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Bucktown / Wicker Park Library
Category: Public Services & Government Libraries Libraries [Edit]
1701 N Milwaukee Ave(between Caton St & Wabansia Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
(312) 744-6022
- Nearest Transit:
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Damen-O'Hare (Blue Line)
Western-O'Hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Tue, Thu 10 am - 6 pm
Wed 12 pm - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 5 pm
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
41 reviews for Bucktown / Wicker Park Library
41 reviews in English
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Review from Diana R.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011 1 photo
I'm on a quest to visit every single branch of the Chicago Public Library system.
The staff at this branch are very friendly! It's a smaller space, but it is nice and quiet, especially the reading room upstairs. This is a great space to get work done in. I've had a hard time trying to find museum passes here, but get lucky once in a while. If you need a computer to get work done, bring your own or reserve prior to your visit (this can be done on the library's website) because it is not easy to get one! -
Review from Tim S.
3/29/2011
I have my 1st Library card since... well probably High School.
Helpful staff seem to like their job and want to help when they can and free WiFi upstairs in the reading room.
Con's - when I went to look for a book in the computerized look up system it was so painfully slow I gave up. WiFi upstairs can be a little wonkey at times. Multiple dropped connections caused me to loose some data and need to sign in again to some sites. -
Review from Allison V.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Went here to set up my library card. It was easy to do.
I went back and took out a family pass to Brookfield Zoo.
This is an accessible location for me.
Tables and computers are everywhere.
I love libraries. -
Review from Kelz M.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Not a fan.
They're okay, I guess. But their children's section is meh and the weekly story time is pretty lame. I understand they're at least trying but geez, is it really that difficult to pick out toddler appropriate stories and be aware that children under the age of three aren't able to process time frames to the nanosecond?
I've been going to the toddler story time for several weeks hoping that we'd get into the flow of things but there really isn't much flow to get into. Except for one thing (as I discovered today): the door to the story room closes and locks at 10:13 (story time is at 10:15). And, by God, no inappropriately late child will be permitted into the pearly gates of story time if they are not at least two minutes early!! *thumps fist into hand for emphasis*
A little background: nothing during story time really gets started on time. The door closes and the next 10 minutes or so are filled with children between the ages of 1 and 3 running around, knocking things over, or sitting stony faced while examining the contents of their noses that they've mined with their little fingers while their nannies text their friends and loved ones. True story.
Today, I showed up for story time at precisely 10:15 am. Another family showed up at the same time. The door was locked so we knocked to be let in. A minute or so after us, two more families showed up. Then another. Followed by another. Finally, someone came to the door and informed all six families that story time began at precisely 10:15. Those of us who arrived at 10:15 blinked and said, "we were here at the right time," but were ignored. The story teller chick simply said, "we have another story time at 11:00; you can wait until that one."
Uh, what? Wait for 45 minutes with a 20 month old to listen to stories that are way beyond toddler level told in a monotone voice? You're joking, right? Sadly, she wasn't. So we said "forget it" and left.
Just as well. I'm a much better story teller anyway! -
Review from Kara K.
Chicago, IL
5/3/2010
It seems that if I'm looking for a specific book, I WON"T find it at this branch and all the free passes to the museums are usually checked out. However, most people who work there are pretty friendly (albeit a little quirky) and will gladly locate whatever you're looking for and have it shipped it to this location.
The Bucktown/Wicker Park library does have its pluses-- they have a super selection of children's books and it's good for browsing and "stumbling upon" a great read.Listed in: Teach Them Well and Let Them…
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Review from curtis c.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
great spot. clean, friendly space. TONS of moms and kids though... a bit scary on a weekday! but, great for the little tykes, and it's nice to see that moms are at least taking their kids to the library to hang out.
reading is good. =) and don't forget free wi-fi! -
Review from Laura R.
Venice, CA
11/6/2007
I am mad at anyone who would give a negative review of a library - THEY LET YOU TAKE HOME ANY BOOK YOU WANT FOR FREE. WHAT IS THERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT?
OK now onto the review . . . this branch has plentiful tables in the reading room where you can always find a spot to set up your laptop to work or study. I usually come here if I need to work but want to get out of the house since there's no temptation/pressure to buy baked goods that I don't need to be consuming.
Anyone who has ever checked out a book knows that librarians are slow. I don't know if this is something they teach you at library school or what but I have never had a speedy library transaction in my life. Thems the breaks.
However I will note that the reference desk ladies are especially friendly and there is one who seems real cool and I'm kinda embarrassed to request the cheesy business books I read from her. -
Review from Helena B.
