Montgomery County Public Libraries – Wheaton Branch

This library is a buzzing hub of this community! I stopped in here for a quiet study nook and was impressed by how many patrons use this place. There are ESL classes going, lawyers advising their clients (I tried NOT to eavesdrop) and tutors teaching eery subject under the sun.
I felt smarter just walking in this place!
Now, you must know that Silver Spring has a new library that is way fancier… but that does not seem to have impacted this place at all.

I have frequented many libraries and as a first time-​visitor, this library does offer something that not all libraries do (1) it has a huge bookstore (I have seen so many little ones, and some libraries that use a cart to sell books!); (2) meeting rooms; (3) study rooms! It draws lots of the crowd with wi-​fi and though I did not use it, there are plenty of tables reserved upstairs for laptop users.
Their magazine selection is reasonable. The library looks a bit dated (like 80s-​90s era), so it gives a rustic feel. Wished I visited the libraries more often in my short stay in Maryland! Their hours are also pretty decent — open til 9PM (Mondays-​Thursdays) and it’s open everyday!

I bring my students from my school here almost everyday The facility and resources here are great. The used bookstore on the first floor is delightful. That being said, there are two downfalls that I wish they would improve:
1. The attitude of SOME of the staff: I have had several interactions with the staff that has been less than pleasant. I find several of them to be down right rude, and often to my special education students. One day I was standing in line waiting for the man behind the desk to notice me. When he finally did, he said «do you want something or are you just standing in the way?» Seriously? Not professional. I was waiting for you to look up and do your job.
2. The Wi-​Fi. It really is terrible here. I get kicked off about every 5 minutes making it very hard for me to get my work done on my laptop. This seems like something basic that a library should have under control.
If you just need to pick up a book, this library can be great. Spending signigicant amount of time here can really get to you.

The staff is helpful and will do their best to answer any questions you may have.

Honestly I used to love wheaton. We went there all the time when I was a kid. NOW I pretty much hate… Sorry not hate, I HIGHLY detest wheaton Library. The fact that you have to pay to rent dvds is stupid. That is what our taxes are supposed to pay for. And it smells gross when you walk in, wifi is doesn’t even work half the time. Second, you can’t renew ANY dvds at all. You get 5 days and thats it. And it’s a $ 1.00 PER dvd fine every day your late. I’m not saying I want to be late but sometimes things happen. So if you rent several dvds at once and something does happen, it adds up.
(For example: I rented 5 dvds for my 3 kids and my husband. Our car broke down and I was two days late. Thats $ 10 right there.) And it’s not like they were nice about it when I explained what happened. When you want to rent a complete tv series they don’t put all the 10 discs into one or two dvds. NO they have to separate them INDIVIDUALLY. So you have to pay for EACH disc and end paying $ 5 to rent ONE TV SERIES. That is just ridiculous. If I wanted to spend that much money to rent a stupid dvd, I’d go to blockbuster. CarolStream Public Library you can rent as many dvds/​books as you want, 25 cents a day fine, you get dvds for a whole week, you can renew them up to 3 times, and you don’t have to pay SQUAT!

This is a pretty good library. The books are fairly organized whenever I visit, other than the occasional odd copy here or there that people stick in random places. I’ve used their computers a few times, and while not exactly what I’d call updated with the latest technology, it does what it does well. The kids’ area is an especially nice section to briefly stop by whenever I bring any little ones with me. The librarians are always nice and eager to help me with anything, and the noise level is always low, which I highly appreciate.
It could do better (Germantown library anyone? Or even Rockville for that matter) but I’ve also seen some libraries less organized than this one. Ordinarily, I’d give this library three stars, but I tag on an extra one for their secondhand bookstore downstairs. It’s an absolute goldmine. Books for a few dollars each galore. There are plenty of gems in there, and while heavily disheveled with books literally all over the place, it is most definitely well worth the visit.

The fact this library is so highly rated makes me sad there are so many who’ve never seen a library that is actually awesome and equipped for modern patrons.
This library smells bad inside – the very first thing you notice walking in.
The WiFi is slow: I ended up tethering to my phone instead because the 3G speeds on it were faster than the WiFi.
There aren’t nearly enough outlets to plug in near the desks, not really the library’s fault since it’s an older building that pretty much never conceived a day where patrons would be bringing in electronic devices to work with.
The atmosphere is a bit dreary and depressing. There’s a station on the second floor with a stapler and electronic pencil sharpener. Next to it: a sign reading «Sorry, but we do not have sufficient supplies.» Later an old man well past eighty came in to have a librarian help him find a 1 – 800 number for a business. Not an obscure business, mind you: I’m talking a Fortune 500 company. Like I said, depressing.
Did I mention the place smells bad?
The good:
The staff are friendly, if a bit ridiculous in how married they are to following process and bureaucracy to the letter. Instead of handing me the new library card she had just activated in front of me, she had me fill out an envelope so that it could then be mailed to me because, «That’s the process we use.» Way to waste paper and postage. The recipient is standing in front of you, dear.
Patrons are quiet. Even patrons’ kids were well behaved for the most part.
All in all, not a shabby place to work remotely when you’re away from home base, but be prepared to bring your own wifi hotspot if your job is better served by having a speedy internet connection.
If you really want to see what a five-​star library looks like, check out any library in the Arlington County, VA system – especially the Central and Shirlington branches.

This place has a ton of people in it but it is quiet. Can you imagine? I can actually study here, no problem! Love it! It’s great!

