Columbus Metropolitan Library

I have recently visitors this library as I had few hours to spend. This is a huge library in the downtown. It has got all the sections of the library with amazing views where you can spend sometime reading the book on a quiet place. They have big kids section with lot of activities for kids from all ages. Must visit if you are in to reading.

This library is so beautiful! The staff are so friendly and helpful. The book collection is huge and it's easy to find whatever you're looking for. And the giant bugs are so cool.

Visited for the Columbus BookFest. I believe this is the third year, though my first time attending. The weather was super hot on Saturday and Sunday, though it also rained on Saturday. The library was awesome, as were the topiary grounds. Very picturesque. There were numerous booths selling books and other merchandise. Many food trucks as well. There were also a LOT of authors, which is the reason for coming. Our primary objective this trip was to meet Matt Dinniman (Dungen Crawler Carl series) who was VERY popular at this event. I'd be willing to bet he was THE MAIN attraction based on crowds, long lines. Though he wasn't meant to sign all day Sunday, he made himself available to do just that, ensuring anyone who wanted to, could have their book signed. Such a great stand-up guy! He went the extra mile and signed while walking around the event too.. which is when my daughter got her books and such signed. Check out the series if you haven't already! The audiobooks are AWESOME. Overall, a very successful event, and worth the trip.

So great, loved the baby room! I just discovered that they had this!! So fun for babies who are crawling and learning to walk!

You can spend the whole day here. Lots of things to do. Free lunch, in door activities, story time, and outdoor activities. They even have parking just pay a couple of dollars and your ready for fun, adventure, and laughs.

Honestly, the most beautiful library I've ever been to. This was my main library 15+ years ago and this was my first time back since then. The renovations and additions they have made are so incredibly nice. The Children's area is incredibly special and my kids could've spent all day there. The books are so well organized and the staff was so nice. Columbus is so lucky to have such a beautiful space!

Really spectacular library. Able to attend a special event tonight! Such a wonderful addition to our city!

First time visiting CML this Sunday and I must say this is the largest library I’ve ever been in. My children and I immediately noticed the Lego display and we loved it. My kids really enjoyed the children’s library where they got a chance to play with other children. Staff were very friendly and helpful. I also like the fact that the library gave me a map so that I knew what area to pick out books for myself. Library was clean and quiet while I was there. I will have to come back on a weekday to check out the cafe. I recommend visiting this library.

This is not just your grandfather's Library. Modern libraries have become spaces for meetings, education, and educational development for patrons. Of course, books are available, but also computer resources, classes, civic, gatherings, art displays, and so much more that enriches our city culturally, educationally, and in terms of quality of life. There is parking available on a limited basis in an attached garage, of which the entrance is found at the side of the library building. other parking is available on the street and in nearby garages and flat lots. In a world where so much has come to rely upon other forms of infotainment, this building is and remains a temple for print and other forms of reading. One of my favorite features are the holiday displays and events that occur throughout the year. The stunning architecture and exquisite white marble are a fitting tribute to the treasures housed within.

This is a beautiful building. I'm a bookworm, so I was excited to check out the local library. There's a deck attached to make parking easy. There's a cafe on the main level and plenty of space to get cozy with a book. You can rent meeting rooms or reserve study rooms if need be and there's a help desk on each floor. They also have a well stacked eveny calendar!

I have to say it is such a beautiful library! Building is gorgeous. There are so many books and so many spaces to read. Happened to be there for the annual book festival! It was a hot day and the library was so nice and cool. They had several authors present signing autographs and selling their books. There was a Lego replica of the CBUS Zoo! It was a fun time! There were so many people and not much parking. They did have a lot of food trucks! Love this library!

The architecture of this library is fantastic. It feels modern but at the same time you can see features of the original library. The kids activities that they have are alwaus worthwhile. Also the staff has always been so friendly. It is always a joy to do to this library.

I love this library! Lots of space for reading or working, a little café on the first floor for snacks/drinks, huge selection of books and online resources, a whole art gallery, helpful and friendly librarians, community events like author readings, culture passes to local museums/events... all within a beautiful historic building. And it even has a lovely patio space that is right alongside Topiary Park. You could easily spend a whole day here reading, eating, walking around the park. It is lovely. They even offer free basic notary services! I actually can't even cover everything the library offers, it is too extensive. They are a great community resource for anything you need! I hope in the future they add more resources I've seen other libraries around the country offer like seed catalogues, tool lending libraries/library of things, or makerspaces.