4/29/2009
A pretty decent local library. After moving to Bucktown from Lincoln Park, I'd definitely consider this an upgrade.
First, the children's section. It seems that my every visit coincides with a children's Story Hour or some other such activity. As a bibliophile from a young age, strong children's programs endear libraries to my heart. This is what public libraries are for - to foster a lifetime love of reading.
::wistful sigh::
Moving upstairs, there is a silent reading room forever full of studious locals. The fiction section is up here. While I always feel I have to tiptoe, the selection is decent and worth 20 minutes of silence.
Finally, and we all know this is important, they have clean public restrooms. When you are out and about, it's helpful to know the location of a clean bathroom!Listed in: Bookreader
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Review from Julie J.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2010
In case you don't listen to the news, Mayor Daley has cut the shit out of CPL's budgets, yet still expects the city's libraries to be unpaid after school care. If you get bad service at a branch, BLAME DALEY, NOT the overworked library staff.
"Chicago, Illinois - (September 9, 2009) - Unable to get the union that represents library workers to agree on budget cuts, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley fired half of the 279 pages in the Chicago Public Library System. Without the help of the pages, who stock books in the library's branches, books have been piling up unshelved, preventing patrons from getting books as readily as before. The cuts came as a result of a recent standoff between the mayor and the library employees' union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who along with the Teamsters, were the only two unions in Chicago that did not take pay cuts. - From the Chicago Tribune" -
Review from michaelia f.
Chicago, IL
3/2/2009
I'm currently in the midst of studying for the biggest exam of my life (so far) and have come to realize that studying at home with two cats crawling all over me is probably not the best way to focus.
So I've been making the (short) trek to this branch of the Chicago Public Library to get studying.
This branch library is cute and bright, with lots of computers and an OK selection of books and such. This is a branch library, and won't have the selection of the big library--and that's just fine with me.
I went upstairs to the reading room, which has six large tables that seat eight next to some book stacks. I'm glad I got here early, because by 10:30 on a Saturday morning, this place was hopping! The reading room is nice, but there's a constant influx of people coming in to look in the book stacks, which can get annoying if you're trying to get work done. I don't like to listen to music when I'm studying, but I've found it's necessary here just to keep the sound of the slamming door out of my mind.
All in all, I love having the library so close to my place. They also offer free wi-fi, which is awesome. -
Review from Daniel L.
Chicago, IL
2/19/2008
New library set up - it's always busy so I guess the area needed one. Decent internet arrangement downstairs, though maybe there should be a few more computers. More often than not I have to go down and reserve a computer an hour or two in advance, having to then come back. Also, the quick access 15 minute computers cannot be printed from, which was a major setback for me on one occasion.
I've taken out a dozen or so books, and almost all of them have been late, so I like that the late fees are pretty slight. The selection of books is, well, fair, for a place of a medium size. You're not likely to find a book you're specifically looking for unless it's a classic, bestseller or modern well acclaimed, but the latter still quite a long shot. However, if you take a look through you may well find something you always wanted to check out but wasn't at the forefront of your mind, if you just want to keep up with your reading. There also seems to be quite a decent selection of more obscure films to rent, though I couldn't say with authority as I have not yet checked them out.
All in all, quite a useful and pleasant experience.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jaz P.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2011
Apparently, I have aallooot of opinions about libraries.
Staff here is helpful and friendly. Maybe because they recognize me by now. I've been shuffling in and out for a year.
- Somewhat lacking in the downstairs seating department.
- Upstairs, there's a quiet reading room that's never too full whenever I go.
- But be forewarned, if you go during the summer (a ludicrous image, as I sit here writing this in Chicago's 3rd snowiest year), wear lots of extra layers! The air conditioner is on full-blast and you'll get freezed out. I swear, I swear this actually happened to me and my friend. So we left early, got hot once we were outside, and then needed to cool off again so we walked down North Ave to the new froyo place only to get brain-freeze. But it was the yummiest brain-freeze ever!
- Adult computer terminals downstairs are ALWAYS occupied. So good luck to you. You could always pose as a shortie instead because the youth computer terminals are usually free. (Well, at least I could.)
- They have a parking lot. YAY. Often full unless you go early. But still...they have a parking lot!
- They have a convenient after-hours drop-off slot, which has been convenient for just that purpose. (I have noticed that some libraries have less than convenient drop-off slots that make you wonder, why did they even bother???)
