Saint Paul Public Library - Arlington Hills — Attraction in Saint Paul

I've lived in the neighborhood for 20+ years. The "Arlington Rec Center" isn't just a library--it has a very small gym, walking track, meeting rooms, and a library. Since I joined an online book swapping club several years back, I seldom visit the library. The actual library is fairly small and doesn't have much in the way of books. I grew up on the Range. My hometown library is twice as big as Arlington. Furthermore, the entire library building in my hometown is only a library. Its children's section is nearly as big as the Arlington library.

I only visit Arlington for printing, copying, or scanning when my printer is on the fritz or faxing. Recently, my internet was down for 10 days. I went to Arlington for four straight days to keep up with e-mail. I felt like I was in a daycare center. Because it's summer, kids aren't in school. Many of them are at the library where they can run (literally) through the library and yell as loudly as they want without repercussions.

One day I talked with an older gent sitting across from me at a bank of computers. We discussed the noise. He said staff won't do anything, apparently because it might infringe upon the kids' rights to be kids. He must have brought the noise issue to the attention of a staff member at one time because he said staff claimed that the library is a "public space" for everyone. So??? Kids are NOT entitled to do whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they are. Children can be taught that at certain places and in certain situations they need to use their "inside" voices.

While I was at the library one of those days, I googled reviews of SPPL Arlington and found a comment from just a month ago in which the commenter noted how bad the noise level was.

After four days at Arlington (and each day was the same as far as unruly kids), I went to the Ramsey County Library currently in Maplewood Mall's lower level. There were a couple of kids (5-6 years) sitting at opposite ends of a bank of computers. They apparently were playing a computer game with one another. They started talking loudly and when they didn't tone it down, a library staff member got up and quietly dealt with it. None of the patrons asked him to intervene--he simply took the initiative. A while later the kids were getting loud again so I got up and approached the library person. Before I could say anything, he said "I'll take care of it."

Thursday I went to SPPL Rice Street in the afternoon. While there was some noise from kids, it was better than Arlington. Today (8/23) I stopped at Arlington to scan something. As soon as I stepped into the library part of the building, I could hear some kids who were in the adult section of the library--not the kid section. I was standing at the scanner, when a lady approached me as she thought I needed help (I didn't). I asked if she worked at the library. She didn't but volunteered there. I commented on the noise. She understood perfectly well what I was talking about--she was a retired teacher and said she often had conversations (I gathered when she was teaching) telling the kids they needed to quiet down.

After she left, a young male staff member came over to see if I needed help. The scanner had reset itself while I was talking to the teacher so I had to start over. The young guy helped me do that. When the scan went through, I commented on the kid noise. He said the library is a public place open to anyone so they can't do anything about the noise unless it gets REALLY bad. So, basically, it was the same thing the older guy I talked to a few days ago had been told. Apparently, the "official policy" of SPPL (or at least the Arlington branch) is that if you're a kid, you can come to the library, be as loud and as obnoxious as you want, and you won't be held accountable for your behavior.

I doubt that I will return to this library. I'd rather drive to Maplewood or another 'burb where staff will get out of their chairs to deal...

I attended the public library's event on inclusivity, featuring Cory McCarthy's "Man O' War," with high hopes of engaging in meaningful dialogue about the inclusion of homeless individuals and Native Americans. Unfortunately, my brother and I, who have firsthand experience with homelessness and the foster care system, were met with the opposite of inclusivity.

At an event meant to foster understanding and community, we were silenced and asked to leave for merely participating in the conversation. This act was not only personally disheartening but also historically ironic. It echoed the systemic silencing of Native voices through broken treaties and the marginalization of foster children, a demographic historically used to fill labor voids rather than being nurtured as individuals.

This experience at the library, a place that should be a bastion of knowledge and acceptance, was a stark reminder of the work still needed to truly embrace inclusivity. It served as a microcosm of the broader societal challenges faced by marginalized groups, reflecting a pattern of exclusion and broken promises that has persisted for centuries.

The library, as a community hub, has the responsibility to not only host discussions on inclusivity but to practice it, ensuring that all voices, especially those of the historically disenfranchised, are heard and valued. It is my hope that this review will spark a renewed commitment to genuine inclusivity, where events like these are safe spaces for all to share and learn from each other's...

For all of the people complaining about children GROW UP! Go to another library! This place has toys and a play area where exited little blessings from GOD play and enjoy themselves! There are parents who don’t have help with their children! Money for babysitters , single parents and they deserve to go to this library to get things done! Sometimes children yell! Don’t like it then m just go to another one. I’ve witnessed workers tell children to keep noise down I highly doubt they are just running up walls and screaming to the top of their lungs ( while excited like children slip up and do sometimes because they are literally children ) and none of the...