They give you a card the same you visit! I highly recommend you go there for any research project you're doing now.

I visit this library fairly often with my daughter and she loves it. We've also been here for story-time on many occasions. Some notes 1. Lots of parking 2. The pond outside the library with ducks and a small bridge is a huge favorite for kids. 3. They have a small play section for kids and their inventory is fabulous 4. The checkin-checkout process is fairly smooth read more

Beautiful library and great location. Nestled in a great neighborhood and community.

This is a nice library with plenty of parking. There is a park, a pond, and a family gym nearby. It feels like a little local community here. The book selection here seems pretty good. I've checked out books twice here and have always come back with tons of books in my bag. They also have movies and video games to check out too! There is even a "seed library" here where you can take some seeds home for your garden! I suck at keeping plants alive otherwise I would have taken some home! I think the only minor negative thing I can think of is that it's right next to the Menlo Park train station so when the train horn goes off it's a bit noisy. Note that you can return books to here or to any San Mateo County public library which is very convenient. read more

Menlo Park Library - Libraries Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Menlo Park Library - Where Dog Man Raises Your Kid & Nintendo Games Are Basically Free This isn't just a library--it's Menlo Park's best-kept life hack. The book selection is amazing, and the children's section goes wild--seriously, even your screen-obsessed 11-year-old will find something to get lost in (shoutout to Dog Man, aka the literary gateway drug for chaotic kids everywhere). Whether your kid's a reluctant reader or a future librarian, they'll find their lane here. Pro tip: Check the book drop-off hours--they're a little mysterious, like the Bermuda Triangle of return slots. And don't assume they're open just because it's noon on a Tuesday--double-check those hours online to avoid a closed-door heartbreak. Now, for the real MVP perks: * Free state park passes you can check out? Yes, please. * Video games and Nintendo Switch rentals for two weeks? Say less. (Just don't hold your breath for the newest titles--the waitlist is deeper than a Marvel multiverse, often 2-3 months long.) * Their online catalog is stacked, too--stream books, movies, and more from your couch. Want peace and quiet? The outdoor patio is a serene little haven--grab a coffee, sit under the trees, and feel like a main character in an indie film. There's even a solid pool of leisure readers inside if you're scoping for lowkey book club energy. Bottom line? Sign up for a library card. Save money, discover hidden gems, and maybe get your kid off YouTube for 20 minutes. Victory read more

The last two times I've been there, there's been a lot of homeless. The smell has been so overwhelming that it's hard to study and I had to leave. Some are loud as well. read more

I would like to give props to this library and the way they've handled the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic it was always a great place to study and do some work. Wifi was fast, and checking out books is easy with the do-it-yourself system. The pandemic protocols have made it easy to place a hold online and then set up online pickup. Today however was the first time I've ever heard anyone complain about the system. I witnessed two people ahead of me complaining about the process. I've never had any issues and feel that it's very easy. You just need your library card information and select a time for pickup online once you are notified your book is ready. You then get an email confirmation- actually SEVERAL confirmations, one when you make the appointment and one the day before your appointment as a reminder. I've noticed several people arriving for pickups WAY ahead (like hours ahead) and the check out person is very accommodating. Only point is I'm Not sure how those without email or internet access would undergo this process. But come on people, what's the point of making an appointment if you're just going to come 3 hours early? Have some common courtesy for the workers here and remember this is a FREE service (well paid by our taxes but still). In the beginning of the pandemic they weren't even open but still worked with Keppler's to send books I had on my waiting list! This library is great! read more

This is a great change-of-pace library for me. Ample parking, lots of open tables and very well lit. It is good quiet place to read, write or study. The staff are polite and helpful. I've definitely added it to my library lineup. read more

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Good location right along Alma and near the other community facilities! There's a lot of available parking for up to four hours and a small lot closest to the library for up to an hour. The librarians here are super friendly and helpful and the facility itself is very open and welcoming. I love coming here to borrow books, read, do some work, etc. There are catalog computers across the library to help you find whatever it is you need! I also really like the small bookstore at the front of the library! Take some time to look through the books because you can really find good books for really cheap! read more

Menlo Park Library - Entrance - Libraries Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Very large library with a nice fireplace and lots of seating. Book selection is good and library card gives access to a whole network of bay area libraries. Main con is no printers. read more

This library is underappreciated as a place to get work done. It can be loud when events are going on and is oftentimes slightly too warm, but they have many tables and different areas to do work and it provides a needed change of scenery. read more

