A public library is an automatic 5-star rating. This one is on the smaller side compared to the other Santa Clara County libraries, but still great. The staff were super good, and this lady stayed with me to help me find the books I was looking for. read more

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Very nice library in downtown Los Altos with friendly staff.Lotsvof wonderful books and plenty of free parking

I love my neighborhood library! It's pretty spacious and has a good number of tables to study and work on. There is a robust kids area, a community room, and also a teen room to do homework. There are numerous tables lined up against the windows, and plenty of computers for use although I'm not sure if those are only for catalog searches. There is also a quiet study section where there's a bunch of desks lined up like a classroom. The desks are very small (meant for one person) and frankly, I had too many things. Anyways, I came to escape the heat wave and bask in the cool air conditioning while finishing the rest of my work day. I sat in the teen room because I think I pass at 19 (lol), but I had to move shortly since there were few spots with an outlet available. I was able to snag a table against the window that had an outlet nearby. By the way, you don't need a SCCL library card to access the internet, so open to all! I definitely will be coming back to this library to do some work if I don't have any meetings. Compared to Woodland, Los Altos is open for longer and hours and has like 8x the amount of workspace. The library may be a bit outdated, but it gets the job done! read more

Lovely library in a lovely setting. I've stopped in here several times while I was in the area, but just recently got a library card. The woman at the desk was so nice, especially since I was so sure I had filled out my paperwork, but couldn't find it. I love their new books section, with lots of the present buzzy books. read more

This place is awesome. Lots of free fun all week long. The children's librarians are very nice and often help my daughter find books she likes based off of very little information. read more

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I love this gem of a library! They have so many books I love, also the newest DVDs, CDs and streaming media. There's a great selection of ebooks which kept me sane during the pandemic. The only downside - before the pandemic at least - is that it's quite loud. People wouldn't understand that it's a library and you should not be loud or talk on your phone with your loudspeaker on. The staff is too nice to say something. The library is now fully open again and I'm frequently going there. The staff are all volunteers and working hard. They are so friendly and helpful. I'm grateful for the library and its staff. read more

The library was nice, but I was surprised many parents brought their sick kids without mask. So please be careful when you go there before your trip or your kids' event at school. read more

Super cute library! I really enjoy the interior and there is ample space to study and do work. The wifi is pretty good and so easy to park! They also have an area called their quiet study area where it's just individual desks. The outlets situation is better in the normal study area but that area was quiet full when I went so I didn't get to go there. I also like that they're open until 9 PM! Great place to get some good studying or work done. read more

Los Altos Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Los Altos, California

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I love this library (: I have been going here since I was a young child, and the librarians and the environment has remained to be very comforting and sweet (: read more

I've been going to Los Altos library since I was young, and continue to go to this day. I visit at least once a week to get my weekly book-haul. The staff and librarians here are incredibly friendly and I love the atmosphere that this library has. The children's section, located on the left side of the library is huge and gives children a great place to read. I especially love the teen room that allows people to collaborate on projects without worrying about being loud and bothering other visitors. If you're looking to read/work in an incredibly quiet space, I recommend the section in the way back of the adult section. I frequently take advantage of the inter-loan system which allows you to place holds on books that are available at the other library branches in the area. Books that are in transit come in quite quickly. Their website is also really well maintained and is a great resource to download e-books and audiobooks! read more

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It seems like about 20 people today woke up with a rolling cough and said to themselves I guess the best thing for me to do is head over to Los Altos library and wander around randomly coughing on people. read more

By far my favorite public library in South bay. Very neat, well organized, cozy space. They have part-time volunteers who come to host the snack stand, which includes donated goods like home-baked cookies, granola bars, cheese sticks, milk, candies, and more. It's a great idea to help support the local community and organization. Also, especially love the ambiance of this library, always very clean and aesthetically pleasant! So many roses you can see through the windows! read more

