Deerfield Public Library

For Resources: 5 stars– you can get what ever you’re looking for. If they don’t have it, they’ll get it from somewhere else. Free wi-​fi. Pretty building. The joys of a well-​funded library.
For Studying: 1 star! Not even worth trying, unless you have a very high tolerance for noise.
The probably-​very-​high-​priced-​and-​well-​regarded architect put the QUIET Room right under the children’s play area or whatever it is and there’s ZERO sound insulation! It sounds like constant construction going on just above you, as the kids apparently have their way with the place with no fear of recourse. Also, earplugs were not helping and I could tell other first timers were put off, as people were entering and leaving with a pissed off look a half hour later. Also, it’s 2016 and people still don’t give a s**t about setting their phones on vibrate in settings like this, but that’s neither here nor there, I suppose.
Ok, so they offer personal study rooms and you go get yourself one of those instead. These are also not sound proofed at all and are right near the bottom floor reception desk, meaning you get to hear all the librarians’ chatter, none of which is particularly interesting. It’s not really their fault if the building sucks, but nonetheless makes it so there’s effectively nowhere to study in peace and quiet in this library.
The chairs are really comfortable in the Quiet Room tho, so 1 star for that. congrats. 3 stars roughly averaged between the two, rounded up because the resources are the most important part, I guess.

This place is awesome! They have plenty of rooms to check out, programs for all ages of kids, computers, printers, iPads for the little kids & programs for adults too. Their selection is actually very very good for a smallish town & they have access to a fairly decent lending program.
The people are great!

I took a introductory computer class on HTML Coding taught by Anne Jamieson and she did a great job. Now you should not expect to hang out your shingle and start raking in a windfall of $$ as a website designer on the internet highway without a little more education, but it you would like to stick your nose under the tent and get a sense of the what the heck HTML/​CSS is all about. .. do this class. Very basic, suitable for everyone, Anne keeps you engaged, makes sure you are understanding the hands on classwork. AND it is FREE!

I have nothing but good things to say about the Deerfield Library, but want to give a special shout-​out here to all the great classes offered at the library. I’ve attended several, hosted both by library staff and guest presenters. I love the wide range of topics presented, and the nice combination of lectures and interactive programming. Thank you so much!

All looks and no manners. Don’t bother going in there if you are not a card holder… there are only maybe 2 people in the entire place who will treat you with any amount of respect and you’re likely not to find them. And if you have well behaved children silently reading and decide to stand 10 feet away to grab them books, well… be prepared for a lesson in parenting as the librarians pounce to tell you that they can not be left unattended. Unattended?!? Excuse me, I can see every move they make and be at their side in a fraction of a second. Perhaps a better use of your time would be devising a new computer system in which I do not have to drag a four and six year old down to the adult section in the basement just to print out some math worksheets for them while our printer is down at home. Really? I can’t just pop on to one of the seven unused computers in the children’s section? This place is just the worst!

The new library is hands-​down awesome! Not only can you rent movies from their collections, but the amenities are amazing! The new quiet room is my favorite place to relax, grab a book or magazine and chill without the environmental noises to distract you.

The reference desk’s favorite phrase is «I don’t know,» to everything. Very unhelpful experience.

This is almost the true heart of Deerfield, a real nice place & I hear the next remodel might have a new escalator ! From Books, to Media, nice fireplace, nice space.
Every modern service is offered, my book was out, yet I just downloaded it to read at home. Bright & Inviting, you want to go back ! Great Visual UpGrades !
Comfy & nice the lower level after a few hours a bit? Maybe it’s a basement & very little natural gets in this will be addressed with the next remodel.
The upgraded plans for the next remodel are now being assessed !,

