Lincoln Park Library

Libraries are supposed to be peaceful places to study. Every single time I come to this library, they are vacuuming. I just spent three hours here, and I promise you more than half the time I was here the vacuum was blaring away, including the lady repeatedly bumping my chair with the vacuum.
PLEASE vacuum BEFORE the branch opens or after it closes. People need a quiet place to read or study, that is why we come to the library.

The bathroom is really clean! This is a very nice library. Nice staff and clean place. The books are stacked neatly. The aircondition’s a little warm for me so only 4 stars.

Lincoln Park Library is a solid 3 star experience. I wouldn’t say it is a great library, but I would say that overall it provides the community with what it needs, a place for everyone to come and enjoy books.
When I first moved into the neighborhood I came here one evening to check it out. First try I mistakenly stopped by when they were closed; they had updated their hours that week and those hours had yet to be updated online. On my second try, when the library was open, I noticed that while it does have a lot of books, audio books and movies to chose from, it doesn’t have nearly as many as most other CPL locations. After that visit, I walked out empty handed and decide that before I head here in the future it is imperative that I check online to see if they have the books I’m looking for. Since then I have had to request multiple books from other library’s, something that is OK, but can be a little annoying if it takes a long time for my library to receive them.
Another thing that annoys me about this location is the hours. Simply put they aren’t very convenient for those of us who work during the day. The library only stays open late a few nights a week and for some reason, those nights are never convenient for me.
Finally, as some other have said, the staff at this library are sometimes hit or miss. Some of the librarians I have encountered here were amazingly helpful, while others didn’t seem to care. Its a coin toss what your going to get.
If you take one important thing from this review, it should be to look online first to see if they have your book. Do it or you likely will be disappointed. That being said, I don’t plan on stopping using this library any time soon, but now I know to do my homework before I go.

The library is indeed small and outdated compared to some in the suburbs, but the ladies here are incredibly sweet. I was at first worried about getting cold treatments since it is a public library — very public, but was treated like a paying customer…
Great free parking and sweet ladies who jump through hoops to help.
What more do you need?

I really like the fact that they have parking. I came her for a meditación Class And was hesitant at first due to knowing the area and parking can be tedious. But they have parking, what a plus.
I am not sure if this was once a factory but I love the architecture of the library. It has an old school kind of look that I really like. Not new and streamlined but moreso just old school. Like an old classroom of the 70’s.
The librarians seem to be nice, security (while she sat and ate a candy bar and was skimming thru the paper since it was obvious she probably just looked at it for the pictures), but I digress. It is a nice library if you want quite time and yes they have wifi. I liked the fact also that our mediation class was in a room that we could just chant and enjoy our mantra.
I definfetly will be back again. I totally enjoyed the vibe here.

The ladies that work at this library and super duber sweet and helpful. My favorite is the older woman with glasses and an adorable voice that cracks jokes and seems to really love her job. I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes and was able to pick up my items on hold very easily. I also really love that the museum passes are available for check out– although it is touch and go because the ones I want tend to always be out. The only other bad thing about CPL is that it takes almost an eternity for items from another library to get here. I’ve had to wait for about a month to get my items ready for pick up so plan ahead.

The Lincoln Park Library is small, but clean with large tables as well as a section for kids in the corner. When I was here on a Monday afternoon, about half the tables were occupied, and talking was louder than what I’m used to in a library, but it has been a while since I’ve been in one. Not exactly the quiet study space I was looking for. Parking is available for free in their small lot — with a limit of 3 hours. There were electrical outlets for your computer and the Wi-​Fi worked great — just doesn’t seem like they care to keep noise down.

Very helpful front desk. She made some calls for me and made my trip easier. Thank you!

Free? In Lincoln Park? YES! My roommate and I have both lived in Chicago for some time but never thought to get a library card. Well, we walked on down with our two pieces of mail and ID and it was really that easy. We had to fill out a simple application and bam! We had a library card. For the first thirty days you can only check out five books at a time but then after that 30 at a time! Sure, this library isn’t the largest but it’s nice not to have to travel downtown all the time. The people are super friendly and told my roommate and I about the museum passes they have for checkout. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry for free! I thought that the selection was good, not the best, but you can go online and request books and they will let you know when they arrive. I have no use for the internet or computer there so I can’t attest to their usefulness.

With all the continual budget cuts, I consider myself fortunate that there are even still libraries around. That and the fact that we’re losing book stores left and right. It’s a great location, easy to get to and the staff is nice. I’m sure the Wi-​Fi works great, and it’s nice to know it is there if I need it.
When I came to the desk to make a return and check out some books, I was shocked that the clerk stopped talking mid-​sentence to take care of me. I fully expected to wait until she’d finished at least her sentence. Now, that’s impressive.
Thank you, CPL for maintaining this location.

