Great little library, nice places to sit and read, very helpful staff. Not a huge book collection but they have access to the Monterey Library collection as well. The online catalog lets you search for books in both libraries, and if the book is in Monterey they will ship it to the PG library in one day for pickup. So far I've been able to get almost all of the titles I've wanted. read more

I was visiting from out of town and I had an assignment(online exam) for school that was only open on a certain day and I was already on this trip, so I brought my laptop. I needed a good place where I could sit down, focus and take my exam. This place was perfect. A lot of seating area and good WIFI and I was able to get my exam done. Wasn't able to take a look at the books but there seems to be a huge selection. Would recommend. read more

Great customer service. Books they don't have, they can get. Inviting place to visit.

With calm study areas and a vast book collection, this charming library has it all. The warm environment made me fall in love with libraries again and made me a frequent visitor. Getting a library card and checking out books went really smoothly, and the customer service was excellent. This place has turned into my preferred haven for studying and regaining the pleasure of reading. read more

I figured since we were staying nearby I would check this library out. The librarians were very friendly and helpful and tried to assist me in finding my favorite genre of book. I liked the layout of the building. It's not a large library but it looked like there were several areas in which to go and quietly read. read more

Beautiful incredible building and the people behind the desk were so friendly and helpful. Thank you Rachel. I love this library

I've only started to come here to read and sometimes research things on my laptop and I already love this place. There's plenty of seats and designated work areas to go around. The staff here are always polite, patient, and the check out process is quick and simple. On another note, this library has a water refill station, as well as several private restrooms indoors. read more

Yeah, this is a nice place -- I mean, too hot outside but I guess if you live there, too bad for you! I liked that as a visitor I could get a library card with no problem and was invited to come to the children's events if I want to -- something that sadly a lot of libraries do not allow, including the far more unfriendly library in Monterrey .... If I could give different amounts of stars for different aspects, I'd say there's a disparity between the service and facility -- as in, the service I received was very good, top notch, super-friendly and welcoming. :-) The facility, well ... it's just not all that. It's way better than the one in Monterrey -- I mean, no comparison, by any means -- but I guess I wish it were just a little bit nicer. Of course this is a common type of occurrence and a lot of times, a nice facility has crap people populating it but it's sure nice when you can get both at once! I don't know just how unusual I am in this regard but I think, ponder and contemplate for months sometimes deciding how many stars to give out and such was the case with this place. I think the staff do a stellar job with what they've got, let's put it that way. :-) Yay, librarians! You are awesome! Thank you for your coolness and hospitality. :-D read more

Wonderful library and people! Clean, upbeat and well organized! Love their connection with the community and how they promote positivity.

Between September and May, they have Wacky Wednesdays, a game/story hour for children under second grade. Books can be renewed online. Items can be requested from or returned at the Monterey Library. Library cards are free for state residents (you can apply on the website). Out-of-state patrons may purchase a library card for $4.50. read more

We were walking in downtown and spotted this library inside a nice building. As we walked in, the building is very modern and sleek. The library is on the first floor. It's a quite small and compact library but the librarians were friendly. There are two kid computers on the back side. It seems to have some posted activities for kids. Two clean private bathrooms right outside of the library. read more

This is a cute little library in a cute little town. While on a recent visit, I read about it here on Yelp and so Hubby and I stopped by just to check it out. We were impressed that it was bigger than we thought it'd be and it had a large selection of books, periodicals, and multi-media (cd's, dvds, etc.). Although we didn't check anything out since we're out of towners, we liked the layout of the library and the librarians seem helpful to the patrons they were assisting (they weren't just sitting around like I've observed so many library staff in other places). There is also a relatively large selection of books and a few cds/dvds/vhs for sale for $1-$3 or so, so for those who like to browse around to see if they can find an unique item or just like to treasure hunt, you've got that little selection to choose from. I also had to use the restroom and was glad that it was nice and clean and had all the essentials. Overall, this is a great library, it's sad that it's only opened Tues, Wed, Fri and Saturdays but at least it is still open, I sure hope locals will support this library and keep it going! =) read more

A really quiet and pleasant library. While on vacation, I had to spend a couple of hours studying; this was the perfect place. There was free Wi-Fi, and it gad a few computers for those without laptops. It is a beautiful library with lots of historic pictures and maps of Pacific grove on the walls. I'm glad I visited this library! read more

