The Kansas City Public Library: Central Library

Beautiful library filled with stunning art and sculptures throughout. It’s a fantastic place to study, and the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. I even received a library card as a visitor, which was perfect because it allowed me to work comfortably on the 5th floor. The only downside I noticed was the presence of many homeless individuals, though I understand they are just in need of a warm place, and I respect that. Overall, I highly recommend this library for anyone looking for a serene study environment!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can’t say enough about the amazing staff at the Kansas City Public Library, especially James and Sawyer. I recently found myself in a very desperate situation after my vehicle tag was stolen. To prevent further issues, I was creating a temporary tag with my police case number and department information to stop people from reporting my vehicle for not displaying a tag. When I visited the library, I explained my predicament to Sawyer on the third floor. She immediately understood the urgency of my situation and provided me with book repair tape—exactly what I needed to laminate my homemade license plate. Sawyer was professional, resourceful, and compassionate, even as she juggled assisting other patrons. I’ve also had the pleasure of interacting with James, whose professionalism and respectfulness consistently stand out. It’s clear that both James and Sawyer are skilled at managing diverse personalities with grace and emotional intelligence, which is something I truly appreciate as someone with a background in psychology and sociology. The library staff truly went above and beyond to help me in a stressful time, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. I highly recommend this library for their exceptional service and caring staff!

Coolest library I have ever been in. If you decide to play yourself in chess on the roof remember to reset the board. Time well spent love love loved it from the parking garage bookshelf to the vault in the basement.

The library was a bank previously, so architecture and history are the main attractions. The book collection is quite old, the unique quiet environment made me want to sit and read. There is a heavy vault at lower level as a proof this used to be a bank:) Mr Nelson did many good things with his wealth, this is one of them, as well as well known Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Parking nearby can be challenging.

This library is Massive with lots of places to sit and read. We stopped in for the midday meditation and it was honestly incredible. Everyone was extremely friendly and the experience was incredible. The view from the balcony was very nice. There were lots of historic and art culture things spread throughout. This place is almost halfway a museum

Located in the old First National Bank which means loads of interesting historical architecture. The library is pretty large with a bunch of areas dedicated for quiet zones and reading. The building also has a decent amount of art in it which means that the building is sort of a combination of a library and an art museum.

On the library's ground floor is The Nook, which is a quaint little coffee place, somewhat secluded from everything! The creative refreshments are great: such as croissants, sweets, latte, etc. Free WiFi. Try it instead of the big corporate coffee place!

This library has three floors with plenty of space to find a quiet area. The computers are all up modern and operate fast. A grand entrance complements the impressive architecture of this repurposed bank.