Reviews of Ottawa Public Library - Main (Library)

JORMSANT

(Translated) Great place to hang out and read (Original) Otimo lugar para se frequentar e ler

Katherine Montgomery

Great library with plenty of ressources

Harvinder kalsi

This place is Amazing! The amount of books on particluar subjects amazes me. Also, they have plentiful resources for fun like Documantries and DVDs from almost every known culture. This place is like a free wonderland where you can learn while having fun. Upgrading the stature of a Library.

shawn l

Nice selection. Too many computers ;) maybe in the future other facilities will offer wifi and we can get back to the novelty of novels.

Amitava Sanyal

Well connected through public transit. Lots of books and reference material. Large number of computers to use for a maximum period of 2 hours per day. Open during weekends.

Nova Kelly

Large selection and reasonably quiet for reading/working.

Ee M

It's an amazing library that has reopened since July of this pandemic year, 2020. Sanitizing, and quarantine practices in place for library items and library visitors.

Jean-Francois

(Translated) The BPO is doing a good job of managing the collection and the flow of customers through the pandemic. Thank you! (Original) La BPO fait un bon travail a gérer la collection et le flot de clients au travers la pandémie. Merci!

Muha Masoud

I love this library, the old building and aesthetic of it. There are spots where you can talk, and others where it's strictly silent. It's true that it's a home for many homeless people, but most of them are very nice and they just need a shelter and a place to read. Sometimes, staff can be rude and impatient, but nothing that ever bothered me. And finally, the Wi-Fi has been upgraded, just last year it was so much worse.

Eri Nakayama

The location is great but there is no specialty.

The Kim Valentine Story

Wow - it feels covid safe here. Isn't it weird that we don't put librarians on the same pedestal as teachers? If they had described a librarians job to me in the same way they did teachers - my little introverted heart would have been set! Anyway - its clean, there are books - it's what you expect.

Dr. Smythe

Very nice and helpful staff.

Theresa Lammon

There is a lot of great stuff here but all of the books come in English and Spanish.

Tommy Lu

Wi-Fi is insanely slow now. You can't get anything done if you need to use the internet

Robert Parungao

A great library system with an extensive collection of everything from fiction/non-fiction books, to graphic novels, movies, music, and even video games.

Phil Lori

Keeps the heat, rain & snow off me while I wait for my wife.

Ty Law

Great location always has what im looking for and staff very knowledgeable

Amanda Mooney

Love this library - lots of great selection and space and free French conversational classes.

Martin Chow

Good location but exterior is boring. Lots of books inside

Marge Simpson

3 floors, big library.

S M

Went to a great lecture on the Vimy memorial site put on by Heritage Ottawa. It was great!

Curtis Perry

Everyone should have a library card. Great benefits and excellent staff.

Alex Tyrie

Big library, multiple levels and lots of seating. It isn't hard to find a cozy corner to work on something or read!

F Ho

you can easily kill some boring time here, of course! Other than that, if you need WiFi and internet, here is the place to go. you will get a temporary card, which is good for a year, bring your notebook, tablet, even "work" on library's computer for minimum one hour with the extension time adding by "hour"(I was on for 2 1/2 hrs).I kinda of believe that library's free WiFi is "saver"than a random restaurant, and the best of all, I don't have to buy anything to use WiFi, don't I ????

Coco Deraps

Love my local library! Tons of selection for books

Frank Deehan

Nice laid out. Impressive COVID procedures are in place for both the public and staff . Well done!

Helena Dang

Great library with lots of varieties/choices.

Helena Dang

Great library with lots of varieties/choices.

John Galloway

Great selection of books and the staff are very friendly. The place will probably deserve a 5 star rating once the eventual new building will have been completely renovated.

noah gallant

Beautiful library with free Wi-Fi

Franklin Hatch

So many homeless people

Rohan Edman

Wow you can rent movies and series! Recent one too!

summer ffkids

Great place for study~

Chris Nicholas

The central library for all of Ottawa, so it features the best of everything you can find at the other locations. Parking a bit of an issue but very short walk from Parliament Otrain Station.

Jon Anderson

Very helpful.

Carlos Barrera

Computers with Internet are available. Wi-fi is also available, but you need a Library card to have access to it.

