Vancouver Community Library

Beautiful, quiet and pleasant library. If you have a work to do or an interview 4th and 5th floors are good fit. They also have a nice terrace and clean restrooms. People are quite and cultured

Trying to find a parking space in the free 2 hour parking lot, at certain times of the day, can be tricky. They have a drop off slot at the back of the building, by the parking lot, and also at the front, on C Street. I enjoy coming here to find books in Spanish and English and to use the computers and printers. It's also a great place to just hang out and relax, with lots of quiet spaces upstairs in the 4th and 5th floors. I really like the story times for children. The play area is like a small children's museum. The childrens' librarians are really friendly and helpful. One really great feature of this library, that I didn't discover at first, is the terrace. It's a great place to hang out and read a book or eat a snack, outside, in the fresh air. Also, if you like plants like I do, be sure to visit the plant wall. Lately I have noticed that they have board games on display that you can check out. Don't forget to visit the library 🐠 fish 🐟.

It’s a really big multi floor library with books as far as the eye can see! The staff was also really nice and helpful. The two cons is the parking is very limited and fills quickly and secondly is the homeless outside the building. Never seen so much security at a library before.

The staff are very friendly and professional, and the space and decoration are amazing. The ESL teacher is so nice — They take really good care of us and helps everyone feel comfortable and supported.

This is a fantastic library!! Full of knowledge! The staff are so helpful. There are security due to folks hanging out just because. Overall pretty clean and safe. Parking lot can get full especially during event times. There is a super cool kid's discovery area and they have a seed library there as well.

I've attended many informative presentations here. They host "penguin talks" where someone from Clark college comes and speaks on a topic. They typically only hold them during lunch hours (because it's supposed to be a "lunch and learn" kind of thing I think), though; it would be really cool to also have them either in the evening or on a weekend so people who work during the day can attend :)

This is a beautiful library inside and outside! There's a nice coffee shop on the main level next to the magazines and newspaper which is perfect! The children's section on the upper level is simply amazing - So much for kids to do and explore! And there floor to ceiling windows are great for good light and to check out the city. There's a couple table to eat at- bring lunch a make a day of the library! I found a parking spot in the parking lot.

As far as Libraries go, this is the best one I've been in. I could spend forever perusing all the books. A teen center, computer lab, fiction floor, non-riction floor, children's floor (with a decent sized, creative play area) and a patio on the top floor.

We stopped by here to visit. This is a very nice and organized library. Five floors. Each floors dedicated to an area. There is an eating area on the main floor where you can snack while you read. The children's floor has lots of books and a big play area for kids. Lots of neat stuff on the every floors. Very clean and organized. I especially enjoyed the fifth and top floor. There is a terrace where you can sit and there is a garden area where you can look at the plants that are growing. Unfortunately because it was off season and in early September, so nothing was growing at the time. They even have a "Seed Library" where people donate their garden seeds to library. Readers can come up and see what was donated and take a packet of seeds to plant at home. Great idea to spread the wealth of seed planting. This library is within walking distance to restaurants and Regal Movie theatre. Great location for readers to stop by and borrow a book and just enjoy the reading materials they have chosen. I found this library to have many good amenities.

They have a parking lot! I've never been to a multi-level library, but I saw they had Story Time for kids and decided to join. They have an entire kids FLOOR! That's so crazy. And an entire play area. Not slides and swings, but learning and creativity play area. They can go inside sculptures and spin the wheels to make things glow. So cool! I didn't get to check out too much of the actual library set up, but did notice you can check out Activity Bags, which are bags that have a theme and it looked like books, games, activities, surrounding certain themes for kids. Def will be coming back

So many things to love about this well-stocked, well-staffed library that allows residents from Portland to create accounts and access beautifully cared for books. It's a stunning building with art throughout and with ample free parking. I'm thrilled to have access and look forward to returning again and again.

We visit Vancouver 3 times a year, the library is always on our list. Wonderfully interactive. Our kids can spend hours here. There are activities and a summer lunch program.

