While my daughter was at the Straz Center in the YAGP competition, I crossed to visit the library. The facilities are wonderful, but something is not working there because the feeling there is of a lonely place. Yes, the homeless were in several areas, and have monopoly of the space and may that is why patrons only come to pick up books...”If people feel they are a minority in a place, they tend to avoid those places, so they do not feel like outsiders. However, the downtown library in Chicago that has a big homeless population has a completely different feel. The library is filled with teens and children and tourists. I think the Downtown Tampa Library needs to do something to change the status quo because a library that is not being used is a very sad place...and what make the situation worse is that the homeless are not using the facilities to read, or watch movies, or listen to books on tapes. Maybe there is a need to create activities (not patronizing) activities for that population, for they are there waiting the time to pass. The librarians pretend that they are not there (the homeless), the patrons do not come, and the children section has only one child and a mom....all those resources paid by tax payers not being used...that is an opportunity lost...I do not think any of the parents of the children that attend Patel Conservatory use the facilities either..what a pity... Another good example to copy is the Main Library in Memphis Tennessee, which is also full of teens, children, patrons, and homeless.

I could not believe how wonderful the Germany Library was! I took my five year old to see a play that the library presented, for free! Then we decided to explore. There are so many things to do there. There's a recording studio, many sewing machines to use, games to play and so much more. We spent quite a bit of time exploring. If you live in Hillsborough County, this library is worth a visit! Note:. This library does not have parking. You have to park in the William F. Poe parking garage and enter the library through a glass tunnel that crosses over the street. The tunnel is on the 2nd floor.

We had some time before we were supposed to go to the airport... And they told us we could not come in with our suitcase. They didn't want to look inside to make sure it's safe... They just didn't want us there. The place was mostly empty yet somehow we would have been a burden to them. I saw a guy walk in with 3 backpacks so clearly they don't care if you bring in bags of stuff - it wasn't like we had a lot of luggage... Just one suitcase. So they clearly just don't like travelers. I also saw a rat (the animal) excit the building and there was a ton of rat droppings around the entrance... So they allow rats but not travelers. Not a welcoming or nice place.

The library space is open and always well maintained. The only issue is the first floor men's restroom, which has been closed for at least two weeks. Not sure what is going on.

While most librarians are friendly, there is one large white woman who treats everyone with extreme hostility. That is not a kind way to treat people, whether it is effective or not. Aura

Great library; friendly and helpful staff. They have used book store inside

Good magazine and DVD collection, otherwise surprisingly spare for a central library.

•topic #dialogue in #sharing my #experiences #expression I am very #grateful to be able to #study that comes along with an local #community environment catering unto the #public here in #tampa #florida. The second picture is my direct #family I had took that picture before I was shifting into getting ready to study for my RBT 40 hour course. In just being know we where all able to #relax & have fun while still complying to the guideline rules of the #library again is 100% amazing 😍🤩. So if you need an #idea about an collective gathering family place to just bring either our immediate family & even #business meeting's your local library is an good #reference & it's exactly the keyword "#free"!. You can't go wrong with that.

A fantastic library! So spacious, lots of places to sit down, story times for the kids, and lots of interest books if course!

This is the main library headquarters for the Hillsborough County Library System of which Tampa is the seat. I have been coming here since my early teens and I have always enjoyed the quiet space this facility affords. The architecture is modern in appearance but the interior space is well lit and maintained. This is an excellent library to use here in the city center.

Wide selection of books. There is an upstairs with large spaces to study. There's a study room and white boards to work on.

Honestly, I can't say enough how cool the kids library is here. You can check out all kinds of science related items, from botany to biology, astronomy and more! There are a ton of kids books and a big open space for the kids to play. It has an "airplane" to play in, a puzzle table, etc. Especially great for home-learning kids

Tampa's main library branch has computer and wifi access and a Maker room with a 3-D printer. Huge bound periodical section. Many types of seating many with plug in outlets to recharge.

$5.00 to go to library?? First time, choose because of the hours, amd was a lot further away, parked in three hr. limit. Again, first time, and I was not going to drive around and further away from entrance. No available, if any, handicap stalls, don't remember. Helpful to post in obvious site on web page.

Very nice library. Pleasant and helpful librarians, clean facilities, free to use public computers with internet service.

Nice,quiet, clean. There allow people with no mask to enter the library, I don't like that. Overall, good experience

Staff is fabulous, decent selection, cute bookstore. Definitely a return visit in the future.

Incompetent employees who waste precious time. I would never go back to this library. I waited 15 minutes to get a pass since my information was not working and was never seen. I had to leave. Unprofessional.

A great place to hang out as there are tons of different places to sit. As always I love a good public library!

Quiet and clean public library.

It was a very warm day when my husband and I walked on the Riverwalk. It was our last day in Tampa and our plane wasn't departing until 6:45 pm. We stopped here to use the bathroom and to get a cold drink as we sat in the air-conditioning for awhile. Very friendly people all around.

The library is fine, I would have expected more Book variety. I went to the little bookshop they have downstairs but no one was there to sell me a book.... I was disappointed..

Could have more comfortable seating but it would probably have been claimed by the homeless any way

Great library for study, and well stocked for kids, wrapped in a wonderful example of mid century architecture. Lots of history here.

He was quiet