I spent a couple of years living in DC slaving away at a law firm and feeling sorry for myself. When it all got to be too much, I would hop on the metro and then hike down to the Wheaton Library — or, more importantly, to the Wheaton Library basement, where the Friends of the Montgomery County Library run their giant, giant used bookstore. This place is the platonic ideal of the used bookstore — there is a lot of turnover with the selection, everything is super-​cheap, and they carry all those wonderful potboiler romance novels that actual used bookstores are too snooty to carry. Admittedly, they have valid financial reasons for doing so — I don’t think anyone would pay more than $ 1 for a used book from the 80s entitled «Love’s Deathless Passion» or similar, and if you’ve got rent to pay in downtown DC, you don’t want to waste the shelf space. But here at the Friends of the Montgomery County Library bookstore, you’re only going to be paying $ 1 for that book anyway! They also have an eclectic and frequently-​changing collection of history books, travel books, cookbooks, etc. etc. If you’re looking for something, you’ll probably find at the very least a close facsimile here. I find this place oddly soothing and visit whenever I’m in town and need a meditative break.
That said, to be honest I have never been a resident of Montgomery County and have therefore never attempted to use the actual library facilities. They look lovely, however.

This is one of the biggest in the Montgomery County system, yet they still don’t have enough computers. Many times I’ve come in and seen a 45-​minute queue, which usually doesn’t mean QUITE that long, but still a lot. For that, the rating can’t be very high.
On the other hand, they DO have the used-​book store in the basement, where there must be thousands of books for $ 2 and under. (Yes, they are often ANCIENT editions, but at that price!)
So combining a top rating for the store with a bottom rating for the computer area, you get a middling rating, and that’s 3 stars.

pretty damn near perfect for a library (which doubles as a used bookstore in the basement). LARGE selections of books, plenty of reading spaces, numerous titles in various (almost united nations like) languages, great kids section with room to romp around, clean and (mostly) quiet.
… and they have many local papers, too!

When I was a kid, my mom would bring me to Wheaton Library practically every weekend. Mostly because it was the nanny’s day off, and she really had no idea what to do with me. But also because Wheaton is MASSIVE and had a great kids section (of course, I usually wandered into the Sci-​Fi section, and if my mom knew I was reading Heinlein at 12, she would probably have killed a librarian or something). Of course, Kensington Library was closer to us, however, Wheaton had a much more comprehensive Chinese trashy-​novel section (heh…so glad my mom doesn’t read English or I would be so dead right now).
Anyways, now that I’m an adult, I come to Wheaton for the MASSIVELY AWESOME USED BOOKSTORE downstairs!!! Yes, some of the books are old books from the library… but most of them are donated. I’ve found a ton of out of print stuff — stuff that you can’t even find on Amazon anymore… all for less then $ 1.50!
That’s one of the best things about the Wheaton bookstore — most paperbacks are under $ 2! And when my husband was planning our honeymoon to Thailand — he picked up 3 or 4 Thailand travel books (all fairly recent), for under $ 15 total.
I love this awesome library and for any bookaphile, this is definitely a great gem to pick up books on a budget!

I don’t come here for the library, but for what is underneath it. The Friends of the Library operates a huge used bookstore on the first story. Thanks to this place, I have nearly stopped buying books new and have managed to amass a huge collection on the cheap. If you are a book nut, this would be heaven. I’ve rarely seen anything priced above $ 3 and I have found some real treasures here. It is a used bookstore so the stock is dependent on what people donate, but I have never left empty handed. If you want to read something on the bestsellers list, wait three or four months and you’ll find multiple copies here for one or two dollars. I mainly hang out in the science fiction, trade paperback, and general fiction sections, but the few times I’ve wandered into other sections, I have been pleased (and sometimes overwhelmed) by the selection. The best thing is I can take my old books I don’t want anymore here to donate and get tax credit.

Are you a budding cook looking for some classic cookbooks? A mystery addict blowing through a series of detective novels? A literary mind catching up on the great works of fiction? A political junkie who can’t afford to spend their whole paycheck on all of the recent tomes on the challenges of the Bush presidency? Or someone who just loves books on the cheap?
If so, the Wheaton Friends of the Library store (located in the basement of the library) is for you. Great, eclectic selection with most books in the 50 cent-​$ 1 range (and few over $ 3), and proceeds going to support the library. For a budget reader, this store is like manna from heaven!

Here I am taking refuge at my second favorite library (Rockville is #1), thanks to last night’s «tornadic» winds that knocked out my cable & internet. The wireless internet here is pretty reliable, though it took a minute for my laptop to take. During work hours, it’s really quiet here, and, aside from the man next to me who doesn’t know where his ringing cell phone is, most people are respectful of the cell phone rule.
It’s a pretty sizeable library with plenty of tables and chairs, a lot of computers, ample parking, a quiet room that is strictly enforced and staff that are strangely friendly ALL the time.

A decent library, but not my favorite. Wheaton Library is huge. It is not the library that I frequent the most, but when I am there you can find me in the children’s section looking for themed books for my classroom. The children’s librarian is extremely helpful.
The rest of the library is just okay. It can be kinda loud at times. At one visit there was a woman screaming at her child in the lobby. A librarian had to go and shout at her to be quiet.
One nice feature of this branch is their Friends of the Library used book room in the basement that is open everyday (Yes, the library is open on Sunday.) and closes ½ an hour before the library does. They have lots and lots of books and it is fairly well organized by genre. FYI: They are holding a spring clearance sale April 12 – 13. Check out their website for details.