Best library in town! The Fort Vancouver library system honestly amazes me. We moved here from Nashville where we never once went to the library because they didn't offer much. This place can loan out tools/games/you name it, has a seed library, it's HUGE and offers a bunch of resources and courses for the local community. Oh! And you can use the experience pass to get in to some local museums and gardens for free. Ask your librarian about it!

I didn't love this place. Workers were cranky and wanted to do the bare minimum work (government job...) and parking sucked. We had to pay for parallel parking. The parking lot is very small. We got there before the library opened and the lot was completely filled. That means the employees take up the parking lot.

I've been coming to this library with my children for over a decade now. It's a really cool place! You can fax stuff and print stuff and use their computers. You can borrow books and movies and utilize reference material to your hearts content. Librarians are always pleasant and helpful. Security is always present. They try their best to keep things tidy and the bathrooms have always been clean every time I've gone. Yes, there are the occasional homeless people but what can you do. The kids area upstairs is really nice, when my not-so-littles were little, we would spend hours here playing and learning and reading books. I miss them being small! *Insert theatrical sobbing* Of all the libraries in our area, and there are several, I prefer this one. It's conveniently near a bunch of other cool breweries and boutiques in down town, parking Is easy, and it's easy to access right off the I-5. Go on, check it out, bring the kiddos if you got em. Take a look at their website for classes and announcements of upcoming events too! Cheers, fellow bookworms!

I grew up spending a lot of time at the old library and then after moving away not so much. It is so nice to move back and have such a beautiful new (to me) library to visit. I love the mix of people. Everyone that works there a super friendly and helpful. Well done Vancouver!

A new favorite spot to visit when in town! Wow! There are so many interactive displays for kids of all ages. Love the multimedia art as well. 10/10!!

When the atmospheric River continues to dump on you for two days, you change your plans and head indoors. I spent almost two hours here looking at local history books. Very comfortable chairs and the usual study tables. 5 floors of mostly glass walls gave the building a modern look. So cool that the entire 3rd floor is a dedicated children's section. Enjoyed the sculptures just outside the building. And their wifi speed was pretty impressive.

We love the library and go often. Im so happy the new kids area area is large with a ton of options. They offer a whole kids floor so kids have freedom to explore. Weekends tend to be very busy. The children's exploration area closes at 5:00 PM. We always make sure to take home new reading materials and its a great distraction on rainy days.

One of the coolest libraries I've ever been to. First of all it's huge and there is art everywhere. There is a kids section dedicated floor which is nice because kids aren't expected to be as quiet here. There's an active learning center and it's beautiful. Kids love to play here. They also keep art supplies on hand in case you want to do some crafting with your kiddo.

Love it here! Each time I walk in, I'm hit with a wave of inspiration. The tranquility, the endless shelves of books, and the friendly faces create a perfect haven for creativity and connection.

What a nice 5 story library in downtown Vancouver. I love how their walls are of glass and so everything is sleek like. This makes it almost impossible to do any mischief as eyes are everywhere! Every floor is a unique section with a floor dedicated just for children with a play room. It's like a free Chuck-E-Cheese for them. I've got to hand it to them, but this library is pretty dope. If I ever needed a place to study and do work, I'd definitely come here. In addition to the many tables available, they also have a cool lab where they have various workshops available. I'm still trying to find the right time to do their 3D printing. Pro Tip: Enjoy a sunny day at their rooftop!

