Jacksonville Public Library – Southeast Regional

Small, dark and outdated library. The hours are super annoying, you basically always have to check before stopping by. I find it’s really dark in most spots of the library. There seems to be a somewhat small selection of seating, a lot really close to people. If I go to a library to study, I want a big open space to hang out and make my own for a few hours. Don’t expect to get to comfy here. I love they have a good selection of books, that’s what I’m there for.

When looking for a optimal place to host our monthly Extra Life Guild meeting, I came across Southeast Regional Library. This library is equi-​distant for all of our team members and the employees are most welcoming when we schedule our meetings. My only qualm is that the library is so popular for meetings that sometimes we can’t get our requested date, especially during early voting season.
I must also say that, in terms of quality, that this library falls just behind the Main Library with an excellent kids section and eye-​popping themes each month. The one month that my younger niece had to attend with me, she was, easily, entertained by the fact that the staff was highlighting comics and comic book characters. This particular month was so popular with our Guild members that we had to go take a picture with the Thor standee.
Keep up the good work, Southeast. I wish I lived closer to your branch to enjoy it more often.

Quit cozy location of your trying to study or read. Other libraries seem much louder and people no longer whisper anymore but not at this location. The children’s area is beautiful and my boys love to go in and pick out there own books. The place is always clean the workers are pleasant and friendly and the drive up that allows you to drop off and return books are a plus for me. It’s large and have various areas if you want to socialize for group study or if your looking to just read a book off in the corner you can do that as well. The trees and water outside helps relax me when studying and reading. Love this location.

Fourth library I’ve visited in Jacksonville area. I would say it’s the #2 library behind the main library in terms of quality and space. We were there for the kids area, which is large and has two side-​by-​side areas — one for younger kids that includes a storytime corner along with toys and lots of picture books. The second area holds the computers and the older kids books and reference materials. Librarians were friendly and helpful as well.

I love libraries. Children’s programs, Spanish language meeting groups, teen activities, book clubs… really there’s something for everyone. And if there isn’t, there’s an opportunity and resources to create it.
The library is so automated now a days that you barely have to interact with anyone to search for books, log into computers, or even return items (and get a detailed receipt). But when you must link up with a human this place is manned by a friendly knowledgeable staff (most of the time). There have been a few occasions that I have stood in like biting my tongue at the growing frustration that staff unnecessarily cause. But for the most part good service.
Plenty of meeting space, computers, laptop areas with open outlets to also charge these smartphones with sucky batteries, large windows that provide a nice distraction or motivate to journal writing. The vain to my frustration is the organization of the library books.
Something must be done with the catalog/​shelving. I look up items at home and decide to come in since everything stated it was ready available. I come in with a list of 10 items. 1 was actually available. After further research, the others were discovered to be claimed lost. Then why were they still showing up in the record at available?
But this is the one and only down fall. Don’t run out to the library for a book unless you can get a hold of someone on the phone inside that can set it aside for you! But even if you do make it out here, and they don’t have the item, take a moment to look around.
Take a look
It’s in a book

A creative operating scheduled with rotating hours, good WiFi, and spacious areas with numerous outlets for laptop work. There’s a demand for the private rooms to study, but truth be told a lot of work can be done in the open too.
This location runs a tight ship! I liked it — they’re attentive to requests, but will tell you what to do without taking you by the hand.