Very strange rules at MP Library Main Branch. I was looking for a quiet place to read in the library. At one end of the room, there was a loud lecture. At the other end, there were people loudly playing pool and there was also a large meeting. In order to find some quiet, I sat in the teen section. There was no one in the teen section most likely because it was during the week and school was in session. A library clerk asked me to leave the area and when I asked why...and that it was empty, he said it was reserved 100% of the time for teens. Does this make sense?? Why not reserve the space for teens after school lets out? Ultimately I headed outside since there was no quiet spot in the library. The library has a room for kids, a room for teens (mostly unused), a pool room, and a discussion room. What about a quiet room for quiet readers!!! read more

I came here on a Monday evening to do some work on my laptop in quiet. It worked. It's a fairly large library with a main room, a children's room, a separate room, and finally a downstairs for the historical society. It's clean, ordered, and quiet. read more

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A great location right by Burgess Park and the Menlo Park train station. There is also a cute little duck pond nearby. Very easy to locate. There are many community activities held here including book sales, writer's panels, & movie nights. The inside of the library feels large and spacious. It is simple to sign up for a library card, especially because the information desk is right there when you walk in. I've been able to use the library app to put books on hold, request books from other libraries, & find out about library events. Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card. read more

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Lots of books and cozy plus spacious. Also laptops and DVD to borrow. A place to hang out alone and with kids.

Not only is this library an ideal place to read and study, but it also has excellent events. In just the last few months, they've had a paleontology exhibit, a comic convention, and a live bat exhibit. I'm looking forward to the upcoming Buddy Holly lecture. But that's not all; they have, and have had, many other events as well. As a side note, I really hope they do the comic convention again. I took my wife and son, and we all had a great time. There were local comic sellers, comic artists, and people in comic and movie-related costumes. There were activities for the kids, interesting documentaries playing downstairs, and a photo booth with various superhero-related backgrounds that you can choose from (we had our pictures taken with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Black Panther backgrounds). They also had local musicians playing pop culture-related music on the front lawn area and a DeLorean on display, flux capacitor and all! It was great seeing such a large, diverse group of people having a good time and sharing the experience together under one roof. If they have the comic convention again, I highly recommend checking it out. After all, it's free, so you really have nothing to lose. read more

A favorite Place since 1989 for me. Great selection of graphic novels and manga in both the teens and the adults sections closeby the refetence desk and computer center. Thousands of olde-school dvds and cds. Books on tape still exist here. Generous selections of new releases in Books and dvds and blue rays. Give your support to the Menlo Park Friends Book Store. Great selections for kids and young adults out front before you go in the Store. Help the Library buy new Stuff and keep things in shape when you Buy from the Friends Book Store. Helpful Refetence Librarians and Circulation staff. Several Books Sales throughout the seasons all year long. read more

Menlo Park Library - Libraries Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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While this place looks to be in a nice neighborhood civic center complex, with a few big parking lots attached to it, the facility itself is pretty small and is one big room -- unlike some more modern libraries in the area, it doesn't have any quiet study spaces (they have a community room downstairs that you can't use unless you have a large group) but I've seen people tutoring / meeting in some areas so I guess it doesn't piss anyone off to talk at low volume. The teen area is definitely a place where a little noise is ok but it's really close to a lot of the computers. Oddly, this place is also deathly lacking in power outlets. Once, I plugged into the power strip for a bunch of communal computers because I couldn't find an outlet anywhere. Welcome to the 21st century and electronic devices? If you're planning to get anything done in the half hour before closing, you won't -- they make announcements over and over during that half hour along with flickering the lights to get people out, which is fairly annoying. The format of the library is kind of odd. There is a patio located somewhere in the depths of this place, which is closed in and not a real exit for the building. I felt like the whole building was one long stretch with not a lot of exits. Speaking of these long stretches, there is this one corridor lined with magazines or CDs that has some chairs in the middle of it, and some homeless are just parked here sleeping with their suitcases and other assorted luggage. Guess the cops next door at the station don't give a shit because they're not really hiding that they need some shelter and this is the best they have. read more

I've never checked out any materials here, so this review is just about the library as a place to study. PROS: - Plenty of tables and single-person couches to sit at - Spacious layout/floorplan - The children's section is isolated in its own section of the library, so the main library area is pretty quiet - If you feel like browsing the bookshelves, it's totally possible at this library because each aisle is marked with a description of the types of books in those shelves CONS: - Only a handful of study carrels: a few in the main room, and a few tucked away in an isolated corner of the library - You can hear the Caltrain horns - but after a while, you get used to it read more

