whoever starred this library anything less than 4 stars needs a mental health assessment. there are several providers of mental health assistance in the area. hard pressed to find a better library in the state let alone the country. maybe your own personal library is 2nd to this but i highly doubt it. not only is the history prevelent but the staff and opportunities are endless. tought i would square up the yelp average. read more

I am very happy with the new Main branch. It deserved it new makeover. It has plenty of space for adults, teen and children. The library staff are very helpful. I have visited after it's reopening. My son's school had library days once a month during the latter part of school year. If your child go to school in Tacoma, then they most likely have a library account through Pathways. It allows them to check out 5 books at a time. We have joined the Summer Reading program. There are museum passes here if you want to go with your library card. That is awesome for the library system offers this! I will update this again because I need to take pictures and inquire about more things this library offers. So far I put materials on hold and pick them up. They do offer hotspots to checkout. Those are high demand. Those take a while to get. This library is closed on Mondays. This library is on the bus line. However some residents can ride the bus or ride their bikes to the library. There is some parking spaces at the entrance. I definitely believe this public library is worth visiting and staff here are awesome. They are very eager to help. read more

Holy parchment, Batman, there sure are tons of books here! The Tacoma Public Library still relies on the notion that we need books made out of paper in order to enjoy the art of reading. This library has an awesome collection of reading materials in all genres and categories. This is a two-story library with lots of space to enjoy your favorite book. Note that this library is closed on Sunday. read more

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I love the main branch of the Tacoma Library. I visit almost weekly. The vast majority of the staff are very helpful and friendly. There's one lady who isn't very pleasant, but I just avoid her. I often put books on hold, usually online, and find that helps keep my visits pretty short. But sometimes I like browsing and this branch has an incredible selection of books! I have found a lot of older copies that you don't always see in the smaller branches. It is easily the best collection in the library system. I also enjoy the themed displays and the new book collection, and often pick something by an author I've never read. They keep an even larger selection in a basement or something because I've been able to borrow some out of print books that are pretty hard to find, though I had to wait a couple of days for my request to be handled. The Main Branch also has a great selection of music CDs. I recently found a brand new CD that I was able to listen to before making the decision to buy my own copy. Yes, there are homeless outside and sometimes inside. What do you want? It's a city library, not a rural country library. I guess if the sight of poor people bothers you, that could be a problem. But I've been going to this library for years and have never had anyone approach me for spare change or bother me in any way. All in all, this is my top choice for Tacoma branches and I rarely go to any of the other smaller ones. read more

Pros: Nice attached museum and art work Fairly clean inside Average: Layout is decent - not great, not poor Staff seems fairly nice if you don't ask anything more than, "how are you, today?" Cons: OUTSIDE: Outside you should consider yourself lucky, blessed and one of the fortunate few if you do not get stopped by someone loitering, drunk or begging for change. EMPLOYEES: Most of the employees have two personality types 1. Rude or 2. Unpleasant, the guards are blessed with being both rude and unpleasant. It may be because they have a lot of homeless or vagrant population in the library but considering I'm a member of the library and not a vagrant or loitering, I should get some level of decent service. HOURS: I'm pretty sure this library is closed more than it's open. I've been to a lot of libraries from WA to California and the hours at this one is so un-user friendly that it seems like they created the hours so that you won't use the library. THERE IS NO LIBRARY OPEN IN THE CITY OF TACOMA ON MODAY! Who ever created the library hours for the city needs to be fired immediately and it should be a very public firing! SELECTION: Most of the books are several years old and their new section leaves much to be desired. The only bright spot is that you can order books from around any library. CHECKOUT: OMG welcome to 1999. Going to Seattle or King County and they have self-checkouts, quick checkouts and multiple areas where you can check out and go. Not so at the main Tacoma library, you have to be checked out at the main entrance by the same staff that's slow and impatience with you. SIDE NOTE: I've also heard that they are some of the highest paid library employees in the state of WA. Really? Really? Really? read more

They have a great selection and some decent viewing areas for some historical cases. I do think however they allow the transients to overrun the facility which makes it much more uncomfortable and smells like a compost heap. It's a shame they still allow it. Regardless of the area they should really have more say in who is allowed there, even after I saw a woman (I think she/he was a woman) use the restroom as a shower/ wash basin. read more

