Des Plaines Public Library

Love it here. Internet works perfectly. I had my own space all day and the staff is very friendly. It’s perfect for studying and relaxing!

I love this library!!! I live right down the street from it and there are so many positive things I can say about it. The staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. They have a TON of free classes for everything from how to learn Excel to how to set up LinkedIn. They also have movie nights and other community gatherings, as well as educational history lessons.
One of the best things that I love about this place is that they have an EXTENSIVE selection of comic books, current video games, and DVDs.
It is also very beautiful inside and the Fourth floor has a great view of the city.
I wish that they had more CDs though, whenever I look for certain bands it seems that they don’t carry them.

Beautiful library but the security guard here is extremely annoying constantly hounding people about not eating or don’t talk on your phone even if they are not disturbing anyone! Like seriously get a life!

This has got to be favorite library within a 10 mile radius of Morton Grove. I really wished that I loved my hometown’s public library, but it’s so dingy and small.
Des Plaines Public Library is gorgeous. It has 4 levels and is a beautiful glass building; you can see downtown Des Plaines from every angle and it’s just such a great atmosphere. I’m pretty sure I have an affinity for glass libraries – there’s just something about reading or studying with natural light surrounding you.
I love that they have comfy chairs, large desks, plenty of outlets, and private study rooms. They constantly get new material and the librarians are always nice. My only complaint is that some people just seem to come here to sleep or stare and that can get prettttty creepy and a bit distracting.

I would advise most to use the online search first. It does help to prepare by checking for availabilty. Great DVD selection and music and, of course, books make this one of the BEST libraries in the NW burbs. My family has used the library for years and never been disappointed. Most of the staff (not all) tends to be very helpful and courteous. Downtown Des Plaines does not look as well-​groomed as some other NW burbs but it offers many small but worthy treasures unlike other, more Big Business-​influenced suburban downtown areas. Library visitors can grab a meal or snack at Wing Stop, just a few steps west of the library.

Great selection for a suburban (small town) library. Runs rings around the park ridge library.
Staff is ALWAYS helpful and I do enjoy the renewing your books online feature.

Great Library, right off the DP train station. Large selection of books, videos, CDs, etc. Always up to date, very friendly staff. Lots of activities for kids, and even some for adults. It’s also conveniently near my house!

As a new resident of Des Plaines I’m sadly surprised by the rude treatment I received here. I came in to open a new library card and the lady at the information desk rudely asked me if I destroyed my Niles library. What a question? Instead of explaining things to me in a friendly tone she was very rude and assumed I knew what to do. She then spoke over my sentences and ignored my questions. I had to finally tell her to stop and let me talk and respond to my question Finally she said i couldn’t open a new card if items are checked out at my old library? but yet she issued me a card anyway? I don’t get it. I took my card and left without so much as a thank you.

This is a world class library. It has great views of downtown Des Plaines and has easy to find designated areas covering four floors. I wonder how Des Plaines got such a nice library. The only problem I have with this library was that it did seem to attract sleepers and shady homeless folks the time I was there. Aside from that the staff was helpful and plentiful and not hard to find if you had a question.

One of the best library I’ve ever been to! HUGE
And a HUGE selection of materials!

I have been to a couple of libraries in my life, but this one has a special place in my heart.
This place literally has 4 floors of books, movies, audio, etc. It’s the perfect quiet place to study or hang out. Place is almost always clean, and if a messes are taken care of right away. Comfortable chairs and bean bags at every corner. Computers and other resources are always available as well unlike some libraries. I’ve hung out here with friends in their many group rooms, read the day away without getting interrupted, or just had fun exploring the big place! There is always something to occupy yourself. I couldn’t imagine ever getting bored in this place! I have been going here since 8^th grade. Granted I am not here for most of the year anymore, but I do come back here and there to quietly read manga and short novels. I spent most of junior high to sophomore year here and I don’t regret one bit. Their events are usually fun too, and the librarians are friendly and keep up with what kids find hip!
I don’t have anything bad to say about this place. I love this library!

I love this library! It’s so clean and I’ve always found exactly what I needed to check out.

Its public and its free (well if you’re a DP resident you do pay for it, but you’d have to pay for it whether you use it or not) how can you rate it less than 5 stars?

