Birmingham Public Library Springville Road Regional Branch — Attraction in Birmingham

It's too bad this is the closest library to me... I've had several poor experiences here lately. It's the inadequate facility & patrons, not the staff, that I consider to be the problem. A nearby high school means lots of loud kids after school. Also other disrespectful adults carrying on long cellphone conversations and tudoring sessions going on in a tight area of the only available tables. Quiet rules are respected pretty well in the room with public PC's, but the rest of the place could be mistaken for a frat house scene. ...and finding a satisfactory place to plug-in a laptop, or winning the lottery... which will happen before I'm dead?

Oh, the book collection, you ask? I suppose people do still look at those in libraries on occasion... the selection is just o.k. Of course with the Jefferson Cnty Library Cooperative's sharing program, you have fairly convenient access to a...

My kiddo’s and I always have a great experience at this library. You just get this warm welcome like the cheers show. When everybody knows your name. Below are pros, cons, and pictures.

Pros:

Convenient location Pleasant atmosphere Kid friendly w/ free activities and programs year-round Librarians and help desk (knowledgeable and professional) Books in semi-good condition Variety of books in stock Clean Handicap accessible Spacious public computer area Free Wifi Can good drive to pay off late dues Hoopla (membership for free movies and ebooks)

Cons:

Limited staff members

Equipment outdated (fax machine not available) 😕 (I needed to really fax something)

Need renovation updating (it’s been the same style since I was a kid and now I am...

Library staff will talk the entire time very loudly. I will have to drive to Hoover library from now on because I can’t even study for 5 mins straight without there always being a loud distraction. With that being said, I asked if there was a more private area to study and they said it was not.

Libraries are known for being quiet and this one is the complete opposite...