Chicago Public Library – Lincoln Belmont Branch

This library is so wonderful for families. We have had incredible experiences with some very wonderful librarians who have set up great programs for the kids and have helped them with their summer reading. I love having a small approachable neighborhood library that feels cozy every time we walk in. You never know what you’ll find here and they work so hard to keep new kids’ books coming in. If it doesn’t have what you are looking for, the library loan program has made lots of improvements and is much more efficient to get you your book sooner than before.

This is a smallish library. I stopped in there and checked out a few things. Was horrified that when I passed by a computer, a man was looking at porn. Those sights should be locked out somehow. Children were nearby. I’ve read a few complaints about men watching porn on library computers and not just this library. Why can’t the library system lock that out? I’m sticking to a library closer to me. Just wanted to check this one out.

Good God, some of you are hard to please,
I really like this library. First, the children’s section is pretty awesome. Lots of books for both the pre-​schoolers and chapter books for the grade school kids.
Second, they have plenty of special events. Great to wander in on one, the kids did some arts and crafts (with food inlcuded) a few weeks ago. Awesome.
I get lots of books, DVDs and CD’s sent here that i select off the internet, it’s very easy and I save boatloads of money because I consume media like a hungry beast.
But why four stars, and not five? the librarians are hit and miss. The head librarian (I think) is the older guy who is a bit of a yenta, but just likes to talk up books and music when you check them out («oh, I saw/​read this, it’s great. Have you seen _​_​_​»?), there is one woman who is efficent but doesn’t really look up, another who was very helpful and showed me all the new features for e-​books, etc, and then of course there’s the Asian woman (I have no other way of describing her, so I am a RAYZIST) who yells at everyone DON’T PUT BOOKS IN THE BOOK DROP, generally is unpleasant and wears a Union button to let you know she ain’t goin’ nowhere. I try to avoid her like the plague, but she’s just a minor sppedbump in using a great service.

Love having a public library close and especially like this branch. We’re lucky to have so many public libraries in our city.

Five stars because I want our public libraries to stay open. This branch is clean, relatively quiet, and well-​lit. People come to read and study. Luckily, there are no offensive smells or groups of rowdy teens or people who have nowhere to go on a cold day. There is a good, pin-​drop study room and a larger community room which can be reserved in advance. I’m just sorry that the staff here seem very unhappy in their jobs and that the security person who roars about closing time cannot pronounce «library.» (LAAH-​berry??)

I always have had a really good service .
Love that has parking. My daughter enjoys reading with me in the kids area. They have great story tell for kids.

While this isn’t the best library in the city, I do really like it as it’s friendly, in a great location and always has a great mix of random books and movies. It’s easy to request holds and the staff is really really nice!

Typical government employees, same service you would get at the DMV.
I’ve gone there multiple times since it’s right down the street. Though, I’ve actually never borrowed a book because they never have what I’m looking for in stock. I have twice ordered a book to be sent to them from a different library location and I’m still waiting on both. The first I ordered over 6 months ago, and they still haven’t received it, I gave up on that one. The second I ordered 3 weeks ago today. I call once a week to see if it is in, every time they tell me «No, it’s in transit». Mind you I ordered this book from the Edgewater branch. They aren’t helpful and act rude when you question when it will be in and why anyone would be willing to wait 3 weeks+ for a book. I would have been more than willing to drive to the other branches and just pick up the book had I known what an issue it is. But that would require the librarians to have a short conversation with you, which they don’t want to do because that would almost be considered work.
I will say the girl that works at the reference desk is actually helpful, but the others there should be replaced with some sort of self checkout machine.
Ellen K a few reviews down really hits the nail on the head.
I worked as a waiter for nearly 10 years. I feel I have a very realistic understanding of what is expected of people that deal w/​the public. I can honestly tell you that the attitude (ranging from rude to just plane ignoring the customers) that most of these employees exhibit would get them fired from any restaurant.
UPDATE 11.2.2013: It’s now 5 weeks 2 days later still no book.

