Widener Library — Attraction in Philadelphia

Never in my life did I experience such disrespect coming from a member that works in the library, I thought library workers are suppose to be, “people persons”. I wouldn’t even be able to tell you the ladies name because when asked she replied “don’t worry about it”. She’s an older African American lady with glasses. I simply walked my dogs around the EMPTY with NO PEOPLE, parking lot (NOWHERE near the grass) just walking for some exercise. My dogs weren’t barking, weren’t acting crazy anything. Just pure walking, the lady comes out and said (just like this) “Your dogs got to go you can’t walk them here” I asked “in the parking lot? I always walk around here, they aren’t gonna be in the grass or use the bathroom” the lady replied with “well I don’t see any bags with you” I had doggie bags in my pocket. I replied “they won’t use the bathroom here, we’re just walking” she let it go. The second day, today. She gets the security guard to come out & speak with me. We had a brief conversation & all he said was “it wasn’t normal, we don’t see that often” laughed it off & went about his day. (He didn’t tell me to leave) continued walking, the same lady comes out “you cannot be here!!” And starts yelling at me. My dogs weren’t worried about her until she started yelling at me, causing them to bark. Then she finally said her “reasoning” which was “seee they can’t be barking and doing all of that” she had no real reason to say something to me about my dogs, she just don’t like dogs in general I guess. But was also very rude to me, it saddens my heart you have that type of worker at a library, I was going to bring the kids here for weekly reading because we just moved in the area. I also told my sister & friends about it to bring there kids. I would never return & I will make sure they...

Widener Library in Philadelphia is a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, serving the North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, and Allegheny West communities. Recently relocated to a new glass-fronted building, it features an African Plains theme, complete with hidden elephants and giraffes. The library provides essential services like book lending, computer use, and job search assistance, making it a vital resource for the...

Definitely will not return. Loud as can be. One open room with short, waist-sized bookshelves. People on cell phones and ringers blasting throughout library. People loudly talking to themselves as they hold 20+ books and quickly skim through them. I wonder if there is a recovery center nearby... Library staff did nothing to monitor the noise level and barely got up from their chairs. Definitely not the...