- If you get tired of the upstairs reading room, and don't want to sit in the kids' section downstairs, there's some chairs in the hallways upstairs for you to read in.
- It would be nicer if the library had a few more sitting areas, but what's there is pretty user-friendly.Listed in: Gov Works or Not so Works
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Review from liz k.
Chicago, IL
10/2/2006
Very cool new library that's in a great location, and the free wi-fi is fast and easy to connect to, even when you're outside on the benches in front of the place.
There are some annoying things, however. The plentiful outlet-caves underneath each table in the upstairs reading room have two outlets inside, but they're mounted vertically facing each other with a sea of exposed Cat5 ethernet cable and loose jack terminals in between. This means, once you clear a path through the (already fraying) cables, you can only stick in one plug on each side. Otherwise the bulk of the plug and its cable take up the room of where another plug would go. It's really, really dumb.
Secondly, sometimes they do storybook readings in the morning. The foyer gets log-jammed with double-wide strollers and moms trying to push them through the double doors, and the first floor gets overrun with screaming toddlers and crying babies. Trying to do any work on the public computers fifty feet away is impossible. Every other library I've been in has a separate room for the kids' area, but for some reason they thought it would be a good idea to have kids centerstage. In a library. Where it's supposed to be quiet. *shakes head* Thankfully the upstairs reading room is immune, until some mom juggling three kids and fruitlessly trying to keep them quiet and at her side decides she needs a book from that room--then you see the glares from the other laptop jockeys and readers. -
Review from SJ I.
Chicago, IL
6/8/2011
If you have lived in Wicker Park for awhile, you'll remember the old library location next to Radio Shack on Milwaukee near Division. Good effort but not really a library if it's in a strip mall with no partitions whatsoever.
Enter the "new" library servicing Wicker Park and Bucktown. What an improvement! A Children's section and plenty of Audio/video materials for check out!. While the staff at times are not that friendly or helpful; like any city department, it's hit or miss. Generally my experience here has been good and it's a great addition to the neighborhood. -
Review from Mike g.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2006
The staff here is sooo great. The reference librarians--who I think are the managers-- were so amazingly helpful and nice and friendly. We even got into a Cusak-movie chat.
The space is great. Modern, equiped.
Wi-fi is great and quick.
They still don't have full shelves. Lots of the stuff I wanted wasn't there, but they were super helpful about ordering it for me.
There was a really hot dude there creating some origami shit today too. He was grungy, dirty but had pearly whites and twinkly eyes. Ahhhh...
The only thing that confuses me is the computer situation. They have lots of them, but it was really hard for me to figure out which one to use to access the catalog to find my books. I asked and got help though.
I think they have meeting rooms available too.Listed in: Places I Go When I Feel…
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Review from Erin C.
New York, NY
12/22/2007
This library is pretty new and it's a nice space, though small. They have a good selection of newer books, fiction and non-fiction, although it's not huge. I prefer going to Harold Washington for finding books (as this location might not even have the ones I want), but it's a whole lot closer to my house.
The computer area downstairs is always a bit crowded (and sometimes noisy with kids). Upstairs is pretty quiet as there are a lot of people on laptops doing work (I believe it's called the Reading Room).
Sometimes the service at the front desk can be slow. I'm not sure why only one person is checking people out when there are 4 of them back there - it can be annoying. -
Review from Jenny C.
Chicago, IL
9/11/2007
I wanted to love my neighborhood library branch. I really did. I have a long history of library love.
But the staff here is not appealing - at least the people working the circulation desk. I can deal with unfriendliness, slow service, etc., without getting too riled up, but my futile attempt at acquiring a library card was brutal. Maybe I'll try crafting one on my own out of some scrap paper and a green sharpie.
Without going into too many details, let's just say that my proclivities toward e-billing and the abysmal Chicago mail service have apparently thwarted my ability to get a library card, and the staff here couldn't have been less helpful. It seems one of the criteria for working at the circulation desks is to be as hostile towards mild-mannered wannabe patrons as possible. -
Review from Kyle W.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2009
This library is small and they seem to only have the books I'm not interested in reading, the DVDs I don't want to watch and the music I don't care to listen to. I blame the changes over the past decade in Wicker Park; the library's selections haven't caught up to the neighborhood's new demographics yet. I doubt that the huge Spanish language section upstairs is very useful to all the yuppie moms with strollers who moved here in the last three years.