If you are worried about parking take the bus or walk its free stop complaining. Also do not come here smelling like you have not shower in months they probide lots of resources for you tofind a shower. read more

Been here several times, but the main problem with this library is the pan handlers. Personally in regards to libraries the ones in Puyallup seem nicer and easier to find parking places! Which is another problem with this place if your driving. The one plus is that it's near everything in Downtown Tacoma. read more

Let me tell you about the bathrooms about this place first. One at a time, and you have to ask the security. Why? Because of all the junkies. They have needle disposal bins in every stall. If you dont finish taking a crap in under one minute, the security will check and ask if youre okay. So, if this is a shooting gallery, I would go to bathroom somewhere else if I was you. Other than that, this place isnt too bad. Im an out of towner, they let me use their internet, no problem. read more

The Northwest room has a vast and wonderful trove of genealogical documents that will make you so happy...

The Northwest Room is a treasure. The resources for audio recording are great. I have found the staff great to work with.

Much love to Tacoma on the up and coming list of dope cities. Good place but watch out for the fees. Nice selection of magazines and the arts department is decent but no learning material as far as new techniques and how too books. read more

This is by far the WORST library on the planet, and I've seen my share of libraries because I do so much research and also love to read. I've been going to this library since I was a kid back in the late 60's and early 70's and it wasn't always the way it has become. This is the one library to avoid if you don't want several panhandlers approaching you before you get to the door or asking for a smoke. Then once you get inside, the odor of all the homeless people fills the air. I swear 9 out of 10 people who go into this library each day are homeless. They loiter and nap all day long there because the local shelters make them leave during the day. But it does become a ghost town here once the mission starts serving dinner each night. So, if you want a more peaceful experience here, go after 5:00 pm. The problem is so bad here that I once read where someone wrote on a bathroom wall "Welcome to the Union Gospel Library". LOL! Something else I've noticed a LOT here is how rude some of the employees are! Yep, you read that right! I've had so many issues with rude employees that I had to go up to the superintendent's office several times and complain. In fact they are always out of comment cards because of so many people having something to complain about! The head of this library could care less about anyone's concerns. It shows when I've made a suggestion about something for over 2 years and even some employees agree it's a good, cheap improvement yet it never happens. Even the security guards are rude here! My only real compliment about the main library is their Northwest Room is literally overflowing with useful sources of information!!! But, again, it's the same library and yes, it has issues. The problem here is that only Brian (the head guy in that department) is willing to get off his lazy butt to help someone. The other 2 employees (Bob & Jeanie) spend 90% of their time sitting at a computer. They won't put stuff back, but instead rely on the library pages to do it. Jeanie cops an attitude if someone's cell phone rings and they answer it, but then the employees talk so freaking loud on the phones that it gets annoying. I've even complained a few times to the library director about how loud employees talk on the phone, but as usual nothing changed. I told her employees should lead by example, as I've always been told growing up. You can't expect patrons to talk quietly if you're not going to show them the same consideration. One guy upstairs in the main office told me (apparently just to make himself look like he cared) that "this is YOUR library, and your concerns matter". Give me a huge break, dude! Nothing seems to matter here except how little work employees have to do for such high pay! I was shocked when I found a story on the News Tribune (local newspaper) website that list the salaries of each and every employee of the library. OMG, these people are paid HUGE dollar amounts! For what? Because they're state employees in a union? I was shocked to see an employee come back from an hour lunch then a few minutes later call for someone to come relieve her for another couple hours. I asked the person who relieved her why she got to leave again right after her lunch and she said it was because employees are entitled to so many hours of "away from their desk time". OMG, if they need time for that, maybe they should just get off their butts once in awhile and find something more to do than be on the computer. So there you have it, the opinion of someone who has gone here for many years but still can't come to like it. These days, I only go here to do research mostly. I don't appreciate being treated so poorly by a public place, hate all the panhandlers and beggars and drug addicts who hang out here, and the smell of unbathed homeless people is often enough to make a person leave. Heck, you would be shocked how many homeless people are crowding around the front door waiting for this place to open every day! More than you can count! Sure, last year they started being open on Sundays but then they close more Sunday's than I can keep track of! Being open on Sunday is rare in city libraries but all the county ones are always open on Sundays. I'm still in awe at how highly others rate this place. Apparently they went on a rare good day. Oh.. did I mention I don't like this library? LOL! read more