Real top-notch library -- great selection, easy to find books, helpful staff, great location, ample parking. Weekend book sales a-plenty, does exactly what you want a library to do and more! read more

The selection is so much larger than the tiny libraries in SF that I'm used to and it's quite a bit larger than the downtown Redwood City library. I haven't seen so many VHS tapes in ages and they have a really good CD selection. I couldn't believe it when I walked by and saw Diamanda Galas on display. They had THREE of her CDs. I'm impressed. The CD selection at the Redwood City location sucks. And they have the best collection of knitting books, they even carry Twinkle's Big City Knits and Celebrity Scarves. It's not new but it has a comfortable, spacious, open feeling. It's bright inside with ample natural light. The wallpaper, the fireplace and the wallpaper make you feel like you're in an older, slightly grandmotherly lodge. The padded chairs are comfortable. Padding makes a difference. Most of the windows have views of the trees in the park area that the library is located in. And I've seen black squirrels out there. They have tons of computers with Internet access, though most were occupied. There's a book shop and bathrooms. They even have free books and magazines. The free wi-fi signal was good and strong. It was also very quiet except for the occasional crying baby (why bring a baby to the library?). They have their own parking lot where you can park for free for four hours. It's open 7 days a week. read more

Great location and easy drop off returns. I love this library and the quaint pond and shaded areas to sit and enjoy a good book.

Great spacious location. But Noisiest library. I dare you to find a quiet spot. What happened to the librarian shhhing the noisy offenders ...?! read more

Needed a place to study so headed here since I knew I'd be able to actually get some studying done. Well, it turns out that I didn't find this library to be a conducive environment for studying...no matter where you sit, even if it's at your own private desk, all the way in the back, away from the open area. Voices carry over and it can get really annoying. There should be private rooms people can reserve if they are meeting up with a tutor or with Project Read. I understand that you need to read out loud or practice your Spanish speaking skills, but it's distracting if people are trying to understand concepts. read more

Re-opening after a few weeks closed due to remodel, my expectations were higher. Much higher. What on earth did they do that took so long? Sure, they upgraded the computers and check out process. +1 What else? No clue. The bathrooms needed some serious attention and it looks like they got mostly overlooked. Remodel aside, huge selection of media (books + music + DVDs...) If MP doesn't have it, a library card here gives you access to the entire Peninsula Library System. Holds are $0.75 a pop. Loads of seating & work space and a bundle of computers. Remodel bashing aside, I heart the MPL for one reason: used books galore. HUGE selection of used books for sale for cheap. Well organized unlike most used book sections I've seen at other libraries. They often have new titles, and for the girl that's refused to upgrade to an e-reader, this is pretty amazing. Win. Loads of books at home you no longer want? Unload away on the cart by the back door, everyday but Tuesdays. Proceeds from used book sales go back to the library. read more

Ewww!! The most gross and unpleasant experience for a library. I came here on a Monday afternoon. This is a small library, no study rooms, but there is a cute patio area where you can sit and study but they do not have any extension plugs/power outlets! So I walk towards the tables sections so I can sit and study and there are homeless people sitting on the couches sleeping. As I'm sitting there studying, one of them gets routy and starts to flirt in an obnoxious way with one of the girls that works there asking her to go on a date with him. Then he comes over to me and tried to do the same. Eventually the cops came and got him. It was loud and It truly was a disgusting experience. I will never come back here again! read more

This review is for the Story-times. They have a good schedule of story-times for baby's and toddlers. Some of the readers are hit and miss, sometimes too quiet or they try to hard to sing on key or they read too many books. The toddlers don't care how good you sound, they need to hear you to be engaged. There are a lot of childcare providers escorting kids (i.e. nanny's) and sometimes the kids can get a little out of control, but all in all this is one of the better story-times around. read more

I would give it 5 but I come across some very distracting homeless people. I understand they're tired and need a clean place to rest but a library doesn't quite fit.. Most days, I do not come across this issue and the library is normally quiet, clean and very well lit. If you're studying for long hours, I suggest you bring a jacket and maybe some ear buds (just in case). There's also a very nice patio area where I like to take my breaks. read more