However, I have to give this library some stars because you can't really blame them for not knowing I was moving here and changing their selection accordingly. And the staff is great, especially the older African-American gentleman who knows a gospel song with my last name in the title and sings it sometimes when he sees me come in. There's always interlibrary loan. -
Review from Dan m.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2009
It's a library. I love libraries. You can get books, cd's, dvd's, magazines, newspapers, and use the internet there. It's free.
If they don't have what you want, they can order it and let you know when it's in.
As a facility it does exactly what I expect a library to do and I'm glad it's there. There is one particular staff member that I REALLLLY do not like, but most of the other people I've spoken with were helpful and if they didn't have what I wanted they would generally help me locate it at another branch.
So if you are going to choose between :
A) going to the library
or
B) not going to the library
I would recommend choice A. -
Review from Casey B.
Chicago, IL
10/30/2007
I am not sure if I have been visiting this library on the wrong night, week, month or what. I have been consistently dissatisfied, frustrated and pissed off at the level of service they offer.
I am not sure why the women that are always there when I visit are even paid. I have tried 3 times now to return books, renew books and change my address on file.
They allowed me to return books the first time and check out new ones with no issue other than the 5 person+ line I had to wait in.
The second time I went I was renewing all my books, easy right? Not so, they took out my bookmarks after I asked her not to, must not have heard me or had the common sense to realize that I was reading one of them? Then she checked my file and asked about my current address, I told her I had moved, she said I would need to change it before I was allowed to check out books.
I told her my new address and was informed I would need proof. I presented a prescription from my doctor dated and written hours earlier for a controlled substance (the only reason I mention that is to help verify that it was a valid ID of address). She said that it would not work and that I would need a piece of mail that was sent to me; as if that makes it more legit?
Ok so those are the rules who am I to argue? I convinced her after 5 minutes to allow me to check my books out and I would change my address with a piece of mail the next time I visited. I went in tonight to renew a couple books and check some new ones out. After waiting through another long line, steadily growing, I presented a piece of mail from the government as I assumed this would be the best kind of legit mail.
She took one look at it, then the calendar and handed it back with an attitude that said, "nice try". She said it was over 30 days old, (this would be by 6 days) and did "they" not tell me that. I told her that the last time I was in I was not informed that the mail needed to fit into a specified time frame and that the "they" she was referring to was in fact her because she had been the only person I had ever directly dealt with there. She immediately said "can I help the next person?" without even informing me of what my options were or with an apology, nothing. So now I have to revisit the library to renew the books that were due and locate and check out the other selections I had made; she didn't even offer to keep them on hold.
In addition I have tried many times to locate some pretty famous books and authors in their meager at best collection of literature to no avail.
I guess I do not feel entirely bad that I had to give them 1 star because the facility really is quite nice. It is like having a marble porta-john, clean it up all you want but it is still just shit.
*Sorry I don't usually rant like this but I seriously don't understand why the staff at this location is employed in the service industry.
***edit... I have recently gone back and didn't see the former employees anywhere and was greeted and treated with just about the nicest man I have ever met in a library. -
Review from Maureen S.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2011
Everyone who works here seems miserable. Which, maybe has nothing to do with the library, but certainly reflects on it. The selection really sucks, especially for films, fiction, and graphic novels. Everything remotely obscure has to be ordered in from another library, which takes months, most of the time. Everything at this library is Steig Larsson and Tom Clancy, forever. West Town branch is where it's at, ya'll.
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Review from Lois A.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2010
I was really happy when this opened up and they have a decent DVD selection and helpful staff. My main turn-off is that every single time I go upstairs to look at the DVD's or browse books I feel like I am totally interrupting all the quiet people sitting at the tables working. That's because I am. They all look up so I know it's true. Is that the loudest door ever or is the sound just amplified by how awkward I feel upon entering?
And I have yet to find even one fiction title that I've been looking for when I come here. That makes interrupting all the hard workers yet again so I can leave empty-handed even more unbearable. -
Review from Melanie V.
Chicago, IL
11/24/2008
Eh, if you're looking to camp out here to study, this place is just ok. In the 'Reading Room' upstairs, there's a dozen or so tables filled with people busily typing away on their laptops or staring miserably at the screens. The outlets are located on the floor, so get ready to crawl underneath the table to power up your laptop. With everyone else working around you, this library is pretty conducive to getting work/studying done. But, it's not cozy like other places are.
Also, if you don't have earbuds, then you'll be easily distracted by all the people walking in and out...as well as going through the cases of cd's or dvd's (or whatever the eff they were sifting through. The sound was really annoying, though.)
