James B. Hunt Jr. Library

If the word ‘library’ conjures images of dusty shelves and stern, frowning elderly women, the James B Hunt Library will blow that away from start to finish — more like something out of a science fiction novel at your childhood municipal branch, this library combines technology, creativity, and research to create a learning center unlike any other! The exterior looks like a contemporary art museum, the ‘librarian’ is the bookBot, and rather than being corridors of shelving and dim lighting it’s divided into a variety of welcoming, well-​lit spaces for study, meetings, research and more. Facilities include an immersion theater, rain garden reading lounge, game labs, a Makerspace with a 3D printer and scanner, and so much more! The library also offers various programs with subjects and speakers ranging from physics to Lil Bub, the feline philanthropist and creative visionary. Bring your vision of libraries to the present (and the future) with a visit to the Hunt Library!

I love the Hunt library! A huge place to come and study or write your thesis. This place is super innovative with plenty of unique seating options that are comfortable for long periods of time. Every floor has something awesome to offer students and it even has a nice deck area on the top floor with some great views. Lots of natural light to make you feel like you aren’t in a prison while doing school work.
Provides computer use, technology rentals, group meeting rooms, music rooms, game rooms, and pretty much anything else you can think of!

Incredible asset to the State of NC. Every state could learn from this well designed building. Idaho needs this!

Too many visitors which exacerbates the overcrowding issues this library already has…

This is one of the coolest spaces in Raleigh I can’t believe I’ve never been here. This modern space is on Centennial Campus of NC State and it’s huge. I can’t even remember how many floors it is but I think it’s 3 or 4 stories high. Each floor has a different feel and there are all kinds of works spaces, computers, and meeting spaces throughout the library.
The latest and greatest in technology is here. Want a book? Just go up to the digital kiosk and pick your book and this crazy device (robot) will get it for you and you can go pick it up!
There is a little café on the bottom floor to get coffee and food. A huge auditorium space, a game room, and by game room I mean you can rent the room to play video games hit a button and white out the windows so nobody can see in.
If you need assistance with anything you can ask for assistance with multimedia projects etc. I kind of feel like I’m in a gigantic Mac store when I’m in here. I feel like this library should be at the top of your list to take visitors and out of towners, it’s also a really cool way to spend your day.
I feel so gypped from my college days seeing all the cool stuff the kids have now. The Hunt library is not just for college kids, get out there an take a visit you will not be disappointed.

This library is phenomenal! Though I may be a little biased because I attend State, I have heard many many business professionals in the area give praise to what a nice library Hunt is, and everything it offers. At my work, we utilize this library for programming meetings, and operational meetings. I come here every time! The bus is very convenient for weekdays when parking is a little expensive. Even friends who go to Chapel Hill (boooooooo!!) have praised the technology and functionality of Hunt! Two thumbs up!

this is the most awesome library ever!
do not miss this FREE trip — no card necessary.
fantastic visual spaces that’ll make your library seem dweeby.
futuristic and comfy chairs (egg, bean bags, pods, topsy turvey…
the book bot … actual bot finding your book
megafun room with wall to wall projections
whiteboard desks for collaborations
staircase seating
pantone design!
interactive walls that change when you get close
and… you can check out a maker bot! or ipad ipod, dslr, ti-​89… etc! with card of course (fee required and alum)
a must see for any true techie!

Considering form and function, both the interior and exterior are thoughtfully designed, and make for a superior user-​experience. The library contains a variety of spaces (for individual work/​study, group collaboration, small/​large presentations, etc.), technology resources, and numerous reading clusters/​nooks that are well-​furnished and complimented by soft natural light.

Wow, wow, wow! All I can say is wow! In the world of libraries, they’re normally staid and boring not the Hunt Library on Centennial Campus! While I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit the spot, if you’ve got some research or studying to do, this place is impressive.
From the modern metal sculpture outside to the colorful sunlit interior, it’s obvious they’ve sunk a lot of money into this building. The huge book-​bot pulling tomes off of huge shelves might be something you see out of a sci-​fi movie and pictures don’t do it justice. The shelves must be 40′ to 50′ high and you can’t visualize the scale. There’s one main atrium that’s great for lying about, a quiet and darker study room along with a bunch of modern private study rooms. Lots of high-​tech equipment including a cluster of Macs upstairs.
Overall they’ve done a great job with the space and it really makes a great impression for anyone visiting the NC State campus. And befitting a university that is known for its engineering and design. Check it out the next time you happen to be in the area.

FIFTY stars for this place, folks… this is a MUST-​SEE!
When Parents said, «we want to take you to the library» after breakfast this morning, well, let’s just say we weren’t exactly jumping up and down, even though we both have a respect and love for libraries in general.
Well, by the time we got through checking out every stunning, innovative, high-​tech level, we were both wanting to go back to school! The book-​bot that retrieves books is a huge «wow»! And I do mean huge…2 million books or so huge!
There are something like 100-​different types of chairs in the building, and each one calls for a try-​out. From 3-​D printers to study-​group rooms with white– board walls, complete music and media studios to a high-​tech gaming room, this is a dream destination for almost anyone! So entertaining and stimulating… and for those of us who aren’t students, can only imagine how useful it all must be as well!
Also at this location is The Institute for Emerging Issues which has a few fascinating exhibits to poke around in.
Want to wow a friend, relative, out-​of-​town guest? Take ‘em here and watch their jaws drop!

I think I have a new obsession. It’s part visual, part virtual, part interactive. Throw in some books retrieved by a huge robot (the bookbot), and it’s nearly an all-​day adventure.
The Hunt Library, newly opened on the NC State Campus, is stunning. From the outside, it looks like an art museum, and when I walked in, it still looked like an art museum. However, once I started the tour, saw the bookbot in action, the technology showcases, the immersion room, 3-​D printers, rain garden reading room (it’s a LEED green building) the stunning views from the skyline room, there’s no way it didn’t make sense for this to be the main library for engineering, textiles, and sciences. And the game lab? Wow. I’d never have to leave this place. There’s even a café and vending machines. It’s a huge theme park for technology geeks (guilty). Oh, and I guess for people who like to study, too.
There are so many kinds of furniture — chairs and tables, it’s like being in an Ikea store. I could visit this place every day for three months and not sit in the same type of chair or table. There’s lots of open space, glass, bright colors, and chrome. The study rooms have monitors capable of connecting to your computer. It’s surprisingly quiet here, particularly in the conference/​study rooms, despite all the technology. And that’s part of the problem: with all the things to see, how does anyone study here?