Richardson Public Library

Seriously amazing library. I feel like they should open earlier, but that’s most likely having to do with staffing and the city’s rules. I love this place!

Wow! This is the coolest library I have ever been in. They have so many books, audio books, music and DVDs.
The service, however, is awful. This was my first time in the Richardson Library, and I needed to get a library card. However, because I am from Dallas, I have to get a TexShare card to use this library.
Once they found out I was from Dallas, they treated me like I wasn’t important.
I will more than likely return once I get a TexShare card… just so I can check out their audiobooks. But, I hope the second time around everyone is a little nicer.

If you want a really quiet place to study, read, or use free wifi, then you can call the third floor home. The silence up there is respected every time I come in, and it’s always a productive visit. They have the little solitary cubicles that I love with power outlets spread around the third floor.
When I need to focus there is no better place to be!

Huge library with a great selection if books and movies. No nc library has had this many up to date movies so that is an awesome feature. Most of the fiction books are hard back which is good and bad I like paperback for the gym but hardback is nice too. They are great about getting your items fast when you put in a hold. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. Also the new self check outs where you just put the books on the counter is super cool. Overall it’s a great library with an awesome selection. Any book worm or movie buff would be happy to look around here.

Awesome library. Large selection. Very organize and clean. Friendly and helpful staff. Especially the volunteers :).
This is the only library I like to go to. Probably because I used to volunteer here for 2 or 3 yrs in high school. I was that girl that alphabetized all the books, and stamped the return cards. Best job ever… not really.
They have an awesome display of Santa’s village around Christmas time with live performances on the weekend. That was fun to volunteer too.
If you want a really quite place to study, I suggest the basement. If you’re a freeloader who needs free internet like Peter H., then go to the second floor.
Overall, awesome library, and golden chicks is within walking distance so get you some afterwards.

I read recently that 90 percent of Americans think that the closing of their public library would effect their community, and I believe it. That said, only 50something percent said that they’ve been to their local branch in the past year, and I believe that too.
Maybe that second statistic has something to do with how dang difficult Richardson Public makes it to obtain a library card. I’m a student at UTD living on campus, but the staff at this library keep giving me the runaround about my proof of residence… four times I’ve tried providing the correct documents and four times I’ve been given a different answer. Such a bummer.
This library is smaller than I’m used to– spoiled Houstonian here!– but it gets the job done. There are plenty of comfy nooks and outlets for studying; the children’s section is precious; the music selection is even pretty okay. Now, if they would just let me check out some books, we’d be doing okay.

second floor free internet browsing. Nuff said.

Large library with lots of books and corners to read in. I often take my 2-​year-​old to their children’s section. It’s open and spacious with a large selection of books. They also have little tables and chairs the perfect size for small kids. And there is a little fish tank as well (a highlight for my daughter). On nice days, we head out back behind the library and check out the fountain.
They also have a section devoted to teens. It’s a great little nook with a good vibe for these young adults.

Super sweet staff. Super quiet nooks to study & read in on the lower level.

This is a fantastic library.
PROS: Large with lots of space. Huge selection of material in every department and they are constantly updating with new items. If they don’t have what you want, they will borrow it from another library in no time. Lots of events and community programs. Lots of kid events and programs. They showcase new items in all departments. Great selection of audio books, DVD’s and music. They have waiting list for items currently checked out and they will call you/​hold the item when it is returned. Online account management.
CON: My only complaint is the late fees. They are steep and unforgiving. At 25 cents a day for books and $ 1.00 a day for movies, the fees add up quick if you are ever late.
WISH LIST: If this library added an online suggested reading (ex. people who read this also checked out this) program and if they would create a program for electronic books (like the Kindle or Nook) like the Frisco Libraries have done, this would be the PERFECT library.

I LOVE libraries and this one is AWESOME. It’s even better now that I live practically across the street from it :)
It’s huge and clean. The staff is very helpful and friendly. Very large selection of DVDs, from current titles to some pretty obscure ones. I enjoy foreign films and the Richardson Library has quite a collection. They offer a variety of events and classes here — check the calendar often. You might find something you’d be interested in.
Also, they remodeled the children’s/teen area and it looks fantastic. Two thumbs up!

