Salt Lake County Library System – Tyler Library

Great location for those who live in Midvale! Utilizing the library system is the easiest and best return on investment of paying taxes. I’m currently watching Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris thanks to the SLCo Library System, and Owen Wilson’s character is walking down the streets of Paris with Marion Cotillard. I’m soiling myself with ENVY.

The Tyler library in Midvale is a hidden little gem. It may not be fancy or modern or very big but it’s wonderful. Because it’s part of the Salt Lake County system you aren’t limited to what they have on their own shelves. I rarely go in there just to peruse the shelves, but instead put books on hold through the website (which is fabulous) and then pick them up when they’re ready. Once in there I’m always drawn to their Reader’s Choice shelf and end up with an extra book or two that I hadn’t intended on. Really you can never have too many books.
They have a nice kid’s section with places to sit and read and a few toys to keep the really little ones entertained. There are a number of computers that you can use (although depending on the time of day they might be fully of kids playing minecraft, but there’s a 30 minute limit so even if they’re all full you should get one quickly) and printing services. The librarians are wonderful, knowledgeable and always willing to help.
The garden in the back in a perfect place to take 20 minutes to relax and read. There’s almost never anyone back there, it’s shaded and feels far removed from the rest of the world.
One other great aspect is that they continually have programs for all ages going on. I’ve got two little kids so we’ve been to their story times, movie night, and craft sessions. I’ve also gone by myself to hear authors speak and listen to other presentations. I wish I had a friend who had a teenager so I could tag along for their cosplay nights.
If you’re in the Midvale area don’t over look this library because of it’s size it’s really a perfect place for any book nerd.

Oh my dear library, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…1,2,3,4,5,6,7…
Well I could go on, but maybe I’ll write about a few of them instead.
I know this cute little location isn’t going to compete with the big beautiful edifices (edifi?) that have recently been constructed, however, I can WALK to this one. So I love it for it’s charm.
There are 15 – 16 computers, usually full of local school children. Of course they are all doing research projects and learning new things. (ha, ha). They have to book them in 30 min segments, so you can get on with only a short wait. There are plenty of books to peruse, a selection of CDs and DVDs, newpapers, and a couple of little reading areas complete with arm chairs.
The kid’s section is somewhat separate and has a few toys and a fluffy cushion to sit on. I can’t say that I haven’t spent an afternoon reading a youth fiction novel on that cushion. Why check it out when you can just read the whole thing there?
I love that I know the staff and they are so nice to chat and help me out if I have any troubles.
I love the technology that the county system has added. I can go on the website and put up to 10 holds on books, CDs or DVDs and then when they are there, I get a cute little email to let me know!
I can run in and find them neatly categorized under my name near the check out desk and then, I can check them out myself at the new little stations and I don’t even need my card (because of course, I have my library card number memorized. What? Don’t you?)
I’ve become a true and dedicated library lover and no matter where I live in the future, I’ll always try to be near one. But Tyler will always be my first.

Nerd alert. Turns out I really love the library.
First, what’s great about the Salt Lake County Library System as a whole:
There are 17 (soon to be 18) brick-​and-​mortar locations throughout the valley, plus a «Reading Room» in Alta up Little Cottonwood Canyon. You can pick up any item from any of these valley locations using your one library card. You can drop off materials at any of these locations regardless of where you checked it out.
There are over 2 million items available — books, DVDs, Videos, CDs, Audiobooks, E-​books, and in-​library leisure reading materials like magazines and newspapers. You get books and music for three weeks, movies for one.
The library’s website rocks my socks. Recommended books, new arrivals, Kid Zone, Teen Space, reviews from other library patrons, easy item search. Place holds (see below), renew items, and see what you currently have checked out. They just added a feature to pay your fines online. Not that I even have any… er.
It’s called the Hold System and I love it dearly. Find the item you want somewhere in the system, tell them you want it, tell them where you want to pick it up, and they will email you when it’s there. If the library doesn’t have it, you can request they buy it, or they can get it on inter-​library loan from another city or state.
They offer more than just books to check out. You can rent a room at the library for a meeting (we’ve done this a few times), periodically there are book sales, you can even submit a short reference question via internet or text message to a librarian (Ask a Librarian) and they’ll get back to you with answers and/​or suggestions for where to get more info or who to contact. There are several events a month – meet the author, storytellers, kids activities, etc.
Now, why I love this location:
This particular location in Midvale is the Tyler Library and is one of the smallest libraries in the county system. It’s located on a regular residential street and only occupies about half the block. There’s lots of parking, though, and although the banks of computers with free internet access seem to ALWAYS be full, it doesn’t ever seem to feel too crowded.
Sometimes I come and browse, but most the time it’s a quick-​in/​quick-​out to get books that I’ve placed on hold. Self-​checkout usually means no waiting.
There are comfy chairs in the leisure reading section as well as in the back of the library where it’s nice and quiet. There is a room near the entrance that can be rented and cozy little kids section for the youngsters. The staff here is super friendly and don’t ever judge me when I pay my fines in person (.15 a day for books, $ 1 a day for books).
Currently, they’re open from 10:00am to 9:00pm Monday thru Thursday, and from 10:00am to 6:00pm Friday & Saturday, closed Sundays.
Best of all – if you can remember to take your dang books back on time, it’s all FREE!