Founded in 1873, The Columbus Metropolitan Library incorporates the best of historic architecture with state of the art library technology. From the grand marble staircase to high speed internet access, this three floor library is of museum quality. Street parking is available, as well as, parking in the North Library Parking garage which runs $1 for every two hours. The first hour is free. The parking garage does have a maximum height clearance. There is easy access by bus. The library has three floors with a grand chandelier, high arched ceilings, art galleries, murals, an auditorium, meeting rooms, study areas, cafe, gift shop and of course a ton of books and computer center. The back of the library has a patio and is adjacent to the Topiary Garden. The library has a helpline that can be called for assistance. The online catalog system makes finding what you need easy and convenient. In the event the library does not have what you are looking for they have an inter-library loan system. A unique feature in this library is their online questionaire which once completed allows the library to create a book list tailored to your interests. Ebooks, audiobooks, films & documentaries, movies, magazines, newspapers, comics and graphics are some of the other offerings. I came to checkout their meeting rooms for availability and functionality. The cafe on the first floor named "Carnegies" serves snacks, drinks, fruits, muffins and flavored coffee. The patio in the rear of the building has tables, chairs and umbrellas.

After exploring a bit of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, it became clear that this is much more than a place to rent books. I'll get right to it: Parking: There is a garage just north of the library off of the aptly named 'Library Park North'. The first hour is free, and rates go up by about $1 every two hours after, extremely reasonable for any downtown area. Aesthetics: This is one of the nicer looking library's I've visited. It has both old school and new school vibes, with beautiful architecture and high arched ceilings with murals near the main entrance, but then modern vibes with floor to ceiling windows from what I presume is a somewhat recent renovation to the main part of the building. They also have a few rooms just for artwork on the second floor if you venture into the right area. Workspaces: This one has me torn. There is definitely an abundance of places to read, work, etc, with spots spread throughout all three floors. They also have several meeting rooms, and designated study rooms. However, the study rooms themselves are extremely small -- honestly just looking at them made me claustrophobic. The meeting rooms are nice, but some of them are completely exposed with glass on all four sides as if you are in a fish bowl. The other study spots throughout the library are in very large, open spaces which is nice if things stay quiet. But if there is even the slightest bit of noise it tends to echo throughout the space. Tables near the outer edges are more likely to have outlets. Food/drink: They have a cafe called 'Carnegie's' on the main floor. It was closed on the Saturday morning when I went, and I was unable to find any sign regarding hours. They also don't have any vending machines for snacks or other drinks. But they do have water bottle re-fill stations near the bathrooms. Side note: The areas near the back of the library overlook Topiary Park, which provides a good view while enjoying a book or getting some work done! There is also an outdoor patio between the library and the park with umbrella-covered table and chairs, which could be a cool spot if the weather's nice.

This library is remarkable and so fun to wander through and explore. I live downtown and have only walked there so parking has never been an issue for me. The yard and gardens are always looking top notch and inside, it's rather pristine. It also looks pretty modern inside despite it being as old as it is. I always love admiring the giant chandelier inside. So artsy. On top of mounds and mounds of books, you'll find a shop, a cafe, and more. The kids section is great. My niece and nephew have spent time here and loved it. They also decorate during the holidays and different times of year. It's neat to see. Oh, and free wifi too. I think Columbus has a wonderful library system and I'm happy to say that I live within walking distance of two branches. Now, I need to start utilizing them more! If you love books, have kids and want something free and fun to do, need an open meeting space, etc. don't hesitate to head this way.

I am highly disappointed in the Columbus Metropolitan Libraries! We just voted to give the libraries millions and millions in funding and for what? They still have mostly old and very outdated books, especially science books. And they change their hours and close earlier on Fridays and Saturdays and many locations are closed on Sundays. I will never vote to help the Columbus Libraries again because the funding will not go to actually making the library more accessible and more educational for the people.

Since getting back from a 6 month journey in South America, I realized how amazing our public library system really is. Daily, Im walking over to the central library -- working at a table near the open yard windows and learning from the vast books and materials available with a free library card. So many opportunities for personal development and advancement through our local library system. It isn't a social environment, per se, but for those who are maintaining personal culture, processing a change of country, or arriving in Columbus for the first time -- the library stands as a positive environment for wellness, improvement, and peace.

Best library in central ohio.its plenty to do and see. Staff loves to help and you can tell when you ask for help. Love it.

This library is breath taking. The staff is kind. They have a super cool art section. There are different levels for different types of books. The children's section is decorated nicely and has a large amount of resources. They have small study rooms and large conference rooms you can utilize.There is a nice park not far from it and a cool seating section outside. This is a great place for people to learn.

