Bothell Library

Drop off, pick up. This location is fairly close to my workplace so I often come by to drop off some items to avoid the dreaded 10 cent per day fine. It’s an older, single story building which can be a bit difficult to access. It’s now tucked away behind a big apartment building and there is ongoing construction which makes access to the parking lot a little difficult for the time being. Hopefully the construction will end up making it a little easier to get in and out.
It’s a nice little library with a few comfortable reading (napping) chairs that always seem to be full when i visit.

Finding a good library has been a tough journey for me. Kenmore’s is nice but too small, Woodinville’s is in the middle of nowhere, Mill Creek’s is even smaller than Kenmore’s, and Lynnwood’s one is just plain gross. The Bothell one easily bests the others.
This library has a lot of books and magazines. There are an abundance of study tables and outlets. And they even have those egg-​shaped pods where you can sit in (I’ll take a picture next time).
The amenities are clean enough (bathroom not so much) and it’s got enough computers where I’ve never had to wait for one.
Two things I don’t like about this library, however, is wall between the study rooms is super thin and there’s just not enough parking spaces.
One thing I really like about this library is that you can print out 75 units per week. 1 page of black and white is 1 unit and 1 page of colored print outs is 3 units. Also, you can borrow a laptop from the front desk. Pretty neat stuff, yo!

It’s a pretty decent public library that’s well maintained and clean. It stays pretty busy around the clock. Theres plenty of parking spots available even when busy. I just find it to be too small and seems pretty noisy for a library. There’s very few areas that you can get real quiet like a study room.

I’m an avid reader and love that this library is so close to home. They have a pretty good selection of books and music and the staff is always helpful. The layout of this library is nice as well.

Well, this is the library I visit most often. It could use some updating. But they’ve got a good amount of computers, a good selection of DVD’s and CD’s and of course plenty of books to choose from. I live in Snohomish County but only use KCLS or Seattle Public Libraries. I go to the Bothell Library AT LEAST twice a week. It’s only a 20 minute drive. My favorite KCLS library is Bellevue. Cuz it has 3 floors. But Bothell is probably like my 5^th fav. The only reason I go to Bothell is cuz they’re open on Sunday’s unlike most. Only «large» ones are open Sundays with a few exceptions I’m sure.

Attractive, well-​kept building; helpful, friendly staff; great selection of books and media on site; large international section; lots of computers… what’s not to love?
OK, found something not to love: DVD collection in the Spanish language mostly deserves an R rating, and you can’t tell what you’re getting into from the covers. They’re not rated, no warnings of any kind. Wrote to the library board about that, and they ignored me. Shame on you, families come and select movies for their kids there.

The library is clean and the staff is helpful.

I love this library! Its outside look will deceive you. Once you step inside, it’s very bright and clean. I especially like their kids zone. They have enough computers for the little ones to play with (with a lot of educational software available just a click away!). My two kids love to go to this library. There are usually one or two computer that are something wrong with… So, not everything is perfect. But to me, it’s a minor detail.
The selection of books that King county library system offers is great. Not just English books but the selection of foreign language books is vast.
I strongly recommend King county library system and this Bothell branch!

Nice library. One major gripe is that there is not enough tables for people with laptops. I constantly have to wait for someone to leave to actually sit at a table. There are tables always reserved for some other use. WTF! Fix this.

I really want to give this Library a good review as I like the building layout and they have a great selection of many various books, movies, magazines, and music. However I have had not so good experiences with the ladies who work the checkout and information desk here. I was trying to use my mothers card as my card got too many fines than I could afford for a while and I had a really troublesome time convincing the ladies that the card was actually my mothers. I can understand people who steal library cards and then use them to check out books and movies and steal them. But you would like to have people trust you and give you the benefit of the doubt, especially when you show them your I.D. that has the same last name of your mothers card.
It’s really kind of sad how they treated me here the last couple times I tried to use my mothers card. I almost got into a heated verbal altercation with the ladies because it was important that I checked out the books as I needed to do so for an essay I was writing for a class. But they wouldn’t let me. It’s all about money clearly, even though I returned the books that were overdue, I still have a large outstanding fine. I think it’s really silly to keep people from checking out with a large fine. But those are the rules I guess. I just felt the librarians were rude to me unwarranted and for that I can’t give them a good review. They did not treat me like a good citizen and civilian, rather like I had broken the laws and wasn’t allowed to participate in their library.
This is a great library for checking out diverse books and films, but the librarians here need to up their customer service and humanity game. At the Kenmore library, I can use my mothers card without even showing them my I.D.
At the very least, they could have been much more courteous, apologetic, and empathetic. And also really could have checked out my mom’s account better. On her account, it states clearly that I, her son can use her card anytime. At the Kenmore library they told me this was written on her account. But for some reason the ladies at the Bothell Library didn’t see that. Inexplicable.

