Redmond Library

Horrible staff who cannot explain why there are still charges on my account. It is a music CD I definitely have returned but missing the outside plastic only. They still charge me on the same day when I talk to them on the phone and in person. Not a fan of this library — is just a plastic. CD was returned! Explain in details and take away silly charges.

Living in Redmond, we, as a family with 2 young kids, love the Redmond library. It’s a busy library that got lots of good use. Great collection of junior books. There is a kids-​only washroom in the kids area, which is super convenient for kids who like to hold it ’til the last minutes. Not a big fan of the games on computers in the kids area, but maybe it’s just me being too old-​fashioned or strict with computer games. To me, library is for reading and not playing games.
Like other reviewers mentioned, there are some homeless people. They are not in the kids area normally, so I feel it’s not huge issue.
For the adult books, I love the staff-​recommended books that are displayed on the shelves at the entry. I could always find good books from there.

The Redmond Library is a great resource! Staff is friendly and helpful, plenty of computers to use, easy self check out and well organized. Unfortunately, I don’t spend as much time as I’d like perusing the shelves because it feels like a homeless shelter. The comfy chairs are occupied from opening to closing as if it were a right for the homeless to camp themselves there along with their belongings. Recently, I saw a dad change his baby’s diaper in the library which is unsanitary. Afterwards, he touched the chairs and his surroundings. Gross! Seeing that, I no longer have an interest in lingering rather get my books and check out asap.
I agree with the other reviewer, it’s not a safe place to leave your school children unattended even while they are in the children’s section.

Very unsafe for children under highschool

Very nice library, helpful staff, great collection, free printouts and wifi
The only thing bothering is homeless crowd that increases around evening, which is the same in any public library… but the pros far outweighs that

This place is loud. I don’t mean the interior design (although, yeah, that too).
I find an interesting book, sit down to do some reading, and promptly find myself greeted by the sound of multiple screaming toddlers. Ok, fine, it’s a heat wave and you don’t want your kid to suffer through the heat. I won’t begrudge you that. I’ll move.
Next up is a dude watching animé on his phone. It takes me a while to figure out that he’s watching animé and not playing videogames because the sound is so repetitive. Turns out, that’s because he’s watching the same 5 seconds of a clip over and over again. Clink. Clink. DORRRYYAAAAAAAAAA. Ok, fine. Maybe you don’t have internet at home and want to use the free wi-​fi to avoid using up your bandwidth for the month while watching clips of animé. I’ll move.
As I move into the last section with open seating in the library, I overhear two people on the phone. That’s it. I give up.
While all this was happening, a librarian wandered by and told two kids who were sitting together and reading that «we have a one person per chair policy». On my way out, I witnessed a man not being allowed to pick up holds for his wife because the library somehow mixed up his first name and last name.
Patron: I’d like to pick up these holds for my wife.
Librarian: What’s your last name?
Patron: X.
Librarian: Sorry, we have Y listed as the person who’s allowed to pick up holds for your wife“
Patron: Yes, Y is my first name.
Librarian: That must be someone else.
Patron: No, that’s me. Z is my wife.
Librarian: [slowly, as if speaking to a small child] Your name is X. Y is someone else.
Patron:No, that’s me. Y is my first name.
Librarian: No, you’re X. Y is someone else.
If I’m understanding this correctly… things that aren’t allowed in the library:
1. Sitting and reading quietly next to someone.
2. Picking up holds for your wife.
Things that are allowed:
1. Watching animé and movies without headphones.
2. Talking loudly on the phone in the section labeled «study area».
I don’t want to sound too negative about this place. I actually like it. They have really cheap used books. The selection is skewed towards out of date technical books, sci fi, and fantasy because we’re so close to Nerdosoft out here, but you can often find a gem for $ 0.50. The check-​in/​check-​out machines are pretty cool, and there are enough of them that you never have to wait behind more than one person in line. The staff seem friendly, if a bit uptight. But despite all the positives, it’s way too loud here.

The homeless lingering inside and out have become so much of a problem that I know go out of my way and go to the Woodinville library. No longer feel safe taking my girls here.
With the police station directly next store I don’t understand why this is such a problem.

