Palatine Public Library District

This is my home library and I live in Schaumburg! I’ve bee a weekly subscriber since mid 80’s! Their fantastic because they have a lively varied Event Calendar! I’ve gone to programs about Downtown Abby food and was shown what they ate how they prepared it! Tastes good! Holds, requests and the people like Becky, Gale, Barb, Whitney and even the newbies are so well trained and helpful! Couldn’t ask for a better library! I can go to others, but I usually don’t unless I’m meeting a friend at their library, like Schaumburg!
I made a request for a book that had been out of print for over 20 years and then they got it from
U of I college library for me and I had 3 weeks to read it!
One of my favorite groups is the Tea on Tuesday book group where we share books we’ve read and love! We give them the info if they want to read it too! Great way to find books that you wouldn’t normally have picked but you love them!

I don’t know too much about the library itself. I went to this library because of their crazy book sale. They have about three book sales a year. You can search online to see when their next book sale will be. I went there because I’m a huge book fanatic, but I find buying them used is cheaper than buying them as they come out onto market. There were a lot of books to choose from and I found so many books I was interested in, and these books were still relatively current. I got two Dan Brown books, the Lost Symbol, and Angels and Demons, in hardback cover. I also got some classics like Frankenstein. Unfortunately, they only take cash and I had to learn that the hard way and put some books back. It was very cheap though. I paid about 8 dollars for 11 books.

As other people have pointed out, the parking situation is a bit ridiculous. I love that there’s an underground parking garage, I just wish I could park my car into one of those teeny tiny spots. Those poles certainly don’t help. The hours are mediocre as is the children’s area. It’s nice; however, most area libraries offer far better service and amenities. For what I pay the library in property taxes (i.e. ~$ 75/​year, for me at least), I should at least be able to park my car.
So the real reason I’m writing a review is this — they keep charging me for books I’ve returned. I return my books on time and I keep being charged late fines or the library says I lost the book. The library claimed I lost at least five books that were all returned well before their due dates. This has happened several times. I complained, got the fines removed, all was fine and well — until today. Today, I overheard another patron complaining of the same issue. They returned something, but the library claimed they never got it. I couldn’t work up the courage to go over there and back that poor woman up! So, friend, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry. This seems like a legitimate issue. Several staff members have been wonderful; however, that hasn’t been my typical experience at this library.
TL;DR, double check your fines and park wisely.

Great library with with lovely views of the lagoon out the window. Hard to find quiet a lot here though as the library staff doesn’t do anything about parents who let their kids treat the library as an amusement park. There are usually kids running around screaming and throwing books. I understand kids need to play, but come on, this is a LIBRARY.

BEST library in Palatine! I love this place and love their selection. I also love books so I can get lost in this place for hours. It is fairly quiet and has tons of space to hide and study or get lost in a manga. They have tons of dvd’s, cd’s, and audio books. i tend to veer towards those — cuz then you have something to listen to while stuck in traffic. just make sure you return in time — esp. for movies cuz i think the overdue fees are like over $ 1.50 or something!

I grew up in Palatine and remember the small old library. The building is pretty spacious, two floors with elavators. My favorite thing is not only can you check out books but also new movies and CD’s. My only wish is that I usually take my 4 year niece to check out some family movies, but I still struggle to find good quality movies, but I guess it’s not the library’s fault (um, Hollywood). Anyway, my favorite thing to do is to be able to check out a laptop for free for 2 hours and use Study Room 1, where it’s quite spacious to kick back and listen to apps while surfing. All the library staff are always so friendly. I really enjoy coming here for the atmosphere as well.

My new favorite place outside of the gym and the chiropractor’s office of course! Can’t wait for the new renovation… The palatine library is a great place to relax and regain that mental clarity I need! Keep up the great work!