I'm a library lover. I have a degree in English Literature, and visit libraries wherever I travel. The P.G. Library is especially dear to me, since I lived in Pacific Grove for five years, and walked to this library regularly. Now that I live in San Diego, and on a mini-vacation, I was so delighted to spend time at this library. I especially looked forward to catching up on my E-mail and other Internet sites. But . . .the P.G. Library only has six computers, one of which essentially inoperative. I realize that this is a product of stingy public funding, but still . . . On the other hand, I found the resident librarian staff to be most helpful, even solicitous, when I expressed my need for Internet access. The only alternative was to wait in line, and hope somebody leaves a computer free. No amount of helpfulness can make up for the lack of working computers, though. That fifth star will be deserved when the number of working computers is increased to match the demand. Other than that important shortcoming, this library is perfect. read more

Pacific Grove was my first home 72 years ago! While visiting a few years ago, I decided to stop in at the library to see if they had phone books from 1947, the year I was born. A very nice lady took the time to help me search and sure enough, there were my parent's name, as well as their business w/addresses and phone numbers. Definitely nostalgic. So thankful they saved those little pieces of Pacific Grove's history. To this day, Pacific Grove is my favourite place in the world! read more

Very helpful staff and an okay selection of books. They were coming up on hard times until some generous book lover donated $100k to help with the budget shortfall. The Seaside or Monterey libraries would be my first choice then PGs. read more

The library is a gem of Pacific Grove, and is a great place. I go often to check out videos, CD's, and books. It's a very standard looking library inside, but still we are lucky to have one that's in our control. The folks there are quite friendly and helpful. I'm hoping the city retrains control of this library and does not farm it out to the county system. Otherwise that means our collection could be gutted to other parts of the county. Always a pleasure at the PG library. read more

I love this library. I only wish their funds haven't been cut so much that the hours are dramatically reduced. They've lost a lot of great staff. I'm always happy to find a good assortment of cookbooks. I order them online, swing in and self-check them. They also have a good selection of DVD's to take home-- all this for free! read more

I love libraries, and visit the local library everywhere I travel on business. Pacific Grove's library is a jewel, in a fantastic setting. The neighborhood is so lovely, try to park a few blocks away just to walk around! The library has Spanish architecture with arched doorways that connect a warren of unique, cozy rooms, resulting from additions over the year. You can find plenty of private nooks to read. Excellent lighting and a pleasant workspace, with a good wifi router. Very friendly, helpful staff, too. read more

What a difference from the Monterey branch! This is still a nice library. Their selection is still good. It is still quiet (usually). I always look at the books for sale and can find a couple books everytime. Thank goodness we still have a library that seems like a library! read more

Very small. Good selection. Book sale the first Saturday of the month in front. $1-2 books!!

This library broke my heart yesterday. It was closed and all I could do was look at its lovely Spanish-style architecture and beautiful windows from the outside. But it made up for it today. Even though we didn't *need* to go in, we stopped by this afternoon so we could see its interior and we were so glad we did. It has been added onto several times, thrice in the last century, in 1938, the 1950s and 1978. This location is its third home since 1907. The additions flow nicely from one to the other. The entrance is part of the most recent and largest addition. The ceilings soar and a glass wall w/ a door in it separates the children's section from the main section. As I walked through that section and into the lower ceilinged area adjacent that housed the reference desk and the old card catalog, I thought, "this place looks as if it should have a fireplace." Beyond this room was a lovely reading room w/ a semicircular exterior wall w/ a series of tall, narrow windows. As I walked to the left past that room toward the west (I think) I came upon a large photo of an earlier incarnation of the library and it had the fireplace I had imagined. I didn't see it now. In the front area they had a very interesting display w/ timeline of the development of and additions to the library. I wished they'd had it in a pamphlet. I chatted a bit w/ the reference librarian and told her about our unsuccessful attempt to visit yesterday and she suggested that if that were to happen again, we could just sit on the bench outside and camp on their internet. Very sweet. We checked out their books for sales and found several we couldn't resist. Totally lovely library! read more

Nice little library. I wish it had better (i.e. longer) hours. Strangely, the loudest people in the library are the librarians!!

The recession that made this library cut its hours is fading away and it is the best library I have ever worked with - a little jewel where everybody is helpful and there is a large selection. I used to live in San Francisco, the library near the Civic Center was less useful - they spent a lot of money on that place but the PG library is better! Kudos to all the ladies that make the place so special and cozy - :) read more

Never have I loved a library as much as this one! It's clean, staff are kind, great kids section and they have a summer reading contest to promote reading for children. There are signings/ talks with authors for adults as well as puppet shows, animal shows and magic shows for kids. You can find me here weekly. read more