I love this library! If you can’t find what you are looking for on the shelf, it is simple to put in a hold request. It’s great that you can just go into the hold area, pull your book and check them out yourself. It’s simple, easy and best of all FREE

Library staff does a great job of managing the large amount of patrons that come through each day. Sometimes people in the café area can forget they are still in a library but other than that it’s a great place to catch up on work or study or get a really good recommendation on new book

Save for the occasional hoard of kids running into you as you try to enter the library, I truly appreciate the atmosphere here. I recently got my library card after moving into town, and I check out books every few weeks. The librarians have been quick to help me find appropriate books for my work, and because of them I have done exceedingly well this quarter at school. The online books are also very useful.

Others’ comments are generally accurate for this location of KCLS.

Since moving to this area about a month ago, we’ve come to this library about 6 times. It’s always busy with adults, teens, kids. That’s great to see how this library is so well utilized! I love the fact they are open til 9 PM on weekends. They have a large children’s selection and their little coffee vending machine is a plus! The information area librarians are so sweet and helpful. My kids love asking them to help them find books and they are always so nice about it.
The only thing I don’t like about this library is that in the middle of the children’s area are computers where little kids kids can do computer games and it’s always noisy there and kids are upset b/​c they didn’t get a turn or b/​c they have to wait. Honestly, can we just make the kids reading area a reading area without throwing in computer games too?
But that’s my only pet peeve. Otherwise, it’s an awesome library.

I use this library almost exclusively for wifi access when I don’t feel like spending money at Starbucks, but I do use it to check out books from time to time :)
The staff is always friendly and helpful and I can usually find a table to myself to work on my laptop. The place I sit is near the children’s section, so it can get a little loud at times, but I usually just put my headphones in.
I like to bring the kids I nanny here occasionally as well — they have a great little kid’s area, including computers and little tables where the kids can look at/​read books. We also like the self-​service check out because the kids love to be the ones to scan the barcodes :)

Clean building, friendly staff, and yes, so many books and computers, this place stands out as a really nice and necessary facility. Get your library card here and order books online too. These places still exist.
Another tip, there are group rooms that you can reserve for free. Have your community get togethers here at a centrally located place.

First, I like this library because it is big and the staff is great if I am looking for a book and I can not find it. But sometimes there are weird people that smell also. Also when I go to the bathroom I am always scared for some reason and if I know the restroom is empty I still check to see that no one is there hiding. Weird feeling. The parking is very narrow.

I’ve been here a couple times. First time, I was just using their bathroom. Second time, I was there killing time before an interview.
I thought I can use my Seattle Library card here. But, no! You need to have a different card for Regional Library system. Well… regardless, I got the card very quickly and was able to use the computer there. There are more computers. All the log on and set up are very similar to Seattle Public Library.
There are a lot of parking spots for different time limits. There’s also bike rack for people who choose to ride their bikes. Overall, this library is very nice.

There are a lot of people that wouldn’t be caught dead in the library. Too sophisticated to do any thing like that! Funny thing, because I think it’s one of the greatest places on earth. The King County Library system is one of the best in the country and the Redmond regional branch is the perfect example why.
This branch is spacious with lots of elbow room and a large selection to choose from. It includes a variety of seating arrangements from comfortable table-​side chairs to individual as well as multi-​seating desks even private rooms for group study by reservation.
I especially appreciate their system where one can get online and find books, etc., read reviews and place your order. Usually within a week or two it’s available at the local branch of your choosing for convenient pickup. You can extend check out times from the convenience of your computer at home and in some cases check out offerings directly to your Kindle and other devices.
Also available are several dozen computer stations free for use up to 2-​hours a day. If you need to print documents, you can do that as well at a reasonable price. All it takes is a library card.
I often see mothers and their young children taking advantage and visiting on a weekly basis, the little kids with their arms full of good reading. What a great habit to teach your children!
The staff have always been courteous and helpful. Included is a small area for eating snacks with vending machines, And of course free WiFi.
The Redmond branch is conveniently located with plenty of parking in a nice neighborhood of businesses and office buildings.
I know they smell good and look scholarly sitting on your shelves and tables at home, but really… why buy books, when you have the King County regional library system?

Great for Grantwriters!
This is the place to go if you are trying write grants!
Call ahead for a reservation and a mini-​lesson to use the databases.

