Thomas Crane Public Library, Massachusetts, United States

4Maurene_K 5:00 PM Nov 23, 2018

RECENTLY-RENOVATED HISTORIC LIBRARY BUILDING
The Thomas Crane Library is an impressive historic landmark in the downtown area of Quincy. The large building was designed and built in 1881 by Henry Hobson Richardson, the renowned architect who also designed Boston's famous Trinity Church. The library had been renovated several months before our visit. On my visit with a friend who lives in Quincy, we toured the whole building to check out the new additions and remodeling results. Right near the entrance on the ground floor called G1 was Billy's Café just off the atrium. It’s open Monday to Saturday and serves sandwiches, salads, hot and cold beverages, snacks, candy, and ice cream. Across the atrium was the Children's Room which featured a lounge area with easy chairs for adults and children as well as a computer area in amongst sections for the books. G2 was the First Floor where the main seating area, room with fiction books for adults and teens, and audio/visual area with audio books, CD’s, and movies were located. G3 which was the second floor held newspapers, travel, reference, history, law, and general nonfiction books as well as a Large Print Books section, an art exhibit, public computers, and photocopiers. There was even a self-service public fax machine that took credit and debit cards or a prepaid fax card purchased from the library. We were impressed with all the resources and services offered there as well as the remodeling. We thought that they did a great job at modernizing the interior of the building. We rate Thomas Crane Library at 4.75. We plan to go back to have lunch at Billy’s Café. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.

5Tamara B 5:00 PM Apr 8, 2018

Get your zen on!
This is a beautiful old building and you can almost feel the history. The library by itself is good with a great selection and helpful staff & they host a lot of musical performances. I personally love the architecture in the Richardson Reading Room w/the floor to ceiling wood and stained glass. I love to have down time and I pull a pack of periodicals and read to my hearts content. They have a book buying room around to one side of the building and there's thousands of books to purchase and it's for a good cause. Todays parents raising children are missing out if they don't take advantage of this free hidden gem. Let your kids-if old enough- hang in the kids area doing activities, using the computer or reading and you have your quiet time reading periodicals. My kids always loved libraries and the independence it allowed as they became older. They would have to check in w/me periodically & I'd get that quiet time that all parents strive for if only for half an hour. We need libraries and they're sometimes a missed opportunity.