1. Ingleside Branch Library

1. Ingleside Branch Library

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San Francisco, CA

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Ingleside Branch Library

3.9 (55 reviews)
Closed 1:00 pm - 6:00 PM

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Library card
Jarred D.

A big fan of this library! It's small but has a decent collection of reading material ranging from various genres. I also love that they have a large section for non-English books to cater to the diverse demographic of the neighborhood! But with the size of the library, the stock is pretty limited. Getting a library card here is such a simple task and you can get yours within a few minutes. The staff is also very helpful in assisting with completing the application. There's several tables and computers available, so it's a great spot to get some work or reading done. Do note they have an outdoor area if you prefer a different atmosphere to read in. Plus, there's a cool life-sized chess board there! I love coming here to grab reading materials!

Shane S.

Outside of the library was a sign stating "More than a quarter of US households don't have a computer with an internet connection." This area has a large Asian population & fittingly the Ingleside Branch library has an entire large book shelf filled w/ Manga Comics. They are a small library that covers one single floor. They had a section of Chinese Fiction books in Chinese. There is a small children's section. They had DVDs in English yet also in many other languages including Filipino, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, & Vietnamese. I appreciated the DVD selection of English language titles & found the documentary "Bob and the Monster" A documentary film about the life of Bob Forrest of Thelonious Monster w/ cameos by the Red Hot Chili Peppers & Jane's Addiction.

A book isle.
Kev H.

It's a nice, clean library that looks relatively recently remodeled. I'm glad to see they provide a good amount of tables and seats for people to sit and read. The ceiling right at the center of the building has a sun roof providing good lighting. This library also has separate sections for kids and teens, which I like. One thing that I don't really like is they don't seem to let kids scream out loud here, which is totally the opposite of how any library should be. Other than that, I like it.

Bennett W.

The library may be a bit small, but oh well since it is still a library to go to when you have homework assignments to complete as well as studying for midterm and final exams. The San Francisco Public Library Branch Renovations are providing the best resources the city has to offer. Overall, the new facility is clean and modern. Oh yeah, I also like the fact that there are computers available and laptop rental for library use only is an amenity that is available as well. Additionally, there are also plugs and outlets for patrons to plug in the charger for their laptops, mp3s and smartphones to use it while charging the battery. The two amenities mentioned are certainly something that makes public library services even better. The library is settled in a very good location since it serves students from City College of San Francisco Main Campus and Archbishop Riordan High School very well. SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY - INGLESIDE BRANCH OPENED ON THIS SPOT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009. ALTHOUGH I RARELY GO TO INGLESIDE BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY WHEN THEY WERE AT THEIR AT OLD SPOT, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE THEY OPENED UP AT THIS LOCATION. RENOVATION OF THE FACILITY LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE, MOST OF SFPL'S BRANCHES HAVE BEEN RENOVATED AND THE IMPROVEMENTS LOOK VERY NEAT. SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED A RENOVATION FOR THEIR BRANCHES AND THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT DECISIONS THE CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO HAS EVER MADE. The new Ingleside Branch Public Library is even better since there are two bus stops for the 29 Sunset right across the street.

My new public library card. Thanks preschooler Chloe!
Justine D.

I came here with the poppa since I was trying to distract myself from a restless mind. The library is not marked very well and we initially drove past it trying to find it. Luckily iPhone to the rescue and I pinpoint our location, search "library," and voilà, address and success. The library is small inside. I couldn't really find any order, but I loved how they have videos so I went to information, asked if I could open a library card, and a few minutes later I am holding the coolest library card thanks to preschooler Chloe: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=GIMg5oHqsJXdRq_7tR2jjQ&select=UK2uTp3GDZfgIVP2X3_Cgg&start=0 I'm not sure if I would come back to this location due to how difficult the parking situation is. In addition I learned from the staff that you can order book and videos online and pick them up from any branch. That's awesome and very convenient. I grabbed a random book (hopefully it will be a good read) because clearly I have either forgotten how to search for books or this library is unorganized, but all in all the staff was great and I got myself hooked up with a rad library card. Time to stimulate the mind!

Ingleside Library 1298 Ocean Ave
Infodiva B.

