Free Library of Philadelphia - Greater Olney Branch

My neighborhood library seems to be always closed they offer two days of service I'm always inconvenienced to travel outside of my neighborhood to utilize any kind of services a library may have. EVEN before covid this location is always closed for one reason or another its absurd but I believe by design just close it down be it's useless ppl who WORK aren't available Tuesday morning for 4 hours!!

This is one of the nicest library in Philadelphia. Why, I am glad you asked? 1 the employees are polite, kind, humbly , and always ready to help. I am a college student and I need to go there some times. I am comfortable and received all the help I need when I have question. I can finish work, study, and receive help when needed. The staff is the best staff of the many Libraries that I have visit in Philadelphia. I am not saying all are bad, but, I look forward to going to this library! They will order you a book and call you when it is ready. They will also, go out their way to help you as much as possible.WOW! 5-Star!

I've had a few incidents here already over a few months. Once I went in with my daughter and had to take a test for my job online. It was a pretty quick one so I used the express computer. There was one man on my left and one in the right and then an empty seat next to the man on the left of me and a female next to that one. I had my daughter sit in the empty seat with her book so I wouldn't be an inconvenience if I sat her next to me with little space and I know she moves a lot she's 3 years old. She was singing and apparently it bothered the gentleman on my left he had said " do you mind " and I apologized. Almost done with my test she had got out the chair to tell me something and she slightly kicked him while getting down and he yelled "control that monster!, she should be on a leash!" Of course I understand why he was upset but no reason to be disrespectful. I said no she is a a 3 year old child not an animal! Sorry but no need to be nasty! I'll be leaving in two minutes anyway. I told her to get her book so we can leave and she grabbed the back of his chair to get on her chair, as he was staring at us the entire time since my comment to his statement, and he pushed her hand off his chair and she almost fell and I got up and said don't you dare touch my daughter! Have you lost your damn mind and he called the security guard BY NAME obviously they were close and when he came over asking whose child and the man said we have a situation with this child disturbing me and the security guard said control your child miss and I said no she doesn't need to be controlled she hasn't done anything to this man to purposely bother him and he touched her! He said ok here's another chair so she can be by you, and he put the chair behind me and I said you know what, no problem I was just leaving. I pressed print and got my paper for my test score and left. There was another time there were young teens fooling around being loud and no one said anything for about an hour they just ignored it, which is no big deal. until one kid was standing on a chair and this man who worked there physically grabbed him and took him off the chair. Something should have been said before anyway, why get upset then and decide to physically do something. They definitely need workers who can handle a public library in the area that they are in. It can be a difficult job at times but they definitely need a better team and more space and a cleaner environment. Tonight I went in 45 minutes before they closed to print out something real quick and it didn't work. I stood a minute to ask one of the ladies how come it wasn't working she said they close the computers down a half hour before close, I said oh okay, even for the express computer? I just need to print something out my email real quick. She said no they all close at 7:30 and when I looked at my phone it was now 7:28 and I said oh, it isn't 7:30 yet and I got no answer So I just left. Again I understand they want to get out a decent time but 5 minutes would not have hurt while there were still people on the computers as I walked out. There are 2 kids computers and one never works so I can't ever take my daughter, they have a tiny section for her and nothing else to do besides books unlike the other philadelphia libraries that actually have things to entertain them like puzzles or letters and a better section of toddler books. I now have to take the bus to another library if I need to be there for more than 5 minutes meanwhile I live 2 blocks down from this library. It's ridiculous and something needs to be done already. I've never had a bad experience at a public library till this one and it's very shocking, and disappointing.

I'm not overly impressed as some are with this library. While the staff is helpful it seems their hours of operation aren't that great. Most days they open at 10, some days are 12. There have been many times this summer they were closed for air conditioner issues. They only give you a half hour on the computer, which forces me to bring my own laptop so I can actually finish work. They do have summer programs for children and are involved in the community, I'm just not "gaa gaa" over this library. Its a little small and I don't use the bathroom ever, Idk why . I usually come there do what I have to do and get outta there. I just remember going to a library and being able to hang out and get lost in a book. Here you really can't. Its on a busy street, a lot of foot traffic and usually full of children whose parents work on 5th st and dump them there. Its alright.

This library is cool, nice librarian to speak with, clean place & no trouble. Only problem is, dont go in there if you're a black guy that's not about trouble, cuz the security guard rent a cop looks at us to start trouble, like he thinks he can beat a$$.. That brother needs to wake up, for real !

Its an ok library. The Librarian is nice , but sometimes the other staff go a little overboard . For ex. at the Elkins Park Library in Chelthenham you can use the computer for as long as you need to as long as no else has a reservation. If you don't have your card with you, you can provide your card number or the staff will open a reservation for you. At the Olney Branch you only get 30 minutes per day. I live close by so I've ran out of the house a few times and forgotten my wallet. Most librarys can look up your name in the computer or if you remember your card number you can provide it to reserve a computer. The way staff act over the computers at this library, you would think they were Secret Service agents guarding the President.

Because you get to read stuff and know more about it also use the computer to find out any thing like YouTube information about events and were it's at.How to travel places for free events too tell you what time it starts music fairs concerts fun raising like girl skout cookies.

It's a nice place. What stops me from going there is the security guard really. Just like the review from 2 years ago, he always looks mean for no reason and talks about almost everybody that comes into the library.

Most staff are great and helpful. Others are uptight. There isn't any room to separate the kids from the adult. Computer space is limited!

It is very close to my home. Picked up a couple of large print books.