Chicago Public Library

Let me preface this update by stating that I am NOT SORRY about my previous review regarding this Chicago Public Library. My 1-​star rating was based on over 1-​year of visiting this CPL. My 1-​star rating IS NOT based on one experience or having «one bad day.» Sometimes people illustrate their ignorance by jumping to conclusions without knowing the facts and it appears to be the case here. I rarely give a 1-​star rating on Unilocal.Trust my review, people. The people who have rated this library with five stars must live in the neighborhood (or maybe even work at this CPL). Perhaps they are clueless and in la-​la looney-​tunes land. This is a «nice» library, but that is about where it stops people. Get out and explore other libraries that are 5-​star worthy. This little crackerjack box library is NOT 5-​star worthy. Period. This CPL becomes «A Confederacy of Dunces» and a circus for the little neighborhood unruly crumb snatchers (even in the Summer time). If this is the kind of CPL environment that you appreciate then go here. Yeah, Hitler was an Author and so was Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote and Angelou Maya. What’s your «F“en point!!! I dislike libraries that can be loud or disruptive like this one. This is not a freakin’ playground or an amusement park! Since when did a public library become a place for free babysitting services? I have witnessed kids being unruly, misbehaved, loud and obnoxious here. If I want this kind of environment I’ll go to Great America or the Lincoln Park Zoo. Yes, libraries are fantastic for children. That is, for children who are well behaved, and keep their voices to a whisper. The man who wrote the review on 8÷2÷2014 demonstrated his ignorance by referring to «Hitler.» Perhaps Richard D. doesn’t know any better.
Further, I noticed that the most recent reviews here (JS and Richard D.) are not very active on Unilocal and have less than 5 reviews. Why is that? I stand by my previous one-​star review. I don’t apologize for it either. For some people, it may be «Woo-​hoo! This is as Good as It Gets» but perhaps these are the same people who send their little rug-​rats to this Library for free babysitting services. Or maybe these are the same people who go to this CPL and take a nap. Or maybe, just maybe, they were hired and paid to write a phony review (to bump up their over all star rating). Or maybe these are the morons who go here because this is «as good as it gets» for them. This CPL was «recently ranked as the country’s best» (see July 29, 2014 review) Who rated it as the «country’s best?» Bozo the Clown? Daffy Duck?
A great little library that is great for children and people who don’t give a crap about the fact that it can get loud in this library.

This is a shiny new library in the CPL system with a great staff. The CPL system was recently ranked as the country’s best and one of the top in the world.
As a neighborhood library it will often have a lot of children sometimes they can be «loud» but that’s the reason for having public libraries in neighborhoods. Also, the neighborhood libraries are havens for elderly patrons. I don’t see why any one would complain about a library. Most people have internet at home and everything that could possibly be available at a branch library is online.
Sometimes you may run into «published» authors researching their next work. But don’t be too intimidated — it doesn’t take much these days in the era of «digital» publishing to namedrop yourself as an «author.»
A great little library that does its job.
Tip: If you aspire to be a «published author» and are «constantly» putting terms into «quotes,» you may need to «reevaluate» your writing «style» and «explore» another «hobby.» And if you want to spar with other reviewers and churn out a novella of a review for a neighborhood library, you need to get a life.

I’m sorry. The people complaining about this library because it is too small and doesn’t have everything they want. They need to get realistic. Not every branch can have every book. Do you know how much this would cost? I can get any book or DVD that is within the Chicago Library system. What I can’t have it right now? Get real. I wait typically about a week and the material arrives.
The library is modern. The people are nice. No grumpy lady at the front desk. The library is right across from a park. What else do you want. This is a great place to look for a book; there or online.

This is not my go-​to library branch but I decided to make the trip out here to attend a talk on time banking. The library itself is a bit tucked away and I found myself in a residential neighborhood. Soon enough, I stumbled upon a side entrance and the welcoming CPL green banners out front. Though the talk itself was sparsely attended, I felt nostalgic for the suburban library branches of my youth. The building itself is spiffy and LEED-​certified, albeit on the small (aka cozy) side. The room where the talk was held is well-​maintained, with a projector, ample seating, and all the other expected accompaniments. It was interesting hearing from the branch manager, who sat in on part of the talk, as this helped me gain an inside perspective. I learned that all but four people of his thirteen-​member staff had been lost due to either promotions or budget cuts. I give him props for opening his branch to such an event, especially when he is likely time and people-​strapped. Though I probably won’t make a special trip out to this branch, I’m definitely grateful for any opportunities I can get to make the rounds of other city library branches.

Yes, there’s a very grumpy librarian that works here. But the rest of them have more than made up for her, being friendly and helpful. I love how these folks are trying to make the library welcoming and pleasant for all the kids who get stuck here after school is out… I wish their parents could see how rotten their little darlings act, and also witness how kind the librarians are to them. Oriole Park Library is one of our favorite resources (we’re homeschoolers… we’re the ones who use the library when it’s empty), and if you want to quit giving Amazon your money, you’ll start hanging out here, too!

This was my closest library branch when I lived in this neighborhood, and frankly, it’s one of the many reasons I’m glad I’ve since moved.
Granted, I never really used this branch for anything other than picking up the books I had placed a hold on via the website, but this was only because they never seemed to have anything I wanted/​needed readily available here. The building itself is nice, and I appreciate the outside book drops which can be handy when you only want to return items.
Getting to and from here is the darndest mix of awkward one-​way streets, large speed humps, and school crosswalks which always seem to be chock-​full of 4^th graders.
And then there’s «the lady», as I unaffectionately refer to her, who works behind the counter while sitting in a chair and being rude. Don’t get too close, kids, she looks hungry!

Having grown up in this area, I know that it didn’t used to be this good. The Oriole Park Library used to be a glorified shack right on Foster Avenue. Boy, are they spoiling us now! The building is LEED certified, beautiful, and clean. While it might not be as large as some of the other branches, it manages to take care of my book and DVD needs. The few times it hasn’t, the staff has always been friendly and helpful with either directing me to another library or requesting material from another branch. It’s been a great resource to me and the neighborhood.