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I swear, I'm that forever student always trying to find new places to study at... jk. While my hubby was at a job interview I found the Los Altos Library to kill time. Worried from the outside that it was going to be small inside, I was quite surprised when I waked in. The building is one story, with a lot of different rooms. All the noise and ruckus is centralized in the entrance area, which is expected... but as you walk further away from the noise, the back area gets pretty quiet. They have designated sections for Kids, Teens, Study/Quiet Area, etc. This is nice so that those that really need peace and quiet, actually get peace and quiet at a library. I wish all libraries had this type of layout. read more

been going to this library for years. great selection of books, nice people and librarians. pretty spacious, they used to host weekly children's storytimes and activities when I was younger, don't know if that is still a thing. now I come here to study, great teen room and area w/ public computers a little past the teen room. one thing i have to add that it kinda odd but i think its great. this place always has the perfect temperature. just the right amount of cold in the summer, refreshing but not enough to be cold. in the winter, just the right amount of heat, without causing you to feel sticky but still warm. read more

Not a quiet place to study and focus. People generally talk loudly in the open general area. No one tries to whisper, and parents seem to think it's acceptable to let their little ones scream and disturb all other users, and don't try to calm them down. Not once have I seen library staff take action to try keep order. read more

Nice library. I love libraries for their used book sales. This library even had some books for $0.25 each which is a steal. Their regular priced books were only $1-$3 as well. I got The Princess Bride for $1 which is great! There is also a small snack bar where you pay the box. The treats are very cheap. There is also a room you can rent out. The Bay Area Board Games group meets here regularly I believe. read more

Los Altos Public Library - $3 total! - Libraries Near Me - Los Altos, California

Surprising amount of material inside for a single level building that looks like it was built in 1940. Staff are wonderful. I had to tell a Silicon Valley bro to shut up when he wanted to have a full on business conversation on bluetooth, but aside from that, my visit to Los Altos Public Library was AAA+. read more

There's an apricot orchard next to the library, one of the last active apricot orchards in the Santa Clara Valley, creating serene country feel in the area otherwise fully developed into urban (alright, suburban) setting decades ago. Did you know there were nothing but apricot and cherry orchards here before? Much as the Gilbert Smith's apricot orchard, one of the few still intact in Los Altos, continues to thrive among the buildings on the Civic Center site, its library continues to thrive in the age of digital media, virtual reality, and online communications, in the very much real and meaningful form. read more

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This is probably one of my new favorite libraries. It reminds me of the Walnut Creek library before the upgrade. Homey, friendly, lived in, there's even an honor system self serve cafe in the space! Which they're apparently having some theft issues with, but that I loved because I was getting super dry and needed some water and a biscotti. Srsly. I needed that biscotti. There was a lovely amount of seating and just a wonderful community feel. I looked up living in the area after visiting - while it's too rich for my blood currently, this is definitely a library I'd love to have in my backyard! read more

Nice cozy library. I used to go to the Mitchell Park Library in Palo Alto, but this library is my go-to library now. Nicely organized, the staff is friendly and it is a cozy place to stay. When I looked for a specific article and I had an issue finding it, the person who answered my call was very patient and attentive. I was very impressed with her expertise. Recommended! read more

Love this library, primarily when all the four libraries in paloalto were inaccessible due to renovation work I would hit up los altos library. They have profound collection of books and being an avid reader I always find myself engaged rather busy here. Love the free internet its actually very fast the library is maintained very clean by volunteers. Separate kids and teen area is awesome. They have vast movie collection varying across the horizon. They usually have book sale for like 25-50cents which would add to a great collection in your homes. A day at losaltos library followed by dessert at Satura would perfectly round off my weekend. Love their tiny cafe to grab some snacks. There is a little apricot orchard by the library and its really great sight to catch. read more

Excellent selection and service. I go weekly so did drive up phase and order on line. New DIY check out is quick. Staff is friendly and available to attend to patrons needs. Clean library, everyone is masked and disinfectant still available. I have remained masked, hyper vigilant throughout and only eat outdoors on occasion so appreciate their consistency. read more

This library is really cool. There's a big park nearby, and a good and safe neighborhood. The facilities are new and clean and they have a variety of books too. It's very quiet and spacious with plenty of tables so it's a good place for self study too. read more