I love CPL, but I don’t love this branch. It’s a convenient location for DePaul students like myself to have CPL books sent to, but for some reason I find it takes an extraordinarily long time for books to get here.
The woman at the desk with missing teeth is super nice.
I am editing this comment, and stand by my original comment. I would like to add a few things. Finding museum passes here is EXTREMELY rare. If you see that a pass is in, CHECK IT OUT even if you don’t want to go because who knows if you will ever get the opportunity again. If you need to use the library computers, this branch usually has them available. DVD collection is decent, and CDs are okay (not as many new titles as some other branches, but a few new ones). This is a pretty quiet space.

A very nice looking library near Depaul University the staff is kind, friendly and helpful. They have a nice selection of books, dvds a computer area and a nice sized meeting room

It’s FREE. It’s in Lincoln Park. There are books, which can be borrowed for FREE. There is nothing to complain about, except maybe the lingering library urchins. But, hey, they are Lincoln Park urchins, so they won’t rob you.
Aforementioned urchins will just grow up to be your 22-​year –old bosses. They will have the answers to everything and rule the world.
Hmm. did I mention it is FREE?!

Still searching for free wireless Internet, I crashed the campus of DePaul University and wasn’t able to hook myself anywhere. Google texting for the Lincoln Park Library, I found it at 1150 W Fullerton and marched right in. After the entrance, you’ll find half a dozen tables and newspapers ready to go.
A computer lab was off in the corner, but I was more interested in using my own computer. Wireless was easy to log into and quite painless to connect. I instantly decided to test the speed on
and was shocked to find it 0.33 mpbs! I know I shouldn’t expect crazy speeds off of free city-​provided Internet, but 0.33 mpbs is blech!
While browsing the web and killing time before my dart match, I saw lots of Lincoln Park professionals coming from the gym, parents letting their kids browse the bookshelves and all manner of people checking out and returning books. The only other person using the wireless internet was diligently doing her Internet work while her brother sat there staring at her. He didn’t have any books or anything to do, so he kept staring at her angrily. This went on for half an hour and the girl never flinched! Oops!

We kind of have a love-​hate relationship. The first time I came here all amped up to study, some lady did-​not-​yell-​but-​spoke-​very-​loudly-​at-​me about my computer power cord and how it was a hazard to others. SIGH. I guess I stretched it too far across the table area? It was embarrassing. Not only did I feel self conscious about going back to school — now I was being reprimanded by people in public. Sneef!
I wish they were open later and they wouldn’t say those scary we’re closing in 10, 9, 8.. . messages over the intercom! Again, scary! OK, so this is sounding more hate than love so I will say the library is nice and clean. And there are lots of tables and it is close to my APT. Better than Starbucks for the easily distracted studier but definitely has some kinks!

This library is definitely pretty small, but I like that. It’s really cozy and not too crowded. There’s hardly ever a wait to use the internet (although why do I always get stuck between a guy who reeks of alcohol and a guy coughing up his lungs?). One of the older librarians is very talkative and friendly. She’s unusual but nice!

A Government run entity that has smiling people who can’t wait to help you and lovingly do so. WOW!
Whats your excuse now Post office and every other Chicago city office.

I came in looking for a library card, not for a discussion on semantics.
After years of blackmailing my mother into getting books from her library for me I finally got a card of my own. I know cards are free, but I figured it was the least she could do in exchange for all of the little projects I do for her (re-​grouting sinks, rewiring lamps, etc.).
On the plus side it’s a library aka free book, music and video store (assuming you return your stuff on time) and it has a parking lot.
On the minus side it is small and the application process seemed to take forever. I completed the application before getting in line, but the librarian took so long educating me on the finer points of CPL system that the line quadrupled before my card was issued. The hold up was that she hit the highpoints and rules in painstakingly slow detail. I’m all for being environmentally friendly, but I think a handout, rather than a lecture, would have benefitted everyone.
After I finally got my card we got into an annoying exchange over semantics. I was trying get a book not available at my local library (meaning branch). Twice the librarian saw fit not only to correct me (which I didn’t mind), but explain that the CPL is ONE library with SEVERAL branches. She didn’t even begin the search for my book on her super slow computer until after she completed her CPL system lecture, ugh!
Since I can do most things via the internet (except signing up for a card) hopefully the rest of my experiences are less time consuming and frustrating.

This is not the place for aimless browsing. There is not nearly enough here to occupy your time.
Floorspace is primarily occupied by fiction. Fine if you want a quick book to read on the EL, not so great otherwise.
Employees are hit or miss. Some are very helpful in assisting you to request a book from another library branch (as you will likely have to do, this place is tiny and selection is very limited). Some are … not very helpful.
However, proximity to public transit make it an OK place for a quick fix. Just don’t come with any specific book in mind. Odds are, it’s not here.

Yes, I know libraries are publicly funded and therefore suffer from a certain amount of «lack» of funding. Still, that’s not enough of an excuse for the disorganization running rampant at this and many of Chicago’s other libraries.
Some of the staff at this location are helpful (actually, only one person) others are not. Added to the total disregard for any quality customer service behavior is the often autistic-​like, or OCD, nature of the staff. Procedure is (and must!) be followed at all times, leading to long wait-​times and never picking simple solutions.
While there are many tables for such a small library, free wi-​fi and a decent selection of fiction, these aren’t enough incentive to want to spend any time at this library.