I absolutely love studying here. It's one of Columbus's absolute gems. There are three floors of tables, books, and artwork spread throughout. I also enjoy utilizing the study rooms you can rent for up to 2 hours twice a day (max 4 hours); they are private rooms for just you and maybe a friend or two. They also have meeting rooms for larger groups. The rooms are fairly sound proof, but the library is pretty quiet on a typical day. It has a great nature view as well as some beautiful architecture. I promise you, it's your dream library!

Friendly staff and lots of resources. Books and spots to read is great. Easy to use app. The CML card is a great deal and a ticket to loads of free ebooks, online content, magazines, movies and local venues. Love it!

Lovely library! There was a lego exhibit this past summer. The pics here say it all...beautiful library!

This new remodel is amazing. So much space, amazing sections for teens and kids, and just so nice in general. I am sad that this wasn't built when I was a Columbus resident. I had the pleasure of stopping in with my family while I was in town and was truly impressed. Thy have quiet study rooms you can reserve which are super nice. Cafe downstairs as well as a little gift shop. A small art gallery on the second floor. Great library.

Ah! I could be there everyday literally! Why can't this be 24/7? I love this place so much! They do such a tremendous job in keeping up with their cleanliness, events and so on. Their decor is amazingly marble.

The main location was always considered a treat to visit when i was a kid. The large rooms of books were inviting and it was easy to get lost if you weren't careful. The recent remodel makes it even nicer than it was before, if that's possible. The kid's section really had kids in mind. Toilets, doors, and chairs that are sized for small, vertically challenged people. Imagine that! The reading room has so much natural light and is simply gorgeous. I like the art that's located across the various floors. The train is back this holiday season as is the Weasel art piece which always scared me as a kid but it was also fun to pick out the various animals. There's an art exhibit right now on the second floor where you can vote for your favorite piece of local art. I saw paintings, photographs and mixed media pieces. The back entrance/exit flows nicely into the Topiary Park. The former Ohio School for the Deaf next door is now the home of Cristo Rey which will be a future review. I attended a lecture on the renovations by the architects in the lobby area and it was a great meeting space.

I like the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library the best. It's the biggest and has lots more resources than most of the suburban locations. The library is in a good area close to downtown convenient to many attractions. It's a beautiful looking building and it's nice just looking around it. There's also a cafe and other perks. As one of the oldest libraries in the area, it needed some good attention. It recently had a renovation which expanded some areas and modernized some others. The lobby is much nicer looking than it was. It has more food options at the cafe. The upstairs areas also look cleaner and more organized. A good thing about the location is it's close to fun attractions. The Topiary park is right next to it, and can be seen from outside the windows. If you're going to drive there, know there's almost nowhere to park except the garage. The benefit is that it's free for up to one hour. I like the Columbus Metropolitan Library system and this location is the best. It has more volumes than any other. The location is close to other sights.

Whooooo! This place is something else after the renovation in 2016. I used to come to this location all the time years ago. The library looks nothing like its former self. This place is so sleek and modern when you walk in. I've only been to the children's section, on the first floor, which is amazing. If I were a kid, I would love to come read, play, and learn here. It's very bright and kid-friendly. As someone who teaches kids, I love the wide selection that the Main Library has. The staff was very friendly and helped me pick out some good picture books for read alouds. I like the renovations to the Main Library and can't wait to return to do more exploring. Plus, the Columbus Library system got rid of late fees, which is definitely a plus in my book.

Loved the old library before the remodel. Now it's been opened up and as much as I like open space, some of it seems wasted. And my only other complaint is that there is no visible signage. You have to use the computer to find any and everything. That said, the collections and staff are still superb. And the infrastructure is even better. There is an amazing scanner/copier that can do just about anything you can think of with it. Looking forward to my next visit!

This location has always been my favorite for over 40 years. The staff are friendly and very helpful. However, there are homeless folk everywhere! While in my study room a person was staring at me, when I went to the restroom a guy was coming from the restroom with a large duffel bag with a washcloth. Finally, I went to get coffee and a bite to eat and most of the seats were filled with unaccompanied bags. I did find a seat and begin to enjoy my coffee and muffin, preparing to read, only to be interrupted. While I have a huge heart and tons of empathy, more needs to be done to help those in need. The outside area in the front and back are filled with the homeless as well

We love to go to the summer reading program kick off event each year. The performance by Jim Gill is fun for the kiddo and for us! This year there was a petting zoo outside and Star Wars characters inside for photo ops. We also got a free Cheryl's cookie for the little one and some animal crackers. We saw an ice cream truck there earlier but it was gone by the time we went outside. The library is a beautiful facility and has plenty of parking in the garage. We didn't make it out to see the topiary garden this time, but that is neat to have close by as well.