I. Love. Libraries. The Hubs & I have been incredibly fortunate to have an amazing library system in our area wherever we have lived. The main library in downtown Vancouver is quite impressive, with views to match. From almost anywhere in the building you will have a lovely view of the surrounding area, and even on a rainy Winter day, it was wonderful. They even have a reading area with a fireplace, right beside that impressive view outside. There is also a little sculpture garden outside, with a bit of room to grow. AND have a more-than lenient lending policy & renewal system, and you can reserve online & return at any branch in the system. When we signed up for our library cards the staff were very helpful & informative & even as we wandered around the many floors staff members would stop & ask if they could help us find anything (I guess we had that wide-eyed, "we have no idea where we are going" look about us). Everything is laid out logically and fairly easy to find, as I would hope in a library. They have an abundance of seating options to peruse your reading materials along with a number of meeting rooms you can reserve, a quiet floor (top floor), and a children's/early-learning floor (with a buffer floor in between the quiet & children's floor...bonus points!). We don't have kids but the children's floor was pretty cool so if you have some kiddos in tow, it is definitely worth checking out! I feel a bit guilty for the only reason I am not giving them 5-star status, but they just don't have an impressive array of movies/documentaries/TV shows on DVD to check out...either that or we were completely spoiled by the Columbus, OH & Chicagoland Suburbs library systems prior. We haven't had cable in our home for ages & prefer to borrow/rent movies & TV shows when we want to watch them if we aren't able to catch them current. I also didn't see a music/CD collection to check out, but perhaps we missed that among all the other wonder.

The kids floor (3rd floor) in this library is really nice! It's a fun free way to provide young children with entertainment - there's a kitchen area with tables, fun tent like structures to go inside, a magnet wall to make art, books, computers , toys, board games, classes on select days, and more! I like bring my little ones about twice a month and they always have a good time. As others have mentioned, there is a not so pleasant smell on the lower levels. I notice the scent mostly in the elevators though. Additionally, there have been a few times I've seen some shady looking people hanging around the area- mainly first floor. Although I haven't really spent time on any others floors aside from the 3rd. Aside from that- the staff are nice, kids floor is great, and I'll continue to go there (but only to the 3rd floor! Lol)

I think for the Portland region, the Vancouver new main library is a reset and challenge to all the other branches in the area to 'think about what a library can be' not what a library already is. This library has some beautiful seating areas, great open spaces, huge windows and great views. The library system is working to grow for the 21st century so there are lots of new spaces with computers on each floor. There are informational library staff located on each level with both text and pictorial markings to indicate who they are. New library has two small meeting rooms and one large auditorium. The auditorium can be open when the rest of the library isn't. Thatcher's Coffee will be opening a coffee cafe in the browsing library, but its opening has been delayed and is marked as "coming soon." For an idea of what a library similar to this one is like, if you've visited the Salt Lake City system's main library, the Seattle Public Library's main branch or even the Beaverton Library, you can have a general idea.

I had very high hopes for this beautiful building. I needed a well lit, quiet place to complete a very important video interview, so I called to request a conference room, and upon arrival the younger lady was very nice, showed me to the room and got me all set up. I worked diligently for an hour and a half and i had two questions to go when the old lady employees started popping into my room. I managed to finish one question and then they kept barging in. I told every single person to please keep the door shut, told them I was doing an interview, I had ONE question left and I will come out when it is closing time, and they proceeded to ridicule, and loudly interrupt me every minute and a half for fifteen minutes, ruining every shot of video response I attempted to take, all under the guise of "just letting you know we're closing soon". Even after I politely explained to every employee I came in contact with what I was there for and that I understood the time limitations, not one of them put forth any consideration to help the process go smoothly. Beautiful building but if you have anything IMPORTANT to do I WOULDNT RECOMMEND!!!

I agree with the other reviewers. . .this place has a great aesthetic and the kid floor is cool. However, all the other floors have homeless people who sort of camp out there. The library seems clean, but on each floor there is a stench. It would be difficult to study when there is a stench in the air.

I hadn't used the library in a few years and I wanted to try renting a Kindle ebook. I could still log into my FVRL account online but when I tried to get into overdrive it said my library card wasn't recognized. I called the library and the person informed me that my card was expired and got my updated info and renewed my card for 2 years. I was immediately able to log into overdrive and put a hold on the book I wanted to read (there's a backlog of people on hold because it's a popular book). I was very impressed that the person who took my call at the library was able to handle it all- they didn't even need to transfer me to a staff member who deals with such things. I had expected I would need to go to the library to get this taken care of. They handled this with great competence.

Standing out in the rain until exactly 10 o'clock when they decide to open the door. I know it doesn't open until 10 AM but we have a group of people standing outside soaking wet waiting to get in ,they could at least open it five minutes early even three minutes. It was obvious that the restrooms hadn't been cleaned (garbage on the floors and a strong urine order) The folks who work here are very friendly and helpful.

