Great little library, nice places to sit and read, very helpful staff. Not a huge book collection…read morebut they have access to the Monterey Library collection as well. The online catalog lets you search for books in both libraries, and if the book is in Monterey they will ship it to the PG library in one day for pickup. So far I've been able to get almost all of the titles I've wanted.

I was visiting from out of town and I had an assignment(online exam) for school that was only open…read moreon a certain day and I was already on this trip, so I brought my laptop. I needed a good place where I could sit down, focus and take my exam. This place was perfect. A lot of seating area and good WIFI and I was able to get my exam done. Wasn't able to take a look at the books but there seems to be a huge selection. Would recommend.

So many communities have libraries - I love to take a look on my travels! Some are all new, some…read morehave 3D printers or "reading caves" for kids.... THIS Library is a gem- beautiful with a fantastic selection, new books quiet reference areas and so well-kept. It has a large reference section and the top floor is fiction. Built in 1923, a memorial for Judge Harrington. WOW! It has a working fire place! A calm place to learn and centrally located.

First time there. Didn't know there was a separate library for young kids and teens. Now we do. We…read morehappened to pick the week that the kids library was closed for whatever reason and would reopen the following week. So we decided to stay. It was close to 5:30 pm so we thought we would have a good half hour before they closed at 6pm. At 10 minutes to 6 some person walked by and said the library was closing and within seconds turned the lights in the room off. It wasn't completely dark but enough to not be able to see writings clearly. It would have been nice to get a 10 min or so warning that they would be turning the lights off so we could wrap up what we were doing. That's so rude! Our local library is the Monterey Library but since we were in Carmel we thought we would save commute time and use it at the Carmel library. Turns out that was not the case. Our local library gives a 30 min, 15 min, then a 10 (or 5?) min notice of closing time and then even at closing time does not turn the lights off on anyone . I guess the Carmel library staff are all very anxious to get home. Just know if you go there near closing time that you will be rushed out the door very rudely and treated like you are taking up their precious time.

Very cute library conveniently located right downtown in Monterey. Free street parking is available…read morewith a two hour limit between the hours of 9AM and 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. The staff are friendly and are usually available to help you with any questions.

I grew up coming to the Monterey Public Library, where staff used to proactively keep patrons safe…read more Unfortunately, under Director Brian, that is no longer the case. Recently, while studying, another individual targeted me with vulgar verbal harassment over a table dispute. Despite my attempts to share the space, she continuously whispered explicit insults at me ("you're a pro***tute," "why do you care about studying"), completely disrupting my safety. At other libraries, this behavior is absolutely not tolerated. I should not have to leave, especially when I need to use this specific location for certain reasons. When reported, Director Brian showed zero urgency and seemed annoyed to be called away. His immediate solution was asking me--the person being actively harassed--if there was "somewhere else I could go." Rather than addressing the perpetrator, his default response was to displace the reporting party. Imagine if it was someone's kid being harassed, seeking help only to meet an incompetent solution like this from the director. Or imagine if you're a student who clearly needs the facility; I would hope for parents reading this or working students, you would not be ok with this.To make matters worse, he claimed he "checked in with people nearby" and, because they didn't notice her whispers, heavily implied I was fabricating the story. Most people in the area were elderly or wearing headphones; of course they didn't hear her calculated, quiet insults. The moment he spoke to her, her behavior stopped, proving she was entirely coherent. When faced with his dismissiveness, I was the one who had to state that if she did it again, I would report it again. I also had to explain that I hadn't recorded her out of respect for everyone's privacy. Only after I said this did he finally offer the weak response that I could report it again and "actually record since it is a public place." Asking a patron facing harassment to move or leave is a massive failure in communication, reasoning, and conflict resolution. It is entirely unacceptable that standard procedure here is to penalize the person reporting the issue.

Kelly and Chloe our chefs offer great food and deserve a…read morenew kitchen to do their work- music at lunchtime needs an upgrade with the piano players -should be more professional, not beginning folks "practicing" Lori Lewis is a good standard to follow.

This is a truly special place for seniors - defined as 55 and up. The Carmel Foundation enables…read moreseniors to be connected with other seniors in an environment which seems to attract truly special members, with its truly kind, loving and attentive staff, excellent dining room, auditorium, lecture hall, raised stage theater, dance hall, movie room, library meditation garden, green house, chess, arts and crafts, discussion groups, field trips, walking tours, card games like Bridge and Texas Hold-em ... Are still reading? Why? Get to a phone, call and become a member today! Tell them the "Rev" sent you!

