Cleveland Public Library — Attraction in Cleveland

August 2021: The Cleveland Public Library (CPL) Main Branch located in downtown Cleveland is an amazing venue. Not only do they have an expansive catalog of books, movies, periodicals, maps, and special collection items, but they often host several special speakers/authors throughout the year. The CPL also has eSporting events with basically every video gaming console ever created and top shelf virtual reality equipment on the 2nd floor of the Louis Stokes Wing on select Saturdays. The Tech Central Station in the basement of the Louis Stokes Wing has free access to 3D printers, computing devices, and scanners. All a person will need is a state issued ID to register for a library card.

The Main Building is an architectural marvel with many of the original marble staircases in tact. If you are into old, valuable books that can be a century or so old, then the Special Collections department is for you.

The Foreign Literature department has a wide range of material to learn almost any language. I have a vested interest in learning Vietnamese (Tieng Viet) and they have a ton to things for me to check out.

Last, but not least, they CPL.org website grants the user access to the online catalog, ways to place holds on materials, and some free subscription (license agreement) with newspaper websites, music providers, and language learning apps.

Pros: Beautiful architecture in both new wing and old building. Friendly staff. There is always someone willing to help you find whatever you are looking for. No fines for unreturned materials, but you will not be able to check anything else out until you do. Vastly improved structure from the old school (circa de 2015) way of accruing daily fees. Clean library. Climate controlled Covid cautious rules with patron safety in mind. Must wear masks inside the building. Serene reading garden that is only open during the warmer months. They have a stools and countertops with power receptacles outside for people who want to charge their phones, tablets, or computing devices.

Cons: No free parking downtown during weekdays. Come down during the weekend or use public transit (RTA light rail). I typically park at the casino (which is free with stipulation) and do my...

My review of the Cleveland Public library is as low as it is, simply due to their lack of leadership. I completely understand keeping staff and visitors safe. However asking your employees to not intervene during an ICE raid leaves me questioning the safety of our community while in these locations. As someone who has always loved the library; all libraries, I am not alone in finding libraries a safe space, to work, to exist, to grow, and to engage in community. This blatant lack of care and respect for community members is not only alarming, but vile. I will no longer be able to support my Cleveland Public Library. Thank you for showing us another place in our city that is not safe. Perhaps think about educating the employees of the Library to know their rights if/when ICE arrives rather than blindly giving them the power to invade a safe space and...

A truly beautiful library to go to with a plethora of books including books that are in many other languages which is something that most other libraries in the Cuyahoga area do not offer. There are also many rooms that you can study at and the librarians are very helpful and know what they are doing. I also like that they are security guards walking throughout the building to ensure that everyone is safe. I would have rated it 5 stars but it is located in Downtown Cleveland, which does not have the best reputation out there and there are a lot of seedy people that loiter out around the building so I would recommend to exercise extra caution when going there, especially if you are a younger woman. I have been catcalled by creepy men during some...