Summit Free Public Library

I think the library service is poor. I checked out a grammar book for my son and he did not touch it. When I returned the book to the circulation desk, the lady said that there were some water stain on the back cover and asked me to pay the full price. I offered to buy a brand new book (which I can buy from a bookstore at a half price) but she declined and insisted I had to pay the full list price. I asked her to show me the policy and she could not show me. I talked to the manager, and in my opinion, both of them are not very nice — not a typical librarian you would think of. I decide to pay the full price anyway, but even if there is such a policy, the policy is unreasonable. I just wanted to give you a heads-​up in case you might be in the same situation, or at least check and ensure the books you are to check out from the library are in perfect conditions.

Very good community library. Nice layout, good work areas.

Not sure anyone needs a review of a library but this is probably as good as it gets. it’s nicely set up and has –well– what a library should have, a good selection of
also has a good selection of movies. Went to a musical event yesterday, which was free. Free is good !

Summit Free Public Library is the best! They are so helpful and have SO many things to take advantage of. You can download library books right to your iPad/​Kindle/​etc., download magazines, rent museum passes, it’s really fantastic. I also requested a book that was just coming out and they bought it for me right away!

Libraries are cool and this one is double cool because PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE IT!!! Amazing. Usually, I stop in to kill time, breeze through an issue of Scientific American, and the place is abandoned, just me and possibly a bored retiree snoring and face planted in an issue of Us Weekly. Not Summit. This town reads. Love that.
Typical amenities: free wifi, some club chairs by the periodicals, group study rooms, desks. The bathrooms could use a reno and they frown on beverages anywhere in the building, but they do have an art gallery through a partnership with the visual arts center of NJ, if I remember correctly. Parking lot is free after 6, muni-​meter prior.
Read on, Summit.

Summit has a terrific, clean, well air-​conditioned, well staffed library… as you might expect.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is the parking setup. They use a muni-​meter payment type. You need to park, check your parking spot number, pay at the machine and then bring the slip back to your car to display in the window. Quite a process to just run into your local library, I think. Not the most user friendly, IMO. But at least the machine allows payment by credit card.

This is a FANTASTIC library. They have an amazing DVD /​Movie collection. They have Blue Ray Discs even! They even secure the latest movies that were just out in theaters. They also have a great children’s section with 5 computers that are great for the emerging computer user fully installed with child friendly software full of educational games. They also have Wii and XBOX and PS3 games that you can borrow before you buy them! I borrow audio books for the car — I «read» Friedman’s Hot Flat and Crowded and learned conversational Spanish on my commute to work.
My only suggestion is to increase the group activities — mommy and me, singalongs, music to move by, chess club for older kids, events for teens to keep them busy among friends. More arts and crafts. They do offer movie nights and a very cute program to read to seeing eye dogs and they have reading time for infants and tots. They also need funding — unfortunately due to budget cuts they cannot open on Sundays as of April 2012. Hours M-​W 9 – 9, Th-​Sat 9 – 5. Sundays Closed.