I'm gonna share my secret study spot with you, but if I come and you're there, you have to get up and study somewhere else. So ya go past the magazines and VHS tapes that take up entirely too much shelf space considering that nobody uses VHS these days and on the left there is an aisle of isolation desks against window walls. There is a door nearby if you have to take a call on your cell phone but don't want to pack up all of your stuff, it's quiet because it adjoins a row of books that nobody wants to read (I would tell you what they are, but I don't want to read them so I don't know), and there are power outlets so you can connect your laptop. They have free wi-fi too. Magazine selection good and extensive, DVD collection decent, they tend to get popular new books (NY Times bestsellers and what not) fairly quick, and the librarians are helpful and polite. I study here way too much and find it quiet and well-lit. Now if you don't mind [ahem], you're in my seat. read more

I LOVE the Menlo Park library. It's free, one can borrow up to 50 books (!) at a time, they have almost everything (or you can request it for free from other libraries nearby). They have so many types of books, from (new) cook books, travel guides, novels and music. I've also bought several books from their little 'friends of the menlo park library store'. My 3-year old daughter also loves to go to the library, read books, play with the blocks, sit at the small table, watch the Caltrain go by. We are soon moving away from Menlo Park (to the Netherlands) and the library is one of the things I'm going to miss a lot. read more

This library is okay. It only has one floor and a huge open space. I guess I dont like how there are not many nooks and crannies you can go into and study in. You can hear the occasional train sounds passing through. 4 hour parking limit in the lot. read more

This is my primary public library and has been for 4-5 years. Even after moving to Palo Alto, I continue to head over on a regular basis because its got a great feel, open, welcoming, good impulse browsing in the music, dvd and new book section and access to inter-library loans at the .75 cent charge (a little annoying, but cheaper than buying that next book in a series I just started.) Pros: Great layout, helpful professional staff (librarians), good collection development (newer items coming in, older stuff not weeded off the shelves irrationally just because the library needs shelf space for new material.) Spacious and open feeling with a number of good spots to set up to get some studying done. Cons: New teen/young adult section under-used and crowded out some nice stuff I liked like the community bulletin board and free book exchange bin. Homeless and transient population disproportionately represented, taking over not only internet terminals but also some of the best little corner spots suited for quiet study. Parking lot can fill and they gave up half of it for the new gym. Bike and other thefts frequent (but if you didn't lock it up or walked away with it unattended, did you give it away?) Neighboring communities in Mountain View and RWC also have nice libraries, but Palo Alto has been a cluster for a while with crammed little branches that now all seemed to be closed at the same time for renovation. read more

Wow, amazing library: lots of state-of-the-art computers, a huge collection of books, CDs, and DVDs. There are some benefits to living in a community of property-tax-paying-internet-millionaires. The library's recent acquisitions take up 4 shelves! It's conveniently located right downtown so you can park on Alma street (free 2 hour parking), walk to Borrone's and get a latte, check out the cutie adolescent skater boys in the skate park, and end the whole shebang with a visit to the library. HOWEVER, I cannot give this library five stars because you actually have to pay a buck to rent the DVDs. What???! Ben Franklin would be incensed, as I am. I may as well keep my annoying Netflix subscription. I thought the whole point of libraries is for people to have FREE access to books and such. Oh well. So I just get books here. The children's section is huge and the librarian is quite helpful. They have a kid's storytime here as well, but I've never been able to get my kids ready in time for it, and anyway, the one time I took my babies to storytime at a different library the librarian gave me a look because my twins were screaming during her rendition of "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I have never been prouder. I hate that song too. read more

I like this library. I am in it right now, using ur wiresless connectionz, writin ur reviewz! LOLzorz. Um, sorry about that. I got a little carried away there. Anyodd, this is a decent library. It's convenient in terms of location (at least for me :P) and is fairly large. There are a number of little nooks and crannies to lose yourself in, but a lot of them don't have plugs, so if you're a lap top user like myself you're a little limited in that regard. Otherwise, there are lots of tables to spread your stuff onto. Fairly large building. It aint the NY Public, but it's OK for Menlo Park. A little outdated in terms of architecture, but I'm not gonna knock it for that. Function over form here. This library is also open 7 days a week with good hours: always a plus for dorks like me. read more

