Salt Lake City Public Library

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 stay open longer on the weekends!

Posted 06/01/09 | Report Abuse

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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 ceiling. A far better choice is to use the Salt Lake County Library system. Or, second best, use another city library.

Posted 11/29/07 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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The Salt Lake Public Library is great! First off, it's a beautiful building. The librarians are always helpful. The have an excellent storytime for kids birth-2 years which is unique. My son loves it! They sing songs, do activities, and read books. They also have a fun place to read and play for kids. Since my son is still young, I'm not as familiar with their older programs but I know they have story time for older kids and craft time.
The one drawback is you have to pay for parking (if you're there for more than 30 minutes) because the library is downtown. That's the only negative I've discovered.

Posted 02/10/06 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I love this library. Whenever I am downtown and I have some extra time I will stop at this library with my son. We love the childrens section. There are several different types of cubby areas for the children to relax and read stories in. The Glass elevator is another of my sons favorites. He thinks its "cool" to be able to see out of the elevator and watch how high he is going. The gardens on top of the library are such a peaceful place during the summer when its open.

If you live in Salt Lake City then your membership is free. If you are in another city I feel that the cost of a membership is far too high. It costs $80.00. We just spend time there, and when we leave we leave without any books.

Posted 11/17/05 | Report Abuse

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This is the most incredible library! You can see that just by looking at the modern construction from the outside. As you walk in you have small shops and tables where you can sit and read or have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. There are several floors of the library itself, with an incredible amount of information to go through. You will never be at a loss! One of the greatest things I have enjoyed about the library, has been the lecture series, the independent films and commentary, and the other programs that have been set up to teach the general public, and open our lives to things we might never have the chance to explore. What a blessing this library is to the state of mind of the people of Utah!

Posted 08/17/05 | Report Abuse

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