When the Kirkland library closed for it’s super remodeling, I needed a new library to go to. I already spend a lot of time in Bothell as it is, and I’ve loved this library ever since I walked into it!
Close by, lots of computers, bunch of events, great selection of books, music and DVDs, it’s small and comfortable and the staff are always polite and helpful.

Disclaimer: I volunteer at this library so my review may be shining the light of bias. Here’s the deal: The staff at this branch are all simply GREAT! They are never too busy to drop what they’re doing to help you or answer your question. They keep their collection in top-​notch condition and this is saying a lot because this library is very busy. Some reviewers talked about the noise level and I agree, some patrons rudely flout the convention that it’s polite to go about your time there as quietly as possible. I have observed staff politely asking offenders to tone it down. The operative word here is ‘politely’. The Bothell library staff works very hard to maintain a friendly atmosphere and a first-​rate collection of materials.

Bullet point style, sans bullets
Hometown Library growing up, still preferred choice over Kirkland
Kids visit every Saturday.
Ample enough computers, wifi/​outlets
Regular events for all ages
Great place to pick up various local publications (parent magazine, the stranger, etc)
Very friendly and helpful staff
ample sized parking lot w/​additional street options

Nice library; very well organized; reserve a book online and it shows up a few days later; same with movies.

ARE YOU READY?!
This is a library!
and it ROCKS!
They have BOOKS! If you show them a CARD they will let you BORROW them for some pre-​determined amount of TIME!
I find them PROFESSIONAL and the things here PRETTY COOL.

This is a nice big library with a big collection of materials, plenty of space to study, and a good number of computer work stations.
They have 2 small private study rooms, and it seems like those are popular enough that people need to reserve ahead of time.
The best part: KCLS has no option to pay for printing, but they let you print 75 pages a WEEK for free. I was SO thankful when I realized that because I still have an account from my «living with my family» days and was able to print off some readings for class. I would have spent almost $ 10 if I was to print those things on the UW campus!!! Soooo thankful.
A good part: The children’s section is a good-​sized corner of the library and is well «sectioned off» by stacks of books. When I was there, I barely saw and barely heard kids. I was trying to work on schoolwork, so this made me VERY happy.
The worst part: This library seems like a very popular spot for local high school students to study, and while some of them are fine… well, some of them are a bit more chatty than I like people to be when I’m trying to focus.
Overall, though, I am rather fond of this library.

This is indeed a very nice facility. I grew up using the Bothell Library before and after the new building as well. The program and services that they offer are a lot better than some of the other libraries nearby.

This is one of the area’s best libraries. It has plenty of books, enough computers to serve everyone and plenty of classes and events. The staff is friendly and does not shush you, or glare at you if you talk. It says nice and quiet, I have yet to hear a screaming kid.
I like that they have wifi as well as other fun things for teens. Usually educational services skip over the teen age group and give us nothing good. I even see kids playing their Nintendo DS’s on the wifi connection as well as getting some books.
There is a read 3 books, get one free for ages 12 – 18 where teens can get a good book. Not just a cheapo book or a kiddy book either, a popular series most of the time too.

I got snickers and laughs from the libarians here.
Years ago I went to the King County library in Fairwood in Renton and had a late fee. It was about 8 years ago, and didn’t find out that I had a fee until a few weeks before I went to this library. I cleaned out my purse and found the King County library card which was odd because I now live in Seattle and frequent the SPL. I went online to King County Library system and found I had a late fee. Being a good humanitarian, I thought I’d pay it.
I go in to pay my 3 bucks and change to the King County Library in Bothell. They say, «I can’t find when you checked out the book that was late.» I explain that the fine is 8 years old and felt like paying everything up. Haven’t you seen that Seinfeld episode where they came after him for a late fee that was 20 – 30 years old?
She tells her co-​worker that I am paying a late fee that is 8 years old. They have a good laugh at my expense, take my money and go.
Ha.

The reading programs for kids here are excellent, and the staff picks and new-​book displays are also really good. But the librarians don’t shush people in this library, and as a result, it’s more like a Barnes & Noble (which are too LOUD) than a proper library (which should be a quiet place to read and think). I’ve taken away a star because of the non-​hushed ambiance.
Otherwise, it’s the standard well-​thought-​out King County Library of the newer type — think high ceilings, lots of light, modern architecture. I wish they were open more hours.