Highlands Regional Library

Marked up from another of libraries. Room to roam, clean and above all Quite. ENJOY!!!

I came to the library at approximately 8:45 PM, while the posted closing time states 9:00 PM. I politely greeted the employee at the desk and asked if I could sign up for a library card. The woman at the desk informed me that if I had come “5–10 minutes earlier,” they could have completed it. I was confused by this response considering the library was still open and it was only 8:45 PM. I’m not sure whether the system shuts down early or if there was another issue, but none of that was explained to me clearly. What added to my confusion was that the employee proceeded to show me the sign-up form, which appeared to be a very simple process involving basic information such as a name, signature, and address. We spent several minutes discussing the process, during which I asked if I was missing something or misunderstanding the situation. She explained that I would need proof of a Duval County address, such as my license or a piece of mail. I informed her that I had my license with me and that my address was listed on it. Despite that, I was told I could simply fill the form out and return another day. At that point, I genuinely did not understand why the process could not be completed while I was already there, before closing time, with the required identification in hand. If I had arrived only a few minutes before closing, I could completely understand the inconvenience. However, arriving at 8:45 PM for a location that closes at 9:00 PM did not seem unreasonable. As someone who also works in customer service and understands the importance of assisting people efficiently and professionally, I left feeling confused and disappointed by the interaction. It seemed like the situation could have easily been resolved during my visit, allowing me to leave with my library card completed that same evening.

I’ve come to this library multiple times with my two-year-old and loved the children’s area—it’s truly adorable. That’s why I was surprised when I was told today, there should be no running in the children's area. For toddlers, running is pretty natural, and I had thought this was a more kid-friendly space. Sadly, this changed my perspective, and I don’t plan on returning.

This is a very open and spacious location. Several meeting rooms and large conference room. The selection of children's books is vast, with some full series available. Plenty of seating and charging stations for extended visits.