This library is older and doesn't carry very much in terms of newer materials. It's decent but located in a shady part of town. Get yourself to the newer Puyallup library in downtown Puyallup and you'll find yourself in a much better atmosphere to study and learn in. read more

I find this branch icky and uncomfortable due to the people that loiter outside and find their way in the library. The staff is friendly, though. They have museum passes that you can check out for a week, which provide free entrance into our Tacoma museums. What a deal. read more

This library is a nice size and has a lot of books. I spent 2 hours here with my infant, I had a very pleasant experience until it was time to check out.. I believe her name is Sheila (maybe Shelly) was very rude! read more

The staff, Tracy in particular, make this the best library in Tacoma. The location unfortunately allows for some misfits, but the library itself is great. The summer reading program is a hit with my step children and I love all the other activities that are available. Tracy is friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. read more

Big library, but hard to find parking. They have lots of books, including librettos of operas, sheet music for musicals, graphic novels, magazines, CDs, audiobooks, etc. They have a separate section for teens and an upstairs area for children's books. They have computers and you can also hold books on their website and check your account online. They also have a books and CDs for sale. Some cons: the needle bins in the bathrooms surprised me, and so did the presence of security guards, but hey, it's Tacoma. Watch out for the weirdos- I was yelled at by a tweaker while leaving the library back to my car. I don't think they're open everyday, but thankfully there's Pierce County libraries for days that Tacoma Public libraries are closed. read more

I called this library today to see if a family pass for the Museum of Glass was available. The woman who takes to me on the phone was very helpful and polite. So were both of the women behind the desk when I went for the pass. I don't use this library often, but every time I have, employees have behaved professionally. I therefore can't understand the negative reviews the library has received. Yes, there are difficult people in the neighborhood, but they have behaved themselves well while in the library. read more

Great place for City of Tacoma residents to access to the world around them and outside!...last time I was there they were offering patrons FREE admission for up to four to the local museums...parking on the street is limited and free up to 90 minutes, so parkers beware! read more

Rude, unhelpful staff, security that would rather harass someone for carrying an empty child's cup to story time, excessive panhandling in and out of the library, not very well kept. Stick with the smaller satellite libraries. Could really be a gem, but not very well managed. read more

Thanks Tacoma Public Library! The guy doing heroin next to me in the bathroom stall gave me a pleasant vibe. I guess you could say he shoots first and ask questions later. Am I right people? So anyway, it made the whole experience of... dump taking ..feel so sexy. I would also like to commend the charming fat security guard for his loving treatment of me with those welcoming eye rolls. Who said fat guardians of books couldn't regret their career choice? I knew then that I had to read books here. Also, the computer room upstairs gave me an exciting view of the guy next to me and his teen girl wrestling fetish videos. Mmmm...delicious! His disheveled beard stubble and awkward body posture reminded me of how great America is. I literally stood up and sung the Star Spangled Banner in salute to this freakazoid...excuse me...hero sitting next to me. Ok I didn't literally stand up. Whatever! This calls to mind a great quote from an even greater human being who once said "I gotta get the fuck out of here". read more

Great library and access to digital material like free music and ebooks. The downtown library has a great genealogy section. The children's librarian is a fantastic story teller and lots of help. Only draw back is the occasional ruckus that occurs (it is downtown) but security is right on it. The other thing, to keep everyone safe, is when using the adult bathroom you have to sign in and leave your purse with the guard. If you have little kids I would suggest going upstairs and getting the key for the children's restroom. read more

The library and services themselves aren't bad. Some of the staff can be grumpy at times though. Ive also had to nearly elbow my way past people outside smoking just to get to the book drop or to get inside. And whenever you pay for parking they ask you for money. No big deal but as a pregnant lady I would like to be able to get inside safely. read more