I am so impressed with this new library. The last time I visited the community library was when I was in college, so it's been...a while... This facility is HUGE, open, nicely arranged, and there is a beautiful lookout veranda on the 5th floor.

My 6 year old loves this particular library, so do I. Their wi-fi throughout the building is fast and easy to access. The children's computer area has ABC Mouse available free of charge. I've found the librarians to be helpful and I didn't have to jump through 800 hoops to get a library card either. I love the amount of electrical outlets available on each floor and the beautiful terrace available in the warmer months. I like checking out books myself and not standing in line for a librarian. The library has a great selection of children's programs available and lectures on sustainable gardening. I haven't tried the coffee shop on the first floor but that might be due to my favorite coffee spot being across the street and they cost about the same...cough. Also, if you're into Pokémon Go the library is a Pokestop and if you use their wi-fi you can hit 3 stops while not moving an inch.

This is the nicest library and community space I've ever seen. They have a really nice coffee shop and a rooftop view! This library really caters to the people of Vancouver and beyond.

This place is amazing. Our libraries back in the Central Valley in California are nothing like this. The children's play center on the third floor was awesome and our children loved it. We will definitely be back when we vacation again.

Just like most people have said, great library, beautiful space. HOWEVER, extremely frustrating policies that don't make any sense. I am sitting here right now, staring at 2 empty conference rooms. I want to use one so that I can make an important call via Skype and not disturb everybody around me. Unfortunately, I can't because there is an arbitrary policy requiring a minimum of 2 people present per conference room. So while I, a tax-paying citizen that helps fund this place, need a tiny bit of extra privacy for 15 minutes, the library's policy leaves these two conference rooms empty. (They're locked - I can't just sneak in.) Awesome job Vancouver library. You're really making your neighbors (who pay your bills) happy.

I voted against the bond measure that built this library and even today I am still an upset taxpayer that they built this new main branch. I didn't see much wrong with the old building to be honest, I still don't. However, you cannot hold a grudge forever, they built it, I'm still paying for it and the east side branch we didn't need either (will be for a long time to come) so I might as well finally get myself down there and start using it. It is a very modern looking building, not at all "library-esque" in stature. They put it across from the old Academy Building and across the freeway from Fort Vancouver so it looks a little out of place among the historic buildings it towers over. Parking is limited in the lot however there are street options just bring your loose change for the meters. Walking in the entrance you are hit with a sense of S P A C E ! There are no floors over you at the south end of the building just windows to your right and knowledge to your left. Used books are for sale at the front, coffee is for sale at the back. The first floor is all meeting rooms, browsing the latest books, coffee and some multimedia. Second floor seems to be all administrative offices. Third floor is strictly for the kids. Fourth and fifth floors are for adults with the fifth floor also housing the terrace that surely we will be able to use four months out of the year or so. Lets go back to the third floor for a moment. I am all about kids and reading but I have to wonder about the wisdom of a virtual play area. They call it a discovery area to stimulate reading and learning from ages one to five, I call it a distraction. You want kids to love books and while there are some learning opportunities incorporated into the area every kid I saw enter the floor eschewed the rows of books and made a beeline for the play area. You have to wonder about the wisdom of this. I was impressed with the layout of the floors and the ample area available for the use of laptops and the extra comfortable chairs layed out by the even more ample window space on the fourth floor. If they were trying to come up with a space indoors that almost makes you feel outdoors then I would say they came pretty darn close. As staunch a political gadfly as I am, I am even more a proponent of learning and knowledge so this new space is a major upgrade over the old building. I still don't think there was anything wrong with the old building either though.

