This is my favorite public library. Such a quaint little, BIG library. The location of this library is what I love most about this place. Beautiful park in front of the library which is good for a picnic or nap-- or reading, but who does that anymore? haha I absolutely love the little bookstore within the library. Ironic that I only like to buy books at a PUBLIC library. read more

Wow, the libraries down the peninsula seem to all be very nice. I grew up in SF libraries, and so I am used to very small spaces and non functional bathrooms. This place is very fancy in comparison. There is free parking on the street since the library is in a residential neighborhood, and they also offer underground parking for free. They have bike locks at the front and back entrance. There is a pretty big fiction section on the bottom floor and some videos that you can rent (DVDs and I'm sure VHS). The librarians seem to be nice, although I have not had to interact with them much, since the place has self checkout, which is awesome. Upstairs, there is a section for magazines and newspapers, which is nice, although you probably don't want to study here since there is a lot of noise. And best of all, there is a quiet area, where no noise is permitted. The desks are very nice and the place has free wireless internet. When you're at a table, you also have the option to use the Ethernet ports, but you have to bring your own cord. People are pretty respectful and quiet. My only complaint is the ventilation. Sometimes it gets pretty hot in there, especially towards the end of the day. Also, during finals week, it tends to get very very crowded. read more

What a wonderful place to study. I've been using this library as my study cave for a while now and it has almost never disappointed. The library is well lit, spacious and clean. Google provides free wi-fi which is also great. The lib is mostly comprised of people studying for an exam (like I was) or quietly reading to themselves. Parents bring their kids to the kids section on the first floor, which I have never really explored. The collection of books is also quite good. The only hard part might be finding a spot to sit in the afternoons. If you're a lil' late after lunch, it might be tricky to find a booth/couch to sit and read. Don't forget to try the rooms for group study. But once you get a spot, you can focus all you want. Overall, a great place! read more

First thing to know, parking is horrible But it's modern, the staff are ultra helpful and friendly compared to about a dozen other libraries in the bay area. read more

I just absolutely love this place. I usually come here to study. I get a spot in the quiet space. I have never had any problems in finding a spot. The place is clean. Being a bike rider, they have convenient spot for parking the bike. The Internet is free and the speed is good. Love it :) read more

Mountain View Public Library - This place is beautiful. - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

Perfect, clean, nice, friendly - I can send compliments indefinitely to this place. Shelter during bad weather and quiet office for reading and studying. I love it. read more

Library is great! Especially the kids section, it is completely separate from the other sections which makes it nice if you have a noisy four year old like me! The librarians are so helpful and gave me some great reference materials for programs in the area. It is in the center of downtown so it's a nice easy walk from my house. read more

This is an awesome library. The first thing you'll notice is the quality of the facilities and grounds. The library is a beautiful building inside and out and next to a gorgeous park. The parking lot right next to it is kind of small but there is plenty of parking either very close by or underground. All that is good but the real star of the show are the materials. To be fair, I am primarily a fantasy and sci-fi reader. This library has tons of these kinds of books upstairs. The best part though is the "New Fantasy and Sci-Fi" section that has all kinds of current books in those genres. This is the only library I have encountered with such a specific section. The other part I love is all the DVDs that can be checked out. The movie selection is pretty big in my opinion. What is even better are all the TV shows that are available. I watched six seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which is amazing) for free. And they even have stuff as current as The Wire, Glee, and the Sopranos. No Homeland (yet) but for no charge you can't do much better. They also have a great inter-library loan program to get books that they might not have but any other library in California might have. Overall this is a great library that is well maintained and up to date. read more

I love this library! Super nice and big. The kids section is downstairs and adults is upstairs.

