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I love the Burton Barr Central Library. When I entered I saw One of the best!elevators or walking up the stairs. lots of water moving. Wow! This is huge: they have lots of books, magazines and movies. There is a beautiful place in this library. Also we can have a beautiful view. Wow!…
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Date of experience: March 2020
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Redone as of fall 2019 (?) due to a flood. So many books - there should be something for everyone. Books, DVDs, etc., available to check out w/card.
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Date of experience: June 2020
2 Helpful votes
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My husband took a position at nearby St Joseph’s several months ago and we were in Phoenix for a visit. I could not believe he had not visited the library that is located within walking distance from his apartment. I am the reader in the family and was already missing my library back home. We were here for Spring Break, but became stranded out of fear of travel during Covid-19. I needed books! So we struck out on a rainy day. We had several of these at the beginning of our stay. The library was a welcome haven. The first person I encountered at a desk to the right of the entrance off N Central was not super friendly. I had already called in advance and inquired about obtaining a card. She actually asked “what are you going to use it for?” But then she directed me to the appropriate desk just past the glass elevators. There I received a much friendlier welcome. I was issued a card, after explaining my situation and providing my husband’s address. I was able to check out 3 books and the lady at check out was very, very nice. I told her we were visiting and she then recommended we get Culture Passes for the Desert Botanical Garden. This was a great perk. The gardens are beautiful, but can be pricey. This provided us with two free entries. She also gave us tips on other places to visit. Very helpful. Corona was just getting started and the check out desk apologized because they had just been told to start wearing gloves and wipe down their desk. So grateful that I was able to check out some books before the library closed temporarily. The architecture of this library building is really something to see. If you get a chance to visit, take the elevators up and check out the views. I was interested in books on American Indians if the Southwest, having recently visited the fabulous Heard Museum. A librarian told me about the the Arizona Room which “offers a research collection about the heritage, lifestyle and geography of the desert Southwest from prehistoric times to the present.” I was more interested in books I could check out, so she kindly showed me a section of books on the subject. The only downfall, if you can call it that, is that the library and the surrounding area seems to be a hub for Phoenix’s homeless. I am from the Houston area and our downtown has similar issues, but Phoenix has been a real eye opener. Homeless are gathered at the building entry and up and down N Central Ave. The entrance seems to provide shelter. The library is on the main avenue that has a light rail service. So they seem to congregate here, along the light rail and particularly under an overpass just past the library. I am very grateful for the library and the wonderful service they provide.…
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Date of experience: March 2020
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I use the library for expensive professional journals that I only use on occasionally. These journals cost up to thousands of dollars per year to subscribe to.
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Date of experience: February 2020
1 Helpful vote
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very nice big library but lots of loud drunks in the building Make sure you are aware of your surroundings
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Date of experience: January 2020
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