Puyallup Public Library

This library’s teen program is a hot mess and the library staff never seems to know what is going on. Twice now misinformation from library staff regarding availability in programs has resulted in my daughter being majorly disappointed. The first time last year we were not informed until less then 24 hours ahead of time that she was not going to be able to attend the over night lock in they do for teenagers who meet certain requirements during the summer program. She was NOT told she was on a waiting list when she signed up for it and was extremely upset to find out around 5 pm friday night that she wasn’t allowed to go to it on Saturday night. When I talked to the someone who was supposedly in charge she said the staff is supposed to tell children they are wait listed but sometimes forgets because they are busy. Why they don’t post a sign as soon as spots are filled to let kids know is beyond me but I guess that takes too much effort, instead it is better to let a teenager get excited about something only to have their hopes dashed at the last moment.
Then this week I was at the farmers market and saw the signs about their comic book event and cos play contest. I carefully read the sign and no where did it say space was limited on the costume contest. I asked a staff member I found and was told the cos play event was from 3 to 5 and they needed to simply be there and check in before 3. So shortly before 3 I bring my daughter down in costume to join the fun. First I get a staff member who seemed confused and said no they have already done all the drawings at 2:30, every thing is over. Then when I pointed out that the sign states the cos play part was from 3 to 5 so how could it be over at 2:30, I was told «Oh, for that you have to go register over at the other counter» So we go over to the other counter only to be told «I decided to put a cap on the number of contestants at 30 and those were filled a little while ago so she can’t participate in the contest. But she can go stand on stage with the other kids» I asked my daughter what she wanted to do and she just wanted to leave. Who wants to attend something where they can stand and watch other kids have fun, but not take part themselves?
I don’t know what the problem is with this teen program, but they badly need to get their act together and make sure everyone, both staff and the public, knows what is going on. If something has limited availability, that needs to be advertised. If something is full, that needs to be advertised or posted. I thought the idea of a public library was to try and encourage children to read and participate in the programs, not break their hearts and discourage them from things.
Shame on this Library staff for such lousy customer service.

This is probably one of my favorite libraries. The staff have always been friendly and helpful. I like how they have the children’s books/​area downstairs and the study areas upstairs.

Nice size library for our town. The children’s section is great and has several computers with age appropriate learning games. My teenager likes to hang out in the teen section, and everyone here is genuinely kind and helpful. There are great community programs held throughout the year. I love that the park is just out the front door so we can easily spend a good chunk of our afternoons here.

The Puyallup public library is a well maintained, efficient, large, quiet facility. It’s my getaway sanctuary. I’m a book worm (foodie too) what can I say? A stack of books and a comfortable place to read and I’m in my element. Going to the library always beats going to Barnes & Noble. You have way more chairs and no pressure /​obligation to buy books! As long as I can remember, I’ve loved going to library since I was an elementary student and my father would drop my sister and I off at Wheaton, MD regional library during the summer
s while he was at work. 9 hours later after work he’d pick us up. This love for libraries continued through high school and college when my best friend James and I would drive into Washington D.C. and sit and do our homework for hours on end in the Thomas Jefferson reading room in the Library of Congress. Yes, Puyallup sure has a gem of a facility here. Jillian was fantastic in setting up my library card. If only they were open on Sundays. #HappyPanda

I love this library but it’s important to know:
*This library is NOT part of the Pierce County Library system, meaning you have to get a separate library card, the fees are more expensive, and you can’t share books/​return books with other locations.
Hands down the best library kids area I’ve seen because not only is it big, it’s also in its own room, separate (but connected) to the main library (not just a defined section within the regular bookcases). This allows kids to be kids while enjoying books without being constantly shhh-​ed, and parents don’t get those evil glares from adults.
Because the room is separate, you also don’t have to constantly chase your kid running through the stacks!
The kids room has:
–A TON of books, PLUS
–2 computers + headphones
–lots of puzzles & table toys
–2 giant toy boxes filled with various blocks, etc
–a large, floor-​level magnet wall with tons of magnets
–4 or 5 large tables & chairs + long benches for parents and kids to spread out and stay awhile (which, coincidentally, double as climbing structures for young tods)
–a separate librarian desk that’s always staffed
–really cool twinkling lights covering the ceiling like stars
All new automated check-​in/​out kiosks as of 2014 which are cool — when they’re not «out of service», which seems to be often. :/​
The library is also attached to Pioneer Park Pavillion which includes a FABULOUS giant playground (all new equipment as of January-​ish 2015) and a spray park opening summer 2015.
–Farmers Market in the park during summer
COMPLAINTS:
–I’ve frequently had issues checking out books, always for a different reason that never really makes sense to me. I try to use the automated kiosks but often times a prompt pops up saying I need to go to the help desk instead (where, btw, they never have trouble accessing my account or releasing my books for check out) — super annoying
–VERY LITTLE PARKING, especially in summer. There’s another review saying there’s «lots» of parking but that is far from fact! My son & I often have to walk from down the block, which isn’t far or unpleasant, but just saying.

