I don't go to libraries very often but after visiting the 4S Ranch Library, it definitely was a pretty nice library. It's a little small but it has a lot of amenities. There's a section to pick up reserved books, purchase used books, a self check out, plenty of computer workstations, printers, and two 3D printers. There's also plenty of chairs, tables and counters with outlets for studying. The children's section is pretty extensive, which is nice. The library also has many activities for children and adults throughout the month on their calendar. The staff were friendly and helpful and the library overall was pretty clean and organized. Since the library itself is a little small, it's not the most quiet but I didn't see it as an issue. Overall a great library for all ages! read more

The loudest library I've ever been to. I even had headphones in to listen to my study videos and heard SO MUCH background noise, possibly even a class in the community room? The door wasn't even shut. Even employees were standing behind one of the two desk areas to use your computer and were talking about home remodel at a normal outside volume. As someone who's been to many libraries this was just shocking how *not* peaceful this library was. Aside from the noise the computer areas were fairly limited and almost completely full when I got there on a Monday at 10:30am. From the other reviews sounds like maybe this is a better place for activities and kids, not for studying or quiet read more

Very nice and busy day at the library.....for the grandkids. It started with tie dying ......, face painting next.....then standing in like to get a blow up designed balloon...the kids had a great time. Lots of kids and their families here to enjoy these activities......pretty busy, but well organized....thanks.!!!! read more

#Thankyou for another year of great library services. The library is kept well, and the library staff are always pleasant and helpful. Always enjoy visiting read more

My kids love coming here. They have games for the kids an amazing team of librarians that can help you find what ever book in what ever genre you love to read. They have amazing activities for kids and read to children every Wednesday. Definitely recommend getting your library card and enjoying a good book in this relaxing library. They also can help you print anything you need. 5 out of 5 read more

This library is one of the best in San Diego county hands down! The staff is very effective and super helpful. The library is kept super clean and is in order. I love the 4S Ranch library! Great parking read more

4S Ranch Branch Library - Libraries Near Me - San Diego, California

Love love love this library!! Super Friendly staff. Plenty of computers to use. Never seems too crowded. Good selection of children's books. Wish there were more newer books for both adults and children. Also more classes/activities for kids would be really great. Right now it's September 202: and there is a yoga class for kids and 2 children story times. read more

4S Ranch Branch Library - Toddler story time - Libraries Near Me - San Diego, California

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It is walkable from our home, so this is our home library. My kid like this place, but I am not big fan What's good here? Self checkout area Book request area, where you could pick up your reserved items Kids play area Used book sale area Lot of kids events What did not work for me? Noisy Unkempt Limited parking If these issues are resolved, this place could be a 5 star read more

I am a big fan of this library! The staff is always helpful! I am retired and read a lot of books (3+ a week.) I really like their on-line service and regularly request new titles for purchase. I receive an email when requested books are available for pick up. The system is flawless and reliable. read more

This library is quite small, but very new and clean. I love their self scan system that you get to use when you check out books. Just scan your card, place all the books and dvd's in front of the machine, and it will automatically scan everything for you! I was so confused when I first tried to check out books. Everything was done so fast and efficiently! I wonder if they had to let go of some of their employees for that. The lady in the front doesn't have much to do it seems like:) You can also reserve books online and go pick it up since they'll save it for you for a week until you come get it. The library can be a bit loud when there's a lot of kids, but overall it's a nice library. Oh yeah, and if your book is in a different library, they will send the book to your location to pick it up at the closest location. How convenient is that! read more

I love this library. The staff is kind and professional. The fireplace area is cozy and the book/media selection is solid. I've always found the bathroom facilities to be spotless. Yes, it can be a bit noisy and the parking lot can fill up fast - however, as a long term member of the community I understand the history of the building and why this is the case. I also appreciate how hard the staff works to maximize what they have. This branch actually has the highest circulation per square foot of any library in the county. Hopefully, the community will continue to pursue the long-desired expansion. read more