A great library.
Pluses:
— Large collection of books, CDs, DVDs that stays relevant.
— Friendly and helpful staff.
— Lots of work space.
— Coffee bar.
— Free WiFi and computers.
Minuses:
— WiFi can be overloaded and slow.
— Chairs at most work tables are VERY uncomfortable.
— Limited lounging space.

biggest Library I’ve been to… lol I don’t usually read but when I want to I usually go check them out at the Richardson Library… friendly service and HUGE selection…3 stories tall when event halls outside and many holiday events in the public area out front by the fountain
they also have DVD and Tapes and CDs !!! this place is great~ for kids to adults of all ages!!!

I grew up going to this library. Hell, I even worked there in the late ‘90s. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking… «She’s biased! She only gave this place five stars because she worked there!» Nope. I gave RPL five stars because no other library I’ve been to compares to RPL in the amount of stuff they offer. I’ve been to several libraries here in Austin — a city that supposedly has more educated, more literate people than does Dallas — yet we haven’t one library that even begins to compare to RPL in terms of media quantity. Granted, I don’t necessarily go to the library to get the latest and greatest best-​sellers, but I’m appalled at the lack of material at most Austin libraries. Last weekend I walked to a library near my house to check out Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I have checked out this book at RPL a few times. Guess what? The library near my house didn’t have it. GONE WITH THE WIND! Seriously.
So, you see, my having worked there has nothing to do with the 5-​star rating I’ve given RPL.
Advice for ladies: Don’t ever work there, at least not in the Circulation Department. The office politics are absolutely sickening, especially if a certain someone with the initials KV still works in that department.

A great library experience.
Free internet access. Free wifi, though you have to register and receive your password through email (they allow you 10min of open connection to snag that email). The network is called CORNET, as in City Of Richardson NETwork.
You can check out books with your Tx DL if you forgot/​lost your card.
From the bottom up:
Basement: group study, reference books.
1^st: Kids, media (CDs, DVDs). Checkout, including self checkout.
2^nd: books, public internet terminals (I’d guess 50 of them)
3^rd: silent study

This is one of my favorite libraries!
Not only is their selection ginormous, the staff helpful, the atmosphere totally peaceful but they also throw lots of events throughout the year. I used to do a lot of volunteer work here when they have craft fairs for the kids, Santa’s village in the winter, outdoor concerts from random high school orchestras and book readings.
I don’t live in Richardson anymore but totally miss this place when it was finals week. I agree with S.S. that their individual cubicle type stations are awesome especially if your like me and get easily distracted in people watching.

Hands-​down the nicest library I have ever been to — and I have library-​hopped for the quietest, most professional place in the Dallas area to study. I don’t live anywhere near Richardson, & this library is still worth the trek. It’s a Power-​Study Sanctuary.
Where most other libraries have the majority of the patrons thinking it’s perfectly acceptable to sit there & hold conversations at cafeteria volume (some standing at their tables for added effect), laughing, answering ringing cell phones & holding a full-​on conversation without even shuffling off somewhere else to take the call (think of the laughing dude in the wind-​blown phone booth from Superman II), crying babies & loud, whiney kids — and librarians who do nothing about it — Richardson Public Library’s where it’s at if you need a cave, and now. This is one library where my stock, «Excuse me! This isn’t Yankee Stadium!» has never proven necessary.
Oh — and they also have those isolation cubicles I love so much. A lot of libraries don’t.
For other fair-​skinned ladies who avoid the sun like the plague, get thee to the basement — no windows in sight. Also, if you need Internet to supplement your studies, there is free WiFi Access & also plenty of places to plug in your laptop.

I’ve come here several times just to get away from it all. Just go down stairs to the basement where it’s super quite for some peaceful reading. Before you go, stop by the coffee machine; the 50 cent coffee is actually pretty good!
If you’re glued to the net, they have free wi-​fi here.

Best municipal library in the metroplex. Professionally managed and staffed. Sure, the Dallas central library is bigger, but the Richardson library is friendlier and very much like a warm public living room. A recent makeover gave it some added color.
A nice treat is the Saeco espresso machine in the lobby. Any drink you want for 50 cents a cup. These coffee drinks are as good as any from an expensive coffee shop.
This library benefits from being the only one in this municipality. So instead of having funds spent on the duplicate overhead of multiple branches, you have a better selection of books, multimedia, periodicals, etc.