Columbus Metropolitan Library – Gahanna Branch

Friendly staff. Great selection of books. This place has free wifi and comfortable seating to spend some time perusing books.

TERRIBLE TEENAGE READING BUDDIES
Spoke with the manager, Mary Campanelli, about this problem, but I felt it wasn’t enough. We have just moved to Gahanna from Pickerington area and have frequented the Reynoldsburg Reading Buddies program with my 5 year old who ABSOLUTLY loves to read. We loved the well organized program and enthusiastic readers at this location and looked forward to more of the same in Gahanna.
NO SUCH LUCK! My daughter and mother visted here on August 4^th, 2015. What a disappointment. The announcement was made overhead that the «Reading Buddies where NOW available. They then went to the reading area. When they arrived, a staff member then proceeded to make an announcement to the almost 10 teenage volunteers that where present in the area, «Who would like to volunteer for a reading buddy?» REPEATED. None of these so called Reading Buddies wanted to READ. No one volunteered to Read to my 5 year old daughter! NO ONE! How rude and embarrasing. First impressions are truly lasting. The adult staff member at this point tried to make an attempt to «save face» by saying she would basically pick someone herself. NO THANKS, all of these teenagers had the wrong attitude to be reading to an enthusiac, bright young 5 year old, so my mother respectfully declined. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT GAHANNA BRANCH! This doesnt match how much we have truely enjoyed Gahanna thus far, Truely!
My Advice: find an ADULT Reading Buddy instead, or a better branch.

Another venture to a branch of the Columbus Metro Library. This location is huge, nice and has a vast selection of everything from new and older books for adults and children, magazines, newspapers, plenty of computers and lounge areas, tons of dvds and cds, I have to say I think this is the largest location I have been to. As all others locations the staff is great and the simpley fast and efficient self check out is great. I am so glad Columbus has so many locations! This one is closest to my house so I can see myself frequenting this location most.

The Gahanna branch is one of the larger ones, with 175,000 volumes and those volumes can be found mostly in certain areas. Stacks in the children’s section are numerous, as well as fiction and nonfiction in the adult section. However, I wasn’t too impressed by the teen’s section as it is rather small. Same goes for the audiovisual section, which is just okay in size.
I do give props for their dedication to study. A homework help center is available. There is also a room that can be closed off where students meet with tutors or for small group study where there are tables, chairs and vending machines. Near the teen section and the 60 minute computers there is a quiet study area with many tables and chairs and is also closed off.
Computers are plentiful and there is access to Wi-​Fi. Seating is abundant, but some of it is in high traffic areas which would not make for quiet and uninterrupted reading or study.
I’d make it about three and a half stars, actually.