Reviews of Barrington Area Library (Library)

Butternubbs Lardo

Woah. Just... woah. So much space, lots of quiet areas which you can rent out. It's a fantastic place to work.

D. ISAEFF

Love this place !

Richard D

Nice, cozy, and modern library. Visited on a Saturday afternoon and the place was quiet. Love it when non-humans are around me. Immersed in books without worrying that some one sneezes or blows his/her nose on me. Walked around to peruse books and magazines and didn't feel like I were at a flea market. Staff are helpful and friendly.

Itemsfor sale

Beautiful modern library to keep you busy for hours.

Just Jumping

Very neat and cool and clean

Kyle Lurz

WELCOME TO THE BARRINGTON AREA LIBRARY WHERE YOUR KID CAN COME RUN SCREAM AND CRY ALL THEY WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Colton Janokjanc

Excellent super helpful staff!

nico s

great services and friend people

Gavi's Sparkling Pony Channel

Great library!!! There are fun events to do with reading that last a month or two. Also there are short day events. Kind service.

oleg yusim

Great place to spend time on weekend with kid. Very nicely remodeled, kid section has everything kid can dream about (including even slides).

joe G Family

Awesome library. You must go here with your little kids. They have a lot of things for you and the kids to do. They even have a studio room.. they have a lot of of movies and games you can rent blueray disc too. They have this cool little backpack kits you can rent and do with your kids. If you live close to this library you must go.

Riley Sasser

I’m a middle schooler who walks here almost everyday (except for Wednesday and Thursday) and every time I walk in I’m always greeted with a friendly hello. This place is probably one of the nicest and friendliest libraries I know. Everyone should be proud of this. And especially all of the sections you have are so well planned out and I have seen some not planned ones. Keep up the good work.

T DiCarlo

Beautiful library and lots of kid friendly things to do! Gotta love a life size Lite Brite board !! The slide is awesome too for the little ones!

Matt Myren

We love the library and feel lucky to be within walking/biking distance. Whether for the kids to get a book or video or for me to go get some work done, the library has well-designed spaces for all occasions. Very bright and inviting with lots of glassline, and outdoor gardens that feel like a part of the interior. Great and helpful staff too.

Vladyslav Romanyuk

This is an amazing place to study!

baider Hater

Probably the best library out there, in fact WAY better than most. Staff isn’t bossy and do their job correctly and stay in their lane (cough cough Schaumburg cough.) but sometimes the kids are annoying and some how find their way to the adults section where ppl try to study, but that isn’t the library’s fault. I mean parents, what is the point of bringing ur kids to play at the library during finals week when high schoolers try to study?

Daniel Glezer

Very nicely remodeled modern library. Great place to have a play date with a variety of activities for all ages.

Olivia Kesler

This is a great place to study especially for middle school students like me and there is a great selection of books from kids who are just starting to read to reference textbooks for every subject. There is also singular rooms for kids to studying and parents to work in. This place is awesome and you should definitely come check it out.

Hala Noureldin

I love the Barrington area library its just amazing there is always a place for everything there, there is a place for kids upstairs so if anyones loud its not disturbing anyone, and there is a place for quiet and reading and studying down stairs and i think the library is excellent. :)

Eileen Milano

Delightful children's area. Wouldn't change a thing!!

Nicole Asta

These reviews are in 2 categories; those who have kids under the age of 5 and want a free day care. And the adults you want to use the library as a library. If you want a free day care were the staff don't care how loud your kid screams come to the Barrington Area Library. As one reviewer put it "Think of the Kohl's children museum but FREE and you've got Barrington Area Library." But if you need to do professional research and your laptop is currently broken, go to the Palatine Library and spare your self the pain. Because the only desktops are located on the 1st floor next to the children zoo, I mean section. You could go to the 2nd floor which is quieter, and check out a laptop. But they may not have any open as they keep 5 in-stock. So in conclusion, adults go to the real library in Palatine and children go to the daycare in Barrington.

Zimin Mineo

I love my library. Great selection of new and newer material. Nice facility and fun for the kids with activities.

Marcela Naste

cool place to hang out with the kids

Hatice Kaya

We love this place.

Keegan Teal

Great staff, very helpful. The building was recently updated inside, and the focus on technology is great.

Ervi Ari

friendly and uniquely designed

J C

Knowledgeable staff, outstanding facility and awesome collections....couldn't ask for any more from a library!

