Salt Lake City Public Library
Salt Lake City Public Library
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.5
488 reviews
Excellent
342
Very good
112
Average
21
Poor
6
Terrible
7
Jaennifer
Honolulu, HI4 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
The building looks enormous and nicely done for a public library. There are vendors on the first floor selling gifts, books, plants and food. The garden rooftop overlooking the city and picturesque, though the plants need more watering. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience for me.
Written 12 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MstresJ
Milford, MI459 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
The library is currently closed! They say it’s due to staffing shortages. They hope to open on February 3rd according to the sign on the door. Surprisingly their website still shows them being open! I’m very frustrated that I had to get to the front door to find out they are closed.
Written 22 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yvonne A
Las Vegas, NV359 contributions
July 2022 • Solo
One the the most gorgeous contemporary libraries I have ever been to! Has community shops and eateries on bottom level which generally open at 12.
Well.worth the visit - has art, intersting rooftop garden which is work In Progress. Lots to.love if into architecture, books, libraries, or ideas for a classroom.
Parking free for 2 hours, if you can locate it. I could not but was street bustling with Pioneer Parade set up.
Well.worth the visit - has art, intersting rooftop garden which is work In Progress. Lots to.love if into architecture, books, libraries, or ideas for a classroom.
Parking free for 2 hours, if you can locate it. I could not but was street bustling with Pioneer Parade set up.
Written 26 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Home_and_Dry_PSB
San Francisco, CA35 contributions
This really is a must see if you are visiting SLC. Who would have guessed it would be a highlight? I found it much more interesting than Temple Square or its surrounding "museums".
The library is only a few years old and gorgeous. It has a modern design that includes a garden roof that allows you to hike among various flora and then descend down about 7 stories along the spine of the building (really more like a long tail) until you have reached the large plaza below.
There were plenty of computers to get on the net for visitors, even on a busy Sunday. There were *gorgeious* views of the mountains from many vantage points. There were quiet areas to read/study and also a cafe, from which you were allowed to bring your Mocha around to your study area. There are nooks with fireplaces *stacked* on each other which i bet is great during the winter. If i'm ever in SLC again, i'm definitely returning to this gem.
The library is only a few years old and gorgeous. It has a modern design that includes a garden roof that allows you to hike among various flora and then descend down about 7 stories along the spine of the building (really more like a long tail) until you have reached the large plaza below.
There were plenty of computers to get on the net for visitors, even on a busy Sunday. There were *gorgeious* views of the mountains from many vantage points. There were quiet areas to read/study and also a cafe, from which you were allowed to bring your Mocha around to your study area. There are nooks with fireplaces *stacked* on each other which i bet is great during the winter. If i'm ever in SLC again, i'm definitely returning to this gem.
Written 19 September 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BillyTwoStones
Boise34 contributions
I planned for this site to by a quick stop, but it ended up being so much more. The architecture is gorgeous and surprising and, in an odd way, made learning seem more inspirational. Inside are various shops by locals, glass elavators and window views of the city. The roof is accessible and has a garden with more great views of the city. Highly recommended for either a quick walk around or for a more leisurely experience.
Written 5 April 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pcguy74
Appleton, WI103 contributions
Little shops in the library, little shops outside the library...great modern architecture and a beautiful place to relax. Grab a coffee at the cafe in the main level and then head up to relax by the fireplace or a study area and take in the natural light and mountain views in the distance. This is a great place to relax if you are visiting downtown. The light rail stop is really close too so it should be easy for anyone to get to. I agree with the previous reviewer that this is better than some of the other attractions in downtown SLC.
Written 9 March 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn D
Arlington, MA332 contributions
July 2019 • Couples
The Salt Lake City Public Library is a truly impressive building. My husband and I especially enjoyed seeing the beautiful fountain outside and checking out the delightful shop with literary-themed gifts. However, having heard so much about the views from the fifth floor rooftop terrace, we were very disappointed when the terrace turned out to be closed. On the day we visited, there had been light rain in the morning, but it was clear by the time we arrived. However, the librarians explained to us that they are typically required to keep the terrace closed all day if there has been any rain at all. I absolutely understand that the library has to take appropriate safety precautions, but we wished we had been aware of this policy before making a special trip over. So if you're planning to visit the terrace, be sure there's no rain in the forecast!