This location is fairly close to my home, which is probably the best thing I can say about it. Compared to other libraries, this one isn't as good. First of all, for a library, it's extremely noisy. Parents seem to use this sort of like a day care and it gets loud and rowdy. If you're going to be here for awhile, bring headphones. They're always closed when I like to come here on Sunday mornings and I often find myself using the book drop, which is actually a good thing. In the past when I go in to drop off books parents have their kids put the books on the conveyor belt to return books- and little kids will be slower so of course the line piles up. So I end up going outside anyway and drop off my books at the book drop. And I like kids and I'm a patient person, but even I get tested at times. If there's a line behind you and you have several books, move it along...it's like the kid in the elevator that presses every floor. It's too small. Selection is decent for books and movies. Bathrooms are always broken and dirty. Parking is very tight and I don't even park near there, as I don't want my car to get hit. I like that it's automatic checkout when you pick up your book holds, which is why I didn't rate them 2 stars. But it's probably closer to 2.5 stars. Hours are: Monday & Thursday 9:30-6 Tuesday & Wednesday 9:30-8 Friday & Saturday 9:30-5 Sunday 12-5 read more

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Read, read, read and read more! This is a small but ample library. Lots of parking and tons of knowledge packed in one spot.

Use your County Library card here, not your city card! :) This branch is small, but it is new and well taken care of. Besides, you can order books from anywhere and pick them up here. The kids section is great for younger children 7 and under. Above that, there are not many options for the older kids. I prefer to go to the city library over in Carmel Mountain Ranch library for a wider selection books. This is definitely a neighborhood place, great if you live close by and offers many activities and events for the community. Reading space is sparse, so finding a good place to sit and read can be a challenge. read more

4S Ranch Branch Library - Libraries Near Me - San Diego, California

It would take a lot for me to not give a library five stars because of my love of books and belief that libraries are pillars of the community. This library offers a lot that really earns it five stars, though. There are classes and workshops galore, for adults and children of all ages. They even have some foreign language programs. There are plushy chairs and large tables on the adult side, perfect for studying or cozying up with a book. The children's area has three computers, with learning and art games. All of them have a 20 min limit, so it keeps kids from taking them over. There are also some toys, and a couple of tables for kids to get homework done or read. The library is not huge, so they don't have as wide a selection as other branches. But because it is connected to the SDCL network, you can order books from other branches & they email you when it arrives. Go support your local library! read more

I have tried this library on three separate occasions. It is always loud and sounds more like a daycare than a library. There is no quiet space, if you intend to actually read or study here bring earplugs AND sound cancelling headphones. The adults are usually louder than the children. read more

Love, love, love this library! Here are my favorite parts about it: 1. The staff= nicer than nice 2. They have training on how to borrow books with your digital device 3. They have craft nights and my daughters love all of Mrs. Z's fun ideas. Last time they blinged their phone. 4. They have family yoga! 5. Chess club! 6. Last Friday of the month is always "fine free Friday". They just want to promote reading. 7. Self checkout is fast and easy. It's a hop and a skip from my house and my girls love going there. Soon they can volunteer. :) read more

This is our neighborhood library and it's a pretty great one. When our printer craps out and we need to print something, we go there and use the computers and printer. Lifesaver. They have some pretty fun kids events and fun programs. Minus one star because they should have made it bigger. The community has grown so much since it was built that this library is dreadfully undersized. When it's busy, you are lucky to find a chair, and you might possibly have to sit on the floor. Maybe one day they will build an upstairs. That would be smart. :) read more

4S Ranch Branch Library - Don't leave small humans or furry things in your hot car. - Libraries Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a great place for my grandchildren but isn't the best for adult readers. I personally worked at a library for 30 years and this one is definitely meant for kids. its much noisier than where I worked at and the children section is twice the size. Overall a nice place for the kids i'm just not a fan of the noise or the self check-out. read more