This place is amazing! The architecture and the maintenance is phenomenal. We roamed through all the floors, looked at their displayed arts from local schools and etc. They have something for any age group so that's a plus. Books, cafes, and a park connected to the library! Ah, what more can you ask for? My wife said, she could spend every day in here! Parking price is good too but it's not for big trucks. The parking ramp is pretty small.

This is a really nice library. I don't frequent it often, but maybe I should. I particularly liked the kids area that was HUGE and engaging with loads of electronics as well as books and a fish tank. Lots of seating amd places to curl up with a book amd kiddo too. I also enjoyed the staff picks that were out in front of every stack on the 2nd floor. There were some really interesting picks that I enjoyed leafing through. There was also a Carnegie art area with artists makings on display. Just a really nice visit. I would highly recommend it.

Being a huge library lover, and especially excited about the grand reopening over the summer, it is hard for me to believe it took me this long to visit. I took two granddaughters there on Friday to see the holiday train exhibit. First of all, the new lobby is amazingly grand. There is so much space now. The exhibit held the girls' attention for a good 30 minutes and even then I had to coax them into the new children's section. Again, this area is awesome. It's spacious, with lots of things for kids to do, including a cool table with seating and tablets for kids to play educational games on. I didn't make it upstairs to see adult sections, but will surely be back without the kids. It looks great.

I like this library because it has small and large study rooms, a coffee shop, and plenty of tables and space. The staff are helpful.

Wow! The main library renovation looks stellar. The space is slick and fresh, and the amenities are top notch. The first floor features a super cute kids area, with a special smaller entrance for them to use, great space to display a nice selection of colorful book covers to attract kids' eyes, an aquarium full of fish, games, and more. Other first floor amenities include a small gift shop with fun reading related items and Columbus themed items, and the Carnegie Cafe, which offers a selection of hot and cold beverages. There are two additional floors, offering more racks of books and media in bright spaces courtesy of large windows providing so much natural light. There are plenty of places to sit and read, courtesy of the giant Reading Room. If you need a more formal space to work, there are group and individual study rooms. The second floor also provides access to some gallery space, which is home to some really neat artwork, all of which relate in some way to books or reading. An attached parking garage with reasonable fees (and a free first hour! Just make sure to use the pay machines inside the library before you head out to go) provides easy access, and the library backs up to the fun Topiary Garden, which is worth a stroll.

The Library system in this town rocks, and the world knows it! That's why it is yearly ranked as one of the best around, wining the top spot in 2010. The main branch is just plain awesome. You can talk about the easy parking; you can talk about the great events; you can talk about the loads of books, DVD, Audio tapes, music, records; you can talk about the space, but what makes it great is the people. Always helpful, in love with their jobs, and knowledgeable, the full potential of this institution is in anyone's grasp. What would I have done without it? So many school paper, professional projects, personal family genealogies, journalistic research, and fun historical sleuthing of mine were helped by this place, its sister branches, and the helpful staff. I could not have went through college without it. Add that they are part of the art scene; currently the colorful scenes of Aminah Robinson are adorning the staircase, memorializing Columbus' black heritage and neighborhoods like Bronseville; add the vertigo inducing atrium with its neo-classic design, and you get a place well ready for a feature film. It's perfect for reading. The building itself is a historical and architectural landmark. Funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1907, its marble and granite construction is a great example of the Roman Classic style being revived at the time. If you have never visited do so. The staff will take all intimidation away, and they have everything you need. for work or play.

Took my 3 year old son here for the first time today and our experience exceded my expectations! First of all, the library is gorgeous inside and out and the staff I talked to were all really sweet and helpful since I was a little overwhelmed with the selection in the kids area. She really took her time to explain the layout and even helped me find all the books on my list. I also teach preschool in my home so I was getting books based on bird and frog themes - and part of the selection is already organized into themes (by holidays, environments, animals, etc) so that was awesome! We literally spent over 2 hours just in the kids section where my son enjoyed everything they had to offer: age appropriate computer games, letter learning games and puzzles, comfy reading area, train and lego table, a pretend play camping area where he "fished for letters," and his favorite was the large magnetic wall with letters & a coconut tree based from "chicka chicka boom boom." Also parking in the attached garage is crazy cheap. Paid $1 for 2.5 hours! We will definitely be returning soon!

