Grand Rapids Public Library

This library is wonderful! ❤️ I cannot recommend enough. I was able to get a membership by holding a Kent District Library membership. I can check out books and more and place holds. The children's area is full of different sections, special nooks and crannies, games, a puppet show area, and special cushions for kids. I'm very grateful that this place can be a safe haven for the community. If you haven't visited, I strongly recommend you do!

After living in GR for over 2 years now, I can confidently say GRPL main is my favorite place in the city. The building and staff are so beautiful and welcoming, and every time I visit I’m truly blown away by the amount of resources and community present in this space. There are always fun updates to book displays, items are organized and easy to find, and I never leave empty handed. I often joke that my trips to GRPL makes me feel like Matilda (in a positive way). GRPL truly is the definition of placemaking - thank you!!!! Bonus points: parking lot!

BOOKS AND BEYOND!!! Really love this library! It has so many wonderful options.and resources for the community to take part in. Make sure you come in and sign up If you live in the Grand Rapids area😁 you won’t regret it.📚📓📖📒

I absolutely loved this library! It is awesome! The staff were all very kind and helpful. There are so many different things to see and do here. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to read. They also have audio books for people who don't like to read the old fashioned way. There is also music and games!!! I am fairly confident that anyone and everyone can find something they will love at this library. Don't take my word for it though, come find out for yourself! 😄

Absolutely love the downtown (main) library here in GR. the staff is amazing, not least including the ineffable Natalie, head of hr! can’t think of a bad thing to say about this library. it’s a refuge for so many folks who are unhoused, a resource for education and even entertainment, and the wisdom contained in the millions of pages are a fortress against ignorance.

It really is sad to see what has become of this library. It use to be a place to go and get lost and step away from reality. You use to be able to go and enjoy yourself quietly and you just can’t anymore. It has become nothing more than a homeless shelter and what feels like a halfway house. The “security guards” are about as useful as GRPD and just sit there on their phones.

The building is the first feature you will notice. Amazing architecture and moldings. The vintage marble staircases mixed with modern updates make this a beauty to behold. Multiple levels offer a plethora of resources available to residents with a free membership card. Also check out the free classes, digital content, databases, job training, etc. All free online with your card. Comfortable place to hang out and read or study. Parking in the library lot is free for one hour, just make sure you validate using the machine near the front doors.

One of your security guys helped an old lady carry her harp to her car and I thought that was very sweet ❤️

As a former librarian, I have a deep love for libraries that started when I was a kid. There are two library systems in the Grand Rapids area: Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL), and Kent District Library (KDL). GRPL is my home library system, which covers the city of Grand Rapids. KDL's service area is anything outside of GR proper, including Byron Township, Caledonia, East Grand Rapids, Plainfield Township, Wyoming, etc. Library cards are free to residents with proof of current address. GRPL no longer charges fines on late materials, which is amazing and a great step for accessibility for the library. (If you lose or damage items, you still have to pay to replace them.) The main branch of GRPL is housed in the beautiful Ryerson building, which was originally built in 1902. The limestone exterior and Italian carrara marble steps give the building a historically regal look. The interior has been updated and added on to over the years, but it's always fun to find old touches inside the building. Multiple floors make up the main branch, so it can be an adventure to find things. Just ask a friendly librarian or staff person and they can direct you where you need to go if you're in a hurry. Self checkout stations are located on the main floor right inside the entrance, and new books are located nearby. The library houses an amazing collection of books, vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, used books for sale, a great local history collection, computers for internet access and library catalog searching, and more. They host many community events and lectures throughout the year. There is a designated parking lot for the main branch. The first two hours of parking is free - just get your ticket validated on the main floor. Parking rates are $1.10 per half hour during the week, free on weekends and for library events. I love spending time at the main branch and try to get there at least once a month, as the selection is huge and I can always find something great to check out when I'm there.

Inspiring building. Treasure to be able to wander a library that feels connected to the history of the city. Even to relax and read, recommended.

I visit this library weekly and have never had a poor experience!! Their librarians are knowledgeable, very friendly, and always accessible. Their front desk workers are competent and eager to get you what you're looking for. I'm always in a hurry and the machines for validating your parking and self-checkout are AWESOME and speedy. I can have items waiting for me on the shelf and check out within 2 minutes just by stacking them up on the scanner. (I wish the grocery store could do this with my cart.. what a wonderful world that would be! haha.) They have quick login options if you tend to forget your card, and you're allowed 2 renewals online so you don't even have to come in if you don't have time! The building is beautiful and expansive... if you cant find a solid corner to cozy up in or spread out all of your materials then you're not looking hard enough on the 4 floors. I'm SO glad this is my library!