This place is great for kids especially for winter months, they have a great selection of activities in the children’s section, and a big playground outside. My toddlers love hanging out here!

It’s a beautiful library. Easy to get to with a large parking lot. We’re never disappointed when we leave with an armful of books.
Also, there is a great park right next to the library for all ages. A big field for summer time so you can play soccer or football.

I have visited this library ever since I was a kid, and let me just say, I can’t think of one that beats it! Located prominently in little downtown Puyallup, this library is incredible.
Architecturally, the building is GORGEOUS! From the outside it looks like a castle… lol. Inside the main lobby you are immediately overwhelmed with that glorious «library smell» and a huge open area that leaves your jaw on the floor. They have nice, big, conference rooms that are fit for 2 or 22. The bathrooms are a little small but in pristine condition, always. They have nice little kid area with a panorama view of the park and the upstairs holds lots of space.
The contents of the library are very well done. I think the kid area is most impressive though. Spanning most of the ground floor level, the kids section is surrounded in row after row of books that every kid could get into. In the very back there’s also a HUGE selection of VHS tapes! Gosh, remember those were kinda like DVDs? Lol, I had a good laugh at kids saying «Mommy, what are these?» as they strolled by picking one up. They host summer reading programs where kids can win cool prizes (ie: Northwest Trek tickets, Daffodil Bowl coupons, books, DVDs, etc) which, myself a supporter of children’s literature, find very nice. The LITTLE kids section with the circular room at the corner (I mentioned above ^) is equipped for young kids to explore. The upstairs is much more mature with no kid sections, except for the teens area. Convenient computers are places seemingly everywhere, and I have never found myself without one at my disposal. There are tons of textbooks, and dictionaries and such which is good if your studying for a big test or exam or something like that. I applaud the teen section. We all know how that teens would much rather sit on their iPhones all day and be on Instagram rather than open up a novel and take a slice of real literature, but the Puyallup Public Library has programs for them too, and always have interesting and new books on display, along with an abundance of magazines.
The librarians are super kind, smart,
and patient, especially with the younger kids.
Outside the front doors is the beautiful Pioneer Park where in the summertime you can catch the Farmer’s Market, let your kids splash around in the pool, and listen to some great local music all in the same day, and just steps away from the library.
My one and only con is the amount of disrespectful and a lot of times, strange teenagers that hang out outside toward the back, but they would never dare actually go inside.
All in all, this is one of the most amazing libraries you will ver visit and if you are ever in Puyallup, you gotta give this a try. ⁵⁄₅ all the way!!!

This is a nice small town library with nice conference rooms, study areas, and the kids area is great. I usually just stop in to borrow a new audio book for my commute. The librarians are always helpful. They also have a decent sized digital library where you can borrow ebooks for your Nook or iPad. I am not sure if they have the Kindle format available though.

Such a nice Local library. It’s fairly new but all around it has a small town feel. On Saturdays they hold the farmers market out front on pioneer park.
There is a good selection of CDs and DVDs. The computers are slow so I wouldn’t expect to get off the computer before your hour is up. Overall, the puyallup library fits my needs!

It’s been a few years since I have been to a library and I would have been overwhelmed once I walked into the South Hill Library, but the staff was so helpful and friendly that I felt nearly at home. There were ample computers for me to search for books and the person that greeted me helped me sign up for a library card and in no time I was looking for books! The computers that could be used for typing and documents were all full and there was very little sitting room since it was busy, but help was always easy to find.
The book selection was outdated for the topics I was searching for, but there was a decent selection of popular kids titles. I was able to locate books within the system and request a hold at the next availability. Aisles were clearly marked and the books were properly sorted making it easy to navigate.
I did see a wide variety of audio books and foreign language resources which I will be keeping in mind.
The library was organized, clean and fairly quiet. It was quiet enough to read and enjoy but there were conversations and people mingling around.
Leaving the parking lot was a nightmare and the next time I may rethink going there if it is in the mid to late afternoon since traffic is unbearable and it is impossible to turn left.

