Emmet O’Neal Library

This is my go-​to library. Librarians are great. And the study/​work rooms are a terrific resource for those who need to get off-​site to work. There are a zillion activities with librarians who are super-​passionate about getting kids to read. The WiFi is fantastic. They even have free coffee on the second floor, making them aces in my book.
There are two things that keep this from being a great library, however:
1) The noise. The architect was a bonehead, I have to say. The second floor is open to the first floor, so you hear every single extraneous noise when people walk into the place. Every conversation, every toddler’s scream, whatever, comes filtering up to the second floor. And, during the summer time, it sounds like Chuck-​e-​Cheese with all the kids coming in for activities and the whatnot. Good luck trying to concentrate in all that.
At the same time, the grownups don’t seem to be any better-​behaved. Mind you, I’m not one of those officious library Nazis who come unglued at every little noise. I’m talking about grownups having non-​stop conversations in normal speaking voices. It’s especially bad in the periodicals department where the same group of old men sit around, read newspapers, and bitch about the government nonstop like a really grumpy Greek chorus. You mention this to the librarians and they roll their eyes in agreement, but seem powerless to stop it.
2) The selection. Gotta say it. The Emmet O’Neal Library is thin on the classics, but has the world’s biggest selection of beach books. Every potboiler from the year 1970 onward is on the shelves, but try to find a good classic. One of my reading projects has been to work my way through the Modern Library’s Top 100 novels. Mind you, these are the most important books of the past century. Yet it’s really hit-​and-​miss on whether they’ll be found on the shelves. But they have every syllable Andrew Greeley or Jackie Collins has ever typed.

Probably one of the most impressive libraries I’ve visited before! I haven’t been to a library in a while, but we bring the daughter here for story time! She enjoys it! On Saturday a guy plays the guitar and sings stories to the kids. This library has a lot to choose from and is located in a good spot! This library encourages me to come more because of the amenities they offer unlike most.