I love how convenient to me this library is and come here often! It is on the small size but they still have a great selection of children's and adult books as well as a great bank of computers to use. Their toddler and infant classes with Miss Kathy are fantastic as well. They lose two stars because the other day I literally waited for 10 minutes at the front desk waiting to be helped as four employees worked and talked in the back. I made eye contact with two of the woman (one was about 30 with brown hair and the other was about 45 with sandy colored hair) and called out several times but was still ignored. read more

Easy to get a library card, apply online. And, pick it up in person with a valid driver's license. If you do not have a current ID (e.g., current address) bring a recent bill with your name and current address on it. Although this library is small and by that nature has a limited selection - it is a perfect little library. The staff is helpful and friendly. And, there is certainly a distinct English and Chinese flavor at the library that compliments the area of 4S Ranch. The importance of improving your language skills or starting for your child is important, and the library offers bi-lingual children events in English and Chinese. There is also a far amount of Chinese newspapers, books, and videos available. There is a small section that offer a handful of other languages, but Chinese stands out. And, as a believer of learning Chinese, which is spoken among 1.3billion people, it's a nice little start. An additional note, you can order books online to be delivered to the 4S Ranch library! They will call/email when it is ready to be picked up. On the slight downside, room is limited (small building), and the children's center is an open area, which can get a bit loud during their events. read more

Don't try to bring in your book donations to this library on a Sunday! Librarians are downright sarcastic and rude. I get that it's busy but there's no need to be short with the people you are supposed to be helping. I came to donate books not get yelled at. read more

This library is small. I might possibly have a larger book collection in my house! There aren't too many books. But there are decent areas to study and adequate computers for the public to use. It's clean, nicely air conditioned, and great for kids to read and play on the computers. And don't get me wrong, I love kids and being a parent I know that it's difficult to contain the little one's voices, but it is quite loud if you are trying to study. Fortunately, I'm generally good at drowning out outside noises when I need to focus. But it's something to consider if you want somewhere quiet to study (I actually found Coffee bean to be quieter). read more

It is a small library, but as a nanny, this place has great selections for toddlers and kids to choose from. read more

4S Ranch Branch Library - Kids' area - Libraries Near Me - San Diego, California

Their NEW self-scan system rocks! 1. Scan your COUNTY of SD Library card 2. Place all your books on the mat 3. Tap "log out" on the screen 4. Grab receipt, books, and go! I tend to reserve books online and pick them up when they have been transferred. It's like a personal book assistant has set them aside especially for me. Did I mention that it's free? read more

Great place. Has all the books I need and many more to offer. I see people here complaining about the customer service. Wrong. Best staff for a library I've ever been to. Go to this library. It's a great place not only to get books, but also to study and read. read more

Great little library. I had no idea I had one right next to my grocery store! Very handy find. The librarian is kind and there's all kinds of good things at the library including a plethora of music. read more

Very small neighborhood library. Very noisy. Do not come here if your intention is to study, read, etc. HOWEVER, if you are visiting with small children, you'll love this library. read more

I really like this library...new and clean. Check out their programs. 5 stars for the Self Scan system.

This library is not big and books are very limited. I normally come here every Tuesday for their baby story time at 10:30 am and the instructor is not nice at all. What I've seen so far is that she has told kids if they can't behaved and sit down. They will need to leave. There was a little girl that came in without shoes on and she said to the little girl, "We don't allowed no shoes here. You need to put on shoes now!" Seriously, who talks like that to kids like that? The little girl was probably no more than 1.5 years. The little girl looked so sad and said, "No shoes!" to her mom. She always doesn't allowed kids to be kids and just watching her gets me quite upset. In my opinion she has no patience and if she doesn't have patience, she shouldn't be hosting baby story time. When it's time for Peak-a-boo time! There is this little girl who gets so excited. She'll stand up and would say "Peak-a-boo" really loud. The instructor would say "Oh my, that was really loud. You need to sit down and not be loud!". Who does that? She's simply not nice at all. This should be a place where babies and kids should enjoy their time and it makes me so upset to see how much RULES she's placing. Please get rid of her and replace someone that actually care!!! read more

