St Louis Public Library

Wow, this library is a blast from the past. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not.
The Machacek branch of the St. Louis Public Library system is tucked away off Watson between Hampton and Chippewa. It’s easy to miss, unless you notice the giant stone archway at the east-​facing corner. But even then, you don’t intuitively know where to enter, as the building is sort of hidden beneath what may be tennis courts (I haven’t looked closely, so I’m not sure). It’s a really neat example of multi-​use design, but it’s a little confusing. Go to the lower parking lot and enter through the door there.
When I first walked in, my eyes and nose started comparing the place to the library back in the tiny town where I grew up. Total nostalgiaville. As far as I can tell (I haven’t explored the whole thing yet), the library is only one floor — a very large room with old-​school shelves of books dividing it up. This is a concrete and corkboard tribute to the ‘70s. I want to ask the librarians if I can use their microfiche machine.
There’s a bank of public computers as soon as you walk in. I haven’t used them, but I assume they work the same as they do in the other SLPL locations. There were more older folks here than in other branches. For that matter, I’ve been here for three hours, and other than two teenagers (Shouldn’t they be in school?), I’m the youngest patron out of the eight or so visitors. That said, it’s very quiet, and I’ve been able to concentrate more here than at other branches.
This isn’t one of the posh libraries where you can schlumph into a cushiony seat and read for hours and hours comfortably. The chairs are straight out of the waiting room for a college dean’s office, and the tables are a bit too low. Outlets are retrofitted into a few of the tables, but not all tables have them. Wifi works better here than at the Grand location (my usual branch, where wifi gets clogged easily and often).
Look behind the service desk — there are rows of stuffed animals. I find it a little creepy, but it’s interesting and breaks up the beige monotony of the room. Perhaps the critters have been forgotten by patrons of years’ past.
There’s a giant poster of Antonio Banderas staring at me as I write this.