Written 27 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sage Scott, the Everyday Wanderer
Kansas City, MO402 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Take 30 minutes and visit the Salt Lake City Public Library! I promise you won't be disappointed! This masterpiece designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie includes a six-story walkable wall, offers panoramic views of Salt Lake City, and much more.
For more details, read my 5 Reasons You Need to Visit the Salt Lake City Public Library article (link to site in profile)
For more details, read my 5 Reasons You Need to Visit the Salt Lake City Public Library article (link to site in profile)
Written 4 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taxpract
New York City, NY69 contributions
Sept 2017 • Business
My company had the occasion to hold an event right outside the Salt Lake City Public Library. During the week we were there we had the opportunity to use the facility and wow was I surprised to see how engaging and useful and beautiful a library could be. Its building is a modern structure that reminds one of a large wave from the outside. Inside it is an inviting and powerful homage to information, novels, childlike wonder and tough research. In a world that is constantly Googled, this library beckons you to sit down and grab real pages and remember if you can what it was like before the internet. That being said, the library boasts at least 100 computers for those who need a fast reference point or to send a quick email or post a resume for a job. Remember the library? This will go beyond your wildest memories.
Written 2 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AeneasAtSea
Salt Lake City, UT552 contributions
July 2015 • Family
The Salt Lake City Public Library is an architectural landmark and a great library--depending on your conception of what one should be. This one is a mix of landmark, library, mini-mall, and homeless shelter. For safety's sake, I'll start with the latter.
Liberal library policies combined with fireplaces on every floor mean that especially during late hours and the winter season the library is a haven for the homeless. So expect to share your visit with less than savory characters, which despite library assurances to the contrary, can be a problem. Here's one example: during a visit I made with my kids we walked into one of the bathrooms to find a totally naked homeless man bathing himself in front of the sink. Not a situation any responsible adult (excepting library administrators, apparently) would want a child to encounter.
Mini-mall. The Library Square and main floor area boast a coffee/juice shop, a cafe, a library gift shop, a florist, an artist co-op, a community writing center, and a radio station. Not bad for a library, right? Planners wanted this to be a community center as much as a conventional library, and they succeeded.
The library itself is pretty impressive. A great collection of books for all ages and interests, and a noteably large collection of graphic novels. The structure is the real attraction, however. A crescent-shaped outer wall rising four floors to a rooftop garden, a south-facing "lens" wall which heats the interior, lots of glass for daylight illumination, and a beautiful park make this an architectural destination and a beautiful place to visit.
The library has had its share of controversies, mini-scandals, and 4 suicides from the top floors, so its history is almost as interesting as the structure itself.
Liberal library policies combined with fireplaces on every floor mean that especially during late hours and the winter season the library is a haven for the homeless. So expect to share your visit with less than savory characters, which despite library assurances to the contrary, can be a problem. Here's one example: during a visit I made with my kids we walked into one of the bathrooms to find a totally naked homeless man bathing himself in front of the sink. Not a situation any responsible adult (excepting library administrators, apparently) would want a child to encounter.
Mini-mall. The Library Square and main floor area boast a coffee/juice shop, a cafe, a library gift shop, a florist, an artist co-op, a community writing center, and a radio station. Not bad for a library, right? Planners wanted this to be a community center as much as a conventional library, and they succeeded.
The library itself is pretty impressive. A great collection of books for all ages and interests, and a noteably large collection of graphic novels. The structure is the real attraction, however. A crescent-shaped outer wall rising four floors to a rooftop garden, a south-facing "lens" wall which heats the interior, lots of glass for daylight illumination, and a beautiful park make this an architectural destination and a beautiful place to visit.
The library has had its share of controversies, mini-scandals, and 4 suicides from the top floors, so its history is almost as interesting as the structure itself.
Written 19 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sherri W
Conroe, Texas
Are patrons allowed to use a computer and print things? Is how much per copy
Written 29 July 2017
Yes. The SLC library has free computers for use on the third floor. Copies are available, but I am not sure of the price per copy.
Written 30 July 2017
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