Wheaton Public Library

I’ve become a regular here with the kids recently because I feel it’s a great place for the kids and me. They have a nice size children’s area with plenty of toys to keep you busy and obviously books to read as well. It would be a good place to have a play date. They have trains, Legos, tools, puzzles and I love (the kids do too) the fruit/​vegetable selection (play food) it’s great for learning colors, food groups, shapes, textures, and plenty for everyone to play with there own. We cam usually spend a good two hours here. The kids always look forward to coming here. I feel is a good place to come to when the weather isn’t pleasant to be in or your looking for somewhere different to go to. Best of all it’s FREE. I don’t know any libraries that charge to just come in but I feel like this one is clean, never crowded, or anything too crazy going on.
While we were here earlier today I saw an employee picking up the children’s area when it got too be messy. This shows they care what it looks like and care how people will see it. We will be back here soon and I look forward to checking out story time with the kids.

Best library around by far. If you’re looking for a quite place to read or study this is the place for you. There’s plenty of tables and chairs scattered throughout the various floors, so it makes this library a great place to get work done if you’re a student. The amount of literature available is astounding as well, they’ll certainly have what you are looking for.

Ok, in a short amount of time the Wheaton Library has fixed some of the things that I thought were missing.
Hmmm… the power of Unilocal!or just good timing?
They’ve added another check out station and added the ability for emailed receipts (love that feature!) Their library app also works great on my Android phone
One of the things that I didn’t care for before was that they were linked to other small libraries in their computer system… and it seems that they all carry the same book selection. They’ve fixed that now with the Linkin system, you can search and place holds on books in many different systems (including Naperville)
I still wish they had a drive through book drop (this, from the guy that goes to the gym almost everyday)

I guess I owe the library an updated review. My previous thoughts still stand, except that the library has stopped charging for DVD rentals. Hooray! I don’t really take advantage of that service myself, but just the principle of charging had really irked me.
I noticed today that the floor in the children’s section could really use more frequent vacuuming. It’s covered in salt, not so good for the little ones enjoying themselves there.
Still, I’m warming up to this place and would like to say that it’s a-​okay. One thing I would like to see is more children’s programs, especially drop-​in story times and crafts. Nearby GEPL is good for that.

TOP 10! I recently checked out my first book since 2004! I’ve been here a few times since then, but I haven’t checked anything out. Since the remodel (which occurred about 15 years ago), I love stopping by. It’s a giant space, with a lot of books (surprising for a library, right?). I can’t speak about the internet service, but coming here makes me feel very calm, and I can get a lot done, studying wise.
I feel overwhelmed going to libraries sometimes, though. There’s so much I’d like to read, and defintely not enough time!

Great library, nice location near downtown Wheaton, and has a very smart children’s area in the lower level. I’d recommend for families.

This library is way too big and has way too many kids running around. The wi fi is horrendously slow and the place is confusing to get around and find stuff. People here seem to forget the place is a library. It does have some nice views of parks and downtown Wheaton and the place does have plenty of books although many appear old. Too many chairs and not enough tables. It has a very borders and barns and noble feel instead of a library. Not a good place to do research.

i personally LOVE libraries.
They are the backbone of ANY free peoples.
the sign of an oppressed peoples, look for their libraries, if they don’t have any…
the wheaton library is my favorite.
6÷15÷12
ADDENDUM TO THE WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY REVIEW:
is blocked, so you can’t Unilocal from the wheaton public library.
i don’t know why, but maybe Unilocal is a naughty web site. (WINK)
6÷19÷12
ADDENDUM II
apparently Unilocal is not blocked any more, as i am writing this addendum at the wheaton public library… YAY!!!

I just started going to the Wheaton Public Library because they have an excellent children’s reading group that meets weekly. Each session is only 30 minutes, but it includes singing, reading and playing. My son loves it! The place is extremely kid friendly, which can be hard to find these days. The childrens area is huge, with lots of different activities — more than just reading.
Since I’m still new to the library I can’t comment on much else. The facility itself is nice, modern, clean and the staff is very friendly. From the browsing I’ve done, it looks like they have a great selection of books (even though I read mostly ebooks now I still need an old fashion print book every now and then). They DO have ebooks, but I have a Kindle, which they don’t support. :-(
Overall it’s a great place. As I use it more, I might update my review. As of now though, the WPL deserves 5 stars!

The library is an unemployed person’s best friend. The Wheaton Public Library is mine. Not to mention being a great place to catch up on dvds and pick up a new book for the week, I find the library the perfect place to set up for a day of job searching.
I usually set up shop in the quiet study room overlooking Adams’ Park. It’s such a great view and I am able to focus because of the quiet atmosphere. Also, you can’t beat free wifi.
Beyond that I find the library’s collection to be quite good. Very seldom do I not find what I’m looking for.

