Barrie Public Library - Downtown - Barrie, Ontario

Veronica B.

Is a cozy and welcoming space that I keep coming back to, even though I usually visit the Painswick branch more often. The downtown location has a warm, community feel, with friendly staff, great resources, and plenty of seating for reading or working. On the day I took some photos, there was a special activity with a petting zoo—it was such a fun and unexpected surprise! This library really goes above and beyond to engage with families and create a lively atmosphere. Always a nice place to spend time!

Jacob

There are blatant drug deals happening right outside the front doors and even inside the library itself. I've witnessed people separating drugs into baggies at the public tables, loading their pockets, and walking right back outside to sell. All of this happening within a few feet of so-called “Security.”

Security is completely ineffective. They’re more interested in scrolling their phones than monitoring what’s happening around them. There is no deterrence, no intervention, and absolutely no sense of safety.

This is not a safe place for families or children, and it’s shocking that the library allows this to go unchecked. It's disgusting and unacceptable for a public space.

Manil B.

I love visiting the Barrie Library. The front desk team is always so kind and approachable, ready to assist with a smile. It’s a great community space, and their excellent service deserves 5 stars

David W.

The staff are always so friendly and helpful. The library is a good size and offers quite a lot, but the staff are really good at explaining how everything works and how to access everything.

In this digital world, I rarely felt the need to use the library. However, the Barrie Library, and this Downtown location especially, makes me want to spend time there doing things other than being tethered to my phone all the time.

Patrick M.

We renewed our library cards from years ago now that we have a family. The staff are always incredible and the family activities for kids are great for childrens developement and their learning to interact with each other in a safe and friendly environment. Tons of resources available for all ages and interests. Truly an incredible place that is accessible to anyone from the city.

Jamie L. P.

When did the library turn into a community center for large groups of children to play Yelling, throwing things, runnning around, disorganizing shelves +++. As a homeschool mum, I brought my son in for a science study and it was so loud neither of us could focus with the massive amount of children yelling and running around. WORST library experience I've ever had! Whoever is running these groups should be ashamed of how poorly these groups are behaved. Librarys are for learning and a quiet space. Not for tag and gymnasium games. These groups should be given rules and if not followed should be asked to leave!

Tracey

(I raised my review to 5 star because they're super nice and it's a wonderful place, and that they did finally after I left my original review take down the toxic lead based portrait from the kids section that had been within reach of even a toddler, but will leave my original post because of the risk that had been there for children and in the hopes that things like that will never happen again. Thanks for finally (only after I left this review) taking it down, but most of all a thank you for all the important programs you do for kids and the public it is very appreciated and all you kindness to patrons as well).

This makes me sick to my stomach. I reported a concern via email to the library itself well over a year ago asking about the LEAD CONTENT in this stained glass window in the CHILDREN'S SECTION of the Barrie Downtown Library that is still currently hanging well within easy reach for even young toddlers and children.

The CDC states: "Lead exposure occurs when a child comes in contact with lead by touching, swallowing, or breathing in lead or lead dust." (CDC, 2022). They verified it does in fact have LEAD in it and they've been recommended by the Simcoe Muskoka Health unit since well over a year ago to remove it immediately from the reach of young children and patrons as LEAD is a known highly dangerous substance especially for young kids.

As the CDC clearly states: "Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health and cause well-documented adverse effects such as:

Damage to the brain and nervous system
Slowed growth and development
Learning and behavior problems
Hearing and speech problems
This can cause:

Lower IQ
Decreased ability to pay attention
Underperformance in school
There is also evidence that childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm." (CDC, 2022).

According to the Mayo Clinic (2022), "Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal."

The downtown Barrie Library has shockingly still never removed it despite being advised to do so by the Health unit directly via phone well over a year ago, and despite the glass window hanging on hooks where it could very easily be removed from its present location. WHY is this health HAZARD to young children not being immediately removed from children's reach!? It's so low that a child could even put their mouth on it which would be incredibly dangerous for that child! As a mother myself of young children I'm extremely disappointed with the library's complete lack of care and concern for the health and safety of young vulnerable children that enter it's community space and to be so willing to casually and recklessly endanger children's lives and health for no other purpose than that the window esthetically looks nice!

Please take this dangerous decorative stained glass window down and put it elsewhere well out of patrons reach! And as instructed by the local Health unit please follow their scientific recommendations to keep it clean and inspected frequently for signs of rusting continually once placed in it's new location. As recommended by the Poison Control Centre, and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit if it starts rusting at any point as this dust would be highly dangerous for patrons and especially young children to inhale, it should then be taken down and disposed of safely, permanently and immediately at that time. I would also like to see a public apology from the Barrie Downtown Library for it's callous endangerment of young children's lives and health. I would also like to see the Simcoe Muskoka Health unit be held accountable for not properly enforcing this important issue at the time it was initially notified of this dangerous hazard of young children well over a year ago.

Nikks

Lots of homeless people which ruins the environment. They play their cellphones on speaker mode and some of talk aloud and play porn in cellphones. Not suitable for students definitely.