read or study. Also, there is not a single comfortable chair to be found other than in the young adult room which is off limits to adults. It's a sad day when coffee shops provide a quieter and more respectful place for study than a LIBRARY! Maybe once tourists stop trickling in, the library will become a decent place to work. As of now, it's just a pretty building. read more

Let me tell you how much I love the library...yet again. One of my books was due today. I tried to renew it online, but there was a hold on it, meaning that someone wanted to borrow it too. So I checked the online catalog and found out that there were four other copies of this book that that someone could borrow instead of my copy. Instead of getting off my lazy ass to return this book and put a hold on another copy for them to send over, I called up the branch to ask if they could renew my book and send another copy for that other someone. They told me to call the main branch and ask for customer service. So customer service placed me on hold for three minutes, worked some magic, and now my book is again renewed while the hold is being fulfilled by one of the other books. He also was like, "Who did you talk to at the branch? Because they could have done that too. And tell them next time to call us themselves...because that's what they're there for." Aw. I don't mind talking to you though...because you are super helpful and had great answers for me. I love people who know what they're doing. I wish I could say it was a lusty novella that I was renewing, but no, it was just a gardening book. Needless to say, if I ever find myself writing a lusty novella myself, the St. Louis Public Library will play a prominent role in it. read more

This library has been newly renovated and is beautiful! The employees are really helpful and took their time helping me get set up. I didn't try the café on first floor, but it looks like they serve smoothies, salads, wraps, and other bites. There's even a recording studio you can reserve, which is unique. If you have a library card, you get $30 worth of free printing a month! read more

The Central Branch of the STL public library re-opened in December 2012 after being closed for over a year. I came here last week to see what kind of renovation you get for $70 Million. Well, it's pretty impressive. Anyone with an interest in historic architecture will want to see what they've done to the place. Much of the enjoyment comes from looking up - all the ceilings have been restored to their original glory and they are impressive. The huge stained glass windows that adorn the staircases beside the Grand Hall are also just gorgeous. The modern lighted shelves are also very cool. The Grand Hall is breathtakingly beautiful - one of the most impressive rooms in St. Louis. My favorite spot, though, was the St. Louis room, which has about 20 very unique historical photos around the room. Be sure and get a printed guide that describes each picture (ask the librarian - they are in a rack in the middle of the room). I could probably go back to this room and hang out for hours looking over some of the hundreds of books that tell the city's story. I love this kind of stuff. Anyway, the restoration is amazing, outside and in. It's a must see for locals, but also worth a stop for tourists. One of the library docents told me there are several tours daily of the building (on the hour, mid-day as I recall). I'll definitely be back. read more

My great library adventure! The Central Library is pretty cool. It's hard to get around how vast and beautiful this library truly is. However, it gets three stars for my first experience with the staff. This all stems from a Poe documentary that was supposed to be sent to the Barr Branch. The people at Barr told me that I would receive a letter when it arrived. That letter never came. The time arrived, and I needed the doc. Therefore, I got on the SLPL website to find out where my video was. It was still at the Central Library. I wandered downtown to see why my video never made the two mile trek to Barr. The security pointed me where I needed to go. I ended up next to the computer lab. I asked the clerk where the Stacks department was, and she told me that I wasn't allowed in Stacks. She handed me a phone to talk to whoever was in charge there. He seemed pretty annoyed by my request and quickly put me on hold. After several minutes, he returned and directed me to another department. The third clerk was a little more helpful, and he ended up talking to the Stacks guy anyway. He told me that they would contact me when they found my video. Luckily, I stumbled onto the music section and got to browse their large selection of popular music. Meanwhile, I could hear the clerk in that department talking to somebody on the phone about my video. A few minutes later, the Stacks worker arrived with three different movies. Apparently, he had set aside my film to be sent to Barr, and it ended up somewhere in limbo. Nevertheless, I finally had my Poe documentary. I'll probably just drive downtown the next time I need something from Central, instead of assuming the system would actually work. read more

Spectacular, beautifully detailed and ornate We checked out the new library (opened in December maybe?) for no other reason but to check out the architecture and renovation. We wuz awestruck the whole time and meandered through the whole place for an hour. There's plenty of space to study or work quietly, and I spied at least 15 library workers throughout. The kids floor is so cool, lotsa colors, artwork, places to lounge They've also got a huge meeting room downstairs that can accommodate groups working on projects. It's got a cool touch screen thing the size of the table. Worth a trip, even if you don't pick anything up. read more

St Louis Public Library - Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I found this library because of a Yoga Buzz event. I felt like one could feel the history when you walk into the building. They were getting ready for a WW1 exhibit and I only had a short time to look around before the yoga. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, my goodness librarians have changed for the better. From what I can tell this library is free to walk around in, the also have a coffee shop attached to it, and a gift shop. If you live in the City of St Louis, go check out where some of your tax dollars are going, it is worth it. read more

I love this library! The services provided are amazing, the collections are impressive and the building itself is a great piece of architecture. I live downtown, so this is a great haven for me whenever I get a chance to go. It's a very peaceful place and there are lots of spots to just sit and hang out. It's true that there can be some homeless people loitering around but I have noticed that they mostly keep to themselves and do not bother the other patrons. The most important thing is that I always find what I need. I borrow a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as audio materials and I am impressed with how they keep their catalog up to date. They always have the newest and most popular materials. The issue with that is it may be unavailable so you have to place a hold. The positive thing about placing holds is that they can send it to the library location of your choice so when I'm feeling lazy I get materials sent to the Central Express location. Overall, this is an awesome service to the residents of Saint Louis and a must see in downtown. The services just keep getting better and better and it seems that every year they have only been adding and improving on all of their programs. I hope that as the years go by more people will be taking advantage of this wondeful place. read more