The Public Library of Brookline Coolidge Corner Branch

Beautiful library with great hours. Open until 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Also open on Sundays. Staff is friendly and helpful. Books can be checked out for 4 weeks at a time. Online offerings are excellent as well.

I have been going to the Washington street library recently due to beyond awful customer service at the coolidge corner branch, two women at the front desk that clearly do not know how to just be polite to a nanny dropping off books to return. As a resident of Brookline, I would love for my tax dollars to go towards professional development sessions for people who work at this branch, or perhaps just to have two new people hired who are actually respectful to people of the public.

Small but efficient.
There aren’t too many things special with the inside of the library. It’s not as nice as the main Brookline library, but it still serves its function. The children’s section seems to be popular. There are desks scattered throughout and a decent portion have electrical outlets. There is free wireless internet, even if it is a little slow. There are computers both for members and an express station for nonmembers to use. The newspapers and magazines seem heavily used and they have most of what’s available at a local supermarket or pharmacy. They also have passes to museums that can be signed out, but I think most require going to the main branch.
The best part about this place is that it participates in the minuteman network. There are dozens and dozens of libraries around the greater Boston area in it. Essentially, it expands the library inventory, allowing you to borrow from any. When it comes to movies, everything is covered. Music is also fairly extensive. This includes new releases as well. Simply using an online system for requesting and items are shipped when available to your library. There is a request section for self-​service as well as a self-​service checkout stations that use some kind of rf-​like system. Same online system for renewals if no requests by others have been placed on your item.
The hours are a bit shortened in the winter. The older librarians tend to be friendlier. Free borrowing and cheap late fees. 5 cents per book. 50 cents per media item per day. All in all, a solid library and efficient system.

I work near here, so I get my reserved books sent to this library. I like the look of this library, with a little internal courtyard where elders read the paper, and the kid’s story time area downstairs where they can be as loud as they want.
The staff pushes people to use the electronic kiosks, which is fine by me, but I can tell it irritates some of the older patrons.
Also, being so close to Coolidge Corner draws a sizable homeless population, but I haven’t seen an incident.
Also, a VERY large foreign press selection, particularly in Chinese and Korean.

For better or worse, this is my public library. I echo a lot of the sentiments of Anna K. Yes, the library is located in a very convenient location. It is very easy to stop in before or after visiting Trader Joe’s, the Meat House, or the Post Office. Generally, I find the staff to be nice. However, I frequently donate used books here and recently had a horrible experience with one of the libraians at the front desk. I brought in a small bag of books, explained that I wanted to donate them, and started putting them down on the desk. It has always been my understanding that the library will accept all books: if they can’t use a book for their collection, they can try to sell it at a book sale to raise money to fund their operations. Granted, some of the books I had were rather old and worn, but the librarian repeatedly called my books «scruffy» in an abrupt and condescending tone. She said that some of them were even too «scruffy» to sell at a booksale. I asked if the library could just recycle them then, as I assume they have the appropriate facilties for recycling books. She replied that I should recycle them. Please! I just spent 20 minutes lugging these books over from my apartment in an attempt to do something charitable and environmentally friendly. I was really not inclined to lug them back home just to throw them in my own recycling bin. Also, while other librarians here have often thanked me for my donations and even offered me receipts for a tax deduction, this librarian said thank you more like she was saying «get out of my face». Next time I see this woman working, I am walking right out.
I also agree with Anna that it is too loud in here to really sit and have an enjoyable and quiet library experience. They do have a decent selection of books and DVDs, but it’s best just to come, pick up what you need and go home to read. Also, as Anna also mentioned, there’s the possibility of being accosted by random creeps. One of the few things that I miss about living in the suburbs was being able to luxuriate in magnificient public libraries without having to worry about running into weirdos.

Maybe I’m a library snob. But the first *several* times I came to this library I couldn’t help but thinking it was like what would happen if one encountered a day-​care run by ill people with very poor hygiene.
First the good things:
1. The library is very well-​located on a relatively quiet side-​street. It’s a perfect spot if I need to return books or videos before going to Trader Joe’s the Post Office, whatever.
2. Generally really good service. I’ve experienced a few really rude librarians, but most of the staff is super helpful and super friendly.
3. They are very big on the no-​cell-​phone policy which is refreshing.
4. An excellent selection of videos which gets rotated out regularly with the Putterham and Main

This library is my home away from home. I love it here. The librarians are friendly and always willing to help you find what you’re looking for. The library is small but the collection is well-​managed, and they always seem to have what I need. Coolidge Corner is stocked with new books, DVDs, and Cd’s. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, the main library will, and they can get it to you in only a day if you’re too lazy to drive over there yourself (which I so often am).
The career section in this branch is outstanding. The library is immaculate. I come saying I’m only going to stay for 5 minutes, and I walk out an hour later. It’s addictive. Plus, it’s accessible by T and there’s parking in the back. So either way you’re covered.

I didn’t know Brookline had its own library until I had lived here for over a year, but the Brookline Library is quite a gem, and the Coolidge Corner branch is very accessible from the C line, which is convenient to my work.
I don’t think the selection of books in the branch itself is too big, but the library network is huge, and I’m usually able to find about 75% of the books I want, order them online, and pick them up at Coolidge.
The staff members are friendly and helpful, one of them even gave me advice on recipes when she saw I was borrowing the Moosewood Cookbook.

I’ll begin this review to quickly say that I grew up without access to a library. I lived in a rural area and we were literally between townships… neither would allow us to use their libraries. Library nazis. So, perhaps if I had access to a library my whole life, this review would be different.
This Coolidge Corner branch of the library is my version of porn. I love books. I work in publishing. I have a creative writing degree (useful…). I have a page from an IKEA catalog stuck on my fridge because it’s filled floor to ceiling with bookcases and has an actual ladder built into a rack on the bookcases. Porn.
I love how convenient this library is for me. I can just pop online and request a book I’ve been wanting to read or a movie/​tv series I’ve been wanting to check out and, generally, a couple days later I get an email saying, «we’ve got your goods. Come get them. You get a week to get your lazy ass in gear to pick these up.» Those librarians are snarky in their emails. They have an extensive catalog, thanks to the Minuteman Library system. You can reserve new releases of movies and TV. Seriously, what more could you ask from a library? It’s FREE! Okay… taxes, blah blah blah, still… lovely!
I’ve lived in Brookline for 3 years now and this is still the only branch I’ve ever visited. I’ve heard amazing things about the main branch on Washington St. and both branches are equidistant from my apartment. I won’t lie… I’ve only been to Coolidge because that way I can stop at TJ’s and buy cheap wine and Red Bliss potato chips to enjoy with my movies, books, TV. Someday I’ll give the main branch a shot. I hear their DVD collection is massive.
If you’re new to the area or just haven’t gotten a Minuteman Library card yet, all you have to do (unless their process has since changed), is bring in a piece of mail with your name and Brookline address on it to prove that you’re a resident and then have some form of ID with you (driver’s license, passport, Mass ID, etc.)