Hammond Public Library — Attraction in North Township

I like that individuals with HPL cards are able to request a private room to have a meeting. I like the set up of the library in general, because it's easy to find books on most topics. I like being able to check out books quickly, electronically and not have any wait times. I also like the automatic reminders when a book is due, and the checkout if you don't get it back in time. (I don't believe that will happen all the time but currently, it has helped me not have any late fees.) I enjoy the summer reading program, and the monthly planned activities for the community. The pros mentioned, are truly why I still visit. Now the cons, I have asked staff for help on a few occasions, with poor response from the staff, not by all staff and not at all visits, but enough times to bring it up. I understand most places have plexiglass due to taking better precautions for staff health, and protection, which I usually don't mind. The glass does make it less personable, and makes a quiet place not so quiet. Lastly, during every visit, and probably the biggest reason for the 3 stars, there have been people talking loudly even yelling, or talking on their phone while on speaker upstairs. Overall, most visits, I have found books of my interest. I have been given information about things happening at the library or in the community. It's easy to use the computers and during all visits the place has been...

In the month that my Stepmother passed away, my son had borrowed movies through the Hammond Public library system that were due. We returned them late because of her being in a coma and then suddenly dying (Our family just lost my Dad a year and a half ago). Not even a month later, my son's debt to the library for the late movies got sent to a collections agency. This made things worse. This makes our whole family not want to use the library's services any longer. There are really great employees at this library and we have had many good experiences. But this one bad one ruins the whole experience with the Hammond Public Library. I let one of the librarians know what happened and my son was going to pay the fine but she insisted that we fill out a form about it instead. We filled out the form at the front desk about the situation only to never be contacted by the person who made the decision to send our unpaid dues of less than a month to collections rather than contacting us directly via phone, mail or email. We will pay the dues and be done with a library that doesn't understand that life issues happen to everyone. Thanks for blemishing my Autistic son's credit when we just had a death in the family. We will use the Lake County Public Library system for our future...

The lady at the counter was so rude. It was pretty unbelievable. I've never been treated so rudely here. I bought 2 books. One she kept telling me is not a paper back. (I never asked) she like kept telling me and her coworker, I'm not sure why she was so pushy or adamant that this soft cover book was $2 but okay. I know this place is cash only so I made sure to bring cash. I handed her a $20 and she was pretty annoyed and asked me a couple times if I had change or anything smaller. I did not. If I had it that's the first thing I would have gave. I checked out another 3 books. I noticed I left my keys upstairs. So I asked the lady if I could leave my books there so I could run upstairs and get them. She much have told me no on repeat 3x in 5 seconds. I had to sternly reply back to her I know I heard 3x there's no need to repeat yourself. With how rudely I was treated. I think I'll start going to a different library. This is not the friendly place it used to be. That bitter old women needs to spread her misery elsewhere. A library is no place for just a...