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Edgewater Branch Chicago Public Library
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Edgewater
1210 W Elmdale Ave
(between Broadway St & Magnolia Ave)
Chicago, IL 60660
(312) 744-0718
1210 W Elmdale Ave
(between Broadway St & Magnolia Ave)
Chicago, IL 60660
(312) 744-0718
- Nearest Transit:
-
Thorndale (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
15 reviews for Edgewater Branch Chicago Public Library
The economy crashed and this library has taken a hard hit.
This is a very, very popular library, partly due to the masses of elderly living in 1960's highrises on Sheridan, as well as the many multi-ethnic families from all the dense apartments in Edgewater, along with the Andersonville crowd. And it makes me happy to see so many people reading books, it does.
I love to see our dedication, waiting in line for 30 minutes to check out a few, and bonding over the frustration.
I don't know if the place is under-staffed, or the pacing of the current staff is just, basically, as fast as molasses, like, dried molasses stuck on a table. They seem quite content that way actually.
But it made us patrons want to tear our hair out, the old ladies were talking with the most diverse crowd and saying, "Its terrible, this wait. Absolutely terrible!" to the Andersonvillesque patrons, who were like tapping their hands and agreeing on the horrors as their parking meters were expiring. The only people who didn't seem to mind were the African immigrants, because they are probably used to long lines.
There's a more sparsely populated branch on Argyle that I'm leaning toward.
Yeah, I thought I walked into death row. Of course my luck the AC is out and the stench was just horrifying. I saw more screaming kids than actual books. I saw no outlets in site -- not that I really wanted to try hard to find them.
Absolutely pathetic -- make your way over to the Rogers Park site off of Clark (near the Pratt/Clark intersection) if you are that desperate to get to a library.
I love libraries. They're great. They have books for everyone and resources available to assist you in questions and research. This library branch though leaves MUCH to be desired.
I've actually had a book on hold since 7/7/09. A day or two after I put it on hold the status changed to "intransit - sent." The status has been that way ever since. It's been 20 days. I know the book wasn't previously checked out because I looked at the website. The copy was at a different branch and all they had to do was send it over. It's been 20 days. How long can it possibly take to send a book from one branch to another? Perhaps they're rewriting the book for me? I have no idea what's taking so long.
I've also had 2 other books on hold which have been "intransit - sent" for quite some time. If I didn't know that this was the CHICAGO public library I might think they were sending the books from overseas. Perhaps China. Although I'm sure given 20 days something mailed from China would have arrived by then.
This branch also has very slow staff. They're friendly for the most part but everything seems to take at least twice as long as it should. There isn't a great variety of books at this location either, hence me putting books on hold from other libraries.
If this library wasn't within 3 blocks where I lived I wouldn't go there.
I can't stand this CPS branch. The book selection is minuscule, the air conditioning is always off (I don't know if it's on purpose or just bureaucratic slowness in getting repairs) and the staff is always too slow, even when there's a massive line.
The only reason I go to this branch is to pick up books I order from inter-library loan. If I want to sit or browse, I'll go to the Bezazian library down the street, Sulzer in Lincoln Square, or even the Evanston public library. The Edgewater branch is in a great location, but I just can't stand being in there a second longer than I have to.
Perhaps the worst library I've ever been to (and I've visited quite a few). The facility is airless, unattractive, and disorganized. The staff are slow and unhelpful. I'm a librarian myself, and I think the people who work here need a reminder that they're in a public service profession. Also, they could use some lessons on properly shelving materials, so that patrons might have some chance of finding what they're looking for.
Just one of my obnoxious experiences at the Edgewater Library, by way of example: last week, I went in to pick up a book, and I asked about 2 other books I'd put on hold, which had been marked as "in transit" on my CPL account page for what seemed like an excessive amount of time (transit time should be 2-3 days MAX). I had a sneaking suspicion the books were already in the building and maybe had been for several days, so I asked the woman at the circulation desk if she could check. She seemed a bit annoyed and just glanced at the date the hold had been placed, then told me that maybe they'd be in "by the end of next week." When I got home 15 minutes later, I checked my account and, wouldn't you know, one of the books in question had been marked "ready for pickup." A few minutes later, both books were. I had to make an extra trip to the library just to pick up 2 books that were there the entire time!
The only reason I visit this library is that it's within walking distance from my apartment. Even then, I'm thinking about checking out some other branches. They can't all be this bad, right?
Another crappy CPL branch.
Mind you, I generally admire the CPL system. It has lots of books, a pretty good computer system and if you use the branches to just pick up your "holds" it's tolerable.
My last branch was Merlo which has all sorts of idiot staff people. The people here don't seem as bad, but the facility is pretty awful. The A/C seems to be out constantly (sometimes resulting in the branch being unexpectedly closed.) The number of actual books is pretty limited and, worst of all, there are always hundreds (maybe even more than a thousand) unshelved books lying randomly piled on carts and tables around the branch. So even if the catalog says somethings there, it could be anywhere.
