Chicago Public Library – John Merlo Branch

Great library, quiet, and a nice neighborhood vibe.

What are you expecting? It’s a public library in a major city with financial problems and lots of impoverished citizens.
Don’t set the bar so high. You’re not royalty. Other than you paying property taxes (maybe you don’t?), it costs you nothing.
Sure — This branch is old and shabby. It sometimes smells bad with the visitors who need a bath and clean clothes.
There’s free wi-​fi.
I can reserve items on their website and pick it up when it’s ready.
I’m giving it five stars because I don’t hang out in this place. It’s 5 stars because it is a pleasure to be able to have access to the vast collection of books and other media.
Look up the definition of value. If it costs you nothing, you should expect nothing. With those expectations, you’ll be delighted.
There’s a security guard on-​site to keep it quiet and secure.

This library is the worst, first of all Cynthia Rodgers don’t help anyone and can’t keep control of her branch. She talks on the phone with her kids and husband and have patrons waiting on her to help them. Cynthia sit in her office and talk with her friend that comes in every day for about 30mins. Plus she is rude if she helps you. My Tran is the children librarian and don’t do Shit but sit at her desk all day and let kids run around and play. I see the old security officer that was a man and made you feel safe is gone and now they got this lady that don’t do Shit and with her there your not safe. Cynthia need to learn how to do her job!

Giving this library a low score because they fined me for a book returned late that I had returned via the drop box a day before it was due. The library was polite but adamant that I must have returned it late because «they check it every day». The book wasn’t logged as returned until 3 days after I returned it. Moving forward, I will now have to go into the library to return books because I don’t trust their book drop system anymore.
He did remove the fine but I think assumed I was lying, as he saw no other scenario than I had returned it late. I’m giving a low review because if he was sure it was me bringing it in late and not someone making an error on their end, it’s just going to keep happening.

Attention all mothers with kids, women and normal people. The library staff including the security states that it is completely legal for people to come in and watch porn. Witnessed it myself, reported to security and staff and they all stated it is legal and they will not do anything. Kids running around and no one cares. Disgusted is an understatement of how i feel. Our taxpayer $$$ going to waste. Staff is rude and unhelpful, all of them. If you have other options, please use another branch.

A great resource in this community that deserves more support and investment.
We’ve been dozens of times and have received courteous help from the staff. I really don’t understand the other comments to the contrary. I have seen some rather frustrated, loud patrons making unreasonable demands, but the staff dealt with even them patiently and professionally.
This location does show it’s age, though. Would be great to see some investment in updating it.

Worst library experience of my life.
Mrs.Rodgers instantly gave me alot of grief for not having a library card when asking for the guest past. I didn’t know you could start lecturing someone you just met. Especially a potential new customer.
Not sure how people can get paid to be this rude and pretentious to customers.
Prior to that she purposely did not greet me or make eye contact while I was aimlessly walking around upstairs looking for help. Her body language lead me to think she did not want to be disturbed.
The guy on the first floor was slightly helpful but not really.
Bottom line, if I didn’t need the printer I would have avoided this place. Terribly rude employees with entitlement from who knows where.

Wonderful staff. And nice selection of latest fiction and nonfiction books, considering the average size of library. Also, I am grateful that they are consistent with daily subscription of newspapers and monthly subscription of magazines.

Long story short: Workers seem very incompetent.
If you can, skip over this library. It can do the trick but just an unpleasant experience over all to have to deal with the workers.

Let’s do the time warp again! I like vintage stuff and walking in here takes my back to my elementary school library.
As many others have mentioned this place is awful. I’ve been here several times over the last few years and yesterday really took the cake. For starters, the hours are a bit odd so keep that in mind. The selection isn’t the best and yes it’s not the cleanest place. I even checked out a book here over the summer that had a page missing.
The guy who is at the check out desk every time I’ve gone is really nice and usually I just go in to get a book on hold for me (CPL will send a book to your requested library) so I’ve had no issues there. But yesterday I happened to see that a book I wanted was on the shelf in the reference section. I went to the reference desk where the security guard sits and I knew he probably wouldn’t be able to help me. I walked around and a few minutes later a young girl (maybe early 20s) sits down at the computer behind the desk and starts talking with the guard. Before I even get a word out of my mouth this girl says to me «I am NOT the librarian. You can go to the office in the front for help, but she’s on the phone now so she can help you when she’s done.» It was rude and served with a whole lot of ‘tude. How about «I’m not the librarian, I can try to help you but you may need to wait for her to finish her call.»
I actually went downstairs to the nice guy at check out who actually helped me. It’s a shame that he works with rude and incompetent people. This place is just really odd. It’s kind of a like a DMV, airport all in one with people loitering and waiting for outlets to charge their phones. I really didn’t see much in the way of usual library services, but I did notice that the internet (non-​CPL catalog) computers were where the party is at…
Not sure what to say. The location downtown isn’t all that convenient for me but I’m not sure if there’s enough of a need/​purpose to this location.