I'm a big fan of libraries in general, and Mountain View's public library is one of my favorites. It's large, bright, and clean with excellent selections of books, movies, and music. The first floor has the self-checkout/return area (with two or more staff members usually available to answer questions), the movie/music sections, teen/kids sections, and the new arrivals section. The 2nd floor has relatively large fiction/non-fiction sections, a magazine section, a number of pay-for-use computers, the reference librarian, and spots to lay claim for doing your work. I think you can place holds on up to 10 items at the same time. When you log into your library account, you can track the status of your holds and freeze them if desired. In the past, you could only place holds on unavailable items, but now the library also allows you reserve items that are on the shelf. This is a nice, new convenience. The library's dvd collection is very popular with good reason: it's huge and has a good mix of genres (including documentaries, foreign, indie, etc.). The waiting list builds quickly for the most popular new movies (it sometimes surpasses 100 people), but the library will often order 10+ copies of the movies with the highest demand. The dvd collection also includes many old and current tv shows. You can borrow an entire season for two weeks. If you can't find what you're looking for in MTV's catalog, you can check the Link+ catalog, which spans many libraries across CA. If the item is available in another library, it usually takes about a week to process your request and transfer the item to Mountain View. Using Link+, I've borrowed books and movies from libraries as far away as San Diego (and as close as a few towns over). Such a great resource. Once each quarter (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) the Friends of the Library organization holds a huge, weekend book sale behind the library. Most books and dvds are $1 or less, and for the last two hours on Sunday, you can fill up a bag for $5. The sales are packed with book lovers, but everyone's pretty polite in the close quarters (with the exception of an older gentleman who managed to shove me three times in one 30 minute span!). They accept book donations throughout the year to include in the sales so consider giving some of your old books to this good cause! read more

This place used to be soooo ghetto! It was such a depressing library when I was a kid, but nonetheless, I was a bookie (you know, instead of foodie, it's bookie? anywho...) I absolutely LOVED books as a kid even as gifts so naturally, I was always at the library. Been coming here since I was an innocent child then into my adolescent when I would come here to see boys and then into college, when the city did a fine job renovating the entire library, I spent every Sunday here in college so I could study. It's definitely a gem in MV. the computer room is small but I always seem to get a computer in a decent amt of time. Service here is good and friendly. This is a library I'd love to take my future kids to one day... read more

Great studying library for the MCAT. Open til 9PM. Wish i would have known about the crappy internet. Its a total fail with connection and speed read more

I only wish this place would stay open later. I don't come here as often as I would like. I used to come here to study all the time, but now I have a study partner who prefers cafes and bookstores. They have lots of tables where I can plug my laptop into, and there are some comfy chairs that I can lounge and just read in. And they carry NOLO Press books, which are awesome resources. I refer patrons to this library all the time because of their NOLO Press collection. I love libraries and this is one of the better ones I've been to. I don't like the underground parking garage because I'm super paranoid so I try to find street parking right next to the entrance. read more

Clean, spacious, bright, plenty of outlets and table space, and no bums loitering around like all SF libraries. Biggest problems: poor reception for tmobile (at least on the 2nd floor), very poor reception of GoogleWiFi, and no wifi for itself. Bring an ethernet cable if you want to get online! Grr. Otherwise I'd give this place a 5. read more

MVL rocks. When I was a poor student (and even after that) and didn't have Internet, I'd come here with my ethernet cable and plug in to the wonderful world wide web for free. You could also print 10 pages out for free. (I sound really poor now.) There are a lot of comfortable chairs to read or snooze in (including in the "Quiet Room" where all you hear is snoring) and well-lit, wide tables to spread all your books out on. I can generally pick up a DVD I've been meaning to watch, and I'm a big fan of their reserve system. I usually get books much faster than I expect and it's so convenient to just pick them off the hold shelf where they're clearly marked by last name. This is a beautiful, well-kept/stocked library and a real treat for MV and surrounding residents. read more

Love the Mountain View Library, deduct a star for noise level, especially on 1st floor, it seems out of fashion to keep your voice down when at the library. A quiet atmosphere makes for a much more enjoyable experience IMO. read more

Cool place to dive into the lake of writings. May be not able to satisfy everyone but still readers can't neglect this place.

