Lawrence Public Library

I normally would not be reviewing a library, but this place is amazing! As an out-​of-​downer taking a walk in downtown Lawrence, this building just draws the eye. Upon closer look, I was shocked to see that it is a library. Super modern, high-​tech (aka fancy) technology, tons of study rooms and seating available (yet they were all full! So plan accordingly). Love the water bottle filler station, even an espresso bar/​coffee shop, and plenty of natural lighting to brighten the place even on a cloudy day. There are plenty of spaces for kids and children’s activities, even an area for video games (interesting for a library…). I’m not sure about the selection of resources but it looked like they would have the novel, DVD, audiobook, research guide, and anything else that you might go to a library for. Finding a parking spot and finding a place to study/​read/​work might be your only challenges by coming here. Even if you’re just passing through the city like myself, I would highly recommend making a pit stop here, well worth it to see such an interesting library.

Before you judge me on this 3-​star review, please know I have been to my fair share of libraries (Google Cerritos library).
Now let’s ask ourselves, «What main purpose does a library serve?» In my opinion, it’s to provide a quiet place to read, study, do research, and nowadays, use a computer. The bare necessities and functions of a public library.
Sure the Lawrence Public Library looks modern, has awesome programs for the family, interactive zones for children and teenagers, ample computers for guests and patrons, however, the few things I detest are the short-​term parking (have been ticketed before), the more-​often-​than-​not untidy or under-​stocked bathrooms, and most importantly, the scarce amount of desks and tables.
The library does have a large amount of lounge chairs paired with tiny nightstand-​like tables, but not enough large tables or even single, cubicle-​like desks that most libraries have. I, oftentimes, have trouble finding seating, one of my main deterrents from going to the library to study. On one occasion, I attempted to study in the computer lab. Bad idea. A bunch of rowdy kids came in to play computer games, and someone was even on the phone! Even listening to music couldn’t drown out the noise. I finally approached someone from IT personnel to come in and quiet them down. Where was security? Security needs to do a better job patrolling the library and keeping the peace.
To end on a positive note, I do like the meeting and study rooms, which are available for the public to reserve. I have also had the opportunity to use their auditorium for a public forum event. We were able to have some light snacks and beverages in the auditorium. And the staff was very helpful in showing me how to set up the projector, and even let us use their laptop.

This recently remodeled place is awesome! It looks like it came straight out of a Dwell magazine. Very modern and chic.
Things I loved: The building, the atmosphere, the location, several activity rooms, family bathrooms, lots of natural light, etc. The kids area is awesome! It has adorable reading nooks encouraging kids and parents to snuggle in and read together. It has a play area, and of course a well-​attended story time.
Only drawbacks were there is very limited free parking and the large meeting room is nice but sparse and the chairs aren’t very comfortable (especially for an 8 hour meeting). I also needed a good pumping place while there. The staff were kind about it, but they didn’t really have a good solution. They have a pump room for staff, but understandably not for guests. I ended up having to use the family restroom and felt guilty for occupying it for 15+ minutes. Say la vie.

The Lawrence Public Library is fantastic and I love everything about it-​selection, technology, friendly staff!

I used to live in a college town smaller than Lawrence, but the library has better selections (latest dvds and books, and more copies to borrow). Lawrence public library can help you find what you’re looking for too, but its not as convenient and if its hard to find, and you still willing to pay it’ll cost $ 5 – 10. I think this library has good program for kids n teenager. hope they expand and upgrade the library soon. It needs it.

Great library for the city of Lawrence. I hit it up for various DVDs and audio books primarily with the occasional «regular» book thrown in. Its great to see a public library get as much use as this one does, there are always a few peeps around, and they often have events in their function room. I don’t know much about their collection as I use the university libraries more for my scholarly reading, so cant really comment on that. I guess I am just happy to say that it seems like a good setup, great location, and I am happy to say that the city seems to support it.
I dig their special events and regular-​ish concerts, too!