There is literally only one problem with this place: most of the time it is NOT quiet. This one problem is huge just because a library is supposed to be a quiet place to read, study, etc. This library feels like a preschool more than a library. Children in general are obviously going to be somewhat disruptive; however, neither the parents nor the workers do anything to teach the kids that this is a quiet spot. For example: -Children can be on the computer with the volume on high and no one will give them earphones. - They have classes for the kids and they don't shut the door. This means you can hear the kids singing throughout the entire library. - They even had an art show here. So families were walking around talking throughout the whole library. The environment is informal. Nobody asks these families to keep their voices down or just be considerate of others. The staff is too nice. They don't say anything to maintain a quiet environment a library is expected to have. Now the good. When it is quiet, this place is perfect. The library itself has a very homey atmosphere. -They put up beautiful art work that young, talented children create - It is bright and the scenery surrounding it is earthy and cozy. -The library is clean. -Other places are normally very frigid, but here the temp is just right. Not to warm were you want to fall asleep but not too cold that if you forget a sweater you will freeze to death. - The staff is very nice and helpful (just not when it comes to enforcing others to keep their voices down...) It is unfortunate that such a nice atmosphere is drowned out by loud people who don't care about others. read more

A library fit for a village, yes the Village of 4S. Little noisy with kids -- but that's the fun. This library is like a Starbucks or Coffee Bean without the coffee but a bit of elementary school magic and vibe. I love children running, hustling around, and would rather grab a book from the shelves and just find a corner to read while the pitter-patter commotion continues around. What a fun place to relax and let go of worldly woes. read more

I adore this library. The staff are amazing, it is convenient, they have great hours and programs. I reserve most of my books from other locations in the county and I love that I am able to not only pick up there but also to check on my queue on the website. The renewal system is much better than the public library too. Favorite branch by far in SD. read more

not to be confused with CITY of san diego libraries... county of san diego has a different system so you need a different library card... it's small, but nice and neat. books and facility both look very new. there's a community center next door as well. they have the system to self scan for check out here too. read more

For about 10 yrs, the 4S Ranch Library has permitted me to use their community room for my H&N cancer support group every first Sat of the month. I have NEVER encountered any negative treatment from the staff. They have always been polite, friendly and helpful. read more

I came here on a Thursday with my two children, ages 3 and 18 months, to attend Miss Lee's preschool program. I did not get a chance to explore the library very much but my son did find the children's section and wanted to play with the train table. It looks like a great library for the nearby community since it's conveniently located in the 4S Commons shopping center. If I lived nearby I'm sure I would come here all the time. read more

Best for family with little ones as well. Friendly staff and wonderful environment to study

The building is very small and the childrens area is particularly noisy. The selection is alright considering how small the space is. I liked that the children's section had some little puzzles and coloring sheets for the kids. read more

it was ok. I am NOT a frequent library user and haven't been to one in years and years... well, there was no signage telling us "newbies" what to do or where to go or where to be or anything. i was disappointed in that. i would think that they would want to cultivate new "clients". I just stood in a line, not sure if it was the right line or what. the gal was somewhat vague on instructing me for what i needed to do (my sister sent me with specific instructions and, in hindsight, i think i was pretty clear). but i still felt like an idiot in what i was trying to accomplish.... but the location is convenient to me. the place was clean. they didn't have what i wanted (my sister has "warned me" in advance) so we requested an interlibrary loan - which was much quicker htan they had stated it would be (stated 2 weeks, took about 3 days). of course, it was thanksgiving and they emailed me on wednesday while i was at work to say it was in, but i didn't get it until they closed that night and they were closed for TG and that friday... i don't know. i just would think that they would be a little more agressive at APPEARING to want new customers.... i left just feeling "beige". read more

The librarians here are super nice! Once in a while, I stop by to borrow some books for my kids. Each time, I see more and more things for the kids.. including a train table! It might not be like a University Library, but heck, this is a very family oriented/young community. The library is definitely geared toward the needs of the community. Good Job! read more