I love this little library. It isn't big, but it is a great place to sit and work. A couple bus lines run nearby which is handy. Staff are always helpful and friendly. While not my thing, they run several kids' story times throughout the week. My only issue is that I wish it were open more. read more

The Service: Staffs are very friendly and helpful. Got my library ID within a few minutes. They will mail you the library card in the mail. The Library: Free computer to use. The library is well maintained. Seeing very kids coming in... definitely show they have good selections of kids books here too. The Parking: They have private parking lot. read more

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Torrance also have great public libraries for children, familes, and students in the community. I used to read books here back in the days when i lived in the area. Not a huge library, But they have a number of books and magazines you can rent with a library card. Great security hear near the police stations. Very limited parking. Great staff here. read more

I think out of all the Torrance libraries, this is the most comfortable and convenient. It's ideal as it's easy to get to from the freeway, within the neighborhood and with a fun McMaster Park right next door. For those who aren't into reading per se, I find that this particular library has a good selection of books on tape/CD. This has been helpful on the long drives to/from work. The staff are really nice and they have weekly toddler reading time which my son enjoys. It is a bit small compared but feels like a comfortable neighborhood library you would find in a small suburb. read more

Quiet, clean library with free parking beside a beautiful and equally quiet park with a small playground and picnic tables. You will need a local library card, though. They don't accept LA county library cards, but you can get one of their cards on the spot with ID. read more

Ok...I'm pretty much a library nerd now! :) Recently remodeled, this is another satellite locations of the Torrance Public Library System. For a small local library, it's fantastic! The selection isn't as good as the Torrance Main Library, however, they still offer a little of everything. Easy parking and quick in and out is why I keep coming back. Check their website to make sure they have what you want. Audiobooks and DVD rentals are free!! BTW...Clean Bathroom :) read more

North Torrance Library - Libraries Near Me - Torrance, California

The atmosphere of this library reminds me of my childhood library...where the library doubles as free daycare. I didn't mind much at the time, since I love reading & even helped organize books to pass the time until my parents picked me up. From afterschool to until about 6pm, this small library is jam packed with kids running around and no one using their "indoor library voice", not even the librarians. I find it interesting that none of the librarians even try to shush to anyone. Probably because they know it is a losing battle. There are really no quiet corners at all. - Free wifi: decent speeds; pw is located on the top shelf of the YA paperbacks (currently it is: abcdef5651) - a few desktop computers: i believe you need a library card to use them - very friendly staff - need to sign in to use the bathroom key (apparently the bathroom has been vandalized lately?) - parking is located at the back, or street parking on Artesia (shares lot with a park & community center) I do like how they have pretty extensive hours (until 8pm most weekdays) since a lot of cities are cutting back on library hours due to budget cuts. CLOSED: fridays & sundays. read more

There is always people here, but there's still room to sit. This is a small cozy library with a decent selection for all ages. Most importantly, the staff is very nice and helpful. 5 stars for them. You need a Torrance library card to borrow books. Plenty of parking in the back. This parking area also has a newly remodeled playground. Kids can get the sillies out before hitting the books! read more

This library caters to children. I know that may sound weird because it is a library but it's different here. Whenever I visit this library doing the day, it is usually filled with crying children or a group of small school children who are on a field trip with their school. There are a few desks that you can use to read or do homework but don't expect silence. There are about 6 computers that can be used for printing and browsing the internet but they are almost always occupied. I always have an issue with the wireless internet here. It goes really slow....annoyingly slow. read more

Very small, cozy library. I find the children's book selection is very good. We were able to find many research books for school projects. Check the website to see if the book(s) is/are available before coming. Got a library card in a snap. Available parking located in the back of building, adjacent to the park. read more

It is small but don't underestimate what they have to offer. Staffs are very friendly and it is a great perk that if is located next to the playground. It comes really handy during summer time. I take my kids to the park and play for awhile then head toward the library to cool down and to read. Love the location and the staffs! Thank you! read more

If I can help it, I am never borrowing from a Torrance library again. Which is a bummer because they do have some really good books and dvds! It's just that I am so disappointed in their overall customer service. Or more specifically, their LACK of it. We frequented this library and the Katy Geissert one on Madrona and I don't know which one messed up our records but the incompetence boggles the mind. On Monday--after a "final straw" interaction--I told my kids that we were never going to borrow anything from a Torrance library again and we returned all 50+ items that we had borrowed. (Yes, we love books and movies.) This was following several incidents of borderline rude interactions with employees who apparently don't think it's necessary to like helping people (at both libraries). Plus finding an animated book illustrating sexual urban legends in the KIDS' anime section (that was at Katy). Plus not wanting to deal with their outrageous fees. (That's 75 cents per requested item--seriously?!! LA libraries do it for FREE!) This may not make a lot of sense to you unless you have kids but we returned half to Katy so that the kid seated behind me could put them in one of the book drops (which are on the driver's side) and then we returned the rest to North so that the kid on the passenger's side could put them in the book drop. Which is why I don't exactly know which library lost our books. Last night (Friday) I get a notice on my daughter's account that she has four items due soon. So I scold her for not returning them with everything else but she says she did. So I check her account and, sure enough, it says she still has SIX books out with one due Friday so now there's a 30-cent fine! Naughty girl! But then I check my account and it says I (ME!) have two books out--one of which is overdue since it was due Friday--and I KNOW I returned those books because I was bummed that I wouldn't get to finish reading one. Then I checked my two other kids' accounts and--surprise, surprise--they both have unreturned books listed as well! Books that I KNOW we returned. ('Cause, yes, I wanted to read some of those as well but hadn't gotten to them yet.) Long story short, according to them, we have 15 books out (2 overdue) on 4 separate accounts. Books that we returned FOUR days earlier. (I also realize that despite requesting email notices on all four accounts, I've only been getting notices on my daughter's.) So late last night (maybe about 2 a.m.) I send them a Facebook message detailing the above in a much shorter, less sarcastic form and asking them to contact me. This morning shortly after the library opens I get a phone call from a nice woman who wants to let me know that they got my message. Which apparently cannot be printed out or put up on screen since she proceeds to keep asking me questions that are clearly answered in my message. In the end, she tells me that she will put "Claims returned" on all the items in our records. Which means that we claim the items were returned and for 3 months they will look for the books and not charge us fees. And that means that the items no longer show up on our public-accessible accounts so we won't know if they find the items unless they inform us. Which, based on their past performance, is iffy. Hopefully they will get their act together, improve their customer service (but I'm not holding my breath), and WE will not be penalized further for THEIR incompetence. And I don't have to get stressed any more by dealing with them. For the record, the Gardena Mayme Dear Library is awesome and the staff are SO nice and competent and actually care about their patrons. My kids love it there! The library's a bit small but you can request stuff from any other library in the system (that's ALL the LA county libraries) and they'll get it for you for FREE. Amazing. UPDATE: They found the books Monday and I got an apology via a Facebook message. Still not sure which branch lost the books. Also, I realized that despite signing up for "due notices" for all four accounts at the same time, I've only been getting notices regarding one...my daughter's. Thank goodness for that or I would've never known they lost the books in the first place! Not that we'll need notices anymore since I'm not planning on borrowing stuff from them again. read more