This library is as good as it gets for a town the size of Mtn View. Free google wi-fi, excellent children's section, revamped teen zone, lots of comfortable places to work and study. When my kids were younger, we'd enjoy the weekend reading activities. Now, as a consultant, I frequent the library to get some focused work done. I've lived in Vancouver, Toronto, London, Chicago, Evanston and Sunnyvale and this is my favorite public library. read more

Nastiest librarians I've ever met. Maybe I'm wrong to be expecting them to be the friendly & helpful sort I fondly recall from my childhood. Every time I go, I am just sorely disappointed. read more

Amazing Library. It features many books, has a awesome lobby with a spiral staircase, and study spaces that have both teen and children's areas. read more

Wonderful library! Friendly staff, excellent selection of books, and well organized. I love being here. There are plenty of desks, tables and private areas for studying, working or just enjoying a book. Thank you, Mountain View. read more

I am not a big fan of libraries but there's something special about this one. It could be because I used to come here to check my email when I could not afford my own computer. Anyway, during all these years the library gas been my connection to the community, without it I would have become a lonely man. The library plays a special role to integrate people from different backgrounds, there are activities and other resources available to everyone. Despite the budget cuts the most important services are still there. Big five star for the Mountain View library! read more

I wait for Thursday every week, that's when bookmobile rolls into the campus every week bringing all the requests and then some. This is my very first yelp review, and it had to be about bookmobile. I am a lazy guy who would never go to a library but online selection and campus delivery of the books- Sign me up. Cody is the best, he remembers everyone (yes everyone) by one's name; he remembers your taste, and give awesome suggestion with greatest of conversational humor. Every single time I have sent email with requests for last three years, every single time he has replied with "sure thing!" Bookmobile is one of the good thing in my life, thanks for bringing this in! read more

I have not yet explored the print collections of the Mountain View Public Library, but am in awe of the DVD collections, spanning both domestic and international releases, as well as including so many in the Criterion Collection. I really appreciate the automation features such as the RFID on the pieces and the checkout/checkin systems attached to their Innovative Interfaces™ integrated library system (the library's database with its various patron, library catalog, and associated modules). The coolest thing I tried just recently was the drive through return system (not to dissimilar to the return system outside the main entrance)--the library user drives into the underground garage, waves a library book or other material in front a panel, which detects the RFID and the cover of the unit opens revealing a conveyor which takes one piece at a time, and at the end, you have a list of your returns on a screen with an option to print out a receipt confirming the returns. Nothing short of what I might expect of a municipal service residing in "googleland," as one friend calls it. While many other libraries have cut their hours, this fine institution has a broad range of hours covering even both Saturday and Sunday. I'm looking forward to discovering more of the collections, services, and community outreach the City of Mountain View Library has to offer. read more

Friendly staff, great space, excellent children's programs. Certainly a welcoming environment for ethical and cultural diversity. They have a rather impressive book collection for kids, as well as in the areas of technology, history, hobby, craft and recipe. I just wish that they will offer a better variety of law, business and startup related materials in the near future, given its location in the heart of Silicon Valley. read more

Definitely one of the nicer public libraries I been to. I definitely prefer this place compared to the libraries in San Francisco. I love the study rooms here (you have to reserve it). They have huge tables, comfortable chairs, free wifi, and clean bathrooms! It actually kind of reminds me of Shield library at UC Davis during the summer. Its a quite and excellent place to catch up on some studying. read more

Indy music in the YA section!! gogogo quick because it's closed to grown ups after 3PM.

