West Regional Library

This is one of my to-​go places if I really need to buckle down and get some studying done. There are plenty of parking outside so you’ll always find a spot. What’s really cool about this place is that they’ll have these special programs pretty much every weekend that I’ve been there. Things like a meet and greet with some friendly dogs for the kids and today, they had a live performance by Oak City String Quartet. I was quite impressed by the performance. They have these meeting rooms in one corner which is great for group projects. Another great feature is that you can renew books online.

The staff is very knowledgable and helpful. There is ample parking and well kept grounds. The staff has a shelves of their book recommendations.

This location is more modern than many others in Southern Wake County and has a great layout. The entrance is in the center. To the right, you have research PCs for junior /​children to use, then the junior /​children’s book selection behind that. There’s even a children’s periodical section.
To the left of the main entrance, there’s adult periodicals, checkout, and reservation pick up. Great for a quick pick up and check out. Continue on inside I the left and the adult fiction is all up front and easily browsable. From there, as you make your way further to the adult side, you’ll find internet access PCs, adult non-​fiction, plenty of nice clean chairs and tables to browse your books at, and enough card catalogue PCs so you don’t have to make repeated trips back up to the front to look up additional titles.
Overall, a great library to try out if you’re in the Cary /​Apex area. BTW… They have completed the connector road behind Green Level HS, so you can get access to this library from the roads in front of as well as behind the high school. Very convenient.
If you don’t like waiting for library transfers to your local branch, try this locations. They seem to have many more popular fiction titles available than other locations.

Moving from Boston to here, I miss some of the larger libraries.
The book selection at WR is good. They have books in regional/​ethnic languages which is a big plus point for me. Staff is friendly and very helpful. Staff recommended books are arranged on another shelf. They also have theme books such as book selections for gardening or movie-​based books or whatever the theme of the week may be. Like that a lot!
This library is not too big. They do not have dvds available for checkout.
Like another reviewer mentioned, the U-​shaped library hall seems odd. It sort of isolates the children’s section from the rest of the library!

West Regional Library is an excellent library with well-​designate spaces, helpful staff, and a nice atmosphere. I love, LOVE, the library. This branch of Wake County Public Library suits me for several reasons.
First, I like that the children’s section is separate from the adults. I like knowing I’m not going to have to fight off a 7 yr old to access the computer, or listen to a 3 year old have a break down because he can’t get 300 books. Kids have different needs than adults in a library and I like that there is an area designated just for them, with computers, reading areas and check outs. The children’s section in this library is wonderful with nice endcap displays, computers with cute tiny little chairs and nice areas to sit and read. There is a section for young adults on the children’s side as well. This area has computer set up in a café style and a reading/​hanging out area.
Second, I like the study areas set up on the adult side. There are over half a dozen tables interspersed with comfortable reading areas and the magazine and newspaper racks. These tables have good lighting and I appreciate the signs reminding people to keep conversations low and cell phones off! If you need somewhere especially quiet there are more tables set up at the very back past the foreign language section. There are also study rooms that are glassed in and little nooks with private desks.
I also like that there are many many computers at this branch. I have never had to wait for an open computer and there is always someone at the reference desk nearby to help with printing or any other questions. That reminds me — the staff here is great! They are very helpful and never make you feel like you are bothering them by asking a question.
I wish Wake County had not changed all checkout periods to two weeks. It means a lot more trips to the library and a lot more fines as well. It limits how many books you can take out as there is only so much time in 2 weeks. It also makes waiting in line for newly released titles take a LOT longer.
One last area that this library really excels is in the books displays. There are always great seasonal book displays with interesting titles mixed in with more well-​known titles. I usually can’t pass by without stopping and grabbing something that has caught my eye.

Can’t get much better than this :-) LOVE this library. Their email listserv keeps you up-​to-​date. They offer a wide variety of book clubs, programs, services. The staff is always cheerful and helpful. Great library!

Nutshell: A clean, spacious library full of new books. :)
PROS
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1. Large facility with ample seating and computers.
2. Very helpful staff.
3. Lots of new books. (Library is pretty new; like most things in Western Wake County.)
CONS
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1. None really. Other than I really don’t like the «U» shaped building design. Walking from one end to other should not take as long.