Billings Public Library | Yellowstone County, MT

Having a little one is so much fun, especially when there's a great place like the library. Billings Library is like none that I've been to. There's tons of great little play areas and sensory play for young kids. They also have Legos and a train table. The way they set up the little kids area is so great! All the baby books are under a giant moon shape beach that is very comfy, and they put the books in boxes so you can take them out and read and put them back. The librarian in the children's area is so kind and very helpful. This was a great experience, and I will be making this a regular spot that we go to throughout the week.

Posted on: May 13, 2023

I really wanted to love this library, but every time I bring my kids to the children's area, I end up feeling frustrated. I completely understand having rules, but the way they are enforced feels unwelcoming to families. First, kids aren’t allowed to have a small snack in the same area they play, which is tough when you're spending time there with little ones. Second, if they so much as run for a moment (which, let’s be honest, is normal for kids), I’m immediately told to stop them. I appreciate structure, but a children’s area should be a space where kids can be kids without constant reprimands. Sadly, this doesn’t feel like a very family-friendly environment.

Posted on: March 03, 2025

I'm a Montana resident (3rd gen) and when I arrived was offered a temporary card because I was staying at the Mission. The staff would follow me around and nitpick rules so I stopped going. I am now a student at MSUB and was told my ID wasn't sufficient proof of address, to bring mail or a lease agreement. The website says none of this, so I just wanted to help someone else avoid the trouble. Anime section is decent, stay out of the kids area of you are an adult without them there tho (literacy whom) It's pretty clean and quiet, food/drink not allowed but they have a cafe (haven't tried it) and water fountains with bottle refill stations. Good luck!

Posted on: May 17, 2025

everybody working there is beyond great: THANK YOU so much. if djt gets the fascism he wants we'll all lose libraries and every other bit of this country and democracy. Congress, DO SOMETHING. NOW.

Posted on: March 19, 2025

Do to the weather there is really nowhere else to take your children without spending money we went to the library about 7:00pm, I knew I had an hour went straight to the kid area. My boys got on the computers. I sat down and read a book to my toddler. The young librarian mentioned they close at 8pm. I told her I knew that, she said I’ve never seen you before, so I’m just letting you know. I said I don’t know you either and lived in Billings my whole life and I do come to the library once in a while with my children however, there is always someone different sitting in that chair. And the short, chubby, redheaded, security guard not hard to miss, kept coming to the play area, watching me and my boys first couple of times I smiled and waved the third time it was starting to get uncomfortable like we were doing something we weren’t supposed to almost like hovering over us, my boys were on the computer and I was reading a book to my toddler, 7:55pm I walked over to get my boys bc it was almost time to leave. The security guard came looked at me and said it’s 5 to 8. It’s time to start wrapping it up. I looked at him and said what do you think I am doing he said we close at 8:00pm. I said “I know that” he said I just want you to understand that we are closing and I said “you need to understand that I understand you guys close at 8 I’m getting my children together because the library is closing and we’re leaving, there was another child in the kid area looking for books may mind you he was a white child. I didn’t see the security guard harassing him. The security guard was following us toward the door, and there was a family a white family coming down the stairs, nobody was harassing them even that same security guard didn’t say anything to them , I asked the security guard why aren’t you harassing them and letting them know as well?? HE Said that would be harassment. SMH I told him to stop following me and my children because that was also harassment. I never felt so discriminated against like that ever until that night…

Posted on: January 09, 2025