Reviews of Renton Library (Library)

Jessica Rascon

Very beautiful

David Nguy

The library is filled with homeless people. The library stinks to high heaven with all the homeless people sleeping inside the library. Sometimes, some homeless people starting acting out with cussing patrons of the library or talking to themselves. I think one day, a homeless person might harm a patron or patrons at this library. One time I reported to a librarian sitting at the desk behind a computer that a homeless man is dropping the f-bombs and b...this and b....that. The librarian simply asked me what can she do and told me to leave her alone.

Harper-Riley Monroe

This library has more than just quality books. It offers a calming view of the river flowing under it. You can also take a beautiful walk outside beside the river. This library is a hidden gem.

Bryan Guerre

Nice Library overlooking the Cedar River, just next to a triple Pokemon Go Pokestop - carefull on the bridge walkway, the railing has TONS OF SPIDERS, BIG SPIDERS

Madina Alimova

A very small public library by the water. Can be loud, but fine for doing a little web browsing on a laptop.

Dawn V

Went to this library for the first time last week, it is beautiful, over the river. It would be great place to bring your family BUT it is filled with homeless, I would never fell comfortable bringing my children there. They are passed out on couches, high sleeping in the chairs. The smell is absolutely horrible. They need to adress the homeless issue and find them another place to hang out.

Easter Song

The people who works there and the new look, the service, the resources all make it part of home.

AJ Keefe

Its nice if you ignore the hobos and gangsters

Michelle Zhang

Too many homeless, this issue is severely disturbing other people! Those homeless were snoring, eating, and playing video with loud sound and no one stops them. Very poor management on this problem, shake my head.

Rose Wolf

I love this library. It provides a safe haven for youth, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, and to top it off, they helped support the LGBTQ community by recently hosting a fantastic event aimed at educating teens and bringing visibility to the queer community. I have heard a lot of people try to negatively portray the drag queens who performed that day, and I just want to stand in solidarity and support with my LGBTQ family. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Renton Library for being a beacon of light in these dark times. Happy Pride!!

anna tsou

I used to love going to this library as a kid. It was very quiet and they had a huge variety of books until they remodeled it. There is a much smaller selection now, the remodel was honestly a huge waste of time and money. Out of the KCLS libraries I have been to, this is one of my least favorites.

War Same

We have to be mindful of the outdoor community, although the hygiene part can be bit overwhelming at times, I have no issues with the homeless as anyone can fall on hard times. The library is big enough to get some privacy and always meets my expectation.

doughnutsandstars

Too rough

Roxanne M.

One of my fav libraries. Reading in front of the big windows looking over the river is very relaxing.

Sagal gedi

I could write a paper. Not too loud

Kimberley Rivers

I went to the library yesterday with my son and our friend to use the bathroom at 6pm. At 6pm, the librarian worker was there locking the door to people. At this time people were leaving the library and I signed to her the sign for batbroom. She said no, we are closed. At this time, there were also other pations still in the library just doing what ever they were doing. I got the feeling that this lady was racist because our friend was not white. I was completely disappointed in this worker. It's people like this lady, that make people not want to come and used the library without damaging it. I will not be coming back to this library again. I rather pee in the bushes. This lady wa of maybe 50s to 60s with I believe short to long (mid length gray hair.) Again, I'm so disappointed in this lady.

Kathy Marie

I rated 1 star because I can't choose lower. This library isn't even a library anymore. It's a homeless hang out place. You would find drunk & high homeless people passed out on the chairs and couches. It stinks like crazy and I wouldn't wish that smell apon my worst emeny. It seems like the employees don't care that the place is trash and unsanitary. One time there was a homeless man and he sneezing on his hand and a lot of snot then HE KEEPS ON USEING THE COMPUTER. A good employee would give him tissues and hand sanitizer but THEY DID NOTHING. I knew they saw him. This is what I mean. The "libaray" is trash as well as the employees. Do not come here.

