Atlanta-Fulton Public Library – Ponce de Leon Branch

The Ponce Branch is a Very convenient location. Friendly staff and never had trouble getting on computers. Hours are very convenient. Decent selection of material.

Visited this library for the first time a few weeks ago and was not impressed by the range and quality of texts available. While its location is convenient (right on Ponce), it is not a large enough space to relax and enjoy a text or two. They do not have many of the works I was looking for and their test preparation collection is quite scarce. Luckily, they are part of the greater public library network, so you can always request a text be sent to them for you to pick up.
The staff members were friendly and helpful. However, echoing some previous reviews, it is not the place to study for hours, but more of a pick up your book and leave type of location.

This branch isn’t the biggest but the staff is friendly and helpful. The building is older but well maintained. Anything in the catalog can be sent over to this branch rather quickly. It is a very convenient location and right on the Marta Bus Route 2 line.

Very nice staff and great selection. I get my books on hold so that I can run in and run out again. Unfortunately, the library is infested with vagrants and derelicts (you are on Ponce afterall). I don’t think that using a library for passing out or using the bathroom as a shower room should be allowed. If they kicked out the vagrants, then this would be a nice place. If I had kids, I wouldn’t take them here due to the current situation.
I literally saw a woman walk to the library bathroom with leaves hanging off of her hair… blech.

I decided to try out doing some reading and school work at a library after reading Atlanta Public Libraries have free wi-​fi. Quiet space and what more can a graduate student ask for? (coffee I know lol)
I was not happy with my experience here at all! Homeless library is what it SHOULD be called. All but 2 other «normal» people came in and left within 10 minutes.
I sat at the table that said it was designated for people using wi-​fi. I liked that it had a surge protector for patrons to plug their laptops into. At the time there was one guy on his laptop there. I looked around and noticed what I thought were homeless people at every other table and few at the computers. Before I could get settled good a man wondered around our table a few times talking to himself before putting his stuff down to sit with us. I immediately noticed he smelled like body odor and trash. He continued to talk to himself while looking for books and reading aka sleeping them.
A security guard woke a few of these homeless people up a couple times telling them they could not sleep in the library. One particular woman was told 5 times during my hour and a half in there. She was never asked to leave or anything!
Also a man and the homeless man who was sitting next to me got into an argument at the bathroom because the homeless man was bathing in there and taking a ton of paper towels. No one asked them to quiet down or anything. I assume this is normal behavior for this place.
The staff did seem nice, but only when several of us got us got up to leave did one of them ask was any of the homeless people bothering us. I am very disappointed in this library.
If you want to just go in and check out books, this is the library for you. But if you plan to spend any time in there, on your own laptop or their computers, visit a different library.

I’am always in and out of this location within five minutes.
Because I’m a voracious reader I usually go through a book each week and I’ve found that using their online site to place books on hold is helpful.
They send email alerts to let you know when your book is ready for pick up and when your current book needs to be turned in. You can also renew online.
The location is convenient but the clientele and smell inside the library leaves a lot to be desired. I wouldn’t recommend going there to get any work done.

I really like this library. It’s really close to where I live. Mostly I give this place a 5star because it is very efficient. I put the books I want on hold and stop by here and pick them up. So really, this 5star is a 5star for all Atlanta-​Fulton Public Libraries.
The space itself is a little weird. It’s kind of dingy, but I like to think of it as gently used. There are a lot of homeless people who sit around here and read and go on the computers. I think is a good community space. The people who work here are really nice but very, how should I say this, librarian-​prompt. They hush you with their eyes kind of thing.
Strange thing: the ladies bathroom is open but the men’s bathroom needs a key. I haven’t visited the mens bathroom so I can’t tell you what it’s like but the girl bathroom is okay.
I just like this library!

I must echo the reviewer Miss S.: «4 stars for free books»! Since I moved to Atlanta in 2004, my husband and I have been regular patrons of the Atlanta-​Fulton County Library, specifically the online reservation and interlibrary loan system. The Ponce de Leon branch is one of the locations to which I frequently reserve items for pick-​up. Granted, when I am there, it is usually for a very quick visit. Honestly I don’t think I would want to stay there to read or study because it feels crowded and worn down. But I’ve always found the Ponce de Leon branch to have a friendly staff and better selection than some other branches I’ve visited.

Yes, there are a handful of homeless folks hanging out at this library taking naps between reading Goethe and Proust. It’s not nearly as bad as the downtown branch though. This branch has the best film selection that I know of and the music selection is decent but the books are kind of limited. I still haven’t figured out how to put a hold on a book using their system.
I got hassled by the security guard one time over something trivial. The staff can be Nazis when it comes to signing up for a computer.

This branch of the Atlanta-​Fulton library system is full of books on tape. With a long commute, this is a good place to check out if you get tired of listening to the radio. Most of the new releases were easy to find and if they don’t have it at this location, they will order it for you from other locations.
This library is very small, though. And it’s right on Ponce so there are people here, sometimes, seeking a refuge from the hot or cold of the day. I’ve been here more than once when someone has been asked to leave for inappropriately using the restrooms or harassing the staff or patrons.
Internet access is available here FREE if you are a member. There tends to be a wait on weekends and after work. They also have videos that you can check out as well. It’s your typical library, just a little smaller, and with character.

This is not a library where you would want to kick back for a relaxing read. I feel awful that ATL has such a large homeless population and they have no where to go during the day but the library, but it doesn’t make me want to hang out there– the tables and computers are almost always completely occupied by homeless people. Regardless, this location serves my purposes well– I go online, reserve the books that I want, have them sent to Ponce, wait for my notification phone call, and pick them up when they are ready. And the hours are pretty good– they are open until 8 pm at least twice a week. 4 stars for free books, yea!

All the benefits of the other Fulton branches, but I’m glad I don’t have to go to this branch any more since they’ve opened the East Atlanta Village branch. This branch is pretty small, and it’s located a couple of blocks away from a homeless shelter, so the computer terminals are always in demand and crowded. It’s the branch you’re most likely to be hit up for money or guys asking for rides to another part of town too. If I really need a book from this branch, I’ll just order it delivered to the EAV branch to avoid the crowd here.