It is a nice little library but it is too small for the city of Arcadia. The library is often overcrowded (all year round) and there are not enough tables or chairs available to read or sit down. Computer availability for kids also limited. Don't expect to find a copy of new books (NYT bestsellers and alike) to be readily available to borrow at this local library. I only go to this library when: 1. I need to pick up a book or books after I look the book up on their library catalog with my home computer 2. I need a cool place to wait for my next appointment during hot summer days in San Gabriel Valley 3. I need to meet up with friends or returning the book(s) that I borrow. Beware of: 1. Librarians who will watch the youngsters like a hawk and call the security if they think you misbehave. They will give you a "time out" or remove you out of the library if you are too loud while you are doing study group. 2. Limited copies of books available in the library. You will end up not finding the book(s) you want to check out. The library often only has 1-2 copies per book and this is not enough to accommodate the "need" of books for people in Arcadia. 3. One dollar charge of reserving a copy. This charge is outrageous. I don't think it is hard for the library staff to look for, remove and place the book on hold as a service to the patrons. read more

They had the book I was looking for, which means I don't have to purchase it online! Well maintained and helpful staff. Easy organization made it easy for me to find the book I needed on their library catalog and on their shelves. Found 2 more books that I found relevant for my study in my search as well! read more

This is a nice library with cushy chairs to sit in and read. It can get quite busy, but the librarians are always glad to help if you need to find something in particular. My family likes to come here and relax and read. Then we go home with an armful of books. read more

So I used to come here alot as a kid...running straight to the children's section. Now as an adult, I've come to appreciate the many cubicles around the library. I recently came here to study and really enjoyed my time here. Since it was summer, there weren't that many kids, so it was pretty quiet with the occasional toddler screaming and running around. The only thing I dislike is the 4 hour parking. When I go to the library, its usually for a full day, so having to move my car was inconvenient. read more

Nice library. The children's section is far away from the adult's section, which means this library is very quiet. Large parking lot. Some of the desks are cramped. Alternatively, there are many tables with plenty of outlets. Opens at 10am on Saturdays and there is a boba shop across the street. I don't think there is any A/C in here. Wi-Fi is free and does not require a library card to use. Staff is friendly. Very good library to study at. Highly recommend if you live close. I like coming here and Pasadena for good quality studying. read more

Having grown in up Arcadia, I have consistently given this library the benefit of the doubt. I lost it after today's visit. I dropped by around 10am to study for my GRE. I couldn't connect to the internet and gave up after several attempts over an hour. Then comes 3:00pm. A nice security guard dropped by and asked me to leave my spot which was apparently reserved for high schoolers. I don't understand why the library does this. It is NOT Arcadia High School Library... It is NOT Arcadia High School Daycare... So why does a PUBLIC library restrict seating? I left my desk for the Youtubing and Facebooking high schoolers (which the security guard constantly has to tell to quiet down) and frustratingly looked around for another desk. Everything else was taken by kids and smelly old peeps so I left and drove 10 minutes down to the Monrovia Library where they welcome EVERYONE. Pathetic.. I can't even use my own library. read more

I've never had any problems with rude staff or trying to find parking. Yes it can get pretty crowded during the week especially when school is in session. But you can't really complain about it. It's right next to Arcadia High School, what do you expect. I've always found the books I've needed and when I needed extra help finding something I was pointed in the right direction. read more

Just here adding to good reviews: 5***** for big, spacious, clean library with some private rooms. 5***** for extensive collection. 5***** for no code free wifi. 4**** for noisy middle school and bad-mouthing high schooler! (I'd avoid 3-5pm) Overall this is as good as any library gets, spacious, quiet (at times) and SOME librarians that actually care. read more

Ample selection of your guilty pleasures. Whether it be fiction, sci-fi, cook books.. whatever. It's really nice and quiet, so if I want to make myself feel studious, I stop by and be just that.. for a moment -grab my book, check out my book (that'll I'll probably renew 2+ times), and tell myself that I'm trying, at least. read more

Like all public libraries, there are weirdos but this one have less. It's very quiet since the kids area is separate from the adult area. Free wifi. You don't even need to be a member to log onto wifi. Clean restrooms. Only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of parking. YOU MUST MOVE YOUR CAR EVERY 2 HOURS. That's the limit and they are very strict about it. There is chalk on my tires every time I go to check it. So move it and save yourself $53 bucks! read more

I've always been a fan of libraries ever since I was a little kid. I must admit that the Arcadia Library is definitely one of my favorites. The place has nice librarians and workers. Books are organized. Check-outs are always convenient. As a high school student, I came here to check out the books. As a graduate student from college, I came here to study for my Boards and I still reminisce about this place, go figure. :) read more

Well organized, clean, polite staff, quiet, wifi. What more could you ask for?

I was in the area so I stopped by. Plenty of free parking in the lot. Well manicures hedges and no trash in the entrance area. Walking in, everyone looked neat and orderly and it was quiet! I walked around the floor and saw lots of workspace--tables with four chairs and many individual work stations as well as individual chairs for reading. I saw maybe two potential bums but no one that smelled or anything. I'll be back to do work, study, or read:) read more

This is my go-to study place when I'm in the SGV area. There's lots of study tables which are spaced out. Really quiet and offers free WiFi. AC is turned on, restrooms are clean, doesn't have a homeless scent, and lots of parking. read more

Great place to study. Their quiet area is actually quiet which is nice.