Got a library card in less than five minutes and have been back several times since! They have a pretty good selection of audiobooks too! read more

Officially the noisest library in the South Bay. I'd have a better chance of getting some reading done over at Starbucks. read more

North Torrance Library - Libraries Near Me - Torrance, California

I am surprised by how many negative reviews there are. I have visited several libraries in the South Bay, and this library is just as quiet and clean as any of them, if not more so. All the kids I saw here were working on homework and being fairly quiet. It is definitely small, but the wifi works well for researching and paper-writing. The staff has always been friendly. Parking in the lot is sometimes difficult due to it being co-located with a park, but there is always street parking available. read more

I love this library! The front desk staff is prompt, helpful, and make you want to keep coming back. They welcome questions and will offer to call other branches to find a book you want. They have a nice size kids area with small chairs and tables. I enjoyed finding both old and new favorite books to read. I went shortly after school got out (the library is down from 2 local schools) and it wasn't overly crowded. Cozy is the perfect word for this library and parking is close and there is more than enough spaces. read more

THis library is very small compared to the other library I been too. When I first walked in, I thought it was going to be just a bit bigger then when I saw in front of me. When you first walk in , the front counter in in front of you, and few tables on each side and computers to use. You need a key to go into the restroom. Since it is so small, it can be noisy when the students come here after school. The wifi is slow most of the times. I feel like I am cramped up in this library. read more

Very small. Slow & unstable wifi. Small # of PCs with 1hr usage limitation per day.

North Torrance Library: Is DELINQUENT. Something is really wrong with customer service at this library. When I return my books after coming home from work, the library is closed so I used the library bin as there is no slot to physically return the books into the library itself. Later, I check my online account and found there was an overdue charge. The next day when I call them about it, they say well the staff came in early and already processed everything. So I thought ok well next time I'll get it in sooner. When another time comes and I need to return my books, I had to use the bin. I got them in as soon as I got off work. But it was right after they closed. Later I check my online account and again I found the overdue charge. The next morning, I phoned them during business hours. But no one answers the phone! I tried again thinking I must have dialed wrong. Again, no one answers the phone. I then called the main central library and said I think something is wrong at North Torrance library because no one responds when I try to reach them during business hours. They put me on hold, then came back on and told me the phone lines are down and they don't know when they will be back up again but to try again later. So I asked them if they, the central library, can help me. They said no I should contact the library I was trying to contact. I said I would if I could. That afternoon, I tried calling North Torrance Library again. This time, someone did answer and said they would backdate and remove the charge. Later however, when I check my email, I find an autoemail from the library saying I have the overdue charge and in delinquent status. Well here I thought they would take care of things but instead they just did nothing and left the charge in place. So the next time I call again, and they say well their computers were down so they could do nothing about it; but when the computers are fixed they will credit me. Eventually, I was credited but the damage was already done. Lots of wasted time and aggravation. I cannot help but think that if I did not speak up as quickly as I did, that North Torrance Library was trying to defraud its patrons by pickpocketing us, hoping we will give up and just pay them their blood money, even though the items were returned on time. It's not a large amount individually, but it can easily add up to a lot of money collectively--if it can be done to me, it can be done to everyone else who entrusts the use of their library bins. This is a small library branch. So really there is no excuse for the lack of efficiency in processing returns. It received 2 stars because the selection of material is slightly better than average. Otherwise, I would give this place just 1 star. Moral of the story: If you have to use the North Torrance Library, return the books directly in person. DO NOT USE THE LIBRARY BINS. Or return them a few days in advance of the due date. Or, the best practice is to stay away completely and use the County of Los Angeles libraries instead. They are much more efficient and are less likely to pickpocket you. read more

Great little library with friendly and helpful staff. One of the women was so helpful with finding books for my toddlers and made sure I knew of upcoming events for their ages. She even encouraged the kids to help her count out the books and videos as we checked out. This isn't a huge library by any means so don't expect to find a huge selection here, but it definitely has a wide range of material. read more