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Chicago Public Library - Bucktown / Wicker Park Branch
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
1701 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 744-4300
1701 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 744-4300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
26 reviews for Chicago Public Library - Bucktown / Wicker Park Branch
This is really what the Harold Washington Library main CPL branch should strive for! There's a nice Children's area just as you walk past the checkout. There are lots of computers available for the general public and free Wi-Fi. I was surprised to have to go upstairs for Fiction because this two-story building looks big from the outside!
But upstairs we go! The room is enclosed for quiet reading and Wi-Fi'ing. I loved their Fiction selection and they had two of the same title I was looking for! Checking out the periodicals I found out they have Spin! But you can't check out periodicals, which sucked. They do have the Sunday NY Times so I can now cancel my subscription, save some money and read it here!
They have an extensive CD and DVD collection and unlike Harold Washington Library they have more than just Chicago Blues bands you've never heard of. Need the new the Thermals, Spoon, that old Buffalo Springfield you've been meaning to check out because you're into Neil Young now? They got it! Sometimes two copies of the same disc! I grabbed my limit of (6) CDs and will be back for more!
The only negative was the checkout process. There was only one checking guy and a customer had an "issue" with some unreturned or lost materials or some hubub. So we waited and waited and no one opened up another line! Then when it was my turn, I noticed the library employee had some serious B.O.! And you know what? It followed me home! Much like that Seinfeld episode where the smelly parking attendant leaves Jerry's car with a smell described as "a living organism", the smell grasped for dear life onto the CDs I brought home and it won't leave!
Argh! Someone tell this guy the benefits of soap and water! I'll be ripping those CDs and returning them quickly! Otherwise, top notch CPL Branch.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (5)
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 B.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
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!
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (4)
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!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
I stopped in here for the first time yesterday. I was a little confused when I walked through the doors: it was a small-ish room that was full of kids books and people on computers. I spotted the stairway so I made my way upstairs where I found a huge, enclosed room that was mostly tables and less than half the room was filled with Fiction books. Hmm. I don't know if it's possible to not like a library because of the *feel* of the place, but I just didn't like the setup. The selection of books wasn't that great, either. I realized that the downstairs area was everything but the Fiction section, which means that they don't have a huge selection.
The Barrington Area Library is where is grew up - it's a lot older and a lot bigger and I was hoping for that kind of place at this library. It didn't feel comfortable and I don't think I would be able to spend hours here just reading like I wanted. Bummer.
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.
People thought this was:
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
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
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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- Cool (1)
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.
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.
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (6)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
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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.
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- Useful (2)
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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.
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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 »
-
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 »
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.
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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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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.
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.
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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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.
some people take photos of themselves in church pews. then they take magazine renewal letters to libraries and think they can get a library card which allows them to walk out the door with as many public resources as they please. there are many words for these people: delusional, ignorant, uninformed, crazy. you take your pick. the fact is that this branch does a great job. part of doing a great job is enforcing perfectly reasonable and legitimate policies. want a library card? don't send your dog in with his expired ID hanging from his collar. don't bring in a bunch of junk mail. here's a thought: get yourself an actual government issue ID. if you are unable to wrap your mind around such profound concepts as this, then please bring a utility bill. you know, power, gas, water. if all you have in your box is junk, then you need more help than the library can offer.
yeah, the selections are limited... c'mon people! use the world wide web to set up an interlibrary loan. i heart this place.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
