Crandall Library

I love this place. I am biased because I have been going here my whole life, but since the renovation it’s absolutely amazing. Clean, bright, beautiful architecture. When I was in college and came home on break or for a weekend, I would do homework here, and now I apply for jobs online here. The wifi is good, and there are lots of comfy chairs. If you don’t want a comfy chair (I work better at a table), there are a few tables downstairs, as well as two conference rooms upstairs that are usually empty.
The children’s section is huge and seems like it would be really fun for the wee ones. They also have a room just for teenagers (I think 13 – 19?) to hang out in.
I don’t check things out often, but I do like that you can request things from other libraries at home from your own computer, and then they will call you when it’s in! And if you can’t come in to pick it up right away, they actually hold it for you for quite a while.
They have free movies once a week (usually artsy or have been out for a year) as well as exhibits in the folklife center.
There is a vending machine with water and drinks in it, and there are multiple cafes (Coffee Planet, North Country Café, and of course Rock Hill) and a Stewart’s all within a 5 minute walk.

I love this library, where I live, I fall in between this one and Saratoga Springs, I choose this one everytime. It is big, spacious, and if it doesn’t have what you are looking for, you can request it online and have it delivered here for you to pick up. It is the first library I have ever frequented that allows you to check out all your own materials including DVD’s and CD’s– you can pay your overdue fines that way as well, not that I have a lot of those… and, you can go green by getting your receipt emailed to you rather than printing it out! There isn’t a lot per se, but there is parking all around the library that is free. There is free Wi-​Fi with your library card as well.

This is an awesome library! A great selection of books, audio CD’s, movies, etc… and what they don’t have in stock, they can get pretty quickly from the inter-​library loan system that they participate in. Check out and returns here are all high tech too… just stack your books on one of the electronic check out pads and scan your card and it automatically checks them all out. No muss no fuss. Returns can be done from the street in a couple of locations around the library or on an electronic conveyer belt that scans them back in for you inside. It’s an attractive library too in a great location right next to a downtown city park as well as many great restaurants and theaters. The only drawback can be parking at times but I’ve never had to circle the block more than once to find a spot in easy walking distance to the library.

Here every other day, I can honestly say this place is my home away from my apartment. The Wifi signal is strong and consistent, but it is the plentiful sitting areas with outside views that keep me coming back. They have a decent collection of DVD’s and a folk museum (free!) in the basement. At Crandall you can count on clean restrooms, a working water fountain, quiet reading areas, and plenty of outlets if you need to plug in.