Star Cunningham

Lisa wrote a review that is inspiring my review. When I moved to the area 8 years ago. I thought the library was a joke. Old and dark. I moved from Ohio where ALL states can learn how to run a library system. All interconnected. All one card. All one system. I remember walking into the NEW library and feeling like Lisa. When did the library become a playground!!?!?!?!!?!???! It's already an area where children suffer from affluenza. At least they used to 'sit down' and 'be quiet' in the library. No more. It is an indoor playground complete with tree house, slide, etc. Now, my friends told me - that the library had to meet the demands of the 'new parents' and that this serves their needs. To be able to run to Starbucks, and meet friends, while their children play in the library for a playdate. Ok - so fine. I get that. If they are going to have an open floorplan and allow all access to children. Then, I agree with Lisa - they need to implement a quiet zone. Technology is great but not all cohesive. i.e. when you log on to the system and go to reserve a room - you are asked for your library card number vs your user name and if you're like me - the library card is in the car and generally not next to me when I go to reserve a room. (they did have me download the stacks app which allows you to have your library barcode on your phone.) Who would've thought all of that space was behind those old walls! It's a gorgeous library. With tons of space. Lots of light. But the library is supposed to be...Shhhhhhhhhhh! and it's definitely not that! Now, if they could just figure out to let me complete an interlibary loan when I have a .20 fine on the card...it would get 5 stars!

lisa fitzsimmons

This library used to be very quiet and relaxing. But now that they've remodeled its a noisy wreck. I understand that this is the modern age and all. And the library wants to accommodate younger families with kids but this library has gone overboard. Last year or so they ripped out the old staircase and placed the childrens department downstairs as a kind of showcase for what a fun playground type Atmosphere a library can be. Its more of a circus. LCD televisions and interactive displays that are extremely loud. I've requested to have the sound turned down or off and librarian or staff simply reply its set and cannot be altered. It's absurd. the downstairs has zero adults books only childrens items dvds and sound recordings. Because parents with strollers didn't wish to use the elevators before renovations. Boo hoo. I know of many adults who now avoid this library, myself included! Also the upstairs adult selection has become a maze or labyrinth of oddly placed shelving. Also the adult computers are smack in the middle of the kiddy mayhem. Its simply pandemonium trying to focus or have a quiet place to work or think which is hard enough as your brain ages. The library needs to consider a quiet zone within its hallowed walls, Because, as of now, there isn't one!

Graciela Pinon

(Translated by Google) it looks very good (Original) se ve muy bueno

Kyle Fahey

One of the most comprehensive libraries around. Highest tech one I've seen.

Dilan Agustin

This library is awful

Ken Hashiguchi

Great library. Kids room is awesome for the little ones.

Ryan Davis

This is a wonderful library.

julie dohr

Nice

Caramelsalvation \\

Nice place for adults in kids with its improved areas. Highly recommend.

Noah Jones

Very friendly and helpful

Stephanie Hamel

Simply outstanding

The Hitman Approves

Nestled nicely off the beaten path this simply gorgeous building is constructed to be modern, yet still keeps a very classic, warm and inviting feel. Any smart person can instantly tell, that no expense was spared when constructing what is, one of the finest libraries I have visited. Both inside and out, from only the finest materials including, rustic warm cedar siding which compliments the beautiful tall modern glass windows and doors, simply draw you inside. Cutting-edge technology, is plentiful from laser scanners that allow you to quickly and easily check out your items, to a full computer lab that includes, desk tops, high-speed U-Verse broadband, printers, to insure you'll get all of your important work completed. If that's not enough, they also loan out personal Macbook Pro's! It's so simple, they make it so, any patron, can easily set-up a reservation, and their helpful staff will make it effortless and a snap to get started; an awesome pain free experience. Finally, for a quaint, little suburban library; they sure pack a power-house staff of well trained librarian ninja assassins! In fact, they can show you just about anything you need to know, and are always more than happy to help. From social media, to radio, from classes on wikis, to Mozart and fine art, they've got you covered. #TheHitmanApproves! TIP: DON'T ASK YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO RETURN YOUR BOOKS, THEY'LL BE LATE AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO USE YOUR COUSIN'S CARD.... :)

John Sandmeier

The Barrington Area Library has plenty table space to study as well as desktop computers and a quiet reading area with a fire place in the back. Free coffee is always available and the bathrooms are perpetually clean. Self service checkout is a plus as well as their ever-updated collection of music and video games. Actually they do have an outside walk-up drop off box for books, its in the front of the building next to the bike racks.

Mary Ann Lawhead

it is lots of fun