The Los Altos library is the best branch in the Santa Clara County system. Want advice from a helpful staff ? Want to borrow a new DVD or CD ? Need Call of Duty 3 or want to try a new Wii game ? Los Altos is the branch to visit. Though I've never actually made it to any of the programs (discussions, book clubs, workshops) offered by the library, I can tell the staff is enthusastic in their coordination of these events, and eager to help enrich the lives of those in the community. I reccomend asking the adult services librarians for new fiction suggestions; their picks rarely disppoint. EDIT 4 Nov 2k7: I was here yesterday, and as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I knew something was up. There were cars EVERYWHERE. I couldn't find a spot in any of my usual areas, so I had to drive towards the back of the lot to find a place. As I was walking in, someone nearly tackled me on the sidewalk and a middle schooler rushed past me to use the automated check-in machine. This was chaos ! I'm so glad I was only in to pick up some holds. As I walked in the door, there was a line of people and the clerks helping to check their materials out. One of the self checkout machines was down (the receipts weren't printing) and people pouring over the DVD section. I grabbed my holds and went to the reference desk to say hello to the always friendly librarians, and they were all happy as could be ! No sign of the chaos that surrounded them ! Made me think all those times I stressed out on Saturdays in retail were pointless. But then I remembered these folks aren't in the business of selling things and making deadlines, but providing people with information and literature. Apparently both were in high demand-that place was packed ! I loved it ! (Okay, so now you know how nerdy I am. It makes me happy that people were at the library on a Saturday afternoon... so what ?) read more

Old school feel,literally! It is a cozy cool place to wait while your son runs with pros around town for two hours as I did.I was surprided how nice it was.If not for computers.....I think as a kid if I grew up in this town i would enjoy some summer days coming here to study up on my hobbies! it really is conducive for reading and studying as it should be,it is! read more

Wow what a difference! After going to the Campbell library for the past 3.5 years, I forgot how lovely libraries can be. I usually request my books, pick them up when I'm notified they're in, and quickly exit the library. I spent a few minutes here the other night, and was very pleased I chose this for my new library. The librarians are friendly, and nice, (which is a welcome change.) The library is spacious, and clean, and their hold system is great. It's pretty clear where the money for this library system is going, (Campbell is part of the same group of libraries as Los Altos.) As someone who has spent countless hours in libraries over the years, and NEVER buys books, I greatly value a good library. read more

I love studying/reading/being here! It's quiet and they've got a hearty selection of books. Their bookshelf with all the new books is quite extensive, and my cousin likes to come here for all their manga so she can continue to learn English. The librarians have been here forever. There's one guy who I've seen ever since I moved to Northern California. I think their lack of turnover rate shows how good of an environment it is. There's free wifi, just punch in your library card number and PIN when you open your browser. It's not continuous, though. They shut it off 10 minutes before the library closes. My only sadness is that I like to study late and they close so early. :( read more

Best library in the county. I've been to them all and the combination of small town feel and book choices can't be beat. If you are looking for a best seller, this is the place to find it without waiting 2 or 3 months. With the amount of books I borrow, I bet I save a couple of thousand dollars a year. read more

As a library aficionado, you can say I have pretty high standards, especially when it comes to all-day study sessions. Los Altos library really hits the mark! As soon as I drive in to Los Altos, I'm surrounded by beautiful trees everywhere and an apricot orchard adjacent to the library. Don't be fooled by the looks of the building from the outside! The moment I walked inside, there was so much natural light that came in through the large windows. I always like to sit at the tables that face the apricot orchards and each one has it's own power outlet and the free wi-fi works very quickly. They keep the library very clean and the study tables are located toward the back of the library, away from the children/teen section, allowing for a peaceful study experience. Overall, the Santa Clara County library system does a great job of maintaining their libraries to make them as user friendly as possible! read more

My favorite library. Modern. Up to date. Wifi. Plenty of computers, and a great dvd selection, magazines, oh yeah and there are things called books? Plenty of tables for studying and the librarians are friendly. And a separate section for kids so they don't disrupt everyone. It would be cool if they had an outdoor area with tables and wifi. read more

