This Library is a Joke--enough said

With the major exception of the Sangamon Valley collection (regional archives), Lincoln Library (The Public Library of Springfield) (not to be confused and not affiliated with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum) and its branches are a real joke of a library for a city the size of Springfield. The main branch building is an example of very tacky '70s architecture (built in 1977). It is run by the city of Springfield, not by a public library district, so it is an extension of city bureaucracy and is apparently viewed as unimportant by city government. The homeless regularly hang out at the library throughout the day, plus it has apparently become a free babysitting service (in some parents' minds) for some children (I have seen many children running around unsupervised there, and the staff and library security appear to do little about it). In fact, I think it seems like the children and homeless may be getting preferential treatment when it comes to public computer usage, loitering, etc., than the taxpayers of Springfield. The staff seems like they talk down to you. Their website appears reminiscent of something from the mid-90s. They have not changed their logo and letterhead since the early 80s. A disgrace to Lincoln's legacy, especially considering the fact that Lincoln's Home neighborhood is across the street, as well as the close proximity of the world-class Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. In fact, some people confuse the presidential library with the public library. Unless doing city of Springfield or local history research in the Sangamon Valley Collection, or if you needed to do research downtown on a Sunday afternoon during the school year, I would not recommend visiting the public Lincoln Library. I highly recommend visiting the ALPL, the Illinois State Library, the Illinois State Archives, and the library at the U
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