I took advantage of the ample metered parking in front of Mc Donald's to check out the library for a few. I avoided the opening day black party. The library is a 6,000 square foot one story building with lots of natural light provided via windows and atrium. There is a little garden in the center. There is a teen room and children's room. There is also a public meeting room for community use. Self-checkout machines and bathrooms. I like the selection of DVD's. I saw quite a few TV, Showtime and HBO series to watch. I liked the music CD selection and checked out a few things. I liked the magazine selection ..I will be back on foot to spend some time reading. There is also free wireless (WI-FI) access to the Internet. I used to go to the original 387 Ashton location. That was small. It had also been in that location since 1925. When so many other cities and states are cutting and closing libraries I am glad in San Francisco we are opening and renovating.

A good place to read...maybe!!
Robert F.

The place to go to escape an be entertained by the world of fantasy, scifi, horror, suspense, romance, etc. Libraries are cool and getting to one often is very healthy. Finding a book that you can get lost in is always a great escape from the other goings on in the world. This library in particular is very nice. While the size is rather small it offers a decent amount of books to choose from. Staff is friendly here and seem to be willing to assist if there is a need.

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17 years ago

I've only been here once since the grand opening of the new one. I'm glad it's bigger, better, and cleaner now.

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Review Highlights - Ingleside Branch Library

It's significantly closer to Bart @ Balboa, and City College's Phelan Campus.

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Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room

Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room

4.4
(67 reviews)
5.3 mi

Since being unemployed in the Bay Area thanks to recent layoffs... I've taken the opportunity to…read moreexplore the city during the weekday. Specifically to do things that are only possible on the weekdays. Like exploring some historic buildings! The Mechanics Institute is one of the oldest institutions on the West Coast and this particular building had been around since 1910. It is a members only building, but they hold free public tours on Wednesdays at 12 pm weekly (sign up available online through their website): - During the tour you'll learn a little bit about the history of both the institution and SF, but you'll also learn about what it does today. You'll get to see the chess room, library, and some art deco architecture elements like the spiral staircase and glass dome ceiling. The Chess Room was fascinating since they talk about some notable members, like how the author of Queen's Gambit was a member of their Chess Club. - The tour time can range anywhere from 30 min to 1 hr depending on the questions that come up. However, they allow you to spend time afterwards exploring the library (or taking photos of the staircase) so you can hang out afterwards to look books, old magazines, or admire the collection of artwork they have on the walls. - During the tour you can go up / down the spiral staircase, but there is an elevator present for those who have difficulty walking up the floors. However some parts of the tour had us going through the library shelves and navigating stairs among the shelves. - Although the tour is an opportunity for them to showcase membership benefits... they are NOT pushy at all about selling memberships. However, if I were living near/in the city and working remotely... a membership would be a good option. It's very affordable compared to other private memberships and it's a quieter library than most public these days. They also have great WiFi and rooms available to do video conferencing, so it's a more affordable option than places like WeWork while still being in the city. Plus you can probably leave your stuff behind to run to the restroom quickly... something you can't really do working in free public places like a cafe or public library. This is on top of other benefits like members only events, etc. Honestly, this is a hidden gem in the city with historic significance - if I lived closer to the city and had a remote job, I would definitely look into getting a membership. Public libraries are still great, but I can see the benefits of a private library like this one. Cheers to funemployment and getting the opportunity to explore SF buildings!

The history of the Mechanics' Institute is quite intriguing, with great ties to the early 20th…read morecentury and is considered a historic building of San Francisco. Though this location is not the original building, it stands strong and tall in the heart of downtown. As with many structures affected by the 1906 earthquake, its original location was damaged and lost. But this location has been here early on for those who worked in the trade and was one of the first libraries before city public libraries were established. There are many stories to this building, housed with books of many genres. There's also community events that are for members as well as for non-members. So yes, there are fees to join any of their community events here. The history itself was probably more interesting about this building than the building itself. It is definitely very dated inside, but there are some notable designs that can make you feel like you're in a different time. A positive visit nonetheless.

Photos
Mother Road  ~ Featuring Octavio Solis and David Mendizábal {5/22/2024}
Mother Road ~ Featuring Octavio Solis and David Mendizábal {5/22/2024}
Lunar New Year and The Year of the Dragon: What Will It Bring?  Maxine Hong Kingston, David Lei, and Linda Lei.{2/1/2024}
Lunar New Year and The Year of the Dragon: What Will It Bring? Maxine Hong Kingston, David Lei, and Linda Lei.{2/1/2024}
Chess room

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Chess room

Ingleside Branch Library - libraries - Updated July 2026

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