How do you rate a library with stars? I'd give them 5, however they require a birthday to register a library card...really? So, I gave them a birth date...just not mine. Probably one of the most up to date places in Vancouver only to be out done by the new Cineotopia when it opens in the next 2 months (Just a guess). Self checkout of your items, lots of room for laptops (wi-fi & outlets), coffee & snacks plus a nice view of the skyline...now if someone would just plant some flowers in the lot next door. Heck, I'd sneak over there & plant some NW wild flowers in the sandy soil, but there is a fence around it....not exactly sure why. Oddly, the juvnile section is on the 3rd floor just above the administration floor...I would have put it on the 5th to put as much distance between escaping kids & the front door, but oh well. Parking has never been a problem, but then I'm lucky enough to visit when others are normally at work which is also why if I work on on Friday, Saturday or Sunday I can't use the library because they close at 6pm so when they place books on hold I have to wait until Monday to pick them up as I can no longer get books mailed to my house as they changed their policy some time ago. The building is impressive, but I'm not sure how the staff & security people I have seen on the 1st floor when you enter will be such fans next summer when the Sun is beating down on them every day all day long through the ground to 4th floor windows facing almost directly SE. At least they will get their fill of vitamin D.

It's awful the amount of homeless people that use the 5th floor (the quiet floor) to sleep, trash the bathrooms, do drugs, and verbally assault the people who try to use the quiet space to study. Horrible experience this morning with a couple that's here sleeping on a daily basis., the woman was inching her way into the building and stopped in the door way because she was nodding off, as people were trying to get by someone stated "excuse me" and she told the person to "shut the f*** up." Awesome that our tax dollars are being spent on creating places where the people who pay for it don't feel safe and get verbally attacked on a regular basis.

This new library is such a great asset to Vancouver! I am so glad to have this community resource nearby. Not only is it in great new condition, it is clear that constructional planning for it was well executed. It has a very grandiose lobby with attractive wall and structural art. The kids floor is my personal favorite since I have a preschooler and a young toddler. The children's floor is very large, with a huge dedicated discovery zone for interactive play and learning. That is such a bonus for us moms when we simply need a break and need to get out of the house! Young children can easily be entertained in that area for a solid 20 minutes, and there are even board games and Legos available! I can't wait to check out some of their weekly programs for my kids.

I'm so glad this library exists in service of the community, including our houseless neighbors who can use the library resources as well as get warm, use the bathroom with dignity, and rest after being kicked out of so many public spaces. I wish the security guards would stop harassing them and arbitrarily enforcing rules against our most marginalized neighbors.

Everything about this place is right, which is odd, because its in Vancouver. The children's level is the best. I love Lego day. It could use more seating, but lets be real, we all know what would happen. The major Flaw with this, and all Liberry's; it needs a bar, preferably at the top, call it "books on tap" or "tap on books", or some such other bêtise.

Good place to hang out for a while. However, their computers only access for one hour a day. That is complete bullshit but one hour is not enough time. They don't even offer an option to extend an hour. They used to do that before Covid hit. Now after everything is opening back up again that has somehow changed. You only get one hour a day to access the computers which is absolutely pathetic. What if someone has a big project to work on and it takes hours to get done and you don't have a working computer at home? You're gonna need a lot more than one hour to work on it. Also, your smartphone or tablet won't do much either. I am never using their computers ever again. They need to give the option to extend access for another hour. What happened to the customer always being right? That is a bullshit policy and it needs to change back to what it was before Covid. I am so done with this bullshit and fuck the library

Disappointed. This review is based on my experience. (The only reason I gave it two stars is because building itself is beautiful and exciting.) I had heard a lot of good things about this library. I live right down the road and was excited to get some reading and studying in during my night off. It feels like crazy land in here. A man is sleeping (snoring) in the common area on the fourth floor, children are crying and making absolute ruckus on the first floor (which resounds to every floor, because they are not in the kids' area), a girl is sitting with head phones acting like she is auditioning for The Voice, (my husband told me) there is a man changing in the bathroom with his clothes everywhere loudly grunting, and NO one is doing anything about any of it. This is a library, not a McDonalds playland. The staff needs to actually treat this place with the dignity that the building deserves. (Now that I think about it, the people who recommended this library are those with kids. When they visit, they probably contribute to the madness.) Powell's in Downtown Portland is quieter. And it's not even a library. I hope the next time I return the fifth floor quiet room is actually quiet.