I love to read when I can find the time. And this library (Columbus' main library) in downtown Columbus has the greatest selection of books - I've always been able to find everything I've needed here and more! The location is both good and bad. Being downtown makes it close to me and it was close to where I used to work. I used to walk down here on my lunch breaks and grab a book or two. And it's only about a 3 minute drive from my house. But parking isn't the best and sometimes I feel a little nervous coming here by myself. The library has a big parking lot to the right of it, but I've never parked there. You have to pay to park there and I know it's not a lot of money, but I've just never done it. I usually try to park on one of the streets beside the library at one of the meters. Most of the time I just try to walk here. But my problem with walking is that I always get so many books in one trip. I come here and suddenly I want to read everything and I walk out with a stack of books that is less than practical to carry. So it's helpful to have a car. You can buy a plastic bag in the library to carry your books. Yes, they charge for plastic bags. I think it's only about 10 cents, but it's still kind of a pain, especially when you don't have any change on you. Homeless people scatter the library grounds and can be found surfing the web and lurking in the stacks inside. They aren't a problem for the most part, but they seem so out of place in a building that looks so nice and clean. And sometimes when I come here and I'm by myself I can get a little apprehensive. A few times I've been here in the evenings when it is already dark and walking outside the library proves to be scary when homeless men are approaching you for change. Just makes me a bit nervous. Anyway, this library has a great selection and I use their website a lot before I even get to the library. I'll look up the books that I want and write down the call number so when I get there I can just go get what I want right away. But sometimes it's also nice to just wander the library and see what you come across. They have a lot of great displays and featured books that makes scouting for new finds easy. But if you don't plan ahead it's still easy to find what you need because there are computer stations everywhere that you can use to look up anything in the catalog. And what I love about this library is that if the main branch doesn't have something, one of the other branches in the city will. And you don't have to travel to another branch to get it. You can request a copy online and it will be sent to the library of your choice. I always have mine sent to this main library. And there's a room for the reserves towards the back past the costumer service and circulation desks. You just go back there and the books have little slips of paper sticking out of them with names on them. Find your name - they are in alphabetical order by the last names of those who placed the reserve - and you have your book! Checking out is also very easy. You don't even have to talk to any of the library employees (but if you do they have always been very nice in my experience). You just scan your library card and type in your PIN number and scan the barcode on the books. It will print you out a receipt when you're finished scanning and you're done! I really like the easy self-checkout. Another quick and easy feature of this library is the book return. I use this all the time if I have a book to return. You can turn into the library parking lot area and keep going straight so that you're driving right up beside the library building. Then you'll see return slots on the side of your driver's side window. You can just pull up your car and open the window and drop your returns in that slot. And you're done without ever having to get out of your car. The fees here aren't too bad, either. And trust me, I've accumulated some fees with some overdue books! I think it is only about 10 cents a day per book. It's nice though because you can view your account online and from there renew your books and even pay your library fines at home without going downtown to the library. I've done this before and it was very easy. Everything is so accessible here and easy to get to. The collections are also really vast. I was able to find a plethora of books that were written in French to help me study one time, and I love their collection of graphic novels. They have just about everything. I don't usually checkout the movies and music but I know they have a lot to choose from in that department as well. They also have a great selection of travel and tourism books and I tend to use that area a lot for my work. There is a big area where you can use computers to access the internet (although I've never tried it) and plenty of places to just sit down and read if the mood hits you. The library is big and pretty and all in all just a pleasant place to be. Columbus is lucky to have it.

I'm really hesitant on how many stars to give the new library. I'm conflicted between 3 and 4. I love the new kids area and family story time/kindergarten classes. I like that the back of the facility has been opened up so you have easy access to the park. It is also really nice that the cafe has been updated and a gift shop has been added. However, I do not like the new clean modern look. This was the place my family and I visited nearly everyday every summer from growing up and the new look is heartbreaking. The first impression doesn't make you feel warm and welcoming at all.

I really, really love aesthetics. As soon as you walk into the place you're met with clean, marbled interiors, beautiful sculptures and a general feeling of knowledge seeping through the walls. All libraries are quiet by nature, but this place seems serene. I've been a book lover nearly all my life. Since I've been in college, visiting the downtown area has sort of taken a backseat considering I'm always in between classes or at work. But I got the pleasure of visiting the library with my mom when she was visiting one weekend, and we were so blown away that I had to sign up for a library card on the spot, knowing it would soon become one of my favorite places in the city. The staff is courteous and there is a huge space for kids that is almost segmented off the main library, which is nice because it gives them room to breathe, so to speak, and allows other patrons to escape some of the noise. Plus there are so many shelves to go through that it would take you hours to browse, which is something I love to do when I'm feeling stressed or want to detox from my hectic life. Plus, there's a cute little cafe and tons of technological advancements made to ensure you're getting the best visit possible. The renovations clearly paid off.