Maureen Taylor - Kaminski

I would have rated a zero if I could! This library is one of my very least favorites out of all the King County Libraries I've been to, and I've been to many! I have returned books, movies, cds here only to have them say they aren't returned and sticking me with a bunch of charges! They don't call and apologize after they realize it was their fault all along! I call and talk to multiple people and even the manager, days go by and they send a letter saying I have to pay for things I know I've returned. Then they find it and noting. I am still having dispute charges. Not to mention I'm going crazy thinking it was me or my Children. This is my Home library because of location, but I much rather travel to another one then deal with the stress of this! People are rude, and no one is through. Also, I have seen homeless people steal things from people in here, be careful of your valuables! This is their hang out spot, they can re build it and make it nice and clean, but can't take the bad people out of the neighborhood.

Eric Dolsman

Very pretty! But not good when you have people that park there that should not! Not good for kids!

Andre Tsang

It's trash. No space for study, and also excessively loud. Smells weird, loud annoying kids. We need quiet work zones, not this stupid open spaces stuff.

PizzAKinG

I love this libarary and its acceptance and continued respect towards the homeless community and to anyone talking abou5t the homeless people there chill out cause what would do if you had no where else to go and you had to sleep in the cold if you can even sleep at all those people feel warm in the library and so that might be why they sleep in there. Stop being so ignorant and arrogant

Qui D

Very clean and nice library. Worth a visit. There are a lot of books and materials to read and borrow.

Aliese Whearty

I have always had a nice time at the library since it reopened. I was unable to get a book from a friends car after it had been impounded; I requested that I donate a book from that series (not the same book but the same price) to replace

HELEN RAMEY

Hate this library, every time I go there...it feels like I'm gonna fall in the river. 'Cause yeah, it's right above the Cedar River.

Munchprime

Can reach 3 Pokestops from inside the library. 10/10 Will go again.

Jeremiah Mahler

The library is beautiful and has lots of chairs and tables to work at, but the atmosphere is not very nice. From inside the library I could here bass coming from the cars at a stereo shop nearby. There were people sleeping in the chairs. There were teenagers playing music so loud in their headphones that I could hear it too. Definitely not one of my preferred places to work/study.

Darryl Olson

The noisiest library of the three Renton libraries, and the best views of the three. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Modern, contemporary, comfortable building. It has all of the amenities of a full service library.

Rachel Scott

I’ve been a couple of times. Okay atmosphere, noise levels can be loud. Always seem to have difficulty finding parking.

Samuel King

Not sure if they are renovating or tearing it down, but no access....

Katie Brubaker

Noisy, I come once a week to study and it is very noisy. Parents don't seem to care how much noise their kids make (or what they are up to). Also, it often has a funky smell, you really notice it when you walk in. Wish I could enjoy it more

Lance Williams

Dated but quiet....and efficiently run.

Leon D.

Putting in my earbuds so I don't have to keep listening to an hour long phone call -- a guy (in the library) explaining to a woman his joblessness and housing problems. I'm grateful to have this library. Giving four stars instead of five only because I wish we could confront the problem and just provide a lounge for these guys to talk with each other and on the phone. If you're going to provide a homeless/jobless dayroom then be straightforward about it so that genuine library patrons can feel we are in a library.

Brittany Lee

This review is for the ladies currently working on 3/6/2016 1-5pm. I'm thoroughly disappointed by the lack of help/assistance from you all, in being able to book a meeting room. After sitting on the phone on hold for 10+ minutes, and a second call to the front desk..I was told (with no explanation) that I have to call tomorrow to do so. If your website isn't catering to booking online, there should be precise directions on how to do so via phone/walk-in. Nowhere does it mention that I cant call you on a Sunday to book a space....C'mon, really? Note to management: Please tighten up the staff, and set better standards of practice. This is an avoidable inconvenience. Thanks!

David

Kicking parents out to raffle smut to children is no way to run a public library. This place is disgusting and gross, and has no honor for free speech, only their disgusting agenda

Jay D

A very pretty, small library. It's neat to see the building sitting over the river. They have a small selection of books and movies. Plenty of seats and three study rooms to use in case you need one. The only problem is that there are quite a few vagrants that spend the day sleeping on the couches and seats. It would be better if they washed up a bit because the body odor can be overwhelming.