This has been my go-​to library for the past three years. In that time I have come to loathe it. The selection is «meh,» but what really gets me is the horrific service. There is invariably a line. Every time I go there is a line. There can be 4 people in the library, and there will be a line! And all the people milling about behind the desk don’t ever seem to understand that they can drop what they’re doing for two minutes and help out, then go back to it. This is really frustrating.
But the tipping point happened today. I walked in today and was stopped, because it was just past their closing. I didn’t realize their hours, as I’d never been there on a Friday afternoon. I knew exactly what I needed, so I said, «If I know what I want, can I just run and get it?» The lights were all still on, so I figured it wouldn’t be a huge deal. I’ve worked retail/​service, and if someone comes in at closing, I’ve always been instructed to help them, as long as they understand that we’re closing. One of the ladies said, «No, we’re closed.» So fine, I understand. But then another yelled, «LOOK AT THE CLOCK!!!»
It was 5:04. So I was in the wrong. Absolutely. Cutting it close, but still. «OK, sorry,» I said. And turned to go.
Then two librarians escorted me out, including the one that screeched about the clock. «PEOPLE are LEAVING and the DOOR is CLOSING too SLOW and they are LETTING IN MORE PEOPLE. It’s FIVE o’CLOCK. WE ARE CLOSED. YOU need to LEAVE.» This woman, who I had never met in my life, was speaking to me as if I were an elementary school student who had peed on the carpet.
You know when people get huffy in movies and are like, «Well I never!»? Well I never! I’ve never been spoken to with such an attitude by any service person in my entire life. Maybe I was asking too much to wonder if I could run and grab a book I needed. Maybe I was the third person who had squeaked in unknowingly after closing. Anyway, she continued yelling at me all the way to the door.
So here is some advice to the librarians at this branch:
1) You are in a service industry. Just because you have no competition in the business sphere, you job still revolves around serving the library-​going people. To do this, you are required to anticipate the needs of your patrons and provide personable service. I have never experienced this at this branch. In fact, if the level of customer service I have witnessed here was provided at any of the places that I have worked, it would have resulted in a firing there.
2) Your job is in serious jeopardy. If people can check out their own groceries at a supermarket, I’m pretty sure that people can check out their own books at a library. We’ve already seen the death of the card catalog. And I bet a large majority of your former patrons are now checking out their books on their iPads and Kindles. So if you want to protect your job, you had better get on board with the whole #1 thing.
Off my soapbox, but seriously. Can this branch please give their people a swift kick in the rear and get them to understand that the patrons in their library are not the problem with their job, but the reason for it?

This location definitely caters to children, which makes sense because they’re close to an elementary and right in the heart of the stay at home moms neighborhood. They have really friendly staff and decent hours… several work tables and a few computers for kids. That said, don’t expect any kind of decent selection for adults, or much in the way of available parking.

I’m giving this library 2 stars only because the first lady at the desk, was welcoming and helpful in a friendly manner. HOWEVER my second encounter (same day) at the front desk, was with another lady and she was the worsen. The asian lady (I don’t mind describing) was unwelcoming, unhelpful, SO rude and impatient. Don’t know what her problem/​issue was however she really needs to go back into retirement. I spoke with a supervisor and hopefully she shared my complaint, with her manager like she said she would do. Beware I’m not the only one:((

Less homeless people than your average branch yet its so loud that if you use a hearing device, the noise would blow up your ear drums. They have books and people that work there too. Although the computer system must be difficult because it usually takes 5 minutes to check out a book. Needless to say, I will continue hanging here.

I’m on a quest to visit every branch of the Chicago Public Library system.
From the outside, the Lincoln-​Belmont branch looks a lot like the Near North branch. Just sayin.’ On the inside, it’s a lot like the Near North branch. Something unique about this library is the ability to check out a basket for your books! Yes, you can check out a basket to carry your books in. Cute. The DVD selection here is quite large. The library itself isn’t huge, but you’re pretty likely to find what you’re looking for (assuming it’s a fairly well-​known title). The librarians here are very nice, and the librarian checking me out suggested an upcoming seminar based on the materials I was renting. Attention to detail! There were a few homeless people, but mostly pre-​teens (it was after school time). Overall a nice work atmosphere and a delightful place to browse.

