It is interesting that the Golden Gate Valley Branch Library has some five star reviews & some one star reviews making it have an average of a 3.5 star rating here on Yelp. I went here recently. For starters beautiful architecture as the exterior of the building is lovely. I found in the interior of the library to be quite small. Half of the library was devoted to being a children's library it seemed. I found the library to be a bit claustrophobic as was quite crowded & not a place to really sit down to read to unwind. Also found the overall selection of the titles to be a bit underwhelming in the kind of books that I enjoy reading. I know it is a small branch so they don't have the selection of a larger branch yet still didn't find many titles to my liking here. The Golden Gate Valley Branch has several programs on offer including: Book Club Knitting Club Monthly Film Nights If this is your local branch you can have items transferred in from other branches which is a good thing. read more

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Feeling the need to take a break from your iPhone, iPad, laptop or kindle to actually turn real pages of a book or feel the touch of newspaper between your fingers? If so, do it here, as it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing libraries in one of the best neighborhoods in SF. The architecture is beautiful, inside and out. This is a neighborhood library. It wouldn't be fair to compare it to the SF Main Library in size, but It's full of charm and a great little spot to spend an hour or so in. They also have an impressive amount of movies on DVD to rent (remember DVD's?) and you can check them out for 20 days, and even renew them at least a couple of times. Afterwards, take a stroll along Union Street, just a block over to shop and dine. read more

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The Golden Gate Valley library is one of the cutest branch libraries around. There are wonderful librarians here, ever so helpful. The branch has many activities going on for adults and children as well. The amount of film DVDs is decent. I even found some interesting Chinese language films on DVD which have English subtitles. Exciting to find this treasure. Monthly they offer free films in the meeting room in the lower level. The magazines available for perusal are a nice assortment of topics. And you can get cozy in one of the three leather chairs on the side. It's great to stroll from home to GGV library, take a moment to check out the print newspapers, check the shelves for my "Hold" that has been delivered from another library branch. The location just off Union Street in Cow Hollow keeps this place under the radar of most people. But I sussed it out long ago and it's always in the back of my mind in case I'm looking for a quiet retreat. read more

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We love this library! The librarians are super friendly, the children's programs are plentiful, and while grand on the outside, it's warm and cozy on the inside. Facilities feel modern and clean. We like discovery new children's books here nearly weekly. We don't utilize it as adults as much but sometimes send books from other branches here for pick up. read more

I got the best library in the world as a book warm who is interested in many subjects and sciences it's important to have a convenient and reliable source where to get books and information from this library is it!! The librarians love they job and do it well.. always acknowledge when people come in and willing to help in anything that one is looking for. Also any book in the San Francisco, CA system they will bring it to you if available in just a couple of days. The library building itself is very clean and well maintained. An attractive building looks like a old Roman court house or perhaps a library. Very grateful that I get to call Golden Gate Library on Green street "my library" read more

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Fantastic neighborhood library. Small, but laid out beautifully. Friendly helpful staff. Plenty of computers. Nice place to bring a kid for the kids books. read more

FROM: http://www.unionstreet.com/points.htm Modeled on a Roman basilica, it was designed by Ernest Coxhead, built in 1917 and opened the following year. It has a terra cotta glazed stone finish on the exterior with great natural interior light due to its large arched windows. Closed Sunday and Monday. Open Tuesday 10:00 to 6:00, Wednesday noon to 8:00, Thursday 1:00 to 7:00 and Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 6:00. Phone (415)292-2195. The web site for the library, which includes the branches, is www.sfpl.org. This particular branch has a neighborhood history file that includes memoirs. MY REVIEW: I've passed by this beautiful, peaceful, and mysterious building a numerous amount of times but only have gone inside a few times. However, everytime I've visited I was amazed at the quality of silence this facility maintains. They had more books than I had guessed and since this place isn't as busy as one might say the city's main public library there is always staff at the center consel to help out with anything. They do have computers and tables to sit at as well. read more