Some things to note: Bottled water ONLY - no other type of liquid is allowed. Free wi-fi. Parking available in the adjacent lot or the surrounding streets. -
Review from Vanessa M.
Chicago, IL
6/12/2007
I love libraries, I really do, but this one seems to have a great misuse of space. The downstairs is fine, with the children's section and reference books. But when I go upstairs into the "reading room", I feel way too conspicuous looking for books. There are about 10 shelves of fiction books, a few shelves for magazines and a few for movies. Every time I go up there, I feel as if I am interrupting the people using the free wi-fi (oh, the looks!).
I think that if they opened up that space, there would be more space for books and possibly a few more tables. -
Review from Alexis H.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2010
Since I just wrote a review of Sulzer, I feel my local branch needs a shout out as well. I like this library: It's a solid 5 stars in terms of cleanliness, location, ease of parking, and staff. The people who work here are not only extremely helpful, they are also always very friendly and love talking about books. Their museum passes are frequently available - In fact, I've gone to nearly every major museum in the city in the last year care of this CPL branch. Finally, the front entrance is jam packed with info on different city projects and events, a nice touch in my book.
The only reason I'm giving this branch 3 stars is because they have a very small collection of resources. This is, after all, the most important aspect of a library. I can't just drop on by and find random books like I can at the larger libraries. That being said, I request my books online instead and I typically get a call to pick them up within a week. Nice. -
Review from Erinn L.
Chicago, IL
4/11/2007
This new building is pretty nice, with free wi-fi that works (you don't need a library card or anything to use it in case you were wondering...it's really really free!) and a pretty decent selection of adult fiction. The librarians are all pretty nice...even the guy who reminds me of all the nicknames he can come up with to go with my last name (every time I see him).
The outlets in the upstairs reading room are pretty terrible and weird, though. If you have a Mac, you should either attach your extension/grounding cable to your power cord before you go or bring a full battery because the outlets are situated in a way that doesn't work so well with the big white square plugs. -
Review from Kaycee M.
Chicago, IL
8/9/2007
Wicker Park SO needed a new library, and I think this one is set up to be as user friendly as it comes- barring the outlets, which are just bound to be unsatisfactory, wherever you go.
It is also a little unnerving to browse the adult fiction section while people sit just a few feet away, obviously trying to concentrate and easily disturbed. I feel a little guilty just opening and closing the door to the upstairs room.
I loved getting the little MP3 player audio books they had (have?) on display near the counter- haven't seen them anywhere else. You basically stick your headphones in the little player and press play- the library even provides an extra battery. -
Review from Kyle H.
Updated - 4/16/2010
Still love this CPL Library branch! Put a book on hold online, and picking it up here was easy peasy! I needed to ask where Holds were Held, and help was quick and courteous. This place is kind of a madhouse after school, just beware. Still, it's good to see kids getting their Library On instead of tagging busses!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2009
This is really what the Harold Washington Library main CPL branch should strive for! There's a nice… Read more »
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Review from Marcel C.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2009
This place is horrible for studying or reading!!! The first floor is like a Borders, bustling with activity and noisy as hell. I've seen quieter days at Wrigley Field. The upstairs where the "Reading Room" is fits about 30 people tightly at desks. No private spaces whatsoever. In that room, there is the DVD collection which non-readers/studiers frequently come int flip around, which has the wonderful sound of plastic clapping every second.
I'm trying to study for exams, as was the guy next to me, and it was a complete waste of valuable time to go here. Whoever designed this library should have their architect's license revoked. It's like they were trying to fit a crap-box on the little corner lot large enough for a local sports bar. I'll have to stick to local cafe's for now. -
Review from Jenny A.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2010
I have had multiple annoying experiences here- mainly with the staff. They are way behind on checking books in; they end up losing them and when I contest the problem things do not get taken care of right away, requiring even more follow up just to check out or renew materials, with a chaser of guilt for not 'taking responsibility for yourself'. As much as it nullifies the point of them being there, I would not return materials in the book drops because that seems to be the culprit.
I have never had a check-out experience with any of the employees where I had the sense that they like the library or working there.
They also have a severe lack of childrens' programming... for a neighborhood that definitely has families. The kids' area is smaller than some of the other regional branches, too.
Still, the Bucktown/ Wicker park branch may be nicer than most on a whole so what can you do... try one of those online book check out services? -
Review from Kelly k.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/16/2009
Well, now I can say I know what it's like to be denied a library card. Yes, that really happened. I took in my piece of mail and my ID and had my stack of books, ready to check out...and she denied my piece of mail (a magazine subscription renewal) b/c it had a "reply by" date on it. Which, by the way, was a future reply by date...How in the world does that say I don't live at the address? Because it had a REPLY BY date? Are you freaking kidding me?? Every bill has a due date, does that mean that maybe the person receiving the bill doesn't actually currently live there?
