I was very impressed by the Palm Springs Library. Plenty of parking (although some of it is at…read moreyour own risk- see photo!). The open, airy design let's in lots of natural light. There are comfortable sitting areas and a koi pond to relax and read. Lots of computers available as well. They also have a wall of used books for sale at great prices. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

Moved from the BIG public park site, to a strip mall. No longer a convenient place to go to, less…read moreparking, smaller building. That's a shame.

My second time here and it was as great as the first time walking in. This visit, parking lot was…read morequite full In the front section. Good for them. Plus it was nice to be in someplace cool as the desert is a scorcher at the moment. We had to return a book that was checked out the week prior. The staff are all amazing and the sweetest. Anyone you talk to is always ready to help with a friendly smile. Information desk are always the sweetest. Right from walking in, the welcome in and greeting was nice. I did pop into the book nook section and picked up a couple of books for purchase. Used booked for a great price. It's a smaller little boutique but I'm sure you can find some gems. Walked out with a couple of cool book for 4.50, not bad. Also I wanted to pick up some bread from the bakery/cafe next door but they were out of what I wanted. I like the concept of food there. Everyone is so respectful with each other by keeping quiet while inside the library. Common decency while someone is studying or reading. We picked up another book and headed on out. But... That's when I noticed the observation deck next door. There's a path that leads you to the front gate but it was locked. We didn't know if you needed a code or something till a gentleman that was there came out. Erik, I believe that was his name was the sweetest. He asked if we were the group that had an appointment for the tour. Well, we weren't but he did offered to show us a quick tour of it. The observatory is part of the library where it's open to the public from certain hour. You can make appointments for private tours which he was gracious enough to show us. They have telescopes that are brought out in the evening for viewing. It's all free to come check out. Inside has the main one that pretty massive. All are welcome to come check it out. If you like astronomy, this is a fun spot. He was the sweetest and explained so much to us in that short period. He sure knows how to get you interested in something. It's a cool place to bring little ones so they can see what's out there in the evening. Also, they have mini telescope that you can actually check out to view on your own. That's amazing as I've never heard of a place that would do that. The concept of an observatory next to a literary and it's free to check out is amazing. Nice way to bring people in and enjoy the planets and solar system. Erik was a doll. Don't know if he's the only one that does the tour or if it's a group thing. But worth checking out.

Coachella Valley libraries when it's hot outside (1 of 2)…read more The Palm Springs main library is temporarily operating somewhere else while they are remodeling it. I had a chance to look at the makeshift library, which is operating in a merchant space in a shopping center. I wasn't planning to visit the Rancho Mirage Library. I had gotten a haircut, had eaten at In 'N' Out Burgers on Palm Canyon Drive, was driving along, and saw this library. I will state that I feel like I'm shortchanging it by giving it 4 stars when so many have given it 5 stars. It's that I did not avail myself of all its services and did not visit the observatory. The heat and the quality of the sky were keeping it closed. Either way, I was not planning to the visit the observatory. You can tell that they lavished money on this library. This is a more upscale desert community. With the Coachella Valley having an older demographic, you can bet that community libraries are important. I went in to work on my laptop and do some minor printing and copying. For the latter, the prices are very reasonable. While not planned, I visited their cafe' and bought a chocolate brownie. The collection at the Rancho Mirage Library is vast, the staff is nice enough, there are themed collections, commissioned artwork appears in important nodes, and there is also a small book nook where they sell used books. I don't usually visit these book nooks, but granolafied patrons who do often score big on some of their finds. I asked if the large cafe' eating area sees some coffeehouse styled laptop use and was told that it does. This is a good thing since the Coachella Valley scores poorly in this regard - Starbucks stores keep shorter hours and there are not many good independent coffeehouses, neither of which are the sorts of places you'd want to sit with your laptop and/or read. The building is obviously of some architectural import. I'm not implying it's a landmark, but that it's a library building that was designed and built with care. Parking is right out front and generously sized and there is a vehicular drop off provision to return books. The funny thing is that, after you park your car, you can stare across Palm Canyon Drive at parched bare hills that tumble down on the other side of (the) 111.

Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, this library is nice & perfect for your book &…read moreliterary needs. The employees here know the area quite well & can give information on the area. I obtained a historic district map & also took in the PEZ dispenser exhibit that was happening then. I recommend stopping here when you're in Palm Springs.

This is the original library in Palm Springs, now a visitor's center…read more I want to shout out Juliette who has been super helpful throughout the years. If it weren't for her taking the initiative to make up flyers about where to vote in Palm Springs, I wouldn't have known where to register in person on the day of the election. I see her in action quite a lot, as I come here routinely, and she has such a way with the visitors and is so knowledgeable that I often catch myself hearing visitors' questions and then listening to her expert answers, so I'm informed too. This library has a whole row of outlets and USB ports if you ever need to charge your phone/devices on the go. It's a great spot, open every day 10a-6p (8p on Thursdays, during VillageFest) except Christmas and New Year's Day. Highly recommend stopping here to charge and/or ask Juliette anything you need to know about Palm Springs.

