Brooklyn Public Library – Pacific Library

I didn’t really go here as a patron but rather for a group meeting however I arrived rely and took the liberty of looking around. I would definitely agree with a large portion of the reviews here. On the outside, it looks like a historic NY building. Cool architecture with no real public parking. The inside is old, with a handful (perhaps shelf-​ful?) of books and limited seating. I got here on a Saturday afternoon and was able to find a place to rest all by myself but the characters coming in and out of this establishment are definitely… interesting. I used the restroom which is located in the bottom floor and it is definitely are questionable place as no staff lingers that area and he women’s restroom was left wide open. I love libraries honestly but in this day and age they are becoming a haven for societies misfits and it was evident in the clientele. People were yelling, fighting, laughing and talking obscenities for to no one. Sadly, its for from the image that traditional quiet serene libraries back home convey.
Overall, I would never come back here if I didn’t have to. A shame in every regard.

The staff is great. Very professional and my intuition tells me they are passionate about their job, despite the odds, lol.
By that, I mean that it does seem as if they have some rather challenging customers at times. There are more folk here (than I have been aware of at least) than at other sites who are possibly homeless and/​or mentally ill. Don’t misundertand me however. I think it’s grest that there is a place where we are all welcome. It is unfortunate that are society does not offer more sufficient services cor those in need. And well done librarians! They do a great job of being in control and fair. They do not abuse the possibility of security. They are amazing. There is one female staff member who is particularly impressive.
Moving on… the architecture is amazing, I love it! And the old photos of the library at different times in history. And finally, casual print outs of amazing American women. Love it.
The computers are often busy with people waiting. And 30min is max.

Public libraries are where it’s at. Free GED classes, esol classes and free wi fi
Free children programs and free public computers. I don’t understand how people can rag on public libraries less complaints and more donations to improve services. It’s easy to complain but what public libraries needs are friends in the community.

This is not the biggest or nicest library in New York, but I love it. The librarians here know my daughter by name and are always ALWAYS encouraging her to read and giving her bookmarks or stickers, or whatever they have on hand. The library system in this city is amazing — you can request any book that exists at any branch (online) and they will hold it for you at your local branch once it becomes available. If you are into digital reading you have access to the whole digital collection, and all for free. If you need internet access — free (although far too many are kids of on Facebook). Educational games for kids — free. I can’t believe it too me having a kid of reading age to rediscover our library system.

A very nice, little branch of the BPL. Yes, it’s little. The staff has always been super friendly. Frankly going above what I would expect in terms of customer service.
But I’m deducting stars b/​c
1. There’s no return bin outside. So every time I want to return a book, I have to make sure the library is open. And I have to go inside. This brings me to problem number…
2. It’s not wheelchair accessible. It’s tough to get inside w/​a stroller. Yes, it’s only 5 or 6 steps to deal with. But you’d think a library would be accessible.

The building’s design and location are calling for trouble. Some reviewer’s reference to panopticon is ironically hitting the nail on the head here. Yet even the panopticon library has blind spots and they could be lethal in any time. Too many suspicious figures have their ways and their bathroom downstairs is frightening, designed to inspire assaults, robbery or rape, any of criminal behaviors.
Even those workers there are fearful for their proximity to physical violence, like just a word away, and often draw a blank to aggression a lot of people seem to resort to, after all.
As a result of all the above, the whole atmosphere of this branch is pretty much like a jail’s recreation room. Or would it give jail a bad name?

In the last month the Pacific Branch was closed to make some interior changes. I ran in here the other night to drop off a book and was pleasantly surprised at what I found-​they now have a return drop and the info desk has been relocated to the middle of the main room. Looks good. Makes me excited for when the Park Slope Branch will eventually open if in fact that happens in 2012 like they are saying.

First
Of the
Carnegie
Brooklyn branches.
Too loud and rough lighting for a work space.

Worst. Library. Ever.
It’s the middle of a Friday off from work, and I thought I’d take the chance because I assumed «how bad could it be in the middle of the day?» Yeah, it’s that bad.
I walked in and instantly thought «prison library». It very much looks like that. I walked up the creaking stairs to the second «floor» (I use this lightly because you’re still exposed to everything going on down on the first floor). This is the loudest damn library on the face of the planet, which is impressive because there isn’t a lot of space to pack people into here. One guy interrupted me to ask me for a pen. Look at me: I have my head down, pencil to paper, and clearly trying to do something here. Do I look like I want to talk to you? Another attempted to take over my table while I was sitting at it.
Really? Don’t come to the library unless you know how to act in one.

This isn’t the fanciest library I’ve ever been to, but they do have books and the people are pretty nice.
It kind of does feel like a jail house, though.

They have books.
I have to agree with other reviewers – it gets too loud when the kids get out of school.

I currently own 8 library cards. It’s something between a collection and a compulsion: whenever I’m somewhere near a library for any length of time, I feel the urge to confirm that should all my books be destroyed in some kind of freak weevil accident, I have somewhere to get my fix.
Therefore, the fact that I still don’t have a Brooklyn Public Library card, in spite of the fact that this place is three blocks from my apartment, speaks highly to the crappyness of this branch. It’s arranged in a panoptic fashion with fluorescent lights and I seem to remember some chain link? Anyway, not a comfy cozy place to settle down with a read. Even addicts have limits.

I don’t even know why I tried.
I needed SPECIFIC children’s books for my last ever paper this semester. The online system said this branch had the books. The librarian said the books were there. But my searching told me otherwise. Either my searching techniques are whack or the library’s organization system is whack. I’m gonna go with the latter.
The librarian was fairly helpful in directing me to the right area– um, the room marked «children’s corner” — DUH. But trying to find anything remotely related to what I needed, was a whole different story (PUN intended).
I left this small, disheveled branch and walked up to Central. Because as we all know from my review of Central, I feel like royalty when I enter that library. And not only did I feel like royalty this Saturday afternoon after entering Central, but I actually found exactly what I needed.
Pacific Branch, you should take some lessons from Central. Central could probably teach you some great things about organization.

2 stars for this branch, 5 stars for the overall Brooklyn Library system.
The library is your friend. Books and DVDs are friggen expensive. Who forks over $ 20 for a book that you might not even LIKE? Suckers do. Suckers who are too cool for school.
Granted, this Pacific branch holds a pretty small selection and is in need of some major renovation. The front steps are a big hobo hangout, and the place fills up with kids/​teens using the computers on Saturdays, resulting in librarians hollering at them every 2 minutes to simmmma down now.
The trick to reducing your time spent in this madhouse is to order all your books and movies through their website — there really is an extensive collection of new stuff and they’re constantly adding to it. Super popular, just out DVDs usually have a massive wait of 2 or 3 months, but everything else gets delivered rather quickly. Order, pick up — in and out in 5 minutes. Ta dah!