Brentwood Public Library — Attraction in Town of Islip

EDIT - I found out there is space in the basement designated with study rooms (2 hour limit) and open area desks that is completely secluded from the upstairs, more public, space. This does not change my opinion about staff or security being more attentive about disruptive people for the people upstairs trying to read.**

*Original: This is a really great library with good staff and resources!

The only downfall is that the main floor study area is not sectioned off. It is not quiet due to people who are rude and treat the library like their backyard. There are people watching tv shows and playing videos games loudly on their phones without headphones, people making FaceTime calls again without headphones, people who wreak of weed, people who don’t manage their children and let them run around screaming and to top it all off in the very moment of me writing this review I watched a woman take her infant out of their car seat and change the child’s diaper on her lap in a studying cubby while the rest of her family of 4 adults and 3 children were being very obnoxious and loud, running around and throwing things all over this library. Why staff or security have not approached this family to ask them to stop acting the way they are acting is shocking to me. I guess library etiquette has drastically changed since I was a child but I’m considering finding a new place to study after...

This library is incredibly clean and well organized. The staff at the reference desk is amazing! The members of this library are diverse in both age and ethnicity, yet there are events and resources that extend across the gamut. There is a nice selection of carrels, tables, couches and club chairs with side-arm desks to choose from for your reading and writing pleasure. If you want to work privately with a small group, reserve a quiet room.

The Teen section looks so enticing, I almost wish I were a teen again, and I hated being a teen! With the Children's section upstairs, kids can be as noisy as they want and it doesn't disturb those of us who want to study on the main level or downstairs. Just inside, there is a cafe section with vending machines where you can relax and eat your lunch.

Check out the newsletter. If you don't see something in there that you'd like to learn about, mention it to the reference desk. Maybe soon they'll offer a class on it! That's what they're here for, and what they want to do for us. I love this place....

I’m reviewing this as a study space, I’ve not used their lending/ILL/computer services. This place rivals most NYPL branches as a study space, except for one important detail. The strange molded wooden chairs in the reading areas are the most UNCOMFORTABLE things I’ve ever sat on. They are TERRIBLE!!! There are nicer chairs in the (louder) lobby, but most of them aren’t near an outlet so they aren’t that useful as study spaces. My back and bottom were in so much pain that I’d rather take the half hour drive to campus and do work there. Also, more outlets throughout (including the reading room) would be nice. It's also closed on Sundays. But on the positive side, the library facilities are very nice and relatively modern. It’s a very pretty building. It’s reasonably quiet as a place to study. Numerous security guards keep noise down, though their presence is very off-putting. Staff is friendly. If you don’t mind the chairs or can work in one of the nicer chairs, it’s a nice place to quietly do work without...