Golden Gate Valley Branch Library - Public Library - Libraries Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're interested in SF History this place is worth seeing. It was funded by Andrew Carnegie as part of his philanthropic efforts to build community libraries, and the story of how pro-labor San Francisco finally agreed to take his money is an interesting one. We were there on a special occasion, for the 91 year anniversary. All staff were really nice and obviously very proud of this library. They liked talking with an older person in our group who used to go there back in the 30s and 40s when he was a teenager. read more

Perhaps a slightly inflated rating, but this is my neighborhood library, and I love the building's stately architecture, the row of majestic trees outside (yes, majestic), and the the panoramic view of the entire library when you step inside (yes, it's small). It's got the magazines, it's got the newspapers, and it's got the kiddie section. And, you can request books online and have them delivered here within days (if you're not the 180th person on the 180th hold, that is). I'm sorry that it will be closed for 'renovations' that will last over a year. I'll miss the sweet space... read more

Incredibly beautiful, but the space isn't very functional. Super friendly staff. Still, this is one of my favorite public buildings in the city. read more

Gorgeous building among the rows of houses on the corner of Octavia and Green. This library isn't large and doesn't house a huge collection, but it is easy to put something on hold and go pick it up. It is actually a pretty quick process, unless it is a super popular book. Inside it is one large room, so if there is a little big of noise, you can hear it in the entire place. It has a new collection section and plenty of other shelves to browse. They have family and children's programs and it is just a cozy little neighborhood place. read more

This library is perfect... if you live in a treehouse and make cookies! Although a mere 5'1" male, I tried to sit in the little chairs as all of adult chairs were taken by larger folks, and I was pretty uncomfortable. If the Keebler Elves themselves had walked out of one of the bookstacks carrying little recipe books and sat in the chair next to me, I would not have been surprised, as apparently this library was built for them, by them. On a positive note, I found front row, two hour parking just outside for my mini cooper. read more

This is a very small, but well-kept library. It is so clean but there are not as many seats as one would expect in such a monumental-looking library. The room is very well lit and has lots of natural light. There are very few weirdos that roam in. Staff are friendly and helpful. read more

This resembles a community reading room more than a library, but has quite a few books to offer. The kids section is surprisingly large compared to some of the other collections, and I was able to find some great resource books for science teaching. A large, sunny, quiet room. Really pretty location. A nice place to have in the neighborhood. read more

This library is nice. This library is located in a nice neighborhood. This library is nice inside. I would come back it this library whenever I am in the area. This location rocks. read more

This has got to be the worst investment made by the city. Why would they spend so much money on the architecture and design of a library with almost no interior space at all. This library looks shockingly stunning until you walk in and wonder how something so grand can be so tiny on the inside. If you go there to study, be warned study spaces are limited. read more

Best library in SF! The librarians go above and beyond to help you find what you need. Its in a great location and they have a ton of adult and kid activities. The kids area is great and they have games/puzzles. Parking can be a challenge though worth the friendly atmosphere. read more

Beautiful building, small but efficient. I went to work on a research paper on a Saturday and it was pretty full. The only downside it that most of the library is one giant room, meaning that there can be a lot of noise from people coming in or out and talking to the librarians. But if you don't need absolute silence to focus on your studying, it's nothing major. read more

This is my local library branch, and I couldn't be happier with it. Admittedly, I don't use it for much besides checking out and returning books, but the space is so beautiful and a true pleasure to be in. And sure, it's a little bit on the small side, but the librarians are all really friendly, and the selection of magazines and books is surprisingly good given the space constraints. read more

This isn't a library, it's a daycare center used by the local nannies. Bring your earplugs.

They turned half of the library into a children's play room. The library has no walls and high ceilings, so the children yelling disturbs everyone. This was a wierd choice for a library to make, and makes it hard for adults to do any studying or quiet work. read more

A nice library with a few (3 I think) large tables that accommodate 6 people each. The drawback is that it is relatively small and no separation between the kids area, hence it can get loud if a little one(s) come in. read more

Beautiful library in Cow Hollow! While it is small, it is a true library in the sense that it is actually quiet. You can get some readings done at the long tables because there is plenty of space that's clear of newspapers. The librarians are very friendly, the self check-out machines are convenient, and the restrooms are clean. read more