Love this place! I’ve been coming here for years and years (make that well over 20) and it still keeps me coming back for more. They’ve made it bigger and better, improving the kids’ and teens’ sections. They have an excellent array of DVDs as well, though it’s the book collection that keeps me coming back.
I’ve taken advantage of their many electronic services: finding books online, requesting books from other libraries, and putting books on hold. There is now a self-​checkout, which is quite easy to use, and it goes way faster than waiting for a human.
The reading and study rooms are large and quiet (except for those stupid-​heads who haven’t realized they should use headphones on their computers, because, hey, it’s the quiet room, and the sign says no laptops, I believe, and especially not noisy ones. Gr.).
I was kinda disappointed when they started charging for DVD rentals. It used to be free up until about 2 years ago. Now it’s cheap, but I did prefer the freeness, of course!
Beautiful library.

This library has a nice selection of books, and there are also cheap DvD rentals. In the chidren’s section there is a nice little reading/​play area, and the little kids love it. There are also computers you can use, and comfy chairs placed throughout the area. Glass displays localers collections, anything from rocks to mermaid dolls to legos. They are very entertaining to look at. Probably the best thing about this library is the summer reading programs/​activities. There is something for every age group.

Please don’t tell on me; I check books and audio books out of the Wheaton Public Library on my sister in law’s library card.
Lately I’ve been checking out lots of audio books. I drive about 8 hours a week lately and that means a couple books a month. They have a nice selection of audio books on CD, some fairly new releases. All the ones I’ve checked out have been in good condition, no scratches or skipping. DVD’s are $.50 to rent, but no charge for audio books. TV shows on DVD are $ 1, but for the whole series. Not a bad deal in my opinion.
The building was renovated just a few years ago. Actually, I think most of it is brand new. It’s still in very good condition and a good size.
Their annual book sale is always worth the time. They have terrific deals on books. I don’t usually like to buy books since they just waste valuable space in my home when I’m done with them. But when I can buy a whole paper bag full of books for $.50 and then donate them when I’m done with them I’m a happy girl.

One of the few libraries that still charges for DVD rentals. 50¢ per DVD.

One star for being closed on Fridays now. The City of Wheaton is experiencing some cash flow problems and this is their answer. So between Memorial Day and Labor Day the library is closed 2 days a week — on Fridays AND Sundays. After Labor Day, it will only be closed on Fridays. Forget picking up a DVD for Friday night!

This is one of m favorite places on earth. As a child of the 90’s, I was here when the children’s section was a deep, cavernous place in the basement. Just as awkward as adolescence is, the young adult section was awkwardly placed next to adult fiction hardback section, like it really didn’t belong anywhere. The children had their basement, and the adult section was the rest of library. Where did the young adult section belong? Now, to my happiness, post renovation, the young adult section is prominently placed in the center of the 2^nd floor. You walk up the stairs, and turn to the right, and bam there it is.
But enough of my reminiscing lol. You can borrow books and magazines for free! How awesome is that? The Wheaton Public Library hangs a banner year after year, touting their achievement as a «top 10» library in their population size bracket. It’s easy to see why. You can check out books without talking to a single human being by using the 3M scanners. You can use the computers. You can use a study room. You can sit in the reading room, which overlooks a beautiful park.
My one complaint is that in the summers, they’re not open on Sundays. And just recently, because of budget cuts, they’re now closed on Fridays. I’m not deducting stars for that though because that’s not their fault.

Top 10, again! After they remodeled, it is/​was awesome! Right next to Adams Park, so you can get a great view while you study! I have only studied there once though, since I go to NIU and don’t really study on the weekends when I am home!

As of April the Wheaton Library started charging $ 1.00 for DVDs. Yes, they changed the length of time you can check out the DVDs by two days, but P-​L-​E-​A-​S-​E! I know the recession is hurting townships around the country, but I didn’t realize Wheaton was that strapped for cash. I would have suspected that charging $ 2 a day in late fines for DVDs would generate a decent revenue stream. I know of NO library that charges to check out DVDS. Especially when its patrons probably need their resources more than ever.
This has caused my admiration for Wheaton Library has dwindled — enough to change my rating from five stars to three stars. Sorry guys, but I don’t think it the right thing to do.

One star subtracted for charging for movie check-​outs. $ 1 per DVD. Ridiculous. (This starts April 9^th, 2009.) While the library wins points for its friendly staff and well-​stocked shelves, I have to remove another star because they don’t police the men’s bathrooms enough.
Sadly, homeless people BATHE WITH THE WATER IN THE TOILET. (There is only one stall.) So, in the morning on weekdays the men’s bathroom literally smells exactly like the primate house at Brookfield Zoo. Fortunately by the evening, the janitorial staff has doused the bathroom and all surfaces in a sickly-​sweet-​fruit-​scented disinfectant that can be smelled by the DVDs.
I miss the old La Grange library (where I grew up) not for its quality collection, but the fact they had a rule listed that one could be ejected for «Unpleasant odours or poor hygiene.»

What can I say about this place except if I won the lottery I would spend every waking moment here.
A great place as a kid to go and even better now.
They just remodeled it and it is everything a library should be and more. Words cannot begin to describe what a good job they did here.
Study rooms, quiet rooms, play areas for the little ones, a tween meet up area, more study desks and chairs stashed in the nooks and crannies then you can ever imagine and computers, computers, computers, computers everywhere.
Seriously every waking moment I could spend here, well except when eating and drinking… the drawback of it being a library.
You MUST go here if you are out this way and yo u love books… you will never see libraries the same way again. ;-)