Been going here forever. Hadn't been for awhile, though, till Sweetie took me for a date. Yes, we're book nerds! It was great, and interesting to see the changes just in the last year or so. She hadn't been since it was renovated in the '90s, so was eager to check things out. And she did- literally and figuratively... Parking is easy (first hour is free too, I think.) Service is friendly and very helpful. Selection is great. It's just welcoming overall; I could (and have) spend a day here. And leave with so many books my back hurts carrying them. There's a little coffee shop and a bookstore, both handy.

The building itself is beautiful, though more so on the outside than on the inside, which I would call more functionally than aesthetically pleasing. Cheap parking, helpful staff, and a decent media collection contribute to make this a solid civic resource. Unfortunately, as it is with almost every major urban center in this country, the main branch of this city's public library system is a bastion for the city's homeless. As Catherine J mentions, access for all is a great thing (I'm Canadian; I should know), but there's also something to be said for having a space to read and work where I don't have to smell the effects of inattention to personal hygiene all around me.

Awesome. It has books! And lots of other cool things too. A castle for kids to read things on. A staircase of many colors. Cool hanging-from-the-ceiling things. I wanted to play on the castle but I was afraid that I would be arrested because there was a police officer eyeing me suspiciously at I neared sweet children's section, so i discretely read a book about a pig instead. I like this place. I will read things here again. Perhaps a book about a cow next time. I've been to quite a few libraries around the country and this ranks right up there. Nice blending of old and new. They've really kept up with all the changes the past decade while retaining a great sense of history. This place makes me happy.

This main library has a good assortment of books, ranging from foreign, travel, fiction, to children's. This establishment is apart of the national library consortium, so if you need a book and they don't have it on hand, it can be requested, and shipped from another library. I've only had positive experiences at our library! The staff (a lot are volunteer) are always polite and helpful. I seem to find myself asking them for suggestions , every so often.

This library is simply magnificent. When I moved to Columbus, I obtained my library card right away and began a loving relationship with CML. Let me start off by saying, I was deployed for a year from 2014 to 2015. When I returned to Ohio, the first thing I wanted to do was go to the library. I went on their super user-friendly phone app to start reserving some books and to my utter dismay and horror, the Main library was not a pick-up option. After further investigation, I learned that my beloved library was closed for renovations and that it would not open again for somewhere in the ballpark of 8 months. I was so sad! I then began the tiring countdown to opening day (June 25th of 2016); when the day finally came, I rustled up my boyfriend and sister and we rolled to Grant Ave and I fell in love all over again. The library renovation just made this beautiful building even better! I love the contemporary style mixed with the historical elements of the building. There is so much space! There are ample study rooms that can be loaned out for that time when you need a nice quiet space to yourself. There are so many books to choose from that I was completely overwhelmed! Not to mention they expanded the café and added a lot of really awesome items to the gift shop and finally, a door that exits straight into the Topiary Park! CML really hit it out of the ballpark on this one and I realize I sound like the biggest weirdo on the planet and I am okay with that because I love CML!

The Columbus Library is awesome! It was gorgeous before, but after the recent remodel, it truly is an example of what a modern-day library should be: a community space. It feels like part art museum, part library, and part coffee shop -- and all of the best parts of each! The building itself is very grand, yet somehow still approachable. I love that all walks of life feel comfortable here. There are so many spaces to chat, work, read, and wander -- all while inside one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The back of the library is my favorite thing -- there's a huge wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, letting in copious amounts of natural light -- and it overlooks the Topiary Park! Yes, the Topiary Park is the back yard for the library! Mind blown. I am so proud to have this award-winning library in our city. Definitely put it on your must-visit list!