João Padoveze (John)

Huge location, lots of material, good areas to study and work. Silent, clean and the staff is very helpful. Impressive! They also have a nice book store in the basement with affordable books.

Ross

You can now download 3 free mp3's per month with your library card.

Canoe Heaven

Right now suffering from Covid-19 restrictions but still working hard to get readers the books they have put on hold.

David Scrimshaw

The staff go the extra mile to help. Awesome

John Paul Handrigan

Great location in the downtown Ottawa area. The selection is surprisingly good for its location. Access to computers and quiet sitting areas are aplenty. Highly recommended.

Relative FrencH20

Great library!@!!

10 000 000 000 000 view

(Translated) Place the conference page (Original) Nơi trang hội nghị

Anthony Thompson

Almost 3 times a work-week I consult the library for the great reference books they have there. The chairs are comfy and the librarians are very assisting in my work. Great job. Anthony Thompson, Ph.D. in Criminal Law

Sylvia LH

Although not an attractive location or building it's a great library. Extensive collection and lovely staff. Sandra in the children's library is Uber helpful and the lady with glasses and long black hair at the customer service desk we t above and beyond. Top notch both of them.

CHRIS WU

best thing ever

X Huang (Sean)

I love this place. Quite and freeeeee

Jenny Medeiros

Decent library with a good collection and lots of space. Staff is very pleasant and helpful, but you'll find lots of shifty characters in there too. It can feel a bit unsafe at times, but obviously the staff can't just throw people out for being strange. Bathrooms are surprisingly clean and the wi-fi only works if you have a library card. I doubt I'll be returning to this location. (Heads up: It'll be closed from June to September 2nd.)

Steven Baker

My favorite place in Ottawa. I go there in order to be alone & read some books. It makes my day. The place is clean. The staff is friendly & helpful. A huge place. & they have a lot of collections.

Lillian Ibarra Godoy

The employees are such a nice and kind persons. The library system is very useful. ????

Harun Arslan

The staff is very helpful. Since it is in downtown, it is very busy.

George Yamour

It's a fact that we are in a pandemic but that doesn't mean that we have to be rude to people. The two women in the front desk in the main floor were extremely rude.

pattmayne

Lots of seating, free wifi, quiet place to read and write, decent hours!

Jessica Richard

It's always a fun experience picking up my Holds and browsing the library. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

Don omar

Great place

Sanghee Lee

(Translated) It's a bit old, but it's a library. (Original) 조금 오래된 느낌이지만 있을 건 다 있는 도서관.

ruqiya jonis

Great library! Should continue forever

Mr. T.

Conveniently located. Has reliable computer service and large book selection. Visitors are sometimes questionable, overall good place.

Gregory Sloan

I am eagerly awaiting the new Main branch facility!!!!!!

Colin L

Nice library with very friendly and helpful staff.

Alex Stewart

An outstanding public library in dire need of an Andrew Carnegie today. Thankfully, with so many branches and an excellent inter-library loan system, users are well served. Everyone should have a library card and use it.

Zakaria Khaoua

5 stars are not enough tbh... no one can do their job better.

david formentini

The security Staff is so amazing! i love them!

Choice Bassey Ubangha

Lots of sketchy characters. Its where most of the homeless people come to assemble. ALWAYS keep an eye on your personal items. The quiet corner of the third floor smells strongly of urine.

Norman de Bellefeuille

An essential part of my life and my 12 year old sons'. He practically grew up here. My only wish is that Ottawa being the nation's capital had a main library that reflected that status. While the LRT may be important in getting stinky buses off our streets, I'd like to think that city council would be more proud in really supporting and pushing for a library,say like the Bibleotheque Nationale that was built in Montreal a couple of years ago. Funny,there never seems to be any money for a community oriented library offering loads of great services.

Amanda Nicole

This library is in desperate need of updated software and material

Em Bee

Visited the Greenboro branch today as I needed some things printed. I've printed on my own paper many times before without issue, both at the Greenboro and downtown locations. Well today Marie Louise was at Greenboro and rudely and loudly told me that I couldn't print on my own paper. She didn't even bother getting up from her desk to discreetly tell me, instead she yelled it from the desk where she sat for all to hear. Embarrassed, I told her that I had been allowed in the past and asked why I couldn't do it today. ML told me that it was their policy not to allow members to print on their own paper. Her tone was completely unnecessary and I would have appreciated some discretion, professionalism and common courtesy on her part. May I kindly suggest using my portion of tax dollars that pay for the library and investing them in customer service training. I find it rather interesting that I'm not allowed printing on my own paper but some members watch pornography openly while at the library without issue.