The library is great. A free service of the city of Lawrence, it has a great collection of DVDs, video games, CDs, oh yeah, and books. I really appreciate the online connection that allows you to browse and request materials from the comfort of your computer… and then they have them waiting for you.
Yes, the bathrooms are not great, I would not touch the internet stations with a 10 foot pole, and some of the chairs have a distinct odor, but this is a place where all are welcome, so there are consequences… I’ll happily brave them to reach the extensive collection and knowledgeable staff.
Little known fact, they have very old magazines in their collection, which are wonderful to look through if only for the vintage advertisements.
I am very excited about the upcoming expansions… I’ll add more in ~2 years when the expansion is complete.

The book, DVD, CD and game selection is great. And the ability to request materials for the entire metro library system is an added bonus.
The free concerts every few months and the bi-​annual book sale are great features that I definitely make time to attend. The self-​checkout makes getting my material quickly a breeze. I particularly like that I can request high-​demand items (like new DVDs) and am informed when they are ready for me to pickup.
Overall, I look forward to the updates the Library plans in the future, but for now, all my expectations are met!

I had my days when I first moved into town. I was unemployed. It was summertime and although I was busy, there would be those times where I’d just feel this sense of panic because I wasn’t in my normal frenzied workaholic mode. Things were just *wrong.*
All I could do was work on my book and be inspired by the works of other authors. Of course I couldn’t actually afford to *buy them.* Enter the library, my sweet summer oasis.
I used to walk everywhere in town, and the library is about 20 minutes from my house. Some days it was brutally hot out there, though, and by the time I made it to the library, walking inside its refrigerated interior was literally a breath of fresh air, permeated with one of my favorite scents: books.
It was the most calming part of my day and gave me much to look forward to after a day of job searching and/​or working on my book, that late afternoon trip to the library.
Lawrence Public Library has a good selection of books (not the best selection, as it’s small, and it is missing several of the things I’ve been looking for, but that’s OK), and a fair selection of DVDs, too. The children’s room is wonderful, with helpful librarians, a small reading/​play area and a superb selection (with featured books of the month shelves, which is great for kids who have no idea nor any patience to look for something they like).
Despite its small size, it’s technologically up to date, as you can check out books on the library computers yourself, without waiting on lines to be checked out, and you can renew/​reserve online.
Check out the library’s movie nights and lecture series as well, if you’re into that sort of thing!

online renewal, reserves, inter-​library loan, request for purchase? awesome. library business can almost all be done online with a card and pin. incredible.
collection is managable with a very, very nice collection of films and an expanding collection of music. seems to veer towards more indie titles which is always appreciated. reserve system works very well for all the new media that comes into this library.
building needs a major upgrade. not a pleasant place to spend an afternoon and the community deserves more. don’t necessarily need much more space, but just a nicer space.
library is an invaluable resource and FREE. very receptive to suggestions for purchase and general suggestions. location is good and integrates well into downtown and surrounding area. could probably use a couple small branches in other parts of town.

Ok, so some of the travel dvds date from 1989, and it can be tough to secure specific books, but sometimes the library does surprise. LPL does not have a very large library budget, and I give the staff credit for doing what they can in a town full of active library users where the city council pours cash into the parks system and not the library. They’ve been fighting for an addition for many years now, but the cheap-​o Lawrence tax payers (seriously our taxes here are CHEAP) refuse to properly fund the library. Thus the outdated selection. Regardless, the staff are pretty nice, even though they get paid hardly above minimum wage, and they put on some good programs for adults and kids. If you’re a Lawrence resident who really wants more the public can get a KU library borrowers card for I think $ 7. But, you should really be asking for higher taxes so they can build a new LPL.

Very attentive and helpful staff (except for the woman who liked to scream at me every time I’d sheepishly approach the circ desk and say… «Umm, I lost my card… again…»). The librarians were always super nice when they informed me, «No, we don’t have that one here…»
Very poorly maintained collection, and unless you’re looking for children’s paperbacks and what I remember being a massive collection of the books every other library threw out ten years ago.
One thing that used to drive me nuts was that the smarmy Person On The Street guy from the Journal-​World was always there bugging patrons about stupid stuff. One time he asked me what my favourite thing to do in Lawrence was. I wanted to tell him «Get mauled by that woman over there; I’m about to ask for my third library card this year», but instead I said something like, «Ohhhh, ride my bike downtown, get some coffee, and sweat viciously because I can’t handle the humidity at all». Buuhhhh.