When I say I haven't been here in 20 years, I am not lying! This was a weekly visit for me when I…read morewas in my early twenties and lived in the downtown area. I've always loved reading but I fell off once I had kids. But I have recently fell back in love with it and so have my kids who have been begging me to get them library cards. This time around I just had my youngest with me and it was an adventure. It really is hard to see all of the homeless around here and feel excited about entering a building where you have to navigate around them to get in but it is what it is and you do what you gotta do. It was so nostalgic for me entering this building after so long. It was just how I remembered it but it does seem as though there aren't as many books on shelves as it use to be. I get it because I am a strictly kindle ebook reader now and a bit of a germaphobe. The staff was friendly and helpful and made my daughter's first experience at the library a great one. She was able to quickly find five books to check out and is excited to return to get some more.

Went for the book sale. It was a welcoming environment. I wasn't able to explore much of the…read morelibrary but I can see they are doing renovations. Looking forward to coming back when renovations are complete.

I have not stepped foot into a library in about 12 years! I use to go every other week but once I…read morehad kids, there just was not enough time. In this day and age, everything is done online...including reading a book. I exclusively use the kindle app which means I'm usually reading on my phone or one of my kindles. A few months ago my Hoopla app stopped allowing me to rent books so I was forced to go to the library. Although there are not nearly as many books in the library as there were in my hey day, the library was extremely clean and very well organized. I got myself all squared away but will be returning soon to sign my kids up for their library cards especially after seeing their extensive manga section, which they both love.

This is my kid's favorite place to go in town. They're so friendly stuff. I really enjoyed them…read more They have a service for kids at 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock during the week which is really nice and helpful to a lot of us families. They have a great playroom that people can be imaginary. My kid doesn't even pay attention to book so it's nice to have a book and then read for like a minute or so haven't played for a couple minutes and have them read and go back back-and-forth. It's a really good time to have outside and not in front of the screen.

Before there was internet, I loved going to libraries. Nowadays, though, most folks use the…read moreinternet to research and not the libraries. This library on Baker St. does have a few computers so you can surf the net as long as you have a library card number. I stopped by recently because I had some time to kill before going to work. This library is only open twice a week. Currently, they are open Mondays and Tuesdays from 11am to 6pm. The most impressive thing about the Baker St. Library is the architecture. It opened on July 8, 1915 so that makes it 109 years old!!!! Wowza!! In April 1981, the Baker Branch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places!! Very impressive!! Come and check them out!!

Absolutely obsessed with this gorgeous library within the KCL system…read more The Baker Branch is one of the oldest, and mostly all original, libraries still operating here in Bakersfield. Opening its doors in 1915, this stunning building was designed by a local architect and built by local artisans. Everything here screams historical beauty. No wonder it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, one of just a few here in Kern County. As of April 2023, it's only open two days a week (Monday and Tuesdays) 11am to 6pm. If you love libraries as much as I do and want to support in increasing their hours encourage local politicians to provide more funding for these community hubs. Take a detour to Old Town Kern and check out this beauty. With plenty of activities and super friendly librarians plus gorgeous original architecture, you'll be glad you did.

Small library, free internet access but you have to pay for printed copies. this branch doesn't…read morehave a lot of new books, you can get them to borrow books from the other county libraries but you're better off just going to that library(I like the Southwest and Beale branch libraries best). However,there are plenty books in here that I still haven't read. The good thing about this place is that it's never crowded with people like the other bigger branches. Also, setting up a library card is pretty easy.

Insanely slow internet, I mean absurdly slow. Only a couple power outlets in the whole place. Can't…read morework here

I think this is a very lovely library, and a great get away for families and people of all nature…read more (Also the flag is a nice touch and means equality not gay pride Nelson A.. , maybe pick up a book or two when your at the library.. instead of focusing on a poster you can't understand.

I love going to the library. This one in particular because is close to my house, but is hardly…read moreopen. Today a friend mention that they were having a special arts event so I took my little ones. I must say, if you don't know what to do in Bakersfield with your kiddos, check your local library. They have many events going on at all times of the year. During summer, they become the perfect place to go read a book while your kids enjoy a book, arts & crafts, or lunch. Yes, during summer they serve lunch at all the Kern County libraries! Today we were lucky and got to be part of a raffle in which they gave away a bubble maker and several books. They even gave all the kiddos who were there a choice of two books to take home. Free! My daughter was super excited since one of the options was from the series she is currently reading! Now to the bad part, their schedule. They are only open 3 times a week. Not sure if they are the only library with that schedule but is very inconvenient. Overall, the staff is great and the premises are clean and ready to welcome bookworms of all ages!

Big Library While visiting family in Bakersfield, we decided…read moreto stop by the Beale Memorial Library. I'm used to the smaller neighborhood libraries in Los Angeles, so walking into this one was honestly kind of shocking, in a good way. It's a very big library with two full floors, and it felt much busier than the libraries I usually visit. There were people studying, using computers, and families spending time there, which made the place feel really active and useful for the community. Parking and First Impressions The library itself has a small parking lot, but we actually found parking right away on the street directly in front. When we walked in, I went straight to the front desk to ask about study rooms because I had an important meeting coming up. The staff told me the rooms were upstairs, so I headed up there and eventually found the smaller desk where you sign in and someone helps you get a room. It took a minute to figure out exactly where to go, but once I found the right spot, the process was simple. Study Rooms That Saved the Day The main reason I came was for a quiet place to take a meeting, and I was really grateful they had study rooms available. They're first come, first served, and luckily there were two open when we arrived. The room we used was very small and only allowed two people. It had a simple setup, a small table and two chairs, but it was clean and did exactly what we needed. I was able to sit in there with my sister during my meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half. Personally, I think one person would study more comfortably in that space, but two people definitely fit and it worked great for us. Great Spaces for Families and Kids One thing I really liked was how family friendly the first floor was. There's a kids' section and even a little play area, which my son and nephew really enjoyed while the rest of us were there. It felt welcoming for families and not just quiet studying. It's nice to see a library that makes space for kids to explore and enjoy being there too. A Busy Second Floor for Studying and Computers The second floor seemed more focused on adults studying and using computers. There were quite a few people up there working, which gave it more of a focused study vibe. There are a lot of stairs to get upstairs, but they also have an elevator, which makes it accessible for everyone. Overall Experience Overall, I had a really good experience here. The library is much larger than what I'm used to, and it clearly offers a lot to the community. I especially appreciated the study rooms since many libraries I've visited don't have them unless you're at a college campus. It ended up being the perfect place for me to take an important meeting while my family and my son enjoyed the library. I'd definitely come back when I'm visiting Bakersfield again.

From the owner: Welcome to the Kern County Library! Whether you visit us online or in person, we want to make your…read morelibrary experience a positive one. Our goal is to ensure customers always receive outstanding service online, in any one of our 22 libraries or two bookmobiles. We consider the Library a dynamic environment, where we strive to support active learning experiences for all ages.