In the past year, I recently took advantage of the DVD’s you can check out. I heard so many negative things about the wait and hold times, that I finally gave it a shot to check out myself. it definitely wasn’t as bad as most of my colleagues made it out to be, but if you do check out the newer movies (which are very current by the way), you’ll find to be waiting 1 – 2 months. I’m not in a rush to see most of these movies, so it suits my wants/​needs.
Staff here is very helpful. I was kinda surprised how many people they have working there. This library is kept up in great shape.
The only thing I did not like is that the headphones by each computer should have some baby wipes or something to desanitize the headphones. Not exactly everyone there has strong hygenie standards. Just saying. :)

I thought the Library was irrelevant in a new tech-​savvy world. Years had gone by and I just passed by with no real desire or need for the library… UNTIL a few months ago, and WOW the library is awesome.
KCLS is awesome. They have media like audiobooks, music, movies, and TV shows. Some you can download from the comfort of your home, some you can reserve online. Plus it isn’t outdated, they have new, contemporary, relevant media. Forget RedBox, get yourself a library card!
The actual library facility is updated and nice too, although I admit I don’t spend much time there… It looks like it could be a good place to tutor or group study.
The library is now on my list of places I regularly visit.

I have a love-​hate relationship with this library. More love than hate; hence the four stars. The details:
If you have young toddlers, they offer wonderful, free story time sessions. I used to take my kids here often when they were quite young, and our regular trips were always fun and upbeat, hearing stories and making puppets. This, I truly believe, fostered a great love of reading in my kids, and for that I’m eternally grateful. The library also offers free reading incentive programs for elementary school kids and middle and high schoolers, so the kids can get prizes, simply for reading books. They also offer a wonderful summer reading program for kids, to keep the kids reading during the summer months. Again, more prizes are given out. All in all, it’s great.
I strongly recommend setting up a library account online, so you can browse books online, put them on hold, and get email reminders when they’re in store for pick up, and more reminders when they are due. If, like me, you have a whole family whose every member has a library card, I recommend tying all the accounts together on Library Elf. com, so you get notices when everyone’s books are due or in stock for pick up. Also, free of charge is
, where you can rent digital books from the library and read them on your iPad. Our family rarely buys books anymore, as we simply don’t have the storage place for them, but we LOVE the library, to rent as many as we can, all the time!
Other perks? Use of the computers there, use of the study rooms there, getting free Sunday Seattle Times papers on Saturday mornings, getting audio books for my car to listen on my commute to work (heck, I’ve learned a new language, listening to an audio series from the library!), taking free computer classes there, joining book clubs there… The list goes on. I should note that the library is a great resource if you are unemployed; they offer many «how to» classes on upgrading your skills and resume.
My only gripe — which is a personal one — was the way the library handled its personalized tile program, when they remodeled this branch. Google the Redmond Library’s tile program to read how they treated my family when we purchased a few tiles, in memory of some family members. As a result, as much as we love the library, we will never again financially support it, and we will never again trust tile or dedication programs anywhere (be forewarned! They might put your dedication tile beside some offensive tile, and you will have no say in it whatsoever).

I am definitely a fan of this regional library!
This is so much better than some public libraries in Seattle. This place has enough room (although it often gets crowded) for group study, quiet study, or computer use. They have self check-​in or check-​out machines available for use. Also free wi-​fi!
Everything (books, etc) is well organized. They host lots of community events here as well.

I stopped by here yesterday, and saw that they recently went through a remodel… and it looks great! It’s been opened up (even more) and the new section labels look great! I used to work here so I’m quite familiar with what is where, but… I think it looks like it’s easy for most people to navigate.
They have one of those machines that checks in items you return right away, so that’s cool. They also have people available to help you and I believe to check out, but you can always just go for the online catalog station or one of the self-​check-​out stations. Whatever floats your boat…
In any case, this is one of my favorite KCLS branches and the people that live near it are lucky. If you don’t live there and are just passing by… well, it’s at least a good place to stop by to use the restroom… and then maybe check out what books/​movies they have available (a decent in-​house selection, in my opinion) or hang out with your kids in the kids area? Or get on the computer… you can use one of theirs if you have a library account (ps: I think there are some temp log-​ins available for visitors) or use their wi-​fi if you have a laptop. I haven’t tried the wi-​fi recently, but it was a decent speed 1 – 2 years ago.
Either way… I love libraries… and this is one of those especially nice ones.