Hampton-Illinois Branch Library — Attraction in Dallas

The Hampton-Illinois library is located in Oak Cliff, across the street from the sprawling Kiest Park. The library is easy to notice from the street with a distinctive design and coloring, not to mention all the signage.

The lobby is impressive with lots of tiles and lights and glass. One Black Box Theatre and two classrooms to your left. The bathrooms, also in this area, are beautifully designed, spacious, clean and well supplied.

Small collection of Young Adult and Teen books, but a really good-sized offering of Manga and hard cover comic books. Adult nonfiction is a little under- and fiction a bit over-average for a Dallas Public Library. I found a surprising number of Libros en Espanol and was impressed by the number of New Books.

Also available are the usual collections of TV series and films on DVD, audiobooks and music CDs.

The Children's section is huge, taking up almost a quarter of the library. This can possibly be explained by the fact that there is an elementary school next door and the two buildings are physically connected. There are tons of books available for the kiddos and fairly frequent book readings. It can get a little loud but the noise doesn't bother me.

The library has 24 PCs available - two are for catalog and database use only. They're a bit crowded together but you rarely have to wait for a computer.

The librarians have arranged furniture into three groupings of 'living rooms.' Two have four padded, comfortable chairs around a low square table; the other has one old worn comfy chair with an end table and lamp next to it. Nearby is a loveseat and rocking chair(!) around a small low rectangular table.

More comfy chairs can be found near the computers. Four along the south wall and six in front of all the PCs.

There are plenty of desks available for studying: Four along the north wall seating four; six along the west wall seating two; one in the corner with chairs for three. Another bonus table seating four in the northeast corner, near the door to the courtyard patio.

I have to admit I've never been out into the patio but it looks wonderful. Unfortunately the door locks behind you so if you want to reenter the library you'll need to walk around to the front.

The library also has three study rooms with two holding at least ten people and one seating four.

One of the best, if not the best library in the Dallas Public...

This library is definitely not kid friendly. My daughter walked in skipping only to be yelled at by the young Caucasian male(long hair that he wore in a low ponytail and he wore reading glasses) who sat behind the counter “NO RUNNING!” My daughter then went to play with the large stackable blocks which kept falling. The much older Caucasian female librarian came out to tell my daughter “you’re being very disruptive.” Then the librarian proceeded to take away all the blocks. What is the point of having a children’s play area if noise must be non existent? Accidents will happen. It seems the employees are doing their best to create a bad experience for parents and childrent which will deter them...

Walked in like I always do, and Albert decided to be spicy and tell my son whom always frequents with me to stop running in the library. I visit this library all the time, literally once or twice a week and to be clear he ran INTO the library from the bathroom, he was not running around in the library. We normally come later in the day, so I have never seen Albert before, but I made a note to NEVER come in when Albert is there. It was to early to be rude to a child. It was tone in which he said it and look he gave my son after. He was disrespectful! Albert is not there to help or be professional to anyone! Don’t ask...