My favorite local library. The location is awesome. If you go up to the third floor you have…read moreincredible views of the Monterey Bay. The library is the top 2 floors and the basement is the English Lab and Reading Center. The MPC Library has an awesome collection of books, dvds, etc. There are plenty of computers and even when it's busy you should be able to find one. There are also a bunch of study rooms that you can check out that are nice and quiet. I like that the 2nd floor allows talking and the third floor is totally quiet. That way you have options if you're there to study alone or there to study with a group. There are some comfortable chairs to sit in and study too! The staff is also super nice, friendly, and very helpful. I can't recommend it enough!

As a college staff member and as a student, the MPC Library has been an enormous support resource…read morefor those struggling with the new online teaching system. They are offering chromebooks, hotspots, and as many course reserves as possible to students who are currently enrolled. When it is safe for the college to open once more to students and then the community, the library staff is ready and excited to help students succeed in their educational goals.

Carmel Mission Basilica (formal name 'San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo') is one of six minor…read morebasilicas in the state of California (five being former Spanish missions). It is the oldest one, founded in 1770, and elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII in 1960. My wife, her mom, and I visited it during a late Sunday afternoon during our first day in Carmel, and found it to be a great, worthwhile experience, especially if one is Roman Catholic. The basilica is still a working parish, so parking during non-mass hours was easy to find. A ticket booth was set-up at the visitor entrance, with cost of $15 per adult ($13 for senior). There is an adjacent gift shop that doesn't require admission and sells all the various religious items that one would expect from a religious tourist attraction. We ended up spending about 90 minutes here (there is a lot of information here, along with a lot to see). -- Founding priest was Junipero Serra ("Apostle of California"). He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his shrine/remains are interned here. -- Only U.S. church visited by a pontiff during a papal visit: Pope John Paul II in 1987. He paid homage to Father Serra, and laid flowers at the tomb. This visit is clearly commemorated. -- the Munras Family Heritage Museum is worth going to, to see a short movie about the prominent Monterey family, along with early California artifacts from the family. -- the Nativity scene was one of the most intricate -- the large courtyard is a good place to stop and admire the architecture of a California Spanish mission, along with a thick trunk Cork Oak tree By the time we were leaving, the ticket office had closed (last call is at 16:30, to allow everyone to have enough time before official close at 18:00).

So grateful to been able to attend Sunday Mass. Basilica is so beautiful and it has so much…read morehistory and also they have free museum and a small shop. Sunday mass is full but the have lots of extra chairs in the back outside the church. Parking could be crowded so get there early.

I like this little community library. They have a paperback swap rack, so give a book and take one…read more(or not). I enjoy donating my magazines and books, here. Right in the front entrance hall there are free books and magazines, for whoever wants one. Before Covid, I use to drop by on occasion. Now, not so much. However, I am very impressed with all the foreign language dvds(movies) that are available. Community computers are available. Just be vigilant that homeless people will sleep in the chairs, during the day. A safe quiet place, where they hide out.

The staff is really friendly every time I've gone in with questions. They have a summer reading…read moreprogram for children and adults and I think it's a pretty cool way to get the community involved with reading. They also have a weekly summer lunch program once a week. The space is pretty neat too. They have a play area and chairs spread out for readers. They have a homework center as well. My favorite part was that they have a decent selection of Spanish books being that I'm trying to teach my baby how to read in Spanish first.

Coffee shop & bookstore all in one location! My family and…read moreI were visiting from out of town and in search of some coffee. We ordered and iced and hot Mexican mochas and they were delicious! I appreciated them having decaf espresso as an option as well for those of us with caffeine sensitivity. The bookstore in the back had so many options, including kids books! My son had a great time looking at their options while we waiting for our coffee to be made. There was plenty of seating both inside and outside which made it easy for us to snag a spot and enjoy our coffees while enjoying the nice day!

This shop embodies the COZY feeling of working out of a bookstore which is nestled right in the…read moreback of the coffee shop. Adorable warm accents with lots of comfortable seating and WiFi. Seems like a local favorite. Latte was delicious with SOY milk as an option which I love to see. The MARZIPAN PISTACHIO was a must try for me. Deliciously nutty and buttery. Can't wait to return to this UNIQUE spot and try more things.