Renton Library

This library is quite the novelty item as it’s built over the cedar river. The remodel has really spruced it up and I really like the modern design.
Very clean and well lit. Libraries are no longer a beautiful sanctuary to read, they’re community centers and that means noise… but it’s a huge improvement over Kent’s library.

I’ve lived in Renton all my life and I love this library. The locations is great, the library is beautiful and the scenery is so peaceful but, OMG it’s so LOUD in here! I’ve been coming to the library quite a bit lately as I really need to focus on the project I am working on. At first I just thought I was coming at a bad time or it was just unusually loud that day but, after being here several times I was wrong. Today I came prepared though, I brought my headphones and music but, still can’t drowned out the noise in here! People are having full on conversations, laughing, talking on cell phones, not only watching YouTube videos but watching them with the sound on and a group of kids are running around (I think they are playing tag). I cant get over how crazy loud it is in here. If you are looking for a quite place to read, study or work this is not the place for you. Tomorrow I’m going to Starbucks, at least I get a coffee with all the noise (and I think it might be quitter).

Great place with lots of options and resources.
Do Nguyen: Most interesting Asian Man

I’m upset the children’s area is reduced to a corner. Before the remodel, it was separated from the adult area now its intermixed, which I do not like at all. There are all kinds of characters at that library.

They have study hall even on Sundays! Which is great because that’s my only free day. I needed to brush up on some algebra for a job and I was so glad I came to the study hall!

This is a unique library, beautifully situated over a river, with lots of room inside. I normally go to the Fairwood library, because it is closer. But I really enjoy the ambience of the Renton Library.

Having recently moved to the area, I was unaware of this gorgeous PUBLIC building amidst one of the most picturesque areas of Renton. Like many folks have noted, the setting is beautiful with the tress and river that flows directly below the library – you can see the river from one side of the building and walk to the other side of the building to see it continue flowing down. It’s definitely unique and worth visiting just for that view.
Outside of location, the library is small but they had plenty of desktop computers for folks to browse the Internet and I learned you can print a certain number of pages for FREE! (Considering the cost of printer cartridges, I’m going to save my print jobs and print at the library!)
I ordered my library card online and took it in to get it activated (defeats the purpose of ordering online since I waited three days to have it mailed to me and still had to go to the library to get it activated – my husband got his library card while we were there in 5 minutes. Apparently they still needed to see ID.) BUT, the staff was friendly and knowledgable and went out of her way to give a quick overview of library features.
All in all, glad I made Renton library my primary.

I was at the Renton Public Library as part of a committee meeting, while the meeting room was nothing special I did take the time to walk around and get to know the library.
Filled with books and magazines the space is relaxing and quiet. The resources are limited but what is there are top notch. The space could use additional seating, however any person who enjoys books will surely find value walking the stacks and seeing what the talented staff of Renton Public Library has placed on display.
Why not top the trip off by taking a moment to gaze at the trees that surround Renton’s literary oasis?

Until a seminar and day with Cassandra brought me here this week, it’d been years since I’d been here.
It has scantly changed a bit, and depending on how you look at, that’s either awesome or it’s lame.
I lean more toward awesome, myself. I know it’s an obvious reference, but I like the 60’s Frank Lloyd Wright feel of the library. Lot’s of wood, suspended over a river, you get the connection I’m sure.
It is such a park like atmosphere, that just meandering around outside is enjoyable.
They have all the updates. automatic return and a check-​out kiosks, computers for use and the like, but it has such a nostalgic feel.
The parking lot is of a decent size, centrally located and a long term pillar of the community.
Staff is extremely helpful. Must be that they get such a beautiful view of the river all day.

Part of the King County library system. You walk out over the river to get in to the library! Salmon are going upriver many months of the year and can be seen over the edge. Often an environmental group person is there to help you initially spot the big fish, or if you have an experienced eye you will see them yourself.
I do not browse the stacks much, but you can order books etc. online and pick them up here.

I’ve been very fond of this library since it opened in 1968. I love the setting over Cedar River with Liberty Park adjacent. You can walk the river trail all the way to Lake Washington. I spent a lot of hours here over the years. It’s a great place to study.
A great helpful staff, good internet access, and a nice blend of books old and new. They also have a great inter-​library loan program. If you’re a history buff about the local area, it’s a great place to do some digging and I love the fact the Renton Historical Museum is just a few doors down Mill Avenue with a wonderful collection of old local photos.

I love the crap out of this library.
I come here to study and have a view of the river. Not just a nice view… but a view down. On. The. River. This place sits on top of the Cedar River. Crazy. And relaxing.
My favorite spot is in the back corner, back to the wall, river on the right, multitude of outlets at my disposal.
Come and love it too… just not on the days that I want to study. You’ll have to fight me for the corner seat.

Unlike the other reviewers on here, I had the WORST library experience EVER by coming to this location. If possible, I would give Negative stars!! I ended up here because the tiny Renton Highlands branch was full. I only needed to use the computer for less than 10 minutes to just print out 2 pages!
Before I even walk in, there are people outside standing outside wanting signatures for a petition to not close down the branch. Now I understand why!
I walk in and stand in line because I tried to book a computer online. Once I walk up, I explain to the lady behind the counter that I tried to reserve a spot and didn’t know if I should just hop on one and hope that I wasn’t using someone else’s reserved or if I should wait. She rudely told me they we all booked up but I could try to get the computer on the end leaving me feeling like a was wasting her precious time…
I tried to log on, but no luck because it wouldn’t even turn on! Luckily the person sitting next to me logged off and left. So I jumped over and proceeded to try and print the 2 pages. As I go over to the printer, it is blinking that it is out of paper. Like anyone else would have done, I went back to customer service to let someone know.
Big Mistake! She treated me like I was an idiot! Stormed over to the computer I was on and started going through everything to re-​print. I ONCE AGAIN told her that she just needed to put paper in the printer… as the line of people was forming by the printer since multiple people were waiting for the same thing.
FINALLY, she re-​fills the paper and WA-​LAH!, it works! But at this point someone in front of me was printing 29 pages and I had to wait another 10 minutes just to get mine.
All in all, this trip left me with a sour taste in my mouth and very grumpy :(
Needless to say, my boyfriend had bought me a super nice wireless printer so I won’t have to come back again!