GRPL Main is stunning. The marble floors, high ceilings, and multiple levels to explore makes finding a book so much fun. I am always greeting with a smiling face. Parking is validated in the lot, be sure not to park in the front at a meter (even for 2 seconds), you will be ticketed. Not fun! Library cards are free with proof of GR residency, due to COVID printing is also free (up to 50 copies). You can search book from your home and pick up at your convenience.

An elegant library The Grand Rapids Main Library is technically known as the Martin Ryerson Library and was constructed in 1904. The very wealthy Mr Ryerson decided that the growing city of Grand Rapids needed a nice library so donated heaps of money to have one built. The late 19th and early 20th century was the golden era of library building and this library certainly reflects that. Grand, elegant and even ostentatious, the building is stunning with it's marble staircases, magnificent lightening, paintings and sculptures and towering ceilings. The library had additions and renovations over the years and was thoroughly modernized a while back so it has all the 21 century amenities while retaining it's glorious original extravagance. The library was very busy so we didn't have a chance to speak to the librarians and I couldn't find much about the history of the library. It's nice when the grand old libraries have a pamphlet of the history of the library available at the front desk but unfortunately we couldn't find any here. We had a great time wandering around just taking in all the wonderful architecture. Like most great old libraries there is lots of "wasted" space and odd little corners and rooms that can't really be utilized for much. But that makes the library even more interesting. A splendid building and library that is a great example of the glory years of library construction.

Terrible place to find quiet time.. Every time you think you think you have a quiet corner there will come someone speaking loudly on their phone with the tax return office or DHS or otherwise asking you for money. I prefer a university atmosphere library where students have a regard for people's peace and quiet.

I absolutely love this library! It is beautiful and the staff is freindly. The only thing negative o can say is that when you are on the computers it can get noisy and the staff doesn't say anything to the offenders.

Call me a nerd, but I love old libraries. This main downtown branch is everything you think of when you think of a library building. I can imagine this building being in the center of town at one time, a testiment to the areas dedication to learning and regional cultual affairs (and it still is! They have a really good SBA library inside!) A stately staircase entrance is outside, with authentic paint colors and trimwork from the turn of the century building inside. It's a winding building with nooks and small rooms for materials. The back of the library appears newer with funky carpeting and brighter lights. But the foyer is authentic with marble and vaulted ceilings. It's stature and size fits the current downtown region and gives visitors a window into Grand Rapids' past.

You gotta love a town that completely renovates its Main Branch library. Libraries are uber hip these days and were "green" before there was such a label. This one is no exception. Old, friendly, easy to use, online, modern, updated. I got a new library card, found my book, checked out - all in 15 minutes. Easy-Peasy. They have wireless, too. What's not to love? Plus, that smell of the books....nothing can "take you back" so quickly. Inhale deeply & thank your tax dollars hard at work.

Great place 4 books magazines and newspapers. 1hr free parking m-f. Sat sun free all day. Can get free library card with id. Quiet please!!! Also ancestry search and grand rapids or michigan. Free 1/2 hr computer time. More.

Best library in Grand Rapids. Very calm and chill. Staff is caring and best at answering any questions. Tons of books and they try to keep up with the latest trends. WiFi can be sucky in some areas but otherwise very good. I love coming here to study and chill. I never feel uncomfortable here. Great library.

i like the main branch of the grand rapids library. it's in a beautiful, huge, well-maintained old building, the staff is very friendly and they have a great selection of media. their DVD collection is pretty big, eclectic and best of all, totally free. i've rented such hard-to-find gems from the GRPL as "no direction home", "the collected films of charles & ray eames", "all you need is love: the story of popular music" and "swimming to cambodia". they also have a large selection of VHS, CDs, audiobooks (on CD, MP3-CD and tape). i think they might even still have a few laserdiscs laying around... like almost any library, there are a number of homeless folks often wandering around, taking a snooze or reading up on the CIA at the GRPL. but they pretty much all stay on the lowest level near the reference section and computers, so they're pretty easy to avoid. i highly recommend this library!

I love the Main branch of GRPL. It was my favorite place to visit when I lived in the city and I used to walk over there every Monday. They have a HUGE selection and a wonderful little cafe. Needless to say I miss it a lot!