This is an amazing library for kids! Amber is afraid of kids/real people? I dunno! This is the kind of library every kid should have access to!

This is the most modern library I've ever been in. It wins the "Least Cave-like" award in the Library category. Pros: Kids should be seen and not heard. This rule should be multiplied by 10 when in a library, where not much of anything at all should be heard. Shh!! So, this library, in it's architectural genius, has a whole floor devoted to their kids section. That's right -- you don't have to hear the kids...or even see them!! Great concept, I'm giving it one extra star just for this. There's a coffee shop right in the library. Multiple study areas on the 4th and 5th floors, with outlets for laptop plug-in. Friendly, helpful staff. Did I mention it is not a cave? Very open-concept building, tons of natural light. Cons: Parking!! This seems to be a really dumb trend with restaurants, and now with this library -- to put the single entrance on one side of the building, and the parking lot on the other side. WTF?? I'm all for walking, but not when a) it's raining, and especially b) I am lugging my 600-pound study bag of textbooks and laptop. There is not much parking available, and their sign says 2-hour maximum. Lame. All in all, I like this new library, which is a good thing since I will be spending a lot of time there over the next few years.

So, I just called the library to ask a question about their community computers and a specific question about their external drive capabilities. The "information" desk lady did not know the answer but said there was a person at the technology desk that could help me. I asked her to transfer me to that person's desk. She said, "I do not have the ability to transfer a call downstairs". Am I to understand that our tax dollars went to building some fancy-ass building to house books...a building that was touted as a "state of the art" library......and they don't have a phone system that can transfer calls???? 21st century on the outside, 19th century on the inside???? Another example of OUTSTANDING decision making by our city leaders. What a joke.

Sure, from the outside this place looks spectacular. One of the most beautiful libraries I've been to. Unfortunately, I think they spent all of their cash on aesthetics and forgot about the books. They very rarely have the book I'm looking for. Not a single Gillian Flynn book (not even her older books)? ONE Carl Hiaasen book? The "lucky day" book section is just sad. I was really expecting a lot more from a library with 5 floors. And the parking is a joke.

I'm writing this review from the perspective of someone from out of town who recently did a presentation at the library as part of a 50+ series for seniors. I worked with Kimberly to determine a time, date for this program, and she was beyond gracious with my myriad questions. I was coming from Seattle and didn't know what to expect. What day and time of day can we get the best attendance? What topics will your customers be most interested in learning about? How will you promote the event to the community? Throughout it all Kimberly was patient, answered all of my questions, and provided several ways of being able to contact her before and just prior to the presentation. She also assured me that any technical needs I had would be handled by the library. I was booked into a beautiful presentation room with a large screen and a laptop so that all I had to do was pop my jump drive in and fire up the power point. I can't stress how much I appreciated the facility itself. Between the stellar customer service and the beautiful building, I have to say my experience at the library was one of the best I've ever had. If I lived in Vancouver (or even a couple towns away) I would spend a lot of time here.

I write this review as a new mom, looking for neat places to take my son. I LOVE the children's floor on this new library. It's beautiful, clean and interactive. My husband and I spent a couple couple of hours exploring all of the fun games, sound makers and puzzles provided for the young ones. My son is a bit too young to enjoy all of them so far, but he was able to use enough! I liked that they had a bin for chewed toys so they can be cleaned and put back out. The rugs were clean so I felt ok with my son being on them, and each of the areas were functional with no broken toys or dangerous items available to children. The little things were also thought of, like fun little LED lights shining up from the floor. I can't wait to go back for story time!

3 stars because this building is so incredibly beautiful. Kudos to the architects. Not 5 stars, because their book selection is clearly lacking. I'm currently going through a bookworm life crisis (ordering used books on Amazon at my whim vs. checking out decent books at the library for free). This library is no help with that. Whereas I can hardly go 5 seconds without buying a book while looking online or snooping through a bookstore - it can take HOURS for me to find anything attractive here. With that said, great space, computer resources, on-site coffee and efficient check out stations.