I love this place!! I have loved a library since I learned how to use the card catalog…read more Palm Desert Library is clean and comfortable. The few times I've been in. I was greeted with such kindness. I'm going to keep coming back... you should too!

Great library that has changed from a Riverside Co to a city library and gotten a fresh makeover…read more Tons of natural light. Plenty of people offering help. The PD Visitor's Center is inside with great info on what to do and see in the area. Will definitely use this library again and again.

Our family absolutely loves this library and we are frequent visitors. It's one of those places…read morethat truly feels like a community hub, and every time we go we discover something new to appreciate about it. One of the first things that makes it so convenient is the ample covered parking, which is especially nice during the hot desert months. The staff has always been friendly, welcoming, and very helpful whenever we have questions or need assistance finding something. My teens especially enjoy coming here because the library has a great teen room with books geared specifically toward their age group. There's also a chess board in the room that they love playing with whenever we visit. It's a great space for teens to hang out, read, and engage their minds in a relaxed environment. Another fun feature we always check out is the table where books are sold for less than a dollar. We've found some really unique and interesting books there over time, and it's always fun to see what new treasures might show up. The library also makes everyday tasks really easy. The printer is quick and simple to use when we need it, which has come in handy more than once. One of my favorite programs they offer is the seed library. Each month you can pick up three free packets of vegetable or flower seeds, which is such a cool and thoughtful offering for the community. The library calendar is always full of fun events and activities for people of all ages, so there's usually something interesting happening. Our favorite part of the library, though, is the Creation Station located down the back hall. It's a really unique program where you can become a member (or attend specific events without being a member) and explore hands-on technology while creating your own projects. The space offers tools like 3D printers, crafting equipment, and digital design resources that allow people of all ages to experiment, learn new skills, and bring creative ideas to life. Our son has especially enjoyed learning how to use the 3D printers there and has made some incredible pieces through the program. It's been such a fun and educational experience for him. The bathrooms are always clean, and there's also a nice enclosed outdoor courtyard area where you can sit and read or simply enjoy a quiet moment. Overall, it's a wonderful library that offers so much more than just books. We're really grateful to have such a fantastic resource in our community.

It's not easy to find a space or event that's safe or right for my whole family and that ends in us…read moreskipping a lot of things. The library offered a Santa event today & they did a special hour for families like mine with disabled children. I saw it in a local moms group and instantly registered. I got the notice that a hour before the scheduled event that's when our time to go would be and was so happy since lines are very hard for my guy. They came and let us in since we were one of the first families there and from that moment I was so happy I made the effort in going. Everyone was so happy and welcoming. They had crafts, wishes to make for Santa and treats. Everyone and I mean everyone was so kind I really noticed the staff going out of their way to engage with my children especially my autistic child. And let me tell you that rarely happens since he's typically busy scripting and exploring. I really was taken back with the kindness. The Santa that also at this even was very kind and patient as well. I hope he's there every year now! I really can't express how impressed I was with this event and everyone who was there. Definitely made our day and can't wait to tell more people and go to more events they host.

WOW the best used book store in the Coachella Valley! Used…read morebooks for just $5.00 a bag. great deal and all the proceeds go back to the DHS Library. love this place.

Coachella Valley libraries when it's hot outside (2 of 2)…read more The temperatures outside were absurd but, as people like to say to minimize the situation, "But it's a dry heat." Desert Hot Springs is a weird place and, at this juncture, the feather in its cap is the Desert Hot Springs Spa where you can sit in the hot spring pools, at which the hot springs are surrounded by a time-stamped large Jetsonian motel. They have some evenings with special pricing but, with the prevailing weather, do you even want to pay a few bucks to sit in hot water when it doesn't cool down in the evening? In the cooler months, sitting in their pools is a real treat. Along the route, I saw the Desert Hot Springs (DHS) Library. It looked like an attractive newer building and library facility. I can always find something to interest me in a library, so I pulled into the parking lot, parked, and went in. This is a very nice library. It's not enormous, mirroring that DHS is not a large town. The fact that they use a cool color palette inside makes a lot of sense and seems to nullify the extreme heat, though it's the air conditioning that is really doing the work! Window treatments are also used to control the heat gain and make spaces near windows more usable. Spaces inside (adult, teen, children, etc.) are not rigidly segmented but are organized more organically. There is also a large community room. The bathrooms are spacious and clean. I don't want to poke fun at DHS. I once saw a ranked list that, among California communities, put Desert Hot Springs as a kissing cousin of Stockton and Compton. I drove around a bit and didn't want to believe that. You may roll down your window and talk to the locals and get that DHS flavor, or you may experience that in a store or one of the many taquerias. I'm mentioning all this demographic flavor for a reason. Inside the DHS Library, the flavor changes quite a bit. I was very pleased with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff here. My use of the library was minor and self-managed, but they were really helpful in helping me understanding the lay of the land in terms of this new library, the libraries in the larger area, and the dynamics of the operation. I left the Desert Hot Springs Library thinking that this newer library is a real asset to this community which seems to want to turn a corner. I also enjoyed my interactions with the staff. Note that most of the parking spaces in the lot sit under those canopies that, in addition to keeping your car cool(er), appear to have some features that are environmentally conscious. I won't use the word sustainable. It's trite and overused, so I'll leave that task to the granolas.

