Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library

This used to be a great place. I used to come here to study or read. These days it’s a haven for the homeless. People these days cannot sign on the Internet and get a decent speed. I have been panhandled for money (in the bathroom). I think it’s more of a pain to go here now. Seriously, it has been overcome with homeless people. One time I put my laptop in my lap and it got stuck against the table because someone had stuck gum against the table. This place has become so disgusting. You cannot go here to study, read, or relax. Instead of volunteering at a local homeless shelter, you could probably just come here instead.

Last time I will ever come here I don’t give a damn this isn’t a library it’s a bum daycare filled with perverts who watch porn all day instead of using the computers for something more useful like finding a damn job!

Since there are so many great libraries in the area, it’s hard to give this one a higher rating. The library is small and not nearly as modern as many of LA’s other libraries. I use it mostly to pick up books from the LAPL system. I wouldn’t spend large amounts of time here.
It attracts a large homeless/​transient population, and I’ve seen a drug deal go down right in front of the library. The interior is a bit run-​down and sometimes it smells bad near the information desk. Thankfully there is ample parking in the rear and you can easily check in and out without a fuss. The staff has always been friendly.
If you want to stay in the LAPL system, there are other branches in Miracle Mile that would probably be better. If you don’t mind going to another library system like the County of LA’s West Hollywood Public Library or even Beverly Hills Public Library, you’ll find a much more welcoming environment for studying and research. There is also more selection at those two libraries.

This is the first time I wish I could give a minus stars rating. I never thought I’d write this. I am so upset at the way I was treated and the lack of professionalism exuded.
The first thing you notice is the parking lot is ample. The second thing you notice is how your senses are attacked upon the sliding doors opening as you walk through them. This smell emanates from the homeless hanging out in the library. It’s a stench of a mixture of week old sweat, various body odors and a stale cigarette smoke type of smell. You get the picture. Now don’t get me wrong, I am empathetic towards those less fortunate than I. I mitzvah several places every month to include Skid Row directly.
What bothers me about my first and last interaction at this library is the lack of professionalism conveyed and the intentional efforts made at trying to offend me and make it an uncomfortable. It began with the rapid fire questioning of where I lived, how old I was, where I worked, my mother’s name, etc. Then it continued with the challenging of my address. I know what I am doing. In my line of work, um details and the confluence of information is paramount. I arrived with additional information proving my residency. At which point he proceeds to read off all the information on my application. .. out loud.
Please note, the library is full of people and there are others in line around and behind me. All my information is read out loud to include my address, telephone number, my mother’s first name and my personal email address. I am mortified at this moment. I stare at him blankly. I mention I’d like to keep that information private, he states he just wants to make sure he’s «putting it in the computer right». I just want this moment to be over with.
He continues to check me up and down while reiterating the same question about my email address. Asking me to spell what I have written out in non-​cursive writing. I spell it, just wanting to get out of there. There is a security guard that I noted there, along with a typed notice that anyone causing a disturbance will be escorted out. I have never seen this in a L-​I-​B-​R-​A-​R-​Y before. That’s a first.
As we conclude business, I attempt to retrieve the library card off the desk. Only to find that he will not let it go. He’s pressing it into the counter so I cannot pull it towards me. The harder I pull it, the more he presses it into the counter. Now it’s obvious. He rambles on how I can separate the smaller one to put on my key chain. That the bigger one is for in my wallet. He STILL won’t release the card. I finally have had it, I ask if the process is completed. He replies it is, I ask him to release the card. I take it. I leave. I am beyond offended and mortified that this occurred. Needless to say, I will NEVER return to this branch of the Los Angeles Library system. Even if I end up homeless and with no place to sleep.

–Horrible odor from the homeless people inside
–Dirty restrooms
–Hard to study with all the homeless having verbal arguments with each other or just having simple conversations
–Don’t touch the keyboards!
–Friendly staff
–Overcrowded and a small library
Overall… really bad.

It’s tough to write a review of this location… on one hand, it’s a public library, and it does attract a large homeless contingent (you can read more about that in the other reviews).
On the other hand, the facility is great, the staff is unfailingly helpful and friendly, and they have lots of computers and space to sit down and relax. The library is clean and they have a big computer room. I often have books from other LAPL branches sent to this branch, and it’s quick quick for me to pop in, check out my book and pop back out with a minimum of muss and fuss. Lots of free parking in the lot behind the branch (enter off Detroit).
So… I guess it depends on how long you’ll be here and how you want to use this branch. The LAPL system does a great job here. The fact that it’s a public facility that serves everyone means it does attract a large homeless population. C’est la vie.