Sad. I loved libraries as a kid, but I can't imagine any kid coming to love libraries with the kind of choices I've seen in the Chicago branches.
I don't like this library because of Kate W's same reason. I've had three books "in transit" to this library and it's been about two weeks. This means their employees are goofing off or really putting delays at stocking in their shipments... I'm SURE all of those books are at the library already.
I'm considering just canceling my holds and having them redirected to Roger's Park Library. Maybe their staff is more organized. I moved here from Albany Park just a few months ago, whenever something was sent in transit to Albany, it was always readily available within a day or two.
This is my neighborhood library, and yes it has it's quirks, but I love it.
Why?
Mostly because I LOVE books. It is nearly impossible for me to choose my favorite. Therefore a building full of books dedicated to the community wins my heart quite easily.
I order books through inter-library loan mostly, so I have not found the selection to be limiting. I find the odd architecture of this branch extremely charming and fun.
And *ahem* there are times that I am unable to return certain materials within the time allotted, then have to pay a fine. Recently I paid a fine, and it some how was entered into the system incorrectly and I received an email to pay the fine. I came in and explained the situation to the library manager and she helped me resolve the issue quickly and without fuss! The staff here is lovely, even though there is almost ALWAYS a line.
I love having such a lovely community centered place near my home!
five things i dis-like about this library
1, it is hot in here ( and i do not mean in a sexual way )
2, the chairs are ass numbing if you sit too long
3, it is small and cluttered difficult to find materials here
4, this item open for future discussion
5,why is it that the desk clerks are the noisiest people in the library ?
i use this library as my local spot to pick up inter-library items that i've placed on hold on their website. they staff is always personable, courteous, and have made some great recommendations to me based off what i have been checking out at the time.
yeah, it's not a very large library with a grand collection, but it's a great space to have in my neighborhood. glad they're there for me.
I'm not sure why other people don't like this particular branch a lot, but I've never had any probs with this branch. My questions have always been answered well by the staff at this one, and for the most part, the staff at this branch are pretty friendly. For library branches within walking distance of where I live, I'll take going to this branch anyday over going to the Bezazian Branch Library in Uptown, which is very overcramped for its size, and closes early on Mon-Thu.(8pm). Yay for the fact this one closes at 9pm, insted of 8pm!
I do agree with the other reviews though, that there are often unsavory characters that do hang around the outside of this libary at particular times(mostly at night though, since I've occasionally seen one homeless guy who often chooses to sleep on the bench outside this library). But I've NEVER felt threatened going inside this library, or have seen anyone panhandling for money inside(as I suspect the security would kick them out, if they did). Another positive about this branch, is that it's just down the block from one of my favorite independent fast food eateries in the city, Patio Beef. And I can't really comment on what Jackie T. said about this one not opening on time, since I almost never go to the library very early in the morning, and've never gone to this particular branch right at opening time in the morning.
For branch libraries within walking distance of where I live(which are Edgewater + Bezazian), this is easily my favorite of the 2 near me. However, this branch library also isn't my favorite branch either on the north and northwest side, and I prefer the roomier and newer branches myself over this one(such as Budlong Woods and Edgebrook, since its easy to park in the surrounding neighborhoods they're in).
And due to the fact I've traditionally had good experiences at this one, and since they have a small collection of audiobooks + books on CD that I should've years ago taken advantage of(but still haven't to this day, sadly), unlike at some of the other older + small/medium-sized branch libraries, I'm rounding up my review from 3.5 to 4 stars.
Public transit info: served by the #36 Broadway bus, and by the Red Line Thorndale stop(11/2 blocks away).
I have to agree with Lacie G. The Edgewater branch can't hold a candle to the Rogers Park branch (which was built less then five years ago). The space is pretty cramped, and there aren't a lot of quiet areas to read or work at all. What I find really strange is that the kids' area is right by the front door, so if you're there with little ones you can't really take your eyes off them, or they might toddle off onto Broadway!
But it is convenient, and it's located right across from a Dominick's and near the Thorndale El stop, so you can kill two birds with one stone if you need to pick up or drop something off.
I like the Edgewater Branch! I don't spend a lot of time there, as the reading room and collection are small, BUT I always have received wonderful service. Whenever I have put in a request for an interlibrary loan (oftentimes necessary because it is a smaller branch), I have always received it quickly - even very new books. Yay for the Edgewater Branch!
This branch is very small with a comparable sized collection. It's a little disorganized and cluttered. Not one of the finest Chicago has to offer.
Punctuality is NOT a priority at this particular branch. THEY NEVER OPEN ON TIME. Especially, when a worker named Isabel is on duty at the reference desk. They have opened as late as 9:25 a.m. (even though 9:00 a.m. is posted on the door). Also, gang bangers tend to hang around inside this library (even during times when they're supposed to be in school) so watch your purses and wallets. One them stole a Blackberry from a deaf guy! Pretty unsavoury characters, I'd say.
