Columbus Metropolitan Library — Attraction in Columbus

The money that was spent and over a years time was wasted on updating the library. The library could have stayed the same because the library was fixed primarily for aesthetic reasons to compete with big city libraries instead of fixing the basic functioningS of the library.

There should have been 2 sections of each floor with 100 computers put into horizontal rows with individual divides as mini cubicals so people who like to use the library for its purpose can study and work in a quiet environment. More quiet areas should have been created for people with disabilities and the elderly. Money should have been put more into creating a better elevator system for the elderly and people with disabilities so even if they are coming from the parking garage or the ground floor the elevator can take them to every floor in the library so that they would not have to walk a long distance. Money should have been put into getting more copy machines with faxing scanning & emailing attaching capabilities for job related, school related and professional purposes and not a big screen tv for video game play. Right not I am getting a headache sitting next to this idiot, a male in his 30's playing a video game on the computer shaking and vibrating the hexagon shaped computer station.

Ohio has been in the top five in the country for people watching too much television, being couch potatoes which contributes to low attention span, being less intelligent, low productivity and weight related problems. It would have been nice to also have at least two vending machine with paper pencils, pens usb drives, ear plugs or the library provide them some of those resources for free. Also their should be more job related programs/events at the library where it connects people to employers to attain work.

The library should be for quiet study and not playing around on the computers. I see most people(especially adults) come to the library to primarily play video games, get on social media, talking loudly on their cell phones, listen to music and utilize the library as a social hour instead of for education, job & career related purposes and people wonder why they are having a hard time staying broke & struggling. Not valuing and utilizing the library as a great educational resource contributes to why Ohio has been one of lowest in the country for having a terrible education, healthcare system and economy.

There is one good feature at the library, there is a new water fountain sensor feature where you bring you empty bottle of water to the fountain and it gives you clean drinking water. Lastly, the library needs to hire people that are really talented & passionate in the humanities, care about helping people, know about office software & who are about instilling the traditional philosophies of a library no matter their color.

People take libraries...

I work with a group of adults with disabilities. We came in today to do some browsing and get on the computers. (I had 3 adults with me) The normal computer room was full, but when I turned around I saw about 5-10 empty computers in the next room. The lady standing out in front wouldn’t allow us to even enter the section because it was “for teens” and they wouldn’t allow anyone over 12 to enter. I was extremely confused as they were 1) all empty and 2) how is anyone under 12 considered a TEEN? And 3) since when do we block sections? What if they wanted to get a book from the section? She then told me to take them upstairs where there are more computers. As we walked up- we were stopped and told to not go there as they were for business only. I explained that we were just sent from downstairs and she just kept telling me no. After a few moments she said “fine, but you can only use one.” Keep in mind- there are 4 of us. After another few moments she says she can print out a guest pass but had a very nasty attitude. Even after I thanked her for helping she didn’t even smile or acknowledge myself or the adults I had with me, but walked completely away from her desk and followed us back and sat and watched us the entire time as if we were criminals.

I just don’t understand why inclusivity isn’t a thing, especially right across the street from the school for the deaf. I feel as if all should be treated equally and that was not the case today. We will be visiting other libraries in the future. It’s just a shame as my friends were so excited...

I often attend meetings and other events at the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. That branch is centrally located and is very close to several COTA bus lines.

The parking garage is free for the first hour, 50¢ for the second hour, and then $1.00 per additional hour until the total time is eight hours or longer, at which point the total fee is $10.00 for the entire day.

The cafe on the first floor of this library has a limited selection of food and drink though they do sell sandwiches [which I had been unable to confirm on-line]. The sandwiches are not listed on the menu that is posted behind the ordering counter; they are stored in a cooler to the left of the ordering counter.

The sandwiches are expensive [$8.95]; however, the sales of these sandwiches benefit Freedom a la Cart, a nonprofit organization that "makes your meal more meaningful by deliciously combining fresh, flavorful cuisine with life-changing employment and support to survivors of human trafficking."

I recently attended, at a group of "tall tables" at the first-floor cafe, a very pleasant "Meetup and Coffee" gathering of the Columbus Interfaith Group, a "Meetup group" that periodically gathers for discussion and periodically visits different...