I’ve been to the Renton Library several times over the past few days of our trip to Renton. Having not been to a library in probably 5+ years, I didn’t know what to expect and if they’d even help me, since I don’t have a library card there. I was shocked at what a nice group of people they have working there, helping the constituents of King County.
The main reason we stopped by was to research our family, that’s from Renton. We went through old 1960’s newspapers and were aided in making the machine with the real film work by a nice woman at the reference desk. We eventually found what we were looking for, and were allowed to make some complimentary copies because the printer connected to the machine was not working properly.
The next day I came back and was aided by a nice guy at the reference desk, trying to find a street that the name had changed. We got an old map from that time, and then matched it up to the map and found where it was. We were able to find the house our grandfather built and where our dad lived as a kid. Awesome!
It was great to use their resources to do some family roots digging. Thoroughly impressed, support your local library!
BTW:
This library sits on TOP of a river. How many library’s can say that?

Great story time for tots, love the kids librarian. And who doesn’t love a library that sits above a river. We love stopping to watch the water on our way in and out.
Easy to reserve and pick up books. They also now have an automatic return that scans your books for you that’s available outside.
Pretty nifty. I love libraries.

The staff is nice. I love this place. Tax dollars at work. So much knowledge. The library just works. I got rid of cable. Read. It’s in a book, just take a look, a reading rain… what? I need to sleep. Sheesh!

I recently moved back to the area and took my son to get his library card. I hadn’t been to this library in years and it seems like there have been some changes and upgrades. It used to feel like going through airport security as a kid because of how the desk used to block the main entrance and how it felt like you had to walk through a metal detector to check out books. I will always enjoy this library because of its architecture (how it’s built over the Cedar River) and for the childhood memories. It’s great that they are open on Sundays and are a part of the King County Library system and not just the Renton Library anymore.

I came looking for a book that I couldn’t find at the libraries near me. They had it listed as being at this one, but the librarian who helped me also couldn’t find it. It was probably in shelving limbo (which, speaking as a former library worker, does happen often), so she looked it up in nearby branches. Instead of a hold, I asked to have them put it aside for me to pick up. She quickly found a branch, drew me a map with an address and phone number, then got me on my way.
It was such a cozy library with helpful people that seem to genuinely care about their patrons.

The Renton Library «system» is small — just this the main branch and the Highlands branch. Both have very limited hours — but make up for this inconvenience in other ways.
. Easy to use and fast Internet — I’m often the only person on the wifi network — making my searches easy and speedy!
. I love the Downtown location. It is the only library (when it was built and maybe still) that is built over a river. Sitting at a large table by the windows and watching the river roll away underneath the library is very cool and very pretty.
. The staff are always friendly and helpful. They go out of their way to answer my questions. Because the library doesn’t house lots of books they have great inter-​library loan programs and have always been able to hook me up quickly.
I won’t be sad when/​if the library system gets handed over to King County — truly a gem of a system.

Great library in many ways.
Great setting spanning the Cedar River adjacent Liberty Park and along the Cedar River Trail (bike it from Lake Washington to Maple Valley/​Black Diamond).
Conveniently situated not far from bus lines and a bit of a walk from the Downtown Renton Transit Center. Plenty of free parking available.
The adjacent park has baseball/​softball fields, a skate park, basketball court, and tennis courts. There’s a play area too for kids — swings, slides, etc. Picnic tables are nearby too. Usually not as crowded as Coulon during the summer, with the exception of special events like the free evening summer movies and the Renton River Days week.
That’s all about stuff external to the library itself, fringe benefits of sorts. Now on to the library…
Big kids’ book area for little ones and older kids. There is a children’s storytime offered a couple times in the week, I believe it’s Monday nights and Wednesday mornings (?), and the children’s librarian is very entertaining and engages the kids really well. Each storytime has a theme — slugs, winter time, ladybugs, etc. There’s a pet guinea pig too.
It seems they get in new books quite often and a lot of the topics are quite contemporary — online investing, elder care, retirement planning — but also some fun stuff too, like foods and wine. I generally stick to non-​fiction, but the fiction selection appears to be pretty good too. Note: I generally go to this library, so I must admit, I don’t have a way to compare to others, but the selection seems to be pretty good.
There is internet access available, though I haven’t used it since I usually get on at home. It may also have wi-​fi for free there too.
They also have a multimedia collection that’s been steadily growing — this includes CDs (mostly classical, jazz, showtunes, and 1930s-​1980s compilations), VHS (sometimes I got messed up tapes when I borrowed these), and DVDs. There’s also a special kids’ multimedia selection in the kids’ portion of the library.
The computers used to search the library holdings are pretty easy to figure out. The best part for me is being able to log-​on at home and get books reserved and also get e-​mail reminders sent when items are coming due. I think you can also renew a checked-​out item from home one time.
Staff is generally helpful and approachable. Many have been there for some time, so I figure they must enjoy what they do and also are quite knowledgeable about the library’s holdings.
The only negatives, which I do not think are special to this library, are the occasional sketchy people who can be found camping out in the far corners of the building, and the other being the library’s limited weekend hours. I think the library shuts down around 5 or 6 on Saturdays and is closed all-​day Sunday. Occasionally, the weekends are the only time I would have to run down here.