What a beautiful, interesting, large, and well-stocked library. As a retired librarian, I've made…read morea habit of checking out libraries wherever I go. This one was a shear delight. It was a very busy place, on a hot day, with many, many patrons studying, reading, hanging out. It is one branch of the vast 35-branch Riverside County Public Library system. Ample parking, the parking slips butt up against a thoughtfully designed walkway with signage telling you about the history of Temecula. Once inside the library, there is a beautiful mosaic-mural depicting sea-to-outer space, perhaps a nod to what all is in store for the curious patron. The Children's Area is decorated with dozens of stuffed animals atop the book cases. There are painting on the walls. Lots of visual stimulation. But, if you need some calm, further in the library, there is a whole window wall with comfortable seating overlooking a vast valley. Almost every shelf had an intriguing book on display front facing. Books that my library in San Diego does not own...yet. If it weren't so far from my home, I would get a library card (yes, with a CA id, this is possible, and free), and check out some of those great books.

This is our favorite and go-to library for me and my family. I love coming here, the kids area is…read moreso welcoming and it's hard to peel away my kid from here - a good sign! We've always had such great support and customer service. They have great events, wish I could attend all of them on the events calendar. They also usually have the books that we are looking for and placing holds on books doesn't take very long until we get to borrow them. Books are in good condition but you can also tell when a book is well loved, which doesn't bother me at all.

What a gem! This historic and architecturally stunning library is a must-visit for anyone who…read moreappreciates beautiful details and community spaces. From the moment you walk in, you're surrounded by gorgeous stained glass windows and thoughtful touches everywhere you look. There are several inviting reading and learning rooms, plus a dedicated children's section that's perfect for little ones. Outside, there's a small but lovely garden with plenty of seating; ideal for enjoying a book on a nice day. I especially loved discovering the board where anyone can post a book review. It's a great way to engage with fellow readers and get new recommendations. My husband and I make it a point to support local businesses and community resources when we travel; signing up for a library card and following their event calendar is one way we connect with each new place. This library is truly a treasure, and we highly recommend stopping by whether you're a resident or just passing through!

I absolutely love this library the main librarian, I believe Don very helpful. I assisted Don at a…read moreretail store I worked at and he encouraged me to come down to the library and bring a friend as well. My fiancé loved how busy the library and gardens were just at 10am opening time, seats filled, people typing away with their morning coffee planning their day out. I saw how the library assisted people from all words of ages and backgrounds, especially children and I look forward to bringing my family to this library. This would be my home library.

I happen to notice this building as I was sitting in a restaurant across the street. As I left the…read morebuilding I checked out the sign to see what it was. I reached my campsite and decided to read up on the library. The reviews were great so I decided to go the next day. Since I was visiting in the area I asked the librarian if they had any info what to do in town. She was very helpful and friendly. After pointing me in the direction to look for things to do in town. I sat and looked around the library and was admiring the architecture. It was a gloomy, windy and very wet day. But, being inside the library I didn't get that feeling. It was bright and open and with floor to ceiling glass windows it brought the outside beauty indoors. They had individual work rooms, meeting rooms, teens and youths areas. I decided to walk around and view the outdoors from the youth section. There the floor to ceiling windows opened up an entire room you can only look at from your chair. With the storm hovering above you could see Mother Nature in the works. What a grand room! So also in this area they had set up on the tables easels with canvas and paint supplies. I found out from the librarian that they sometime offer different art projects for anyone to do at no charge! So after my town adventures in the rain I returned to do a little painting of my own. In the two hours that I was there painting I also enjoyed the sound of the heavy rain tapping on the rooftop and windows. Watching the plants blowing in the wind and the dark clouds pass by. The library has a security guard just inside the front door. The entrance lobby is open and bright. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I would definitely return to the library if I'm in town. You should see for yourself what they have to offer.

Worth stopping by if you're in the area, or if you need a place to study, relax, take photos, or…read moreget out of the heat. They have a computer room which the public can access.