Reviews of Seton Library (Library)

Nathan Rose

The library is very clean and not busy at all due to the current pandemic.

Barb MacDonald

Yes agree, far from a quiet place to work. Screaming toddlers non stop, don't come here if you plan to get anything productive done. I suggest to close in the toddler area. Great idea for a free play place but it is not taking into consideration the other uses of a library.

D. Chris MacInnis

Super excited for this to open

Cassidy S

Absolutely an amazing and breathtaking building. The facilities are world class and beautiful. The library is huge with amazing activities and play areas for kids including the helicopter which was actually used by the Canadian coast guard. Really warm and inviting with lots of seating areas and meeting rooms. Will come back here often!

Cale Rusnak

Great Library! The helicopter is pretty cool too!

Travis

This is a very good library; they have a nice separated layout with kids stuff and play area all on one side and adult books, reading area and computers all on the other. They even have a helicopter for the kids! There is an upstairs area that is more quiet and good for studying, and lots of good rooms and an auditorium you can reserve for meetings if you needed. The return drop boxes for the books is outside and a little distance from the doors and easy to miss.

Dave Jookhuu

Absolutely amazing... Anyone has kids should go there.. So much fun for the kids...

Rachel Ewurum

Very nice and friendly location.

Dawood Mohammed

The library is a great place to study, read, and even play games. The computers are really good and fast and you can find all the books you want here. There is also a upstairs level that is a quiet place and good to study.

Sarah Campbell-Utley

I didn’t find the selection that great but you can reserve online and pick up is easy so that’s a plus. As with a large amount of the previous reviews this really is a child’s play place. Don’t expect a relaxing quiet place to read. Screaming children fill half the library and there is no separation. I saw tutors trying to work with kids at tables who were constantly disturbed. Hard to focus on anything. Would be so much better if they put a sound buffer up between the children’s area and the rest of the library. I know they’re trying to be inclusive but there is a flaw in the design as there is a big difference between what a library should be and a playground.

Bahara Niazi

Please extend the library hour until 11 on weekends so that University and High school students can study. Thank you :)

Evan Eckersley

Awesome public library, especially for kids!

A C

I loved it, its an amazing library to visit and even better for toddlers/children to play in. So many books and play area for little ones to explore! For the ppl who complain about kids being loud or that they shouldnt be in the library: Its 2019, grow up and find yourself a quiet place, or go home.

Jon Irwin

Good library with lots of natural light in there. Enjoy spending time there.

Dk Creative

Amazing library and great staff. They built a very open concept with a ton of space to read and study. I love it! Plus there is a good earth coffee right outside

Samuel Bourassa-Blanchette

This building complex is beautiful with a wonderful artistic nest and hanging bird. Inside the library, one can find functional and cozy areas to work and study. The big issue to this site is that there is almost no separation between the children's area and the other areas. Whereas children are free to play and enjoy themselves, there should have been serious modifications to the design. The central library has a sound-proof walled and windowed children area which allows for other users of the library to use the library without being disturbed. Such a sound wall is unfortunately lacking. You can hear kids screaming through noise-cancelling headphones despite sitting at the opposite side of the library.

dake_balo

Nice interior but internet connection is relatively slow compared to one in downtown.

Bimbibenny

Great library.

Janelle

i'm thrilled with having a library thats closer to home rather then going all the way to somerset, as well as having the ymca connected. 2 criticisms: - the babies. I come to the library to study, but even through my headphones and loud music, i can still hear children screaming. it is very distracting. - as far as i know, theres only 3 individual washrooms, that are located in front of the childrens section of the library. its a small washroom, and thats fine, although the small trashcan and the multiple diapers can engulf the whole room and well, it just smells bad. aside from that, this library is nice, but i'm not sure if i'll come back to study. edit: parents, please remind your children this is a library, not a play place. i understand there is a section for kids, but this disrupts other people in the library when kids are screaming nonstop.

Michael Parker

Awesome library, super friendly staff plus a helicopter for the kids!

Nilanka

Clean and nicely organized. Staff very nice.

Daniela V

Very well located. It has different access to get in. Staff is always friendly.

James Cody

Holy smokes this place is huge!

Arina

Nice little library. A lot of books to read for little ones and things to do. Very good play area.

Ben Lukas

The front desk staff do not communicate properly amongst themselves and each will tell you a different story/rule about the proper procedure on a simple question. Very poor customer service.