As somebody who just came from Portland/Multnomah County library network...all I can say is WOW. Just...wow. This library has knocked my socks off. The woman that helped me set up my account was incredibly friendly. Not uptight like many of the librarians you experience back in PDX. She was informational and walked me through the process of Clark County's library system very clearly. Really though, the good customer service here was just the tip of the iceberg. This library is absolutely STUNNING. It's a five-story building with a deck on the fifth level that has a panoramic South-facing view. Definitely no libraries in PDX as badass as this place. Only thing is that parking sucks here and there's definitely some shady business such as drug deals going down in the library. So...keep the little ones near by.

Newest branch of the FVRL. Large selection of books, DVDs, audio books and lucky day popular items! Their used book store is well worth stopping for if you want to add hardback titles to your home library for only $1.00 each. Thatcher's Coffee available on the first floor, nice lounge areas and amazing view from the deck garden.

The main library is amazing. But, because the online ability to find and reserve books is so simple to use, I often just drive up and check-out the book I want. I have empathy for the homeless people and hope the library continues to be able to deal with the ones that visit. I haven't been bothered by the homeless being in the building. I have been impressed with the overall esthetic of this wonderful building and the staff that keeps it welcoming.

I do historical research from city directories, Polk's and the like. This library has an excellent, accessible collection and a convenient table and chair nearby. Not to mention that it is a beautiful, new library, open and airy. I do this research in other cities and it's great to see new libraries going up in Eugene, Couer D'Alene, Seattle, and other great western cities. Good job Vancouver!

Well ..... I'm normally not one to complain too much. But this library that us taxpayers are paying for just baffles me on most fronts. a.) This is the LOUDEST library I've ever had the displeasure of going to. Hell - even the large Multnomah library is substantially quieter. b.) Staff act like they are there to vacation. Not to work. c.) Security staff? Where are they? The ones I saw were spending far too much time making noise talking to staff and ignoring the ever present volume of homeless napping in the facility. By the way, they left their carts, bags and whatever else they haul their belongings with on the sidewalks. d.) Cigarette smoke right outside the doors. Again, where was security? I'm sorry - I forgot. They were on that paid vacation with the staff. e.) Books and layout. Quite the shortage of good books and the layout is better in my messy garage. Hell - even the signs don't tell you the reference section is on the 5th. You HAVE TO interrupt the vacationers to find out. Sheesh! This day was not a one off. This is the norm there. So if you're looking for that quiet place to study - find your local tavern. It'll be quieter and more accommodating. As a taxpayer - I'm very disappointed.

My favorite library especial the fifth floor where I can study and research in peace.

Our library is awesome, the parking is not. we probably didn't need a new library the old one seemed to do the job and there was probably better ways to spend community money but holy moly this library is beautiful and funtional a bright spot in Vancouver!

As a frequent library user, I have been sorely disappointed with the Vancouver Commuity Library. Yes, the building is fantastic but the book selection and service is lacking. First the book selection - if you like James Patterson and the current bestseller list, then you are in luck - they will have multiple copies, in fact they will have about 50 copies of the latest Patterson on the shelf. However, if you are searching for a classic, you will probably not locate it. I have been amazed and mystified at not being able to find specific classic works. Of course, when you can't find a title you need, you are encouraged to use interlibrary loan or place a hold on the library website. Both are frustrating. The library does not charge fines for overdues and a person can keep a book out for as long as one month before going into a delinquent status. This is good if you are the person checking the materials out but for the person waiting for those materials, it is a bummer because the wait can be very long. I have also used interlibrary loan for books not available anywhere in the system and of all the libraries I have used (and this is the fourth major city I have lived in), they are dreadfully slow. I requested a title that was available in a Portland library, a title that showed being available in the catalog, and did not get it until one month later. Inexcusable! It also seems to take them forever to get new titles on the shelves (unless it is on the bestseller list!). The service depends on who you get. A lot of young people work there - some are fine but you often have to wait for a "supervisor" to come and answer your questions. Thankfully, there is a self-checkout station so that you do not have to wait in line. It would also be nice if all the employees looked professional (they do not!). I have been a public library supporter but this one always leaves me disappointed.