R ose

The building inside and out is lovely. But it's often pretty rowdy, the attendants seem rather shy and/or clueless about helping, and the books I am looking for are almost never in stock at this location. As such I usually only use the website to put stuff on hold and do self check out/check in. It's pretty nifty.

Lucky Gunn

Nice peaceful view, as the library sits across the river. Comparativly smaller sized though.

Peach Rose

I use to love this library. Funny how the library owner replies to every review but does little to work with the problems. This library is pretty much a homeless camp and when they're not inside they're sleeping in the bushes and on the benches. I use to come here a lot but because this is a homeless camp now I won't come in here any more. It's a noisy library where people listen to music loudly on their headphones, eat food nosily people obviously have hygiene issues...

Rick Wang

free wifi

James Jollimore

A library I had gone to as a kid before the update to it. Always has been a cool library, so we went to do a little studying. What a wretched mistake. Between people eating their chips about as loud as you could with one eating chips and salsa and another eating whatever they decided to pack up in a container and scarf down, and the overly exaggerated excitement of seeing a friend for about half a dozen people being obnoxiously loud. Then when security came over and asked people to stop the staff was verbally assaulted by a couple of the people. Spent all this money to get it rebuilt and will not go back. What a waste of time and money. Ended up going to another library where we could study. Recommend to not go there if wanting to do anything other than be obnoxious and rude to other people. Update: A canned response from the library system. In my post I had said the security person went over and said something, ie: told them to be quiet. When has being loud and eating whatever people want, banging on windows, having what was almost a party, OK to do in a library? That is not acceptable. Reserve a room? Seriously? I'm not expecting the place to be dead quiet, but hearing a conversation from the inside the bathroom when the people are over by the doors is somehow acceptable. I was actually being pretty nice in my original post but posting a canned response with saying something about how to resolve something when I had already wrote security and staff KNEW this was happening and tried to resolve. Reading what others have posted I usually give a place the benefit of the doubt. Not this one. If it were just me and this happened one time, eh. This is an ongoing problem that the KCLS needs to resolve if it wants to continue to milk the taxpayers out of money.

Casey Penk

One of the great icons of Renton, this library is built over a river. They recently gutted it and totally redid the interior. It's absolutely beautiful architecture on the outside and cozy on the inside. Arin was very helpful at getting me a library card and explaining everything to me!

Shannon Renee Jones

Drag Queen Story hour.... need I say more? Very disturbing.

Jasmine Galvin

This is the most beautiful library in existence! It is literally built over the river and you can sit and read a book while your cares drift away in the beautiful river below. In October you can catch a free show as the Salmon run and in the summer you can see inner tubers float by. The library is on the Cedar river trail so you can read a book and then take a walk, or rent a book on audio to your device and listen to a book while you walk. This is within blocks of downtown so if your visiting Renton this is a must see! If your not a reader...so what, they have DVD'S and CD'S for days! Rent Game of Thrones or use their wi-fi if you just need to get out of the house. They have printers available, if yours is out of ink and they have storytelling for kids. If the kids get antsy and tired of being quiet there is a playground 100 feet from the front door. I LOVE OUR LIBRARY!!

Barbara Williams

New to the area and the library is right across the street my husband and I went in and my husband wanted to browse the web while I searched for books. I had forgotten my card and he went to ask the older lady at the desk for help and access to the computer and she was extremely nasty and despite him telling her he never had a card and not interested in getting one she put him through the ringer and told him she’s not obligated to give him access to the computer. I was blown away. My husband doesn’t do libraries and he’s new at how they operate, I had to tell this women that he was allowed a courtesy guest pass and she kept trying to make it impossible for him too use the computer. We are hard working tax payers and did not deserve to be denied services because she wanted to be a grouch. The younger lady was able to give me my card info and we did it that way but she should should not be employed at such a place and we will never return. I will drive my kids to Fairwood.

Hibo Osman

One of the best libraries I've been to, the helpers are super nice and they always have a smile on their faces plus it's so beautiful/comfortable there :) but just ignore the hobs and gangsters smelling like weed

Peter Smalley

Renovated in 2016, full of light and community services!