Ethan Stokes

AWESOME library. Large, spacious, airy, and lots of great seating options for studying and reading. I was also pleasantly surprised by the selection of non-fiction books. Initially I thought it looked a little small but there was an amazing selection that I could have spent hours looking at. My only complaint is the toddlers/children's area. They did a great job on it but a mere half wall separates it from the main area. So the sound of screaming children can be heard across the entire library. This could have been implemented better, but if you have a little one definitely a great place to spend a couple hours. I will be making use of this library for a long time to come.

David Aldana

(Translated) Excellent facilities, the staff is very friendly (Original) Excelentes instalaciones, el personal es muy amable

Ethan Tang

I love the place! Super close to my house and very spacious. For the noise, it isn't that bad. Going to visit very very soon

V C

I love this location. It is very clean and bright. They have a lot of books. The cookbook section is great, and they have a decent amount of fiction. I always leave with something new to read. It can be a little lively at times, so if you need absolute silence, this might not be the best location for you, but it's a very welcoming environment for families and kids.

Sun Rise

Too much focus on the babies and no or little consideration toward the adults. Too few meeting rooms so all the high school students are discussing on the second floor because the first floor is dominated by screaming kids. Where are the place for people who would like to quietly read a book? As mentioned before, the first floor is screaming kids and the second floor is full of students discussing and cursing. I thought libraries were meant to relax and read books quietly.

Abida •

I can’t even study the kids r always yelling and noisy

Aurora Edwards

They really did a good job with this library. It's beautiful. They put a lot of focus on the toddlers area but the rest of the library is highly functional. I am so happy they finally opened a library in the deep south.

Maro

Great

Afsar Ahmed

Recreation Centre

Anu Pillai

Great place to spend time with kids in the library. Loads of things to do in the library space including lots of books to read, Lego, games.

Kelsie London

Have gone to return books twice only to find return slots on inside ( did not walk around massive building to look for outer return slots) then the interior electronic slots were not working. Frustrating when parking is busy and had hauled all the books. Hopefully these issues have been fixed or thought through.

Spencer Campbell

Good library, would be better for my daughter if it had a graphic novel section but that can always be ordered in

Nelson Cacique

Very nice and clean place, it has many learning resources that you can access at this location or at home through their website and your library card. I find it very convenient that there is a YMCA right in the same building, in case one wants to do some physical activities.

aemarsfan

What a beautiful library!! I have never had trouble finding a spot to sit, a place to plug in my computer, or something that looks interesting to take home and read!

Palina Barel

Nice upstairs area to study with many tables and spots to charge your computer. The only issue is that there are constantly children running around screaming and its crazy warm there all the time.

Kayleigh McRae

Employees were rude and not welcoming at all. They kept walking by my table and watching me while I was trying to study and it was really distracting.

Jhun Gernal

Before, I could bring and drink my coffee while I read. Now, no one is allowed to bring any food and drink.

Chockalingam Srinivasan

Its pretty nice and clean

love peace

If the librarians would like to educate, please focus on those teenagers. They have no respect towards other’s rights. Keep chatting and laughing nonstop and not even a single minute is spent on studying. Why in the library for hanging out for fun?? Already full of kids screaming everywhere and so called Early Learning Centres. So what’s the name for those teenagers? Mid Learning Centres? Where is the place for the regular people who just would like regular learning centres??? Even inside the meeting rooms, those teenagers don’t know that doesn’t mean it’s sound proof? I agree. It’s more quiet and relaxing outside than inside the library. But for the heavy rain, I’d rather stay outside.

bluenoserincowtown

A fantastic addition to SE Calgary! Beautiful play space for kids including spaces for building, art, a helicopter and lots of reading nooks.

Lea E

The library is nice but also a kids zones. It doesn't feels like a library to me more likely daycare. It's hard to concentrate to study because of the noise. I recommend to put in a room that isolated the noise.

n.

very nice space but the staff are very intrusive and nit pick everyones actions. I understand there are rules within the library, but be sure the rules apply to everyone rather than choosing who gets lectured.

anything under the scope

It is a beautiful library. Spacious and nice layout. My only concern are the kids area. I understand that this is a "public library" so it should be shared by everyone. But If you can designate a quiet study area like the one in shawnessy or in Central Library that they have a room or a corner for quiet study. The upstairs area are sort of a quiet area for studying but mostly Highschool kids from next door tend to make it a hang out place eventhough there is a teen center on the main floor. I see that there is a small room on the far corner of the library past the washrooms that is not utilized, It would be nice to convert it to quiet room. I come here everytime to study for exams, So I would appreciate an action about this to make the library more condusive for learning. Not only for me but for other people who have the same situation as I do, based on the comments already posted. Thank you!