If I could live in a library, it would be this one. It's huge, and it has EVERYTHING. I have been going to the Main Library on field trips, for school project research, and for personal enjoyment since I was six, and I still haven't fully explored it. I have yet to find a speck of dust anywhere in this place, either. I swear it's so clean, you could probably eat off the floors. As the family genealogist, I can tell you right now that this is the perfect place to start and/or continue research if you're researching your family tree. If this is your thing, the third floor will be your home away from home. I've attended their genealogy workshops and found 2-3 ancestors and/or their children/siblings in the course of each workshop. Every section is stocked full. If something's not in, they'll order it from another library. If memory serves, they're part of the OhioLINK network, but I'd check with the circulation desk first to be sure. If they are part of the OhioLINK network, then you can request a book from another library outside of the CML network. Just be sure to check. They have resume writing workshops. Heck, they have workshops for everything, but with the economy being what it is, if you need help writing your resume, take advantage of it. All of their workshops bring in professionals from around the city, sometimes across the state, and occasionally from around the country. Keep an eye on their calendar of events. I promise there will be something that catches your interest. Their coffee stand is really nice. If you're spending an entire day at the library, the coffee stand will provide you with some fuel to keep going. Their little gift shop has a lot of stuff for bookish, nerdy types like me (and other regular patrons), and both the coffee stand and the gift shop support the library. The staff here knows their stuff, and they see people from all walks of life. They're very helpful, always polite, and they're usually pretty friendly. They'll check up on you every now and then and stay out of your way the rest of the time. The aesthetics of this place leave me breathless every time I come here. The face of the original building is still largely intact. It's been worked beautifully into the modern building. You get a sense of history, almost like you've gone back in time if you come in through the front door. I think other patrons get that same sense, because it's so quiet and peaceful here, as if they're also paying homage to patrons and workers of past. Bookstores and libraries are my ideal work environment, and if I could work here, I would. I've been here at all hours of the day and the patrons, even the kids, are very respectful. Even the people and kids who don't look like much know and respect the rules. The other libraries in the CML network are nice, but this is the original. This is where it's at. If someone gives the Main Library three stars or less, they don't know what they're talking about. This is my home-away-from-home, and just going by the other reviews, it seems that's true for a lot of other Yelpers, too.

I had a meeting here just a few weeks after the 2016 renovation was completed. Having been a patron of this location for years, I was interested in seeing the shiny, new building. I was blown away. The grand staircase and entryway are gleaming and show off their craftsmanship beautifully. A school group was being given a tour as I walked in, so the place had the hushed air of a very busy learning space. The materials, great as you would expect. Loads of books and electronic materials ready for check out. And CML is in consortia with many other regional library systems, so they share and can get items from others with a quick click of the request button on your account. Looking out the front at the beautiful fountain, you can feel the wealthy industrialists of earlier eras who chose to set up places like this across the nation to encourage a healthy respect for knowledge and learning. Come here to see the newly polished jewel in central Ohio's crown, and leave here with a stack of books to make good on our generation's promise to keep pushing the envelope. Well done, CML. One item of note: the smallish, oddly configured parking garage does require you to take your ticket and pay in the lobby as you leave. Don't forget, or you'll have to do a lot of running around.

We have such a gorgeous local library! Three floors of books and movies, plus study rooms and other meeting space. And don't forget the cafe for your caffeine fix. The parking lot is underground (at least to start) and is pretty narrow, so I wouldn't recommend driving here if you're not confident with your vehicle size. Parking for the first hour is free.

This library is the best in town. Its very quit. It has a coffee shop on the first floor. I always go to the third floor because i have a laptop that I get on and its quit up there. Renting books is very easy to do here.

Serving as the anchor for one of the finest public library systems in the country, the downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library is a veritable mecca for library enthusiasts everywhere. Before checking out the main library, I rarely ever used the public library system for fear of disappointment. I had no idea what to expect when I checked it out for the first time, but I'd like to think that even a person with the highest expectations for a library would be blown away by the vast selection this branch boasts. The a/v selection alone is the size of most Blockbuster video locations, with one small difference: everything is free! Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or an indie snob such as myself, you'll rarely every walk out of there without an armful of Cd's and DVD's that are sure to keep you entertained for weeks. I sincerely can't say enough about how diverse and well-stocked the music selection is here. I went in looking for a few albums by The Replacements and walked out an hour later with almost the entire catalog of Sonic Youth albums, U2's pre-"most important band on Earth" collection, and a handful of essential jazz albums that I didn't even know I was looking for in the first place. And a Replacements best-of album, of course. The book selection is robust and incredibly easy to navigate, and what's more is that the enthusiastic staff here is always ready and willing to aid your quest to find whatever it is you may be looking for. Help desks are plentiful and easy to locate, with an abundance of catalog computers available around every corner. If you can't find what you're looking for at the main branch, the staff makes it incredibly easy to make sure it'll get transferred to the branch of your choosing as soon as it's available. The library system has an abundance of copies recent work from popular authors like Chuck Palahniuk and Douglas Coupland, two personal favorites of man, and it wasn't hard to locate the bulk of their work and have it ready for pickup within a week. A comparable amount of attention is given to more obscure titles and authors, and I was also very impressed with the section on non-fiction music biographies. If you were ever curious about the origins of the emo movement that has a choke hold on dejected youth everywhere in America, you'll have no trouble finding at least three books that will help you draw your own conclusions as to why anorexic teenagers armed with power chords and their ex-girlfriends jeans have usurped the throne of boy band stardom seemingly overnight. As with most public spaces in the downtown area, the main library is a popular hangout for schizophrenic drifters, but it's rare that you'll run across one that's more interested in bugging you than reading up on current events in the robust periodical section. Truth be told, the crusty vagabonds give the place a dash of character that many of the suburban branches lack. It always puts a smile on my face when I see a toothless drifter in a threadbare Utah Jazz jersey and plastic bags on his feet reading a copy of "War and Peace" upside down. You can't blame him for trying. As for the library, it tries just as hard, and with impressive results at that.