It is so weird to visit a state that isn’t bankrupt. It really makes you realize all the things that your tax dollars SHOULD be going for, like libraries…
Yes, a vacation with rug rats means finding things to do with said rats. This library is new, state of the art and feels like something Bill Gates would build. Nothing like this is gettin done in Cali. I mean, not much of anything is gettin done these days, right?
The building is very open feeling and has a wonderful children’s section that not only boasts a ton of books, it has puzzles, puppets, toys, computers; anything and everything to spur a kid along.
On top of that, we happened to time our visit at the exact same time and day as the library was hosting a music seminar on Carribean music, kind of ironic that here I am in the middle of the PNW in rain, listening to beautiful steel drums. My 20 month old loves music like nothing else and he just couldn’t resist and began dancing. So cute was this scene that the local paper photographer took his picture to be in the paper. We kept the «he is from California» on the low, low. No reason to ruin his chance at fame on a technicality, right?
Anyway, this is an impressive resource. The peps of Puyallup have much to be proud of, including my son’s upcoming fame and fortune…

Only a four star because I’m not a Library person. I only went to because I was walking with my wife and she wanted to return her book, and we do our HOA meetings there. But its a nice Library, very clean, and has TONS of books of all kinds. I was really impressed with the amount and types. The people at the counter are friendly people. Their meeting places are nice and good sizes.
Little note for some they play a movie once a week in one of their meeting rooms. So to me thats cool, and they are always putting on something for the community there.
So if your looking for a good place to become a book worm I’d start here. Oh and becareful not to be to loud there are people sleeping in there. Found that funny.

Puyallup’s city library (lovingly dubbed «Puyallup Public Library». Apt, eh?) is leaps and bounds above most other typical suburban library, and overshadows any of the county libraries in the surrounding area.
This two story beauty (complete with clock tower) sits squarely in downtown Puyallup’s Pioneer Park. It’s really created a lovely area downtown that is truly family-​friendly, especially on hot summer days when a few wading pools are filled up with cool water for the tots.
Inside, a large, open foyer is filled with a few auto-​check-​out kiosks (they’ve updated them in the last year so you no longer have to go the media desk to get discs for music CDs) and a help desk, which is generally staffed by one or two people. The library clerks aren’t the most wonderful people on earth (there’s a certain snootiness that comes with the job), but they are generally helpful and friendly. The downstairs areas of the library include A/​V media, large print selections, and children’s books.
The upstairs is really marvelous. Windows overlook downtown Puyallup. the ceiling is yards above your head, and there are really spacious areas for studying or reading. There are plenty of large tables (good for those group study sessions), as well as individual desks with blinders for your use. The library also has computers around every corner, so if you forget your laptop, you’re not square out of luck. This is also a very well lit library, which aids in our bleak Washington winters.
The Puyallup Public Library has a massive variety of resources. There are thousands of books (far more than the Pierce County libraries up the hill), as well as a wonderful selection of DVDs, VHS tapes, audio books, and CDs. The library will even look into ordering something if they don’t, or other nearby libraries, don’t have it. All you have to do is ask nicely!
The library is free for residents of Puyallup, though anyone living further out on South Hill who has a Puyallup address has to pay an incredibly high user fee (another reviewer quoted $ 90, which seems about right). Puyallup residents CAN use Pierce County libraries however (this is a recent change, which is pretty refreshing for when you HAVE to use the Pierce libraries).

Love the Puyallup Library since they upgraded to the 20^th century (yes I do know its the 21^st now). They were in the 19^th prior to the upgrade. They went from the worst library in existence to state of the art powerhouse. Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point. Truly an improvement that was desperately needed. Although its not quite the downtown Seattle library kinda cool, it’s probably the best in the south sound.
All of the staff are very helpful and friendly, especially when the scanner self-​checkout system is misbehaving. Even though it has some glitches, its my favorite part.
Pioneer Park got an upgrade as well, but that is another review…

The Puyallup Public Library is amazing! The best place for research and reading. The building is spectacular and very clean! This library is way better then the country libraries and because of a new deal anyone can get a library card at the Puyallup Public Library!

The library really upped the ante in Puyallup. When I was a student growing up here, we had a TINY little library with like 14 books in the corner of the park downtown. Then in high school they built this GORGEOUS building with tons of books, areas to study, technology, and breathtaking architectural design. It’s right in the middle of Pioneer Park, and the building of it spurred on other improvements like the Pioneer Pavilion for the Farmer’s Market.

This is by far one of the nicest, most modern libraries I’ve been to in recent years. The city built this about 3 years ago and the archiutects did an excellent job with dividing up the interior space in a manner conducive to studying and reading. It’s beautiful inside, lots of marble and brick, large skyways and tons of natural lighting. I come here to study whenever I don’t feel like going to the library on campus at PLU. The only downside to this place is the fact that you have to live in the downtown Puyallup area to get a card here. Otherwise, for people like me who live in South Hill, you’ll have to pay $ 90 a year to get a card here.