Beautiful, quiet, clean and overall just a great place to sit down for a few hours and study or read. I don't check out books here so I can't review the variety of titles or other book related things but as a study place, this is probably my favorite. There are lots of windows that let in natural light and there are lots of comfy, clean tables and chairs to sit at and get to work. Parking is free, though limited to a few hours at a time, so if you plan to be there long, you'll have to move your car once or twice but there is lots of parking in the area. read more

After growing up with a crappy and small library, Orinda finally built this amazing library, worthy of our great little town. It's beautiful, quiet, and airy, with high ceilings, tons of windows, and state of the art technology. I love the little alcoves (like bay windows) on the sides, with tons of poofy pillows to sink into. It's so private and cozy, like a slice of home. The selection of books is quite good, and you can always get books transferred from other libraries. It's a vast improvement from the previous small and old library just up the hill. read more

I'm especially fond of the money they save me on magazines. Everything from Cosmo to Dwell to Wine Spectator to Wired.

This is one of the best libraries I have ever been to. I can't really add anything that people haven't already discussed. It's super clean, bright, has tons of seating, and it's just really nice. The one thing that is hard sometimes, is finding a parking spot, but you always find one. read more

My favorite library in the east bay! Nice comfy seats, always super quite , and clean. Great place to hang during my breaks from work.

This is the best library in the Contra Costa system. The Lafayette branch may rival it when its built. Check out the Friends of the Library bookstore, open different hours, near the entrance to the library....some of the best bargains anywhere. read more

Very nice, clean ,bright, spacious library. Wide aisles, little window seat nooks where you can sit in the sun & read. Please don't take off your shoes & lay down & read though, you are in a public place not your home. Please do not sleep in the nooks unless you are over 60 then we forgive you. It's embarrassing to run across sleeping library patrons. Good book & DVD selection. read more

One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday is taking my kids to the Orinda Library, the Cafe downstairs, then to the adjacent playground. Love my Library! read more

The library is well stocked and books from other libraries arrive quickly. The airy room is always clean and well ventilated and I don't worry about about getting sick from germs. The staff is helpful and patient with questions and searches. Anyone who complains about this library needs to visit a town where there is no library. You'll realize how good you have it. read more

This library has plenty of outlets for laptops at each table, good lighting, and lots of desks for studying. I like how this one is partitioned, how it is sectioned off with the shelves. This is one of the few public libraries I've been to so far that is actually quiet throughout. And I love that. I can count on this place when I need it silent to crack down on my studies. read more

Incredibly rude staff, one actually rolls her eyes and turns her back when I approach her to ask a question, as if to say "don't bother me!". They pride themselves on being so wonderful for kids and family, but the kids "corner" is a tiny section of the library, with no staff at all to ask questions, and if the kids dare to raise their voices above a whisper or step foot into the "adult" space, their parent or caregiver is reprimanded loudly and rudely by the staff. Unbelievable. Other libraries in the area are much friendlier and more open to children. read more

This is a great library to study at if you can do without coffee. I can't. So I won't be going here again. (No food or drinks allowed inside) read more

If you need to read or study, don't come here. I'm sitting here, kids are screaming, and adults are talking. I spoke with the lady at the desk in the middle of the library and she did nothing. read more

The Orinda Library is quiet, spacious, and homely - aka the perfect place to study. The internet is actually pretty quick but damn that 60 minute (I think) time limit. There is an extensive selection of multimedia and books but I rarely ever actually check out anything from this library, or any library for that matter, unless some sort of project at school absolutely requires me to. I'm just not a fan of sharing books and having to worry about late fees and what not. I do like the super high-tech self checkout, although it is somewhat time consuming if the person in front of you is taking twenty years to check out their one book. This is one of the higher end libraries around town, complete with a cafe downstairs and everything. Check out the bookstore next door.. you just might get lucky and snag up a few books. I was able to buy a bunch of Gossip Girl books for only a QUARTER! Oh and then reward yourself with a pastry and ice cold Italian soda after all that studying :) read more

This is a clean, quiet space with good light -- a nice place to work. But if you're looking for speedy Internet access, head to the coffee shop downstairs. The library's wifi signal is spotty at best. read more

I LOVE this library. It's clean and quiet and the ambience is perfect for browsing the bookshelves, or just sitting and reading. I also love the location on the Village side of Orinda. You can park in their street-level parking lot or underground parking for 3 hours max. After visiting the library, you can peruse the adjacent art gallery of local artists. On a nice day, take a stroll around the beautiful plaza with it's wonderful water fall feature. The community park is next door which has a walking trail. Below the library is a nice little cafe in case you get hungry or thirsty. The Friends of the Orinda Library has a book sale once a month with some great finds. read more

I am from Concord and always go to the library there and never had a problem until I was trying to teach myself Excel last week. Concord is so so noisy. People have the audacity to bring a transister radio while they are on the computers, have earphones on listening to music very loudly, will have 5 minute phone conversations with others while using the computers. So yesterday while visiting my sister I came to the Orinda Library and fell in love. So clean, so plush , so quiet and so me. The sun streams down through the windows and you can sit in a window seat while you are reading a book......how delicious.They have have two sets of 7 computers with 1 hour times and 1 set of 7 computers with 2 hour times. Today I am in th library in the 2 hour time section and very very surprised that one of the two older men has a transister radio on and no one is the wiser. If not for that I would have given it 5 stars. I think at all libraries they should have someone walk around for thirty minutes in free time and see if someone needs to be told to have their phone conversations outside or to turn their music or radios down. And I must say that Concord does not have a Caffe on the ground floor with the most delicious rocky road cookies and the best lemon bars I ever tasted. I will be back this summer. read more