University City Public Library — Attraction in University City

This is my favorite library in St. Louis. I have been going here on a near weekly basis for almost 10 years, since I was 16. It lacks the flashier amenities you see in recently renovated libraries, but it more than makes up for this with its massive collection of books. It must have at least 10,000 titles in its collection, fiction and non-fiction, and that might be underestimating it. Trust me, pretty much any book you’re looking for can be found here–brand new titles and sturdily rebound books from the 50’s.

Upstairs they have an incredible selection of graphic novels, if that’s your thing. Also upstairs is the best sci-fi fantasy section you’ll find in St. Louis and a wonderfully dense collection of books on art, film, music, and all kinds of biographies. The CD and audiobook collection is also up here, and these as well are well stocked and diverse in genre. DVD’s and Blu-Rays are downstairs, not far from the new fiction/nonfiction shelves.

As I mentioned, I have been going here regularly–to read, to study/do work, or just to explore the stacks–for 10 years, and yet I am still discovering new treasures in parts of the library that I haven’t spent much time in, or simply overlooked for some reason. This is an old school library in the best sense of that term. I hope it never changes.

Well...as others have mentioned, it would be nice if they were better able to enforce the “be quiet, it’s a library” rule, especially in the silent area upstairs. Many people, most of them teenagers it seems, do not seem to realize this area is supposed to be silent. However, that’s just the way it is and I’ve long since learned to bring my headphones or earplugs and tune the noise out. This is still a great library to come and read, relax, do work, whatever, with plenty of comfy chairs and tables to go around.

Oh, just ONE more thing: the bathrooms are just crying out to be renovated. Please, do something about them!

That being said, I have no reservations about giving this wonderful library 5 stars. It is a gem, like a second home for me. God...

I'm overall really annoyed with this library. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely space but I went here on a Monday afternoon to get some school work done (I'm in college) and I really can't focus in big open areas like they have on the main floor for "adults" (18+). I walked the entire first floor and there really just wasn't a great study spot where I wouldn't be distracted that also had outlets I could use.

I finally went upstairs and found the perfect secluded location in the corner where no one would distract me and with outlets so I could charge my computer to work. There were signs everywhere saying you had to be 17 or under to work there, but I walked around and scanned the ENTIRE upstairs and there wasn't a single adolescent in the entire building. NOT ONE. So I figured it would be okay while no one was there to keep to myself and work quietly.

Yet still, as soon as I sat down a staff member came over and asked if I was 17 or under, and when I said no she told me I had to move because it was reserved for 17 or under people.

She wasn't rude about it or anything, but I just find this ridiculous. On a busy day with lots of kids, sure I wouldn't sit there, but there was hardly anyone in the library and that truly was the best spot in the whole place to work and I actually really needed that kind of space, not just wanted it.

Either they need to put similar work spaces on the first floor or this rule needs to be revoked because I really wonder how many underage people are going to the library every day to work in those areas.

Seriously, this is ridiculous and I am disappointed that because of my age, I cannot work quietly and keep to myself in a space at a...

The other day there was a crazy person who was in the library lobby. She started screaming at another library patron, calling her explicit names and threatening to call her friends to come beat up this patron. Her screaming filled up the entire place. After the poor patron escaped the crazy lady then ranted to the library staff for literally about 15 minutes about the rudeness and audacity of this other patron. I observed the whole thing from where I was studying just a few feet from the lobby. Anyway, I would like to commend the staff on their remarkable ability to diffuse this ridiculous situation. The lady was being verbally abusive to everyone but the staff members unwavered in calmly asking her to stop yelling, reassuring her that no one was faulting her for being upset, and validating her feelings. I kept thinking to myself how I would just start crying and make someone else deal with her nonsense. Due to the staffs' extreme patience and sensitivity, they got her to calm down and stop disrupting the entire library. You guys should all get a...