It is an ok library Reviewed by Lone Swagman on
2010-08-20T14:59:46Z
In its new building for sometime now, it is a respectable libray for its size and the nature of Salt Lake City.
The main concern is that it can be extremely noisy for a library. It was badly designed to allow sounds from its "marketplace" to flood the building.
In addition, the library staff does very little to keep the quiet - be it loud patrons or constant cell phone use.
Awesome building, space, atmosphere Reviewed by HelloMetro User on
2009-06-02T05:56:00Z
The downtown library, designed by world-class architect, Moshe Safdie, is a gem of Salt Lake City! The openness of the interior lends an invigorating atmosphere to a genre of building that is often crammed. Visitors will enjoy the huge, slanted wall, filled with desks and sofas, for a wonderful reading area with views on both sides. The children's section is especially fun, with attic and ice-cave themed reading rooms. Every time I go, I find something new and exciting in the architecture.
Adding to the amazing building is the atmosphere: a place where people from all walks of life can come together. A library is a perfect place to come out of your comfort zone and enjoy the cross-section of society (including the homeless--they are members of our community, too.) All the community social spaces, separate from the reading spaces, facilitate this. An excellent feature for an institution created for the gaining of knowledge.
If I could change one thing, I'd just have it sta
Monument to a liberal agenda Reviewed by HelloMetro User on
2007-11-29T12:09:00Z
The architecture is interesting but very impractical, especially for a library. The gigantic lobby is a huge waste of space. The structure has been fraught with problems (i.e. leaking roof, crumbling stone pavers, cracking stairs, etc.) When I toured the library shortly after its opening, there was a display in the juvenile section of gay reads for teens; not exactly your family friendly or child-safe institution. Loud talking and talking on cell phones is allowed which creates a mall or sometimes even a circus atmosphere not at all conductive to study or thought.
One of the most negative aspects is that library leadership welcomes and encourages the homeless to patronize the facilities- and it shows. I have been threatened by a homeless man while at the library and would never let my children out of my sight there.
On the up-side: the city library does have a large collection and its all in one place- just don't trip over the buckets catching the water falling from the ceil
