Geneva Public Library District

This is an okay library. The staff is not always friendly, and when approaching them with a question, I sometimes feel like I am bothering or interrupting them. What could really improve this library is the edition of a café or coffeehouse to make the overall environment more welcoming.

I wish I could say that my opinion of the Geneva Public Library improved over the last year, but in fact, it reached an all-​time low.
As you know from my first review, my chief complaint about the library is the lack of actual resources. Most recently, I went to the library in search of six particular YA books that my students were reading. The library did not have any of the six, despite the fact they were all published at least three years prior. I doubled checked on the computer to see whether these novels were simply checked out, but no: the Geneva library did not carry them, though both St. Charles and Batavia did. You would think that out of six titles, all available at nearby libraries, Geneva would have at least one or two in its own collection.
What really aggravated me recently, however, was the lack of communication regarding the Cans for Fines program. My six-​year-​old stepdaughter misplaced a book over the summer, and despite tearing up nearly the entire house, we could not find it. She received a hefty fine, and when I went to pay it on September 10, the young librarian at the check-​out counter told me to «wait until next month. We’re going to start Cans for Fines.» (For those who do not know, Cans for Fines allows patrons to bring in one canned good for every $ 1 owed.) I decided to take her advice and wait for the program to start.
I checked the library’s web site four times during the month of September to see if they had posted any information about the Cans for Fines programs — particularly, when it would kick off. I even ran a search on the web site, but it turned up no information. Finally, on October 1, I called the library directly to ask if the program had started. Prepare yourself for a shock: I was told that the program had just finished the day before, as it ran the entire month of September!
Why on Earth was the librarian telling me on September 10 that I should wait until the next month to bring in canned goods, when quite clearly the program had already been in effect for 10 days? Why was there no information about Cans for Fines published on the Geneva Public Library’s web site or Facebook page during the entire month of September? I am so angry about the utter incompetence at this library that I am contemplating writing a letter to the Board of Trustees. Get your act together Geneva Public Library.

The Geneva Library is an older library, but historic and well located off State Street in downtown Geneva, IL. I do not think that a library in a subdivision or west of Randall Road would better serve the public; the schools out in western Geneva already have school libraries (so the children are more than completely served), and the public library is best in the most scenic area, downtown, to assist in the public patronizing important downtown shops and restaurants. It’s one of the reasons to come downtown.
Parking is plentiful. The library, itself, is tight for parking around it, but I do applaud Geneva for not making the on-​street parking metered in that area. Across State Street, by the river (i.e. two, no more than three, blocks from the library) are huge open city lots that are never full, always free.
Libraries will be a thing of the past in twenty years; I adore libraries, but it’s a fact of the digital age. Libraries can morph into other duties (e.g. become a «Rent-​A-​Center» and loan our yard tools and power equipment, as a library in New York state is doing; some say a community center, but we already have those, etc.), but already we have facilities for any re-​purposing one could imagine for a library. Investing in a new library, particularly when Geneva property taxes are astronomical and libraries are becoming a thing of the past, like typewriters, corded telephones and digital pagers, would not be a good use of funds.
Best is to enjoy what we have in Geneva now, plus the lousy St Charles library – good for you St Charles, population 80k, for not forking over for a new library as your taxes are nosebleed, too– or the new and overspent Batavia library, both about 3 miles away.
Geneva Library is a small, tidy historic library full of dusty books for those Luddites that still want them printed on wood pulp, on musty pages with M&M sneezes from strangers and bugs hiding in the bindings.
The future is digital reading and book loaning from home. Wi-​fi will become (is becoming) less expensive and more ubiquitous, and even the indigent will not need a library, per se. The bums may need to find another place to nap.
The Geneva library is a relic. Cherish it as it is.

A nice library in a nice downtown. This place is small but easy to tranvserse and find stuff. The staff was very helpful and the places was not loud or crowded. A good selection of magazines and they had plenty of staff restocking materials ASAP.

This is a great small town library. The staff are great and you can reserve books through other libraries.

I have really nothing to say about this library, as I don’t frequent it that often.
One thing I do have to say is that for some reason if you ask a librarian a question, it always seems as though you’re inconveniencing them.
Otherwise, they’ve got lots of books, open tables, and a snazzy catalog system.

Looks old and a little cramped. Parking can be limited since it is at Downtown. But, excellent staff and service. Bottom floor is for kids. Many books to borrow from. In LINC system. The best online library system I consider. Perfect for transferring books to your library.