So anyway, on to my second proof of address...my car Insurance card. Yet the copy I had in my wallet wasn't my most current, so denied.
So I gave her my dog's Chicago Park district form, with the address on it. Denied.
Let me get this straight. You think I have all of these proofs of address, but I moved, drove back to Chicago, and planned to scam you out of a few novels and books on tape?
All I want to do is read some books, lady. I live here, I pay taxes here.
I think I deserve a library card. -
Review from Gretchen O.
ASTORIA, NY
8/13/2009
My loyalty to this particular library is well-earned. During my first summer in Chicago, they had AC and free internet, so I owe them my sanity and eventual employment. No, the selection isn't great, but compared with other local branches, it's not bad, either. If you really need something, you should put it on hold anyway. Aside from the accommodations one would expect from a library, they also have enough space to host occasional speakers and events. Last February, I learned how to make dumplings!
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Review from Nicolas H.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/15/2010
The customer service level continues to plummet to all time lows. This time I was notified via email that my item on hold came in, thus I went to the branch to pick it up. Unfortunately after 15 minutes of "looking" they were unable to find my item. Discussions were had and fortuituously the Deputy Library Chief's number was given to me so that I could giver her a call and complain (score!). Sure enough, 15 minutes after I left I get a voicemail, they were able to locate my item and I could come back and pick it up. Great, thanks! I was told today by the super friendly employee, that apparently their poor customer service is due to staff being laid off and a pile of books stacked up that is causing them stress. Well, maybe you should start treating your customers as customers instead of your books as customers. Careful, the stack of books might fall over and fatally injur someone!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2010
Nice from the outside, not so nice on the inside. Not only is the decor a little depressing (just… Read more »
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Review from KT S.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2010
I went to the Bucktown library on a Saturday recently to write for my National Boards. The downstairs was hopping with kids checking out books, using the computers, and one kid looking up history books (way to go, kid!). Upstairs: tables full of people typing silently on their laptops, or reading. Very clean library, and I like its modern vibe. A good place to go if you need to get some work done (even better in Sulzer, in that regard). Sulzer wins for more materials, Bucktown for the space. A very nice library option in the city.
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Review from Melissa W.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2009
There are some definite pros and cons to this place... The cons have recently motivated me to find another library.
Pros:
Free parking
Free wi-fi (ummm... of course)
Plenty of outlets
A quite room that is relatively spacious
There aren't a ton of smelly people
Con:
Staff is rude
It's small, so sometimes hard to find a spot to work.
Parking lot is usually full.
For all intents and purposes, no group/meeting rooms (You have to book them 2 weeks in advance says the librarian!!!!!). So, if you need to discuss something with somebody or work on something with another, not the spot!!!!
They won't let you drink anything but water and strictly enforce this policy like somebody's life depends on it
Bad selection of books.
The quite room houses the DVD's = noise -
Review from Joyce P.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2009
So compared with the old neighborhood library (a dusty storefront that I was too afraid to enter) this is a big improvement. I was stoked when they started to build this library and thrilled with the modern and prairie style architecture but as libraries go this one is pretty weak. The book selection is lame. I've gone several times and either have left with nothing or checked out something I wasn't really excited about but wanted to get something. And there aren't enough hidden away places to read or study. I appreciate that they have a parking lot but it's tight to get in and out of and not enough spots and when you couple that with a high traffic street it can be an annoyance.
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Review from T. T.
San Jose, CA
8/21/2008
Great, friendly and helpful staff but with limited selections on just about everything! The location, however, is something to boast about. It's located in a quaint, calming neighborhood.
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Review from Kimosa L.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2010
I really like Sulzer regional library not only because it's conveniently within walking distance but because the staff is helpful and on security is on the mark. It's one of the better CPL in the city.
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Review from K S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/21/2009
I have to add a star because yesterday's library experience was so awesome. I hope that librarian is there from now on. She totally snapped at someone who was being really annoying & it was pretty great.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2009
Ok, I can't believe I'm giving a so-so review to a library, I mean...free books!! But I have to say… Read more »
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Review from noel c.
Baltimore, MD
2/14/2009
yeah, the selections are limited... c'mon people! use the world wide web to set up an interlibrary loan. i heart this place.