Whoever didn't give this library a 5 is a spoiled brat. It's a public library! PUHLEEEEZE get over yourselves. There's wide selection of DVDs and CDs to rent (we're not just talking old 80s movies--- there's foreign, new releases, and TV series to watch). There's a hefty selection of books. There's a nice little children's section. You can self-check out and renew books online. It's clean and well-lit. There's underground parking. Everyone wins. read more

I was a bit worried that moving from a city that has a great library to a 'burb in the Bay was going to mean that library meant a room in the back of City Hall that had 3 old cassette tapes and a worn-out VHS tape of The Godfather. Good thing I moved to Mountain View. Whew! Nice library! The inside is modern, my daughter went ape when she saw all the books for her. The DVD selection is pretty darn good too. About the only ding I can give this place is the fact that the website is somewhat clunky. Not what I expected from a city where the headquarters of Google is located. read more

I have much love for this library. When I worked in Mountain View I was here everyday after work picking up reserved movies. They have the most outstanding selection of dvds/movies that I have ever seen at a public library. Small independent films to major blockbuster showings. Their online catalog is amazing and up to date with great synopsis and easy to do reserving system. It's like a cheap person's netflix, go online, put yourself in queues for movies and wait, except when you do get your choice, you have to watch it w/in a week or pay the fines. read more

Tremendous library. Nice collection, attractive, well-lit, reliable wi-fi, ample seating and and outlets. If you get a seat, you'll have an outlet, which should be par for course in this connect age, but is all too rare. As an added bonus, the park outside is very cute and a nice place to sit and take a break. read more

Clean, new, and less creepy people than Palo Alto library. The receptionists were a bit brash, not sure what the reasons were but... oh well I guess? Computers are really outdated, but I'm just assuming cause it's a public library. read more

This is my go-to library when I need to hardcore study. I love how there are outlets everywhere for laptop purposes- those are pretty rare at other older libraries. FYI- There's parking underground- I just found that out. read more

Great place to get some work done. There's a lot of natural lighting and nice views of the park through the large windows so it doesn't feel stuffy if you're going to be working for a while. (: read more

I still go to this library even though I live all the way in San Jose. I love that it doesn't seem to bother them that I don't live in Mountain View! I always find the children's books I want to use in my classroom. The checkout process is easy and very technologically advanced. And the return process is just as easy! read more

Best library, hands down on the Peninsula. Great CD, Movie and book collections. A bit loud for a library, apparently you don't have to be quiet anymore. Whatever happened to the shushing crotchety librarian? Kind of miss those days. Children seem to rule the ground floor, but some nice quieter spaces on the second. read more

Had an hour to kill before a business meeting on a late afternoon weekday. Looked for the nearest library, and lo and behold, Mountain View Library! It's located right off Castro and offers free covered parking downstairs! I didn't do much exploring around the library, but I sat downstairs in one of those comfy chairs and did some work on my laptop. Forgot Google offered free wifi for MV until I started scanning for wireless networks! Comfy, quiet place to work + free wifi = amazing! Can't say much for the book or upstairs since I didn't do much exploring but I'd come back again for study/work/books! read more

This library is insanely busy during the day, so i don't like the ambience for working here at all.

Overall, I like the Mountain View Public library - its building, books, staff. But it has some odd policies, and I hope Yelp will reach them - so they can reconsider... If you borrow a book and are "late" returning it (less than 2 weeks past the "due date") - they will send you a COLLECTIONS NOTICE for the FULL ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. Which means that - you will pay the same - whether you return the book or not, whether you keep the book 1.5 weeks past the due date or several years... This is a draconian policy which... - discourages return of books (why return the book, the fee is the same) - ensures a steady loss of older (out-of-print) books - unfairly penalizes low-income people - one of the larger groups of library patrons - in no way improves the return rate - but does discourage people from using the library at all (because if you can't pay this full fee, you can't borrow any other books - so better just not come back at all...) - demonstrates that this library doesn't want to establish a "relationship" with patrons - but considers us all - an easy mark (= source of extra income) - same policy, no matter how long a patron or how many other books returned "on time" and "in good shape" -- a former library patron read more

The building is beautiful, clean and pleasant. The selection is pretty good, but seems limited compared to the Santa Clara libraries that have many branches. I love this library, but I would also recommend getting a membership to Santa clara for when the MV library doesn't have what you want. read more