Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County

Nice library but not a good library if you want some peace and quiet to study. Staff is loud and too many distractions.

My favorite community library in Cincy! The librarians are so nice and helpful. They have a good collection of pieces and if they don’t then you can order it and most definitely will get it in a timely manner. I love to come here during a lunch break just to grab a movie or book. They are often busy on the weekends or Fridays. The only thing is I wish they had a drive-​thru for returns.

Though the building is a little dated, the branch itself is very much alive. I’m a fan of their storytimes and other classes for young children. They also have a new children’s librarian (as of 2012), Mr. Sam, who is excellent — really trying hard to make the library a fun and inviting place for little children (and their parents!). Any time I’ve had a problem (can’t find a book, misplaced my library card), the staff at the front desk has been more than helpful. I highly recommend the classes. My only complaint is, as mentioned by another reviewer, the locked bathrooms, which can be tricky when you’re wrangling a toddler!

Joel was kind enough to assist us re: when/​where my Hubby would be receiving his on hold order. Joel was his useful gracious self, even after working with a women and her 5 children. They girls wanted Princes Stories, the boys, something quite different, except 1. He was not a reader. This was after a day filled with screaming, misbehaving, spoiled kids all day long. They are so bad in this area, even teens, when they grace the Library with their presence! Requires the patience of Jobb’s Wife and Joel always has it as does Matthew and Chris. Anyway, Joel was able to tear himself away from the charming family to assist us on the phone. He made sure all my Hubby’s books would be coming to only The Blue Ash Branch. Also found out that he is # 1 on list for the last 4 books he has ordered. I, unfortunately, are in the 2000+s on the next James Patterson Thriller: The 11^th Hour. I may finish the 22 I have to read if I can just stay off Unilocaling for a week or more. Yeah, like that is going to happen. Too many people to share my words of old fart opinions with throughout the day and into a good portion of the night! As you see, it is after 3 am. We are so lucky we have such great guys to help us out @The Blue Ash Library. They are the BEST!!! Sincerely, Judy and Carl Walz

This branch is pretty convenient for me (location-​wise) when I’m in Blue Ash…& it’s usually open a bit later than most of the others, so I tend to have stuff held for me there if I make a catalog request. As far as the service goes, it’s kinda «touch-&-go»…some days it’s decent, other days the staff can be down-​right rude. I’ll admit, though, I keep going back out of convenience… but usually just to walk in, pick up my holds/​drop off materials, use the automated system, & make my exit undisturbed by the staff.

I came here today for a book on colonial style cooking (research, don’t ask), and came out empty-​handed with a bad attitude.
The staff at the library was comprised of some of the unhappiest people on earth. Nobody was willing to help me; the most I got were directions leading to the non-​fiction section.
The library itself was rather large and probably stocked with a lot of great reads; just, next time, it would be nice if someone could tell me where to find them. Isn’t that what a library is all about?

This library isn’t very large, but it has great hours, and good staff. Mon-​Thurs, it’s open until 9 P.M.
Don’t expect to find a good audiobook for your business trip, though. Unless you like romance novels. In which case, I’m sorry for your bad taste.

The Blue Ash Branch Library, known as the Sycamore Branch until 2001, is another nice library in the area. It’s an old building, dating back to 1964, although they completed a renovation and expansion in 1987. It does not appear to be all that big, but when you go in you realize it is very spread out and has a lot offer.
The very spacious library has a large room for children, a Teen Source section which is larger and offers more seating (including comfortable bean bag chairs) than Madeira’s Teen Scene, and there are plenty of desks and chairs and computers scattered throughout, making it a great place to work or simply read.
One draw back about the Blue Ash branch compared to the one in Symmes is they don’t have a drive-​through book drop off. And unlike a Blockbuster where you just pull up front and quickly jump out of your car to drop something through the video slot, at the Blue Ash library you have to park, walk across the small lot, and then go up a bunch of stairs or inclined plane to drop off your books or CDs or DVDs. Really, it’s not that big of a deal, but it really isn’t all that convenient either.
The one other thing that bothers me about the Blue Ash Branch Library is that you have to get a key from the front desk to access the restrooms. Talk about inconvenient. Other than that though, the staff is friendly and nice, the building is a bit old, yet still nice, and they offer a computerized self-​checkout and some great outdoor places to sit and read, making it another very good library in town.