My favorite library. It’s huge! Good selection of books, CDs, DVDs, etc. Good play area for children too… although I’m a bit too old to enjoy it ;)

Had to take a online, proctored Real Estate Test and Des Plaines Library is signed on as a Proctor. Contacted the Library and scheduled a time. Upon arriving I was stunned at how beautiful the building and the overall layout of the library is. It appears huge, well organized and super clean. I was directed by a sweetheart at the desk on the first floor to the fourth floor and up I went…4 floors of materials all available to the people of Des Plaines, I’m jealous! The woman on the fourth floor, amazing: nice, proficient and super helpful… because of her, the test taking process was a breeze. Great overall experience. Hope to become a member soon (I live in Chicago but just learned they may accept me something to do with a reciprocal membership they have with Chicago Libraries… super excited)

Beautiful building designed by Lohan and Associates the same firm that designed to John Hancock building in Chicago. Inside there 4 floors built to keep noise down and several meeting rooms where you can gather and talk. I often come here to get work done and to be inspired by the wealth of materials available.

I frequent DPPL often, and as a resident of Des Plaines, I’m proud to call this our library. I remember years back, when the Des Plaines Library was on Graceland, very old, outdated. So when they built the new library I was super excited. Centrally located in Downtown Des Plaines, it is nearby several restaurants and stores, which is great if you want to grab a bite to eat afterwards.
I like the collection of books. There is always something to find, whether fiction or non-​fiction. They do have a section for books in different languages— French, Spanish, Russian, Tagalog… to name a few. It’s great.
Awesome collection of DVDs, a lot of them are up-​to-​date movies & TV series, which are nice if you’d rather opt for a free movie rather than renting from Redbox or Netflix. When in doubt, check the quick picks section near the check-​out. New and popular DVDs, Blue Rays, Wii Games and best-​selling books. You can only borrow these out for a limited amount of time, but its worth it. Accessible free computers. Sometimes there is a wait, but usually not long. Also free wi-​fi, which can sometimes be slow, but does the job.
Also a good place to study– usually I like the open space tables on the 3^rd floor, or sometimes a comfy sofa seat, but sometimes I go to the 4^th floor for more privacy in the cubicles. I wouldn’t say it’s super extremely quiet all the time, since there’s an open space balcony right smack dab in the center of the building, but it is quiet enough to be able to concentrate. They do have private study rooms and a reading room that you can use if you need absolute silence.
The only concern I have is the parking, which there are 1 hour limit parking spots by the Metra tracks. In the garage, I believe it’s 3 hours, sometimes you have to drive around a few times to find parking on the ground floor of the garage, because it’s usually full. Otherwise, there’s the option to park in the basement or upper floors of the garage and take the elevator to the ground floor, which I don’t necessarily like to do.
Overall all though, if you’re looking for a pleasant, reliable library in the Chicago north/​northwest suburbs, I would definitely recommend Des Plaines Library.

Wow, what a huge library. This place is massive, it even has its own plaza with little stores next to the mammoth main library bulding. I like to take stairs whenever I can, but this place pushes you when you have a backpack loaded with books and haul up 4 stories to get to a nice study room.
This place even has a balcony! Overall the library is well-​maintained, with ample study space, and friendly staff. I wonder how much this cost the Des Plaines tex-​payers…

So far I really love this library. It’s only the second time I’ve been here, but I like what I see. I just recently moved here and my laptop decided to die on me. While it’s in the shop I’ve resorted to coming here to get my dose of Unilocal.
Computers are really meant for resident, but I haven’t been able to switch all my info yet, so I can’t prove that I live here. No problem. With the wave of my MN ID they let me use a computer for 60 minutes. But if no one is in need of a computer then it automatically adds another 30 minutes every time the session approaches the end! Awesome!
The staff is very friendly and helpful. They have some cute librarian guys. Can’t beat that. The place is very clean and cozy. And even though it’s not a huge library, they have a decent selection of books. I’ve already got my eye on «Trespassers Will Be Baptized» for when I’m able to get my library card.

Well, suburban libraries considered, this one is about average in it’s selection and such. While there are better libraries to conduct research at for school, this one is great for a library in a moderately sized suburb that has a lot of kids. There are so many programs for the little ones (and bigger) it’s programs are definitely more of the draw! This library reaches out to the community very well and provides safe and educational alternatives for children… as a parent, that’s a HUGE plus for me!