Albany Library

The Albany Library has the best poetry in the SF Bay Area. Dan Hess and other librarians volunteer their time and work to set up the excellent room. The open mic is excellent. It is terrible that many people leave after the featured poets, before the open mic. Catherine Taylor does a lot of good work to plan the excellent poetry. Christina Hutchins, former poet laureate of Albany, is Great and adds so much to the poetry. For over 5 years it has long been my goal to be a featured poet at The Albany Library.

Some of the good highlights —
Long hours on some days
Free wifi
Lobby stays open later than library
Reasonably comfortable seating areas inside library and in the lobby
Some of the not so great highlights —
Does not seem to have a large selection of books
Lobby is usually freezing
Bathroom is often dirty
I like that the library has days that they stay open as late as 8 pm and it’s an extra bonus that even if it’s a day that they close at 6, the lobby is still open until 8:30 /​9ish pm. There are computers inside that are available for use by anyone with a library card but you’re limited to an hour on them so I prefer to bring my tablet. There’s free wifi and the signal can still be picked up in the lobby, which I love on those days that I prefer to sit more by myself. I’d say that this library is pretty decent sized but it’s disappointing that every time except once that I have wanted to check a book out from here is have been told that they don’t have it there BUT they can order it from someplace like Fremont… and have it in a week or two. With that time frame I’d be better off just ordering the book off the Internet or driving to the other library and picking it up myself. For some bizarre reason the air conditioning in the lobby seems to be on most evenings. This is the east bay, warm and hot nights are virtually nonexistent here so I don’t know who feels it’s necessary to keep things so cold in the lobby. Sometimes it’s even colder in the lobby than it is outside. I don’t know how often the restrooms are checked and cleaned but I’m inclined to think it may not be frequently enough because of the number of times I have seen the trash cans overflowing and nasty messes that I will not elaborate on. I have not had much contact with the staff, I prefer to help myself when I can but in the experiences I have had with staff they’ve been friendly and helpful. I notice a lot of parents bringing their kids here, I don’t know specific days and times but I think that there’s weekly activities for young kids held here; if anyone is looking for an educational way to keep their kids occupied. The crowd here is pretty quiet, of course you hear the random shriek or squeal from a little kid but they’re just kids being kids, so it’s a nice spot to come study, do homework, or just hang out somewhere to read and write.

Perhaps I’m old school and miss the olé days when libraries were quiet and as a kid you had to come in with your «whisper voice.» Gone are those days since this place can be a zoo especially in the summer.
If it were’t for the nice facilities, extra tables/​chairs (even cubicles with power outlets), and the great lighting — you probably wouldn’t see my ass hanging around here. That, and because of the stupid bar exam.
But, if you’re like me and usually use headphones or earplugs, I suppose the three year olds running around in circles and yelling/​crying aren’t that big a deal. Who knows. Just glad libraries have still managed to survive.

If you like to take your kids there it’s a perfect place but if you’re trying to study in a quiet area forget about it.

The library has a selection of children’s books in Russian and several other foreign languages. Great selection of graphic novels and magazines. Every Tuesday evening in the summer there is a performance for children at 6:30 pm. On the down side when returning books they are left on a counter for anybody to take at will and you will be held responsible.

Not an extensive selection of books.
Weird opening times. Because it is of course unreasonable to expect businesses to open before 12pm or 1pm.
Not a good place to study. The place is overridden with smelly homeless people. People are also really loud and not respectful of personal space.

another Unilocaler wrote: I couldn’t do it.
I was ready to spend the whole afternoon here but left after 2 minutes. It has an old people feel. The environment is not stimulating at all.
There called uv mercury fillament light bulbs, they make the energy integrity of the place unpleasant to study in or grocery store unpleasant to shop in.

Returning some stars to the Albany library, in recognition of the caring librarians who spoke so eloquently at the recent Alameda Library Foundation meeting this month.
This business of wanton book culling is in fact the Foundation’s policy. No records are kept of which books have been discarded.

Super good little library for little albany. Great at the inter library loan. I wish I could live for 250,000 years, so that I could read all the books.

Clean, quiet, and staffed with friendly folks. This library is small but a great little spot!

I couldn’t do it.
I was ready to spend the whole afternoon here but left after 2 minutes. It has an old people feel. The environment is not stimulating at all. And there are not many tables for people to work/​study/​read.
In search for a decent library in the East Bay…