Daniel Lidgren

I have visited the Seton Library on many occasions. The facility is very neat and tidy and it has a very nice and intuitive layout. I really like the kids area with the helicopter; my kids always enjoy themselves there. The staff are so friendly and easy-going. We have enjoyed programs and story times and they are constantly facilitated by a talented person or people. I would highly recommend visiting this wonderful library.

Gail Onderwater

I have visited this library many times with my grand-daughter. It's a unique library experience for children, not what I remember at all about libraries when I was growing up. There are tons of interactive sections for the children to play, learn and have fun. There are also quiet more private sections for them to enjoy a book if they choose. There is still an expectation that the person who brought a child or children will supervise and especially have fun with the kids. Sometimes, however there are children who unfortunately don't seem to have that supervision. Mostly though, I saw lots of responsible adults reading and playing with their kids or watching their children have fun. There are also study sections for older children and teenagers, and more quiet sections for adults.

Apple Pie rocket

Waaaaaahhhhh waaaaaaahhhhh!!! Whose idea was it to have a quiet space with babies and tots. Dividers need to be in place, whatever happened to "shhhhhhhh we're in the library". Might as well call it Seton day care ffs

Damien Hui

Best place ever

Leda Pulmano

I find the library amazing, spacious, and supposedly a great place to stay for its purpose. I drive all the way from the middle of the City because I thought it's the BEST one. But being there for couple of visits nothing changed for the better and I think with my observation from my visits it is actually getting worse. Not only with the reviews that I have read about kids but also with teens. I have to read others comment first bec. I don't want to say anything that i thought i was the only one who have experienced such behaviors inside a library. As i have read along the replies to one of the comments code of ethics mentioned. Just a question, why removed shoes was taken with attention when there are always group of teens hanging around doing nothing, turns the computer cubicles around, sitting with their feet with shoes all the way up of the seats, laughing, chatting, throwing chips/popcorn in the air to their mouth which falls to the carpet was not and is not notified of the the libraries code of ethics are. I go to different library location and signs of silence are posted if that helps remind the goers. I think the staff should make these teens/goers understand where the boundaries of hang outs and what library is for. Sorry if u should use the words "Set Rules" for a better library place so everybody would enjoy coming back. There are lot of recreation areas out of the library where they can spend their time. Actually it is more quiet outside than inside not to mention. Pls. don't take my opinions negatively. It's for the good of the place.

Tisay RN

Awesome library! Since their opening we have moved my son’s swim lesson from YMCA Shawnessy to here. So we get to visit the library on Friday mornings. I don’t mind the noise coming from the children’s zone, but some kids can be too loud for the others using the study area downstairs. I find it too warm too. The staff are very friendly and accommodating.

Kat Eleanor

I visited this branch on a Thursday from around 3-5pm. The facility is shiny and new and clean. I had no problem finding a quiet corner to sit and read. A few families and groups of students came and went while I was there, and while I definitely heard them, they weren’t the intolerable disruption that others have complained of. Overall, it’s a lovely library.

Ignacio Ottati

This has to be the most beautiful library in the south east of Calgary. I would say, that this is without a doubt the second most beautiful Library in town after the central library in downtown. The best part about this complex is that it has the biggest YMCA in Canada and the building is absolutely beautiful.

Meenakshi S

Huge open spaces. Lots of new and varied collection Lovely kids collection too

Monica W

I thought finally having a library nearby would be great, but libraries are not what they used to be. This is not a quiet place. I have never experienced anything even close to "quiet" here. Today I was studying, while cross-legged on a chair. I had my shoes off, so I would not get the fabric of the chair covered in dirt. The staff will do absolutely nothing about obnoxiously loud high school students, nor screaming children, but they will interrupt my studying to tell me to put shoes on. If my lack of shoes is considered a safety hazard: fine. But children running, screaming, and climbing on things somehow isn't?

Ijaola Samson

Good

Serena Liu

I came here for the first time today with my 3 young children, ages 5 and under. They LOVED this location much more than the one in Remington YMCA. I love the automated book drop off and the receipt that it gives you so that you can be sure there are no errors as I have recently run into problems at the Remington YMCA library. There is so much for the kids to do here and we can easily spend over 2 hours here. Great place to take the children and a beautiful facility.

Shannon Charlton

I thought a library was supposed to be more quiet calmer space. I came today to do studying for upcoming finals only to be disrupted multiple times by students from the neighboring high school. When complained to staff, they failed to resolve the situation. It seems to me the only quiet space i can study in south calgary is if i drive up to the industrial area off of Barlow and sit in the Tim's. I am disappointed this is what libraries in Calgary are.

Armen Adwar

Its very quiet