Just a visitor in town but a friend wanted to see if a book was available. It wasn't at this specific location but her searching gave me time to explore the architecture of the building. It's a very strange combination of tile and marble but so insanely beautiful I couldn't stop looking at every possible detail. Very kid friendly- would highly recommend any parent bring their child/ren.

Great downtown library. Clean, three floors of open space, rarely crowded. Very helpful librarians. Study rooms and reading tables are often empty. I go a few times a month for musical theatre sheet music and CD's, as well as to browse books on crafts, cooking, arts, history, etc. I am never disappointed with the selection. The library has a very good smartphone app that allows you to renew your materials and place holds in a few short steps. I searched for and requested a current bestseller over my phone and the library notified me by e-mail the next day that it was ready and waiting for me in the "holds" area near the lobby. The app also shows all library branches and their hours of operation. Once you open your library card there is a "self-checkout" area to scan your items, print a receipt and be on your way. Very easy garage parking. Drive to the very top of the deck if you want to bypass the elevator and walk straight into the library. Parking is free for the first hour, $.50 for 1-2 hours, etc. IMPORTANT: Do not forget to punch your garage ticket at the kiosk inside the library and bring it with you when you drive to the exit gate. Fee for lost tickets: $10. Kindle users: the library has thousands of titles that you can download for free directly to your Kindle for two weeks at a time. Out of the approximately 15,000 Kindle titles currently listed, only around 5,000 are available at any one time, so the word is out about this amazing service. Your taxes keep the library's lights on, so go enjoy it!

Libraries amaze me every time I go in them. I still can't get over that you can walk in and borrow all this amazing media for $0. The Main Branch is in a beautiful building-- you'll feel like you're experiencing a bit of Columbus history while inside. Pair your visit with a stop to the nearby Columbus Museum of Art, and you have yourself a nice Saturday afternoon. This branch boasts reasonable parking, cafe, and gift shop. The atrium is gorgeous-- I remember walking in the first time when I was a child and being in awe of what "downtown" felt like. And then I checked out all the mummy books from the "grown up" section. As an adult, I've been back to this branch from time to time, but now that I live nearby I will be here more often for sure. About 5 years ago I came in for a quiet place to study while I was on some sort of break, and was a bit overwhelmed by the homeless population while inside. I didn't notice the issue on my more recent visit. Still saw some homeless but it didn't feel like quite as much of a bus stop as last time. Access for all is a beautiful thing. Speaking of, I saw a flyer for a GED program through the Metro Library. How cool is that? This place really does feel like an information hub for all walks of life. I'm working on a particularly boring project at work right now, so I've been devouring audiobooks. The selection is outstanding. No more iTunes purchases at $27 a pop for me! I've also been trying to curtail my cookbook buying obsession, and there's an amazing selection of cookbooks here, too (except I think I want to buy the cookbook I just borrowed...). Savin' money, y'all. Don't know what you're looking for? They have all these little curated groups of books on rounders. It could be grouped by topic, genre, or even cover art design (I saw a pretty display of red books for February). One rounder had a bunch of books mentioned by NPR. It gives you all the browsing thrills of being in a bookstore. Oh! And you can choose the color of your library card from three different choices. Neato!

Great city library with a very local feel. What makes this library so fantastic (and what other major libraries should adopt) is the NO NAPPING RULE in the library. This has effectively limited the size of non-users present in the facility, keeps it sanitary and long-lasting. Yes, I was studying for the GMAT in here and fell asleep, only to wake up to the librarian's knock on my desk, explaining that I too, could not sleep here. It was pretty cool. Most of the first floor is dedicated to the public computer room, which boasts 20+ computers for people, and this can really serve as a public benefit. One last thing I loved was that a security guard regularly patrolled the facility, including the bathrooms. It's worth the taxpayer money to protect the taxpayer money! SAFE and CLEAN (for a major library). And generally, very quiet!

One of the best libraries in the country! Columbus, Ohio, is home to one of the best library systems in the United States, the Columbus Metropolitan Library, as evidenced by its many national awards. Historic research for a recent book I co-authored, Historic Columbus Taverns: The Capital City's Most Storied Saloons, would not have been possible without the extensive collections and the exemplary staff. Special thanks to Nick Taggert and Julie Callahan for never saying no and always helping to play detectives and research wranglers. A true treasure of our city!