Renata Lacerda

Lovely place. Perfect for studying, working, relaxing or reading books. It's a quiet library. Very respectful. You can eat and have soft drinks while you work. The staff is incredibly nice.

Anna Bloas

I was really surprised to see that the library is not super big, with not so many references. The look is super old and not inviting at all(that awfull green and lights). Moreover the shelves are presently quite empty with some super old books which should be sold and renewed. However the staff is super nice and helpful! But I'm so disappointed by the offer. Was expecting more choice and New Books. You definitly don't feel you are in the capital of Canada once in there.

Richard Gonzalez

My favorite library. Very big, very nice people.

Adrian Loewen

Best library ever. Used to write my papers in university here. Did a lot of writing for my professional career here too. Took my son here as a little boy to while away summer days and now his little brother my youngest. Very very friendly and helpful staff, still to this day. Libraries are a culture. Sad to see things so quiet post COVID, but understandable.

Pierre Mickerlange

Perfect place for books

Ole Hendrickson

It's a great library - staff really keep up with the changing trends in how and what people read. And such a convenient location, right downtown, and on the Laurier St. bicycle lane.

Theresa Andrew

Great location & helpful staff!

Morgan Crampton

An amazing library! So much more than books. A great resource for everyone in Ottawa.

Enayet Fareghi

The Staff are friendly and the area is nice but its one of the LOUDEST libraries ive ever been too.

Andre Tsang

They hired a goddamn collections agency to go after me. I was 14 years old, and I returned everything, but they sent a collections agency after me to collect $200.

J Yak

Ugly building on the outside and on the inside. Wanted to study here but there were really no comfortable spaces. And getting access to the internet is a major hassle.

Jerie Shaw

One of the biggest libraries in the city. Massive selection of books.

Pedrito Lindito

Great location, great setting and wonderful staff! Very friendly and very helpful!

Romeo Juliet

good collection of books and helpful staff. some patrons act weird on the third floor sometimes

Kevin Gareau

Make sure to return all items to the desks and have the librarians check them back in, I put a movie in the drop box and they lost it and charged me for it $24. I know for a fact I returned it because I didn't like it and kept it for only a day!

Lyse Cloutier

The best place to find books and sit and read. There is also a used books store.

rigel star

Stopped going to this branch because of all the homeless drunk and passed out people there.

Matthew Johnson

I really like this library. My first time on Saturday. It's big and spacious and lots of places to sit. Many computers to choose from. I did find a lot of homeless looking people out front hanging around or waiting to go in but seemed harmless. Staff was friendly and helpful, same with the visitor's there.

Kevin Qitsualik

I really like this library for how big it is. There is 3 floors that are well organized and staff on hand to assist with questions. It can be really busy and still be really quiet to reflect. There is computers, scanners and printers. You can also find courses here and story telling.

Katie O

I've been impressed with how this library has handled the pandemic!

john bell

If your in the mood to read in a quite space.

Alice

The actual physical location gets 1 star for its fluorescent lighting, 1970’s look and its permeating odour of urine and B.O. The online aspect would get 4 stars for the collection of audiobooks and digital content. The bottom line? If you can, it’s best to access the library virtually rather than physically.

Nicholas-Marc Ryan

A nice quiet library with good selection. Certain rooms can be rented for meetings.

Nicole

This location was quiet, with pleasant staff. No problems with holds and I was able to check out museum passes a few times, which was a wonderful bonus!

Simply Moi

Love this library. Very clean place, a big selection of books, movies and magazines. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Raphael Solomon

Staff were rude. But it's a pandemic and maybe they don't want to be there.

Ali Emad

There is no rule on "maintaining silence" sometimes it gets very noisy on the second floor and the staff occasionally laugh and talk very loudly as if they are not in a library

Nawaz Alam

Spacious library in the downtown. Good place.

Maria M

Great staff.