This place is fantastic!
They have a great kid section that is welcoming and inviting for kids to read!
I like how big it is and you have many options to choose from as far as where you want to study or read. For the most part it’s easy to find all of the books/​cd/​dvds you are looking for. I am a HUGE fan of requesting books online and picking them at the Rand Road Branch. I also in love that they have multiple copies/​set of books for teachers to request from. The Rand Road Branch staff are super friendly and even know me by name since I am there almost every other day picking up books.
I absolutely love how they try to get the community involve. I always see workshops or meetings for kids and their parents. I am a big advocate for parents and children spending time together in the library. The more brain power the better.
My only con is that they put the travel section in with the rest of the books. I practically cried since I loved going into the travel section and randomly looking at the pictures and decided where my next destination would be. I now have to actually think about it, find where the books/​magazines are and then decided. I have decided to just use the request service online and have them read for me to pick up.

Great library. Really nice atmosphere. Excellent video section. Lots of computers available for anyone who needs one. One of the better libraries I have seen in the area.

Oh, Palatine Library, how I adore you. You always have everything I’m looking for. Your magazine selection is exquisite, your books are marvelous, your employees are friendly, and your audiovisual section is so large that it requires its own room! You never seem to be too crowded either. I don’t have to wait long in the checkout line, a computer is always available, the building is quiet, and I can usually find a place to sit. You feed my mind beautifully.
There is just one main thing about you that I don’t like: parking is odd with the one-​way path and tight parking spaces. Some parking spots are located kind of behind the building and I have to walk around to get to the front door. Why did you do this to me? However, I don’t mind because I can always find a spot and get in and out quickly or take my sweet, sweet time depending on the nature of my visit. Still, I do wish you had planned your exterior layout a bit better.
Other libraries have tried to tempt me away, but you are near and dear to my, my new love. I am faithful to you. You do a pretty swell job at keeping me happy. I hope we do not need to break off our affair any time soon. See you later this week, love!

We are now no longer being forced to walk in the road during construction on the East Side so I’m going to upgrade this one star review for what should be a 5 star library to 3 stars because of the STILL dangerous outdoor parking that forces you to walk across traffic entering AND/​or exiting a dark parking garage.
I think the outdoor parking lots should be named after the architect AND Library Board President that brought the gavel down on that, imo, dangerous design. Anybody know the names? It will unfortunately Help with the lawsuit someday. Beware.
Please be careful! (great library once you get safely inside ;~)

I really enjoy going to PPLD. It has a wonderful selection of books, movies, music, and audio books. It even has some foreign language books also, and plentiful foreign DVDs! I remember as a kid going to the library and finding picture books to read. I remember as a grade schooler going to feed my thirst for books. And I remember as a high schooler going to study for the SATs and APs. I love how they always update the testing books so that there is a current book of each test circulating, although there was only one copy of AP Physics C study guide (oh well). They also got rid of the paper maps in the back, which I missed since I remember looking through them was a child.

The parking is a little odd, but the books are great! :) The different sections are well marked, and there is a nice kids’ section too. Lots of different programs and the staff are helpful.

Rarely are there two great libraries so close to one another. This library offers a very easy going setting of tranquility and peace. It offers its patrons a quiet relaxing escape and a breathtaking view away from the urban sprawl.

WOW! This is how a library should be! Part of it is laid out like a bookstore with sections marked off making it easy to find what you’re looking for. When you first walk in there’s a section of the new books on display. There are lots of people working there so you don’t have to wait in long lines.
The multi-​media section is unbelievably HUGE! The DVDs/​CDs/​Audio and Visual materials has its own ROOM. It’s laid out like a video store making materials easy to find.
I like to park in the underground garage since it’s closer to the entrance (although you have to take the elevator or stairs up to the main level).

The library is open with very good hours and a very friendly staff, during the summer the library gets decorated for the kids and also for christmas and other holidays. The saturday movie service is quite nice as it allows you to go on the cheap and still get «big screen» viewing. The selection of books is quite amazing for such a small looking building. The areas are not very crammed and it is extremely accessible.
And, they have free broadband Wi-​Fi access. Makes for a great place to go when your houses internet is down.