The Children's Librarians in this branch are amazing, wonderful, patient people!!! I have only ever seen them on an evening where they are hosting a group event such as the Chinese New Year Puppet Show or a mini intrepretation of the Nutcracker and they are the most calm traffic controllers you'll meet in your life! I don't know what sort of extra training they received to handle this task but all know what to do to achieve the same calm command of hoardes of excited children and bewildered parents engaged in the struggle of standing on line to enter the activity room. The kids reading room in this branch is very nice, well maintained and seems to be designed to contain children in one place. It was obviously designed by a parent or childcare professional! The Lego table is a nice touch as are all of the cushioned areas suitable for cuddling up and sharing a book together. read more

I go here with the little girl that I teach...and their kids section is HUGE with a TON of great books. The check out process is also very quick and painless, pretty much the best place I've every been in terms of checking out books. read more

Just an absolutely fantastic place. Bring my 4 year old son to read almost every week. We have a great time with the books, legos and magnetic blocks. read more

My youngest daughter enjoyed the toddler sing-along at 10:15am Tuesdays. For me, this place is just nicely laid out with big windows, books, CDs and DVDs of all sorts neatly organized, and wide aisles. Though Los Altos is not as gee-whiz new as the Los Gatos library, it is still a welcoming environment for those who love to read. read more

Great movie selection, even new releases some times. Who needs to pay to rent movies?! They have a children's story time almost evrey weekday that my daughter enjoys. She went once a week the year before she started preschool. The children's section is well laid out, with a great area where kids can reach the books and couches and tables to sit at and read. They have ample internet computers that I have used, though the method of signing up for one could use better directions. They also have battery recycling, which I always plan to use, but sadly tend to leave my used batteries at home piled on the corner shelf in my kitchen. One of these weeks I'll get them there... Now if I could get self-returning books so I stop having to pay late & lost book fees it would be perfect! read more

I have been coming to this library since I was a tiny little kid, and every time I come here it stills fills me with that child-like wonder. Even when I come in here for one thing, I end up staying for hours and going home with armfuls of books, CDs, and DVDs. Their selection is huge for all of different types of media, and they have an entire room just for children. There are also a lot of computer resources here open for use to anyone who has a library card. The checkout system is really easy and fast, and they have a few of the self-checkout machines. The book return is also really simple and effective since you can choose to either drop your books off or do a self-return system that ensures against any late penalties. Also, this library belongs to the Santa Clara County system, so you have access to all the materials from six nearby libraries with one membership. If you want a friendly community library, this is the place to go. It's very peaceful and beautiful, surrounded by vines and an orchard with soccer fields and playgrounds nearby, a perfect place for individuals and families. read more

Easy to return books both during and after hours. Great selection of new releases and bestsellers; All genres are broken down into sections in the library, including sci-fi/fantasy. Great activities for kids, teens and adults both at and away from the library. Definitely use your library card to check out museum passes! read more

I'm not kidding when I say that no other library comes close to the greatness of the Los Altos Public Library, both in architectural design and in their massive selection of books and videos. First off, the building is designed conveniently for easy traveling, in case you need to get to a specific section fast. Second, they have a very great and very big collection of books, magazines, graphic novels, music cds, videos, and so on... There is also an isolated little room for students who need to study, as well as a neat cafe near the front door. Now, the cafe is "self-service", which means you take whatever snack you want and put the money in a glass box, which sorta makes it easy (and tempting) to take something and run off without paying. So that's why I took off one star... But all in all, the greatest library I've ever been into- so far... read more

I am surprised that apparently no one has mentioned that two EV charging cables are just down the way from the Library door, and there are four more EV charging cables just a hop and a skip down the road on the other side of San Antonio Road. We were here for a Thanksgiving dinner with some local residents; so we charged the Prius Plug-In before and after our visit. The City of Los Altos provided charging for a mere 32 cents per kwh, and there are good places to go while the charge is completed such as the Library, the adjoining park and sports field, and nearby businesses. Right next to the EV chargers is a pair of very decent rest rooms. If you do pass by the charger, it displays the current flow and the cumulative kwh transfer thus far; however, many would prefer to go away and come back promptly when the charge should be completed. read more

I don't live close enough to Los Altos Library. But once in a while, there will be something happening at the city's rec department so I'd be popping in. They do not have as big a selection as a few other libraries but I loved the Whipple collection. Have to say that the surrounding is real nice. read more