I can’t even explain how much I hate this library branch. Sounds extreme, but there are just so many things wrong with it or that don’t make any sense. I used to live by Sulzer Regional and that library was great. Some of my reasons:
1) All except for 2 computers you are required to have a RESERVATION to use. I asked, «So I can’t just come and print something?» No. Have to make a reservation. That’s crazy. Makes absolutely no sense. And completely screws over people like me, a grad student without a home printer who would normally go print something at the library, as I did TONS of times at Sulzer Regional with no problems and pleasant staff and atmosphere.
2) Furthermore, there is a very small number of computers.
3) The employees are really loud, talking to each other all the time, arguing
4) When they are not being loud among themselves they are just really rude. Just the way they interact with you at the checkout counter, or any of the desks, it doesn’t seem like any of them like their jobs or put any effort into it.
5) The first floor is very loud with the kids and even without the kids the employees are very loud. Not even just talking to each other. They slam books around onto their carts, on the shelves, etc. I totally get and support having a kids area, but it should be a specified area, there should be a much larger area of the library for everyone else, and besides the kids, it should not be so loud. Really it is the employees that are being loud. I can’t stand sitting there while an employee is standing at the bookcase next to me loudly slamming and dropping books onto her cart.
6) They don’t seem to know anything about books. It is like they are just random city employees who picked the library or were assigned it out of the government jobs available or something. When I ask about a book or author they never have any idea what I’m talking about. I just spoke to the Adult librarian on the phone, I was trying to ask about transferring a book from another library. She had never heard of Joan Didion. Anyone who is a reader, loves books, majored in English, etc knows who Joan Didion is. And I had to spell it like 5 times because the woman’s English was not that good, which was really frustrating.
I love my new neighborhood but I wish so much that I was back by Sulzer Regional. Every time I come to Merlo I leave feeling negatively. It is even stressful sometimes because one time I went just for 10 minutes to print (I cheated and used a «kids» computer that was available during the school day) and there was so much loud arguing among staff I could just feel myself getting tense, stressed, and anxious.

Holy cow, were these employees rude. I walked in at 4:50 when the place closes at 5 (which, by the way, seems utterly ridiculous) to sign up for a library card and leave. I was yelled at both immediately after entering and after voicing my request by two different people, who informed me that the computers were already turned off? When I walked out at 4:52 the doors were already locked.
I mean, to an extent, free public service and everything, but come on.

I’ve only been to one Chicago public library, but I can’t complain.
They might not have the best selection, but make a request and they’ll bring the book here.
Sure, kids are loud on the first floor, but hey they’re kids! There is always the second floor.
Security guy is super nice, and the rest of the staff have always been helpful.
Only thing I’d request is more (or more easily accessible) meeting rooms that don’t require a process to reserve and approve. No one ever responded to my request…

My review is based solely on study space. A lot of neighborhood libraries in Chicago are cramped with… well, rif raff on the weekends and I sometimes have difficulty finding adequate QUIET study areas. Today, I had a pretty decent experience at Merlo. There were many areas available and shockingly, there were places to plug in my laptop. The seats are horribly uncomfortable. Honestly, I will probably bring a pillow next time. This library seems to be cleaner than some of the other ones. (ahem, uptown.)
Most of the reviews seem to be about the staff, but I had zero interaction with them.
FYI — NO parking lot.

Meanest staff I’ve ever encountered, let’s not be passive about this, let’s get these people fired. I had to wait 30 minutes to get a library card! She wasn’t doing anything, she kept checking people out and gossiping with her friend, then was soooo rude when I asked her what’s going on. Formally complaining, if anyone wants to join me let me know!

The staff at this place SUCKS. Nasty attitudes all around and they couldn’t be less helpful. You will leave feeling like, «Gee. Sorry I asked you to do your job folks.» I needed to reserve a meeting room and Mrs. Rogers, the manager (I think) had a smarmy, condescending attitude throughout. Turned out the room was already reserved for that day… no big deal… but I could do without the attitude, lady. Petty little beaurecrat.

The hours are terrible. How are we supposed to ever use this place? Come on! Just close it down instead if you are going to make it this crappy!
Also, everyone that works here doesn’t give a crap.

Just had a terrible experience at this branch.
The woman who apparently issues guest passes was incredibly rude and really made no effort to be helpful. She also began talking to me with her back turned towards me as she walked away.
Will NEVER return to this branch. It’s really too bad a library can be this bad.

I’m trying to be nice…
Yes, the hours have been reduced because of budget cuts, however, the hours are staggered enough for everyone who needs to go to this library can.
Yes, the personnel could be more friendlier.
I would recommend to review the CPS’s website to order the item, if possible. The website is very easy to maneuver around. You can have the item delivered to any CPL that you want. Depending on the item, you could be waiting for quite awhile.
The complimentary internet is nice.
The rest rooms are horrible! Use at your own risk.

Bleh, is this really what a Chicago library is like? Very disappointing. I sat in an old, creaky, wood chair similar to what you would find in a family dining room from the 1980’s as I used the spotty internet and observed my strange surroundings. This place is shady.
Also, since when did the library become the spot for mothers and their loud children to have play dates? First off, this library is the shits, I would never let my children touch anything in there. Second, this is a library, please stop talking about the latest episode of Desperate Housewives and silence your screaming child! I came here for peace and quiet and left with a headache and child rage for at least three days (I kid, I kid).
Everything about this place is horrible and gross. Yuck.