Lake Forest Library

The residents are so blessed to have this wonderful, wonderful library in the city center! It offers so much free resource for us to enjoy! I love it and regularly visit here over the years. We also have to thank many of the Library Friends for their dedication to volunteer helping out in many areas. Oh! The annual book sale in September should not be missed!

I haven’t always been a fan of libraries (in fact, they freaked me out quite a bit), but then I wandered into this library and I forgot just how freaky I thought libraries were. Needless to say, the Lake Forest Library made me a fan of libraries. I suppose that it is very similar to just about any other library you’ve wandered into, but it is a wonderful library all the same. In my opinion, it’s not spooky in the sense that you think someone is going to jump out at your from behind a bookcase; you’re probably laughing at me and wondering why I have such a paranoid thought in my head, but that’s always been in my head okay???
Anywho — the point is, it’s a very nice library situated at the heart of downtown Lake Forest surrounded by beautiful green lawns (that is when it’s not being tortured by the harsh Chicago winter). It’s quite charming and inviting from the outside so when you’re going for a walk just take a little gander inside the library. Don’t sneer — going to library and just looking around can actually be quite fun, especially here!
If you’re a bookworm and are looking for a good book then you have plenty of selection on the first and second floor! Personally, I dart right back to the Psychology section and stand in awe of the selection for about 10 minutes. There is something there for everyone, seriously! And another great thing is that if you’re a student needing to study for the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT and so on then they have the study guides and test booklets here! So long as you have the ability to rent out books then save yourself the trouble of buying those darn things and just rent them out from the library here. Like I said, there is literally something here for everyone.
Oh, and if you’re one of those people that maybe doesn’t like reading, but loves watching movies then you definitely should come here! The library has a large selection of new and old releases, all on DVD and some on blue-​ray, so there is a good chance that you will find what you are looking for. You can rent out the DVD’s for three days. At any one time you can rent up to 3 fictional movies and/​or 3 non-​fictional movies — a pretty good deal if you ask me, but of course you have to watch all of those within the span of 3 days. Better get some popcorn with that binge watching!
If you just want to sit in the library and read a book then by all means go ahead and do so in the classy little lounge that they have to the left of the service desk. Even if you don’t have a Lake Forest library card you can sit there and read — just don’t try to take it outside of the library. Now, the poopy part — you can’t even get a library card if you don’t live in Lake Forest (maybe that’s a general rule but I don’t like it). If you go to Lake Forest College you can use your college ID card to check out items, BUT ONLY during the school year! There’s a silver lining, though, if you have a library card from your local library (i.e. you live in another town) you can present that at the front desk and they will accept that when you are checking out items. Just make sure your other library card is up-​to-​date or else you are shit out of luck.
The only other thing I’m not particularly fond of is that this library, although it houses a lot of selection, is fairly cramped not to mention how low the ceilings are. I’m 6’4″ and my head just barely scrapes the ceiling — I have to remind myself not to pile a bun of hair on top of my head when going into the library. Also, sometimes the staff at the front desk can be somewhat snippy and unfriendly. Not all of them are like that, though, so don’t be alarmed.

One year later and it’s time to update my review. This library continues to prove why it’s such a great destination.
Besides the wonderful children’s section that continues to be a highlight of our week, I’ve been borrowing books on CD. They have a decent selection and the front librarians can point you to the ones worthwhile to check out. I spend a lot of time in the car and these have been a lifesaver.
I’ve also gotten addicted to checking out books online. Yes! This library lets you borrow E-​books from the comfort of your own home. Perfect for us parents who are on the go and don’t have the ability to pursue the stacks on our own time.
The library offers multiple study areas and free wi-​fi. Yeah baby! So you can set up for the day if you need to get some work done … But quiet library etiquette is still the rule so put away that annoying cell phone!
Also, if you need a book and the library doesn’t carry it, the reference desk is extremely helpful in getting an inter library loan for you. I can’t tell you how many crabby librarians I’ve had to work with at other libraries. But not here! They’re all helpful and approachable.
Oh. And they’re on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. However you need to reach them, they’re there.
One minor thing — I do think it’s time for them to update the adult media stacks from a décor standpoint.
But really, I’m so please to call the Lake Forest library my home library.

This library is by far my favorite to go to around here. It’s a beautiful building, I personally don’t mind the limited parking, and it’s located in a great area. I just love this city. I haven’t ventured out of the kids section yet, which is located down stairs in the basement. It’s very big and inviting. My daughter loves the colors and endless book selection. I posted a few pictures of the décor and «reading stations». The staff here are very friendly and helpful, the restrooms are very neat and clean. Not only was my daughter able to read her comics but I was able to sit comfortably by her side and study at her little station. We had a great first experience! I’m happy we came here.

I finally checked out Lake Forest Library and now seriously regret not coming by earlier. I spent close to 5 hours today in the reading room with my books and felt so comfortable and cozy. The large windows brought in the natural light and the high ceilings made the room seem very grand and spacious. The noise level was fairly quiet with a few folks walking in and out every once in awhile.
I took a break and checked out all the other rooms and was most impressed by the children’s floor. It brought out the inner nerd and bookworm in me when I saw how spectacularly designed the floor was. Bright colors, loads of colorful books, a huge activities room, small tables and chairs… man, it was kiddie heaven. I was almost tempted to pick up the Arthur book on display and start reading it. Flashback twenty years and I’d be making my mom bring me every day!
On another note, some of the other sections have that musty scent of old school libraries which makes me slightly claustrophobic so I may just stick to the more open spaces and the children’s floor…
When you come by, the building on the outside doesn’t resemble a library at all but fear not, there’s quite the collection of books and media inside. The staff is friendly and there are many cameras in corners for security purposes so that’s always nice to know. I will definitely be back!

In my search for ultimate study spot I have visited what feels like a million libraries around the burbs now. Lake Forest is not my favorite but its also not my least favorite. It’s small and over air conditioned. But it looks pretty/​comfortable and has natural lighting. The garden room is a good study spot. Be careful trying to study there after 3pm because the school tutors come to the library and take over. I don’t need silence to study but the tutors can be distracting because, like I said, the place isn’t that big. BUT if you want some ACT tutoring for free of course hit up this library after 3 because you can just sit there and listen in… in fact they may even sit at your table!

It may not compare in size or architectural design to the Seattle library, but the Lake Forest library offers the traditional library experience: cushy leather couches, high arched ceilings, hushed studies, and dense shelves of endless tomes.
Let not the stately, historical exterior fool you; this facility is all sorts of state-​of-​the-​art from the materials they carry (e.g., current DVDs) to the technologies they employ (downloadable e-​books).
I can’t help but always be impressed and pleased at having access to this library as a local resource through the parental units. Walking through the doors here inevitably leads to happy feelings!