Originally Posted by docbud
So, I'm guessing the general consensus is that the GL is fine to build if you are playing for fun and not going for achievements or "look at how wonderful I am" games. Basically a player who just wants to play a game and have fun. After all--it is just a game.
But if a serious player who wants to improve and play at the highest level, then he/she should not build it.
There is a difference between casual players who play for fun and relaxation, those who do that, but also want to go to a higher level, and the hard-core serious players.
I look at it that way because of the dart league I was in years ago. I was only Division D (the league was A-H). Anyway, we D players had no problems drinking and joking around. But the A players (the elite) would throw a fit if you even sneezed or coughed. And drank water or soda. They were way too serious.
Is that about right?
No absolutely not, there is no reason to delay founding more cities, building a bunch of workers and an army, and having more fun with the game just to build a Big Dumb Library.
The ONLY time to build this thing is when you've done all of that first. On Higher difficulties, the AI will finish the great library when you are finishing those and the wonderful caravan, which on Deity provides 4-5 standard speed science per turn or more and kills the great library.
On King and below, you can get away with starting the great library after finishing your good empire checklist and chopping down all the forests to finish it prior to turn 60 (Standard speed, standard map) when the AI's usually get it. Sometimes you still lose, but when you have 3-4 cities that are building composite bows or spears or chariots or other cool things and are out killing barbarians instead of watching them steal your workers the game gets a little more fun. And actually getting into epic battles with the AI or your friends makes the game A LOT more fun. This can't be done when all of that is sacrificed for a library, that is why its avoided on King and above and built in 10-15 standard speed turns on prince and below (If you time it right, you can build 3 libraries in your expos and the great library AT THE SAME EXACT TIME on prince. By micro-managing the tiles each citizen works, you can sync the production cycles so all of the cities build their libraries at the same time and you can start the NC the same turn you bulb philosophy, and thus focus more on filling out the entire tech tree instead of putting 15-20 turns of standard speed research into philosophy.
Plus, why would you not want to finish the game as quick as possible? Building the great library before workers, settlers, and armies is like throwing the dart backwards. You need the first 50 turns to scout, settle, and build the army. Maybe you can get away with doing it in 40, then the great library can be rushed. Or the TOA, which is more powerful later on when its time to grow the cities from 20-40 population for the ending. 10% growth helps when you have that kind of barrier to cross (Which makes capturing the thing even better).
E-L33T players getting pompous is no excuse for doing things backwards. I am no El33t, I have 1 deity win I can actually remember but never lose this game on emperor and below. The 1 Deity win though came from building an army, cities, and workers first (Including capturing them from the AI, which is ten million times better than capturing them from city-states.)
That is my point though, the great library should not be built until you have surveyed your land and your enemies and have decided how many cities, workers, and troops you need to set the foundation. Only then, and after that is close to being finished, is the great library even remotely considered a possibility if you want to enjoy this game and not sweat through hoping you don't lose and waste all of that time clicking end-turn for nothing.
Maybe I just take losing too hard, but still, this is the reason every El33t player on this forum will tell you the great library is a giant n00b trap that should be avoided at all costs on King and above standard speed standard settings single player. By the time you build what really matters, it is gone and you won't be getting those turns back in time to defend against their medieval invasion forces (not that those are that scary anyways, but they certainly raise my blood pressure regardless of how fast they die).
I typed so much I don't want to delete it all now, I feel like I am coming across like a cranky old man telling a wide-eyed whippersnapper off. But I've found this game so much more relaxing when I focus on doing things right that I can't hold my tongue. Learn from the pro's, don't mock them, you might be one one day. And don't play civ backwards! End-rant.
These days, the tech tree kind of prevents getting too far with it. You basically get what you could have researched in 10 turns. 