Albany Library was a discovery of The Mother’s. The Mother is an avid e-​book reader. And she was delighted to find another resource for free e-​books to download and to borrow.
As for me, another resource for academia and wifi. Albany Library has a lot of DVDs that I am not able to find at Berkeley Public Library. I had a film director paper to put together this past spring semester for a global cinema class. I chose to write about Federico Fellini, the great Italian Surrealist director. I was able to obtain DVDs beyond 8 ½ and La Dolce Vita of other Fellini films: I vitelloni, La Strada, La Citta Delle Donne, Satyricon, Le notti di Cabiria, and Giulietta degli spiriti, among others. (I do not solely rely on
here.)
This past semester, I utilized the library for modern art history resources. I borrowed a couple of books on the surrealist artist/​photographer Man Ray for a research paper on Lee Miller. Miller worked with Ray as his assistant/​apprentice and their relationship turned personal and romantic. Eventually, she left him and Paris and became an artist/​photographer in her own right. A couple of books assisted me in doing quite well in the modern art history class.
It is a challenge coming here at times for me. For one, parking is a challenge. This complex also has the community center. There is not enough parking spaces to accommodate either the library or the community center. And some of the library associates have a bit of an attitude or a total attitude. It is not clear if the books on hold from one angle are self-​serve or a librarian has to obtain the item for the customer. Since discovering the hold area is self-​serve, I do not bother the librarians unless it is really necessary. All in all, it is A-​OK at Albany Library.

I love the library. I read so so much and my wallet was really starting to notice those trips to the book store. Then I decided to check out the library and yay its a hit, they have soo many books that I love and also have movies that all of my family has been enjoying. We even happened to go there on aday that the kids were able to play wii and board games. Good wholesome fun

Really good wi-​fi for a library. Way better than downtown Berkeley.
Comfortable chairs!
Haven’t checked anything out, probably won’t since I have Berk and Oak Library cards already and don’t want to learn a third system. The selection looks a little on the smaller side though.

This is one of my favorite local libraries.
–fairly modern
–free wifi
–decent kid’s section
–free computers to use
–cheap to print out copies (0.15 I think)
–decent Latest Releases
–good selection of CD’s
–decent magazine area
–parking is good, I almost always find a space in the lot.
–adjoining the Community Center so there’s often classes and interesting things going on.
My only beef is that it’s on the smaller side so I’m not always able to find a book that I want but then I order it via the online site and my book gets here in a few days. No biggie.

1. Free Parking
2. Quiet
3. LDOH (Low Density of Homeless)
4. Fast Internet
5. Large Tables
6. Comfortable Chairs
7. Free Library Card (Pay Libraries are Wrong!)

Reading might seem like a solitary activity, your nose buried in the book — but go to a library and you’ll find a building full of people just like yourself… readers, explorers, adventurers who use books and magazines to move around the world.
This library gives you the key to all that. Well staffed, well stocked, with friendly patrons and in these interesting times its a safe warm place to go read a book.

When I first moved to Albany, the old Library on Solano was one of the first places I walked to from my then home on Key Route. And when the new Library/​Community Center was built on the site of the old Albany Hospital, I got to walk inside before it was open and imagine the possibilities.
I was also one of the first ones here on opening day on a glorious Saturday Morning. And as part of my first marriage, we asked that a donation be made to the Albany Library in lieu of gifts. What I like best about this facility is the great community center feel and the associated buzz of people in the various areas of the building. It really anchors Albany well.
There have been a few disappointments. The coffee shop idea didn’t pan out, capital money ran out before a second story could be added, and the moisture incursion issue continues to plague the City’s efforts to take that white «tent» down.
You’ll find a brick with my name on it as you walk in next time to sign up for a Park and Recreation class, browse the bookshelves, attend a function one of the meeting rooms, admire the fine art in the Lobby, and vote. This «book» has many interesting pages contained within and invites you to take a look around and perhaps stay awhile.

Thankfully this library is a visible representation of the motto «Do not judge a book by the cover!» (Sorry, I am a child of the 80s, but I am still working on a way like «Miami Vice”-inspired architecture.)
Inside and to the left of the main hall — -disclaimer I have not checked out the community center nor the apparently unique bathrooms — is a light-​filled library with a small, but excellent, collection. From my mid-​afternoon and midweek visit is also apparently very-​well loved! Tons of young and old folks using excellent selection of resources — web, outlets, computers with access, etc.
I had ordered several DVDs using the libraries website — you (meaning ANY California resident) can get an e-​card online and then make it full-​service when you pick up your items! I also found a whole pile of excellent reading — from Wonder Woman (Come on the woman has indestructible bracelets and uses them for good!) to the History of Richmond.
I found the staff really kind and the woman at the circ desk audibly ecstatic about helping another patron hunt down something. (Bless library staff!)
I also very much enjoyed the art on display at the facility. An Albany artist’s clay sculpture I had trouble not touching as well as really cool photos of soil and dirt piles with interesting footprints. I felt like I got some culture for the day.
I agree that parking is available as well as a it is just a nice walk from 72/​72R on San Pablo.

As you know, I love libraries. I’d never before thought of them as refuges, but this has been one of our primary places of refuge while the work has been done on our house. Today the bedrooms and hallway are being painted and once again we’re here. There’s a plug on the floor by this table so we can keep the laptop charged because its lightweight battery loses its juice too fast. The chairs are comfortable, there’s lots of natural light and lots of people hang out here. The bathrooms are large, although some of the toilets flush so vigorously water is sprayed on the seats. Not a good thing, that. In addition to being the library it’s the community center. My only complaint is that it’s not open all the time, but I guess you can’t