Lots of books and lots of computer stations. Yippie!

I often go to the Arcadia Library from time to time. Sure it's a pretty nice place, but there are some things I very dislike. 1. Rude librarians. Ok I don't want to nag or anything, but really, the librarians there are pretty rude there. Half the time they ignore you. Heck, they even shout at you for no reason. I was once yelled at by one for just sitting in an un-occupied seat. 2. Noisy High Schoolers Really, this is one of the things I really dislike. Probably even more than rude librarians. Since the Arcadia Library is located just right across from Arcadia High, high schoolers often come here to lounge about or wait for their parents. The library should take better control. I often see high schoolers (yes, not elementary school kids) running and shouting out loud. Some even come up and ask you for money. You reject them and you get a mouth full of curse words. 3. Poor quality computers Nothing much needed to explain here. The computers are slow and they have bad connection. They often freeze up. Overall, the Arcadia Public Library makes it up with its mass amount of books. read more

I like this library a lot. The staff is VERY nice and helpful here. I haven't been in a library in years (ever since I graduated from college & didn't HAVE to go), but the staff didn't laugh at the pretty lame questions I was probably asking. Very professional. The selection is pretty decent for a somewhat small location and they have the titles in stock that we're looking for (most of the time). I just wish they were open on Sundays. Darn. read more

This is my favorite place to be on a hot summer day. Its got 3 study rooms which can be reserved in 2 hour blocks, free wi-fi (which is useless if you sit next to the windows, so be sure to sit closer to the center of the library. It also gets really slow as more users log on), and DVD movies. Sure, it gets crowded after 3PM when the high schoolers and middle schoolers get out, but the security guard patrols and kicks you out if you get too crazy, or tells you to be quiet if you're being too loud. Parking right outside the library is 2HR parking. Park a little further and it is 4HR parking. Park even further and there's no limit. Still takes me 3 minutes to go from there to the entrance. I've found that some tables inside have ants, though. No ant trails, just stragglers. And watch out for the spiders that hang out in the plants outside. Might walk into their webbing if you're not into that sort of thinig. read more

Best library ever!!! I come here to get some studying done over the summer, and it was the perfect spot! First off, parking is huge, compared to other libraries (they have 30 min, 2 hr., and 4 hr. spaces). Second, they have an actual quiet area where you get to study without any noise or distractions. This area has outlets on the floors to plug your laptops and phones. Moreover, there are ample tables and chairs to choose from. You can also bring your water or iced coffee in some areas to sip on while doing some work. Great place! read more

I just do not understand why the Library put a 4 hour limit on the parking area on the side. It is never full during working hours. I got a ticket this afternoon for $50 for being there 4.25 hours. There needs to be a grace period to allow people to move their vehicles from the library area. I hope the Library management would review the parking policy for the library. They need to take into consideration that most people spend more than 4 hours in the library and just not convenient to move the vehicle every 4 hours. By the way, the parking is never full. It was barely half fill this afternoon. I do not see the big deal parking there for more than 4 hours. The Library or the City should refund to the people who received parking tickets at the facility. read more

decent library, although a big problem I have is the fact they don't enforce LIBRARY VOICES when there are tons of people/students that come here to find a quiet place to do work and there are a bunch of annoying disrespectful kids who laugh and joke and make tons of noice and NONE of the workers doing anything about it. read more

free wi-fi gets loud after school time. free movie rentals

Nice, big and quiet. I just don't like the librarians. They are extremely rude. If I can just go behind the counter and check out books myself so I don't have to ask for assistance I would. I'm sorry I thought their jobs as librarians was supposed to assist people with their questions, not be RUDE to them and expect them to know where everything is on their first visit!! read more

Yes terrible WIFI and even thought it has a big parking lot and they always have available parking, you can only park for 2 hours and if you stay longer you will get a $53.00 ticket. So if you plan to be there longer find another library, DO NOT ignore the parking rules or you will pay for it. Any idea why my VPN never works when using an open network? read more

The kids are soo loud and rude! Its like a huge party! You cant get into your account most of the time on line. They are rude when you try to renew books. They don't tell you how to log in to your account. When you are a new person at the library. read more

In the afternoon, the library is a baby-sitting room for school kids--kids waiting for their mothers, usually, to pick them up. The library management has assigned substantial space to the school kids, and the library does not have that much space for patrons. Should you accidentally sit down in unmarked space that is set aside for the kids, a cop-like person will tell you to move fast. The city of Arcadia has a world-wide known racetrack and huge department stores as well as homeowners who pay high taxes. Whatever the city does with the money they could not be spending it on the library. read more

I hate to give such a bad review because the facilities are fine, but wow were the librarians awful! I came to use the internet and for a quiet place to study. When I asked about the computers they said they were unavailable for people without library cards, even if you have one from a library in the same system like I do from Glendale. That I suppose I understand, but they were so rude and impolite! One even turned her back to me before I even finished asking my question! If you want a library for what it is, then head here, but if you need to talk to a librarian, go to either the Pasadena Public Library or the Glendale Public Library: both have very polite staff who will bend over backward to help you! read more