As far as branch libraries go, this one is A-​OK, indeed. It’s fairly large and houses a decent selection. Plus, you can always have books from other branches sent here for you to pick up, so really, you have every book in the city at your fingertips. Well done, you. Avid readers can even check out a green grocery-​store-​type basket to lug home their haul.
There are several computers here for public use, or you can bring your own and make use of the free wi-​fi.
The Children’s section looks quite large*. There are several child-​sized tables that always appear to be covered in the makings of some craft. I very much support any activity bringing young’uns into the library.
One general annoyance: Not once have I seen more than one person working at the checkout counter. This results in quite the long, slow-​moving line. Make lemonade, however, and get a jump-​start on your reading.
*I say «looks» large as I have never actually been in it. There is a sign insisting that all people venturing into the Children’s Library are either in search of children’s materials or accompanying a child in the process of so doing — most likely in place to ward off potential creepers. While I’m hardly your run-​of-​the-​mill creeper, I’m quite law-​abiding.

lady with the $ 200 tory burch shoes, why are you arguing about a $ 2.60 fine and holding up everyone else in line behind you?
Although some things about this place are annoying, i.e. all the homeless people who smell bad, I almost never had to be in there for more than 5 minutes looking for a book.
I do all my librarying online, find my books, reserve it and ask them to deliver it and all I have to do is pick it up!
LOOOVE that about the CPLs! And I get all the books on CDs that I want for my 2 ½ hour daily commute!

Of all the things I fund as a taxpayer, I think my favorite is the ability to reserve books online and pick them up at the library of my choice. This keeps my visits to Lincoln Belmont gratefully brief, although occasionally not brief at all.
Nearly all of my trips here come in the early evening, and the checkout line can back up in a hurry at that time. If they don’t have two people working the registers, you’re going to be waiting for a while. There was a particularly annoying experience a few weeks ago. One person was processing checkouts, while her counterpart slowly and methodically checked in books from their ubiquitous giant stack of recently returned items. All this occurred while there were about ten people in line.
This is a location that would really benefit from a self-​checkout machine. The library in my relatively pea-​sized hometown obtained several of these about five years ago; I’m not sure what’s taking Chicago so long to catch up. The scanner and nearby security guard ensure that no one’s going to run out with anything, so it must be a financial (and not security) issue holding things up.
They recently cut service hours in a big way, and it’s tough for people with 9 – 5 jobs to make it here. I realize it’s something the staff has no control over, and they’d gladly take those hours back, but it’s something locals need to be made aware of all the same. They do have some Saturday hours, but come on. I’m not in fifth grade and working on a research paper; I’m not coming here on a friggin’ Saturday.
There is a large children’s/youth section at this branch, and it can get a bit rowdy during the day. I would not recommend this location for anyone needing a quiet spot for serious study or work.

Yay my 60^th review =)
Finally made it down to the CPL today — I’ve been meaning to get a CPL Library card since the FIRST DAY I moved into Chicago! Long & behold, 10months later and I’ve finally set foot into the Lincoln Belmont branch.
I am blaming Chicago’s weather for my procrastination.
Summer in Chicago is just too amazing, there was no way that I’m gonna step into a Library between July — Sept, just check out the 150+ festivals going on around town!
Chicago is WAY cold after Sept.
So, now that it’s finally warmed up with 90 °F days, and given that I have an exam next week… I got way too tired of Caribou & Starbucks, so figured I will give CPL a try! For a STUDY spot — this CPL is great! Plenty of large tables for group studies, or individual booths for quiet study. If you are nostalgic for your college days (sans Romp btw Racks), CPL Belmont IS THE SPOT FOR YA!
Haven’t had a chance to check out the books /​DVDs collection. It does appear that the Belmont branch has a smaller collection than others, but the Kids/​Teenager section looks great. I was on 1 °F the entire time, and the books look decently new, well organized, with thousands of titles!
Alright CPL Belmont, it’s time for you & me to get cozy for the next 7 days.