What the… am I at the Greyhound station?
Dude this place is bad! I would’ve never expected this from an LA Public Library.
Let me paint a picture of what is currently happening in this library for you:
I was lucky enough to sit alone at the first work table closest to the entrance. There WAS someone sitting at this table, but the owner of the mysterious black bag adjacent from my seat has not returned for at least the 90 minutes that I have been here.
Meanwhile the other 7 tables are almost completely occupied by the bums you see sleeping in the doorways on Hollywood Blvd at night. I guess I found out where they go during the day!
And when I mean they are all here, I’m talking all of your classic bum icons:
1) The scraggly dressed jittery kid with white dust on the sides of his mouth singing
while checking the internet (+ his junky unbathed girlfriend)
2 & 3) The nasty guy in the wheel chair with all this «stuff» attached to the seat who
somehow is always hanging with that filthy beach punk guy with the frosted
tips who uses his headphones as a speaker to blare music at the
loudest volume
4) The flamboyant man/​child tranny who hogs the computer for an hour, then
prances through the library making a loud call to his current «boyfriend»
5) The angry older man who’s itching to start a fight because he’s pissed off at life
6) The mumbler guy who sits in the corner and talks to himself and wigs out if you
get near him.
7) That large angry lady that’s just staring around and waiting… always waiting on
something… maybe her ride back to tent city?
And yes that smell. That sweet, sweaty, pungent smell of diseased livers and poor life choices. It is here. No wonder the air conditioner is working at full blast in here. Keep that circulation going please!
Gotta say, this library could be great. It has the most computers I’ver ever seen at one branch; the building itself is very clean and modernized; and even the staff are nice and very helpful. Unfortunately a bum fight could easily break out at any minute.
So W&A Durant Library — Get yo shit together!
I want to like you! Stop hurting yourself!!!
P. S. There’s a guy in here yelling at a plant.

Well, it is a public library in a busy area of LA, but the smell of the homeless patrons hits you like a brick wall as you’re walking in. It made the experience less enjoyable than past library visits, and I definitely did not linger.
Aside from that, they had a diverse selection and the exact books I was looking for, there is an EXTENSIVE collection of Russian media, and the librarians/​staff were exceptionally helpful and nice!

This is not a homeless shelter although looking at the patrons one would think so.
While waiting in line here I was told some of the most vulgar things I have ever heard. It involved many racial and homosexual slurs, promises about my children, herpes, and what the gentleman would like to do to me. This was all said loudly so everyone could hear.
I wish I could say I was scandalized but it made me laugh a little but on the inside. What bothered me is no one working there said anything to the guy. They looked at him and let him keep telling me life facts for a good 3 minutes.

Phew! Everything you’ve read about the smell is right! I went in last week… and the last time I had stepped foot in this library was probably a couple of years ago. Never had it smelled the way it did that day.
It’s a small library, but it probably has one of the bigger Russian collections (yay!), since the Russian community around it is large.
I’m guessing most staff are volunteers… there was an older man helping me locate a book. It took him some time to find what I need, but I was patient, even though I didn’t want to wait so long. Hearing aid and all you’ve got to give him props for still being active and doing something useful.
I’ll be back, since it’s close to me and tends to have what I and my family need –Russian books– but it’s not my favorite place.

I went in here to print out my résumé (my printer at home was having problems) — I would have been better off at a Kinko’s/CopyMax!
The smell is HORRIBLE! Smelled like homeless people and disease; nearly threw up simply walking in.
The front desk staff was nice to get me an LA County library card (I’m from Downey; so I’m used to going to the Downey City Library). Let’s just say that’s the only plus of this place.
Bathroom is locked and requires the front desk clerk to «let you in» — let that paint a picture for what kind of library this is.
The entire library in itself is pretty small — I’ve seen nice small libraries before, but this place was legitimately too small.
Computers were horrible! Software was limited to Internet Explorer and Wordpad. If you want to do anything else you’re SOL — and good luck getting the «Help Desk» helping you with printing anything.
This is by far the WORST library I’ve ever been to. The «It’s a PUBLIC LIBRARY» defense doesn’t work; I have been in many libraries that I’ve spent many hours in. I like going to the library, checking out the books, stumble upon some cool stuff, etc.
My entire visit here was simply «Print my résumé and get the heck out as soon as possible»
I used to complain about the Downey City Library — I take back all complains about the Downey Library; this library makes Downey look like Harvard’s Library. A place that doesn’t lock their bathrooms. A place that doesn’t smell like a homeless shelter. A place that’s large and provides large amounts of resources and help.
I will never go back to this place again. If I need to print something I’ll go to Kinko’s instead. If I need to use the internet I’ll go to a Starbucks. If I need to check out a book I’ll spend the extra time and money and transit to a different library.
(And I’m not over exagurating on the smell — it’d take an entire case of Febreze to even make a difference.)