After a yearlong wait for the renovations to be completed, the overly verbose library board president made the large crowd wait even longer in the hot sun for an hour. The newly renovated Deerfield Library finally opened its doors shortly before 2 today. Even before entering, the first problem emerged — about half of the parking places on the north side of the library have been eliminated, and replaced with a book drop and larger handicapped spaces. The entryway is large and airy, with a new tile fireplace on the right, however most of the chairs are configured without a view of the fireplace. The current magazines are no longer adjacent to the fireplace seating area, and the area is too noisy to use as a reading area with all the traffic going by. The middle of the upper level is a series of chambers holding AV materials and periodicals, along with a teen cove. This area now has a chopped-​up feel, unlike the two spacious rooms on either side of the former library’s entrance. Finally at the east end of the upper level is the children’s section, with the building’s original high ceilings and lots of windows.
The adult section, along with most of the book collection is in the basement, which is accessible by a new stairway in the entryway, and the old stairway. A meeting room, slightly larger than the previous one near the entry, is at the west end of the basement, devoid of any windows and has wall treatments that feel cheap. Following the architect’s work in Glenview, The stacks clog up the middle of the basement while the windowless sides are a clutter of offices, study rooms and a variety of other cubicles. Some of the vestibules make little sense, five walls along the south side extend out about 6 feet, dividing up stacks and entrances to administrative offices without any clear purpose. Seating areas are few and far between and appear to have been placed wherever a few square feet were left over. Finally windows appear on the lower level in the «Quiet Room», and the view clearly reminds you that this is a basement — little sky is left in view while textured concrete and a long slope covered with some kind of textured soil stabilizing material dominates the view.
Deerfield’s collection still lags nearby libraries, and with virtually no new space created by the renovation, Deerfield will continue to offer less variety than the much larger surrounding libraries. Setting up all of the adult computers in a classroom type setting leaves the question, how will anybody be able to access online resources when a class is in session?
12 million dollars was spent replacing a cozy, comfortable library that needed a little updating with a modern, uninviting facility that adds little to the library experience, while taking away the best features of the old library. Deerfield would have been much better served with a small scale renovation of mechanical equipment, carpeting and furniture, similar to what Highland Park did last winter.

They got computers, magazines, a fireplace, a shitload of DVDs, even video games and bluray.
Having fun is never hard when you have a Deerfield library card.

This is a review for the TEMPORARY library spot which I, surprisingly, really like! Natural lighting, not crowded, quiet, outlets available, and big tables. In my search for a good study spot this may be my top spot for now. Plenty of parking too. This place rivals Lake Forest College’s Library for local north suburb libraries. Internet is fast too!

The wonderful selection is only a small part of what makes this place great. My family are active users of the library and the knowledgeable staff. The employees here are always available to make suggestions and to help bring the resources to the public. Can not wait for the new building that is coming soon.

I came here last week as part of an after-​school field trip. The staff gave our students a tour and arranged a quick scavenger hunt of the library. The students seemed to really enjoy it, as did I!
The library is still in an old building, but it holds a lot of charm with its big windows and brick walls. Mirrors and art adorn the walls and hallways, the lighting is perfect (not too dim and not too bright), the children’s area was so colorful and inviting, many people were working in all areas of the library, and there was even a cute little fireplace in one of the reading rooms! To top it off, the DVD, BluRay, and video game selection was great! I saw many good film titles on display (I’m a film snob). The designated teenager section is nice too, complete with study tables and brightly colored chairs. I think I might find myself reading a book in the attractive children’s section, though.
The only downside? The library needs a bigger selection of adult non-​fiction books. However, one of the employees told us the library will be remodeled soon, so I assume there will be more in the future. For such a small library, I was pretty impressed.

I love this library! They helped us organize a scavenger hunt field trip here one evening and it was fantastic. The librarians here are all extremely helpful and eager to help! I love the setup of this library. The downstairs is child and preteen friendly with group tables and even study rooms you can reserve for up to two hours for four people. It was also pretty exciting that they stock new release DVDs, blurays and video games that you can rent for free!
I plan on returning since I discovered that you can use an Illinois library card at any location. I really like how this library has a fireplace that you can read a good book around while enjoying a hot coffee (yes beverages are allowed). I hope this does not change when they remodel!

This is a place that not many would think to hang out at. If you really don’t have anything to do, bring a laptop, a pair of headphones, and get ready to chill out. Nobody has bothered me. The hours can be funky, but they are open till 9 during the weekdays, and on the weekend till 5. They are very friendly and can be very helpful. You name it, you can pretty much find it. There is something to satisfy many variaties of people. From movies (which are current, not old, new releases and popular movies they do stock), CDs, and books of all flavors, along with a wide variaty of magazines, all availible for free (if you live in a library district or have a library card within Illinois). You will find all sorts of popular music to listen to while you read a book you might find interesting. And you can also just throw on a movie and pop your headphones in and youre set for a good evening.
Regardless, they have a beautiful fireplace that is good to gather ’round on a cold winter night, so try it out, see how you like it. I think you will enjoy it too.

Nice, friendly, mellow library, with some warmly lit interiors. Good selection of periodicals and also internet ready for your laptop or if you need a terminal to use, that is easy too. Librarians here are friendly and never get in your face. Good place to chill with a good book.