Rochester Public Library – Monroe Branch

I finally got here, I called because I wanted to know if they had parking. Cause honestly I was not sure. I got a library card it was pretty smooth. It’s a small, but well curated library full of books. If you want something they can order. Its not a big place I’d suggest you find your books and go. I felt I was in everyone’s way?! As for parking they share it with the YMCA and currently they are also doing doing some work on the building next door so a lot of activity to be had in that area at the moment. So parking is limited and if you need to turn left your outta luck it will take forever. I did not see an outside place to return your books so when I do return my stuff I’m gonna have to park and blah, blah. Hours are odd but I’m spoiled from Chicago and Suburban libraries being open longer.

For two years, I lived within walking distance of this library. I’ve been a library fan for years now, ever since I first learned how to read. Having this branch within walking distance was such a benefit to my neighborhood at the time, and now that I’ve moved further away, it’s no longer my most convenient branch, but still on my radar.
I wished I could have spent more time here, but the truth of the matter is, Monroe suffers from the same problem that the city branches all have: lack of physical availability. I’m well versed in library budget cuts and reductions, so I understand that for the most part, the hours aren’t anyone’s first choice. I managed to get it down to a science, memorizing the evenings where the building didn’t close at 6:00 so I could pick up my holds. However, for many people in the area, Monroe is a hub, a community center, a wealth of information, or possibly the only Internet access one may have. Everyone would benefit from longer hours and at the very least, a little more time on the weekends. Oh yeah, and the parking situation is nothing to sing home about. Do your best when trying to wiggle out of the parking lot, and I hope for your sake that you don’t have to make a left turn because that’s never an easy task.
Now, let’s talk collections. Monroe is lucky to have a decent media collection in addition to the books. I used to come here when I wanted to have a movie night and I never walked away empty handed. It’s free, you’re boosting the circulation statistics of the materials (helping them to stay relevant!) and there’s a much better selection than Redbox. What more do you need? I’m also attached to the book collection because Monroe tends to hang on to some of those older books, so when I want something that might be considered obscure or outdated, chances are I’ll find it here. I feel good about checking these books out, knowing that I’m keeping them in circulation for someone else to discover someday.
While Monroe is no longer my number one branch, it’s still a vital part of the neighborhood and could continue to be so much more if someone in local politics was willing to fight for our libraries just a little bit harder. Now, if only someone would just install a better traffic light for the library and the adjacent Y, I’d be more inclined to make the drive over more often. Hear that, public works department?

This is a really great community library which has an extensive collection of DVD’s, all of the latest books you might hear about on NPR or NYT, and excellent programming for children. The children’s library on the 1^st floor has a very homey feel and is a very inviting place for story times which my daughter attends. Unlike some of the story times at the suburban libraries which take place in office-​like rooms with white walls and industrial carpet with no natural lighting, this library has a lot of character and provides an excellent backdrop for storytimes. As for the complaints from other reviewers about the homeless population utilizing the library, this is true for many city libraries across the country. Since libraries are open to anyone, you will run across homeless people in libraries occasionally and this is true for the Monroe Branch. This branch location is compact but has a lot to offer. My only complaint is the parking situation, so allow extra time if you’re driving to this location.

Needed a place to hang for a bit and kill time before going to dinner and the Knighthawks game. But I also needed to charge my iPhone after a long 6 hour bus trip from Philly. The library was the place to go.
My friend and I were able to charge up and read for a couple of hours.
Some unfortunate things about this library were that in some sections it smelled like B-​O and it appeared that the local homeless have also used this place as a warm shelter to sleep in some of the chairs. Additionally, when one of the patrons got «yelled» at for being too loud and was moved to a «quiet» enclosed room so that he can have his loud conversation on his cell phone, he was moved to the section over where my friend and I were. We probably could have participated in the conversation as he was so loud and rude to whomever he was yelling with.
The bathrooms are behind the security desk at the front entrance, and I had to endure a homeless person’s singing tribute to bitches and other fun stuff while in there.
I’d probably recommend finding your books and checking them out instead of staying there for an enjoyable read. I did notice they have an extensive video section.

A small but serviceable library. They have a decent selection of DVDs. They also are often open in the evening and on weekends. It’s walking distance from where I live so it’s convenient for me.

This library is more covenient than the big downtown library, but it has a small selection and a crazy parking lot. I like it anyway, though.