Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library

I’m happy with the staff. Sure, they’d rather you check yourself out, BUT when you do check out at the desk they are pleasant. I’ve had a few things to ask/​communicate over the last month and they provided pleasant service along with good recommendations.

Awful! What a disaster! This place needs to close down for renovations ASAP and hire a new staff. I don’t plan to return. It was raining buckets the day I visited. I normally go to Cleveland Park but because parking is such an issue at both Cleveland Park and newly renovated Tenleytown I opted to go to Chevy Chase since I was in the area and they had a parking lot! Score! Well when I walked in I thought I had gone back into time. The place looks like it hasn’t been renovated or remodeled since the late 80s. I went up the children’s section to get books for a lesson that I need to model on Monday. All and I mean all of the books were old, torn, dirty, and water damaged. I felt like I needed to wash my hands after handling them. The librarians were not friendly nor helpful as I browsed the stacks. I made my way downstairs to check out and was told that my special educators card was expired. I asked how and when I could renew and the young lady helping me tried to renew it to no avail. Meanwhile customers behind me just walked up the counter as if I was not being helped. Just rude, impatient, and entitled. One woman threw me a dirty look for no good reason. The negative energy was palpable. Finally the young lady disappeared to go find someone to ask a question about the card renewal. While she was gone I noticed that the skylight was leaking onto the carpet so I put a garbage can under it. The staff didn’t even notice! When the young woman finally returned a good 5 – 10 minutes later she was trailed by a blonde woman who was neither helpful nor accommodating. I presented my ID, the same IDs I used when I first was issued the card. She refused to renew my card stating that I needed a letter. Say what? Does she know how the school system works. Who on earth is going to write me a letter so I can get a special library card? I had an official ID card that should have been sufficient! So she tells me that «Yeah, we don’t know if you are still employed there.» Oh OK. Because I would actually be at the public library checking out kid’s books DURING SUMMER VACATION for my own reading pleasure. Excuse the sarcasm, but it was downright ridiculous. Last time I checked the title said District of Columbia PUBLIC library. This woman was acting as if I was trying to steal the books or something. I had no outstanding books or outstanding charges yet she was treating me as if I was trying to get away with stealing their raggedy books. I hope they are planning a renovation soon because I wouldn’t be surprised if that place isn’t full of mold from the leaks. I plan to never return to this useless branch and hope DCPL reads this because they should be ashamed to have such a shoddy library in operation.
**Update: I went to check the DCPL website information and it conflicts with what I told. Firstly, «some other official documentation» is acceptable to renew the card. That IMO would be an official picture ID. Secondly, The card was not even expired according the website. The card was good through July 31! So I promptly wrote into DCPL to find out what the issue is with the branch. I was really insulted by the way I was treated when I was simply trying to check out books on what should have been a valid card with no outstanding materials or balances.

I visited once to return a book with a client.
Staff was very patient with me and my client’s complicated request. They maintained their respect and cool.
Bookshelves were organized and the library itself was very clean.

Wow, never thought I’d give a negative review to a library of all places, but the Chevy Chase branch has such ill-​tempered staff that I’m peeved enough to review them. I noticed that some books I’d dropped off the previous evening hadn’t been taken off my account the following day, so I called to follow up to make sure I didn’t accrue fines. Not only did the man who answered my call cop a major attitude to my honest question, he then informed me the taking the books out of the drop box takes a full day to process, so they wouldn’t be removed from my account until the next day… when, of course, they will be overdue. This library has a great selection, but every experience I’ve had with the staff has left me with an incredibly sour taste in my mouth.

Service here basically sucks. None of the librarians are friendly– all are very stony, some are short and rude.
However, it’s a good place to study. It’s not crowded or filled with homeless like some other D.C. libraries. You can find a seat any time of day and there are no loud packs of wild children roaming around.
It’s got a lot of DVDs and comics; ironically, a little light on books. But you can order online from any library in the city and have them sent here, so that’s not really a big deal.
I think most people come here for free internet. I’ve never tried to get a computer, but it looks like it would be frustrating to try.

Dayum, DC libraries need funding like whoa. They are using some archaic methods that most other libraries I’ve visited/​worked in the past decade have already phased out. Stamping the book strips still? I guess I should be glad they’re not using Dewey cards. Parking is a free-​for-​all along the residential side streets, but the stoplight’s not convenient to the one with more parking. Don’t walk into the school next to it by accident unless you enjoy looking like a pedo. Staff members at the small circulation counter are gruff but not rude. A small side table serves to display popular titles. Holds are by the information desk (literally, an office desk, not one of those sprawling circular library desks). Basic ID needed to sign up for a card, though they haven’t quite worked password changes into the system.
Pro-​tip: book waiting lists are MUCH shorter at DC libraries than in the MoCo, Arlington, or Fairfax County systems.

I arrived at this library and signed in to use the computer just like everyone does. When my time comes to use it, this middle-​aged Asian lady was upset because she thought she should be the next person to use the computer-​apparently her time that was allocated to her to log on had expired. She approached one of the staff at the library about the situation. This library employee turned off the computer i was using from her desk or literally «kicked» my name out. Automatically this Asian lady’s name came up. I was so infuriated because not only was the manager by the name of Tracy Myers sounded so ignorant, she also had the audacity to tell me that «Sir. you had your chance to talk.» I am SMH for this country because of their racial undertones which they probably think people might not recognize or detect when it occurs. Is it my fault that the Asian lady wasn’t paying attention? If i was the one not paying attention, would i be given back my position-​even if someone else’s name comes on the screen? I don’t usually come to a library to use a computer because i have 3 computers, but i just had to check up on something really quick. I already told the manager that i am going to the department of state library to furthercomplain about this unfair act.

I like this library a bit better than the Cleveland Park branch because of it’s size. If I go to a library these days it’s most likely to use the internet. They have more terminals available for this. It’s also quieter I think because of the size which allows people to be spread out.

A nice library for those that live on/​near Connecticut Ave. NW near Chevy Chase.

Hey, there’s a library here!
Just wanted to put it on the map… you know the deal… get books for free, keep them for a pretty darn long time, renew them for a longer time, save your Politics & Prose fund for sushi instead. Have proof of your DC residency? You can get a card on the spot.
Chevy Chase makes it legit, number of delinquents on the premises is minimal to none. Beautiful neighborhood, green trees everywhere, plenty of cafes and restaurants. Just don’t spill your cappuccino on that book!