Libbie Mill - Henrico County Public Library — Attraction in Lakeside

There have been improvements in the library since they updated their barcoding system, and I appreciate that. I am still less than impressed. Many seem to find this place so great simply based on how it looks, but I care far more about how it functions than how it looks. Earlier review contained below (I have bumped up the star count for the improvements made to the tracking systems.)

This library is not what it should have been and that makes me sad.

If your goal in visiting the library is to enjoy a meeting in a reserved space, you'll probably feel right at home at Libbie Mill. That seems to be the sole purpose of its design; tons of rooms, many of which actually feel dark, isolated, and outdated. But they are there and open to the community. (If you reserve them.)

if your goal is to print 3D objects, you'd be better off going somewhere else where you can do it more cheaply. Such places exist in the Richmond area.

If your goal is to use a public computer, you might feel cramped since they've all been arranged in one long row without any privacy or division. Said row of computers is also crammed into the one section of non-children/YA books.

If your goal is to get books, you may find the journey more painful than it should be. I cannot understand the point of having the books set up as they are. The space seems so devoid of actual tomes since the shelf space is much, much larger than the housed library collection. This collection is also on the second floor so there's very little hope of a quick run-in and exit. Though if you want children's books, you'll be able to enjoy a first-floor section entirely devoted to such, so that's a positive at least. There is also a separate YA section but without knowing ahead of time that it's there, you might never find it.

If your goal is to have a quick visit, you'll likely be disappointed about 50% of the time. Self-scanning and check-in/out machines often fail to work as they should. On several occasions, I've had the working librarian or staff member on duty tell me I was doing it "wrong" only for them to have the exact same reported issue and then be rude about it as if I had inconvenienced them. I can appreciate that it's annoying to deal with technical complaints (I'm an IT pro; I'm very familiar) but when patrons report problems, the very least you can do is to say "We'll look into it," not to spit out "You're...

The Libby Milll library is very welcoming for being as modern as it is. There is a beautiful outdoor seating area, facing some elegant fountains. The outdoor area was the first place we were drawn too. Sadly, after a few long minutes, we all agreed it was too cold to sit outside. Our group of three went inside, and chose an empty high-top table. Our conversation often and frequently trailed off due to the nice view of the fountains framed by their big windows. It was a functional high top table that served its purpose this Thursday night. Behind us was a lady who worked for the State of Virginia, as an auditor, reading, for fun. A book was clenched in the middle aged lady’s hand as she rudely interjected a comment to a conversation we were having with a stranger who commanded the room with her red jacket. Her wiry sunburnt hair was more distracting than her festive coat, if you ask me. But as soon as our new guest joined our conversation it ended as quickly, some might say abruptly, as she couldn’t wait another minute to dive deeper into the paperback. Her eagerness was palpable. Our nameless friend, the State of Virginia employee, was too engross with the book’s mysteries, as we never said another word to each other, for the rest of our lives. She walked away minutes later without a salutation or a wave. She should have at least gestured a nod. There was nothing. We didn’t check out any books, but the library served as a great...

Imagine this: you drive off the highway Route 95 and drive by a smallish city skirting Virginia's Capitol of Richmond. All of a sudden on the horizon you see a glassy futuristic publicly funded building shining in the distance. Driving past the fountains and the 1000+ manicured shrubberies you park and enter what you realize is a library from the future. You enter the 30 million dollars building, yes that's correct this library cost 30 MILLION DOLLARS!!! Tax payer money spent by the legislature which has endless pockets.

Where you looking for endless stacks of books? Bah we have computers instead. Want to do some paper machete? We have 3d printers printing all the crazy things your heart can think of. Need to rent out a room for a meeting? No problem we have a $10000 projector overlooking an artificial lake behind you as you speak at the podium all for free of course.

Once you get over the cost of the whole thing and the lack of excessive books you'd be used to in the 20th century it's pretty awesome to behold. Check it out for yourself, the luxury and splendor of a big city library nestled in a random section of West Henrico. God...