"In life, there is a time to accumulate and a time to divest." At my age, I don't buy very many books any more. First, my storage space is 110% full. Hence the local library. When you see the Menlo Park LIbrary, it is hard to believe that Menlo Park is a dinky little town of 28,000. Fixed boundaries and a height limit have kept it at this population for the past 50 years. But the library, and in fact the whole civic center looks like it should be in a city of 100,000. It's elegant! I began using the Menlo Park library when it was much, much smaller -- beginning in the 1950s I worked at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) which is a weak stone's throw from the library. And, like all of the San Mateo County libraries, ours is interconnected with a fine computer search system. I can order any book from home and get an email when it is available for me to pick up. The cost is $.75 -- not bad. They are very happy to order new books if I happen to hear about them before their reference staff. The staff is very pleasant, well trained, and well read. I really enjoy hanging out there -- I hope they don't start charging me rent! The audio CD collection is extensive and well cataloged. They also have a good selection of books-on-tape and -on-disc. read more

I've been going to the Menlo Park library since I was a kid. Lots of books, selection, helpful staff....and a good little shop to buy books. I recently had a great experience at the MP library. I needed some magazines for a craft project and the man at the check out brought me to the back to look through the old ones they had. I took a bundle and made a good donation. Score one for service and my craft project! read more

The Background: Large and open, this is the only library I've ever seen people waiting in line for it to open. Due to its size, it has a lot of great material which is nice because transfers/holds cost money. Additionally, there is a lot of parking The Positives: Personally, I liked the open spaciousness of the library. However, I can see why it would get on some people's nerves because it's definitely not that quiet of a place. Also, since the library is so large, they tend to have a lot of the material that I'm looking for. The Negatives: I'm not a fan of the fees for placing a hold and transferring books from another location. But, I guess the positive side is that the books are generally in stock and you don't have to wait so long to get them. Also, while not really a problem with the library, it's a huge pain trying to make a left on Ravenswood from Alma. read more

I used to walk here when I wasn't working for books, resources, and for the surrounding area(nice park and stuff). Sure.. they do charge a buck for some rentals, but I think of it more along the lines of a library or a city service that is conscious of the costs, and is taking measures to try and provide a lasting service. I would expect this library to continue to offer great services for years and years to come. read more

It's not the best library in the universe, but it's pretty good. San Mateo library system has SOME of the books I'm interested in, but I'm often looking for design books that the library system just doesn't have. Menlo Library staff are very courteous and knowledgable. Friendliest I've seen. I'm used to librarians being like post office employees. No offense postal employees: please don't shoot me. Menlo Library is a fair place to hang out and work or read. I've tried hanging out on the patio but the HVAC units are too darn loud. The rest of the library is pretty packed all day, so you can count on moderate quiet, but not solitude. read more

Oh, Menlo Park Library, your remodel has let me down. In a region filled with interaction designers, user experience people, etc., how did you manage to make so many totally unnecessary mistakes when you remodeled the entrance area? First of all, no one can find the slot to return the books. You know this -- that's why you have a staff librarian drifting around the entrance area (which leaves no staff sitting at the new reception/library desk). You couldn't even put up a sign as a stopgap measure? The slot is on a corner that is almost impossible to notice from the door. The wall where the book-return area clearly should be has a large flat-screen television instead, which, thankfully, was turned off today. Do you really want people stopping right in the doorway to stare at a screen? About the book-return slot itself -- really, no counter space at all? I guess I can put my heavy bag of books on the floor and return them from there, but for anyone with back problems, this setup is going to cause some problems. And most of us like having a counter nearby anyway. Maybe put a table nearby, at least. The new carpet is going to give someone a seizure. I understand that you want something that will wear well and where dirt won't show up, but I can't imagine that it had to be that bad. Also, the delightful table of book recommendations that used to sit near the counter where people checked out books is no more, and the tables over by the new section don't make up for it. The whole place still does not smell good. I know that's not your fault and that the library should be a resource and a refuge for everyone, and I support that. But I genuinely do not know how people are able to sit there for hours -- I get in, get my books, and get out. I can't help wondering if there's really nothing that can be done with the ventilation, etc., to improve the situation. My last critique: When the automated checkout system was updated, all the font was turned into comic sans. If you are the kind of person who cares about this sort of thing, you will understand why I am appalled. If I actually believed that it increased readability for children, I might feel differently -- but I bet it doesn't. Comic sans! Come on. So why three stars? Otherwise, it's a decent library. Decent selection, pretty good inter-library loan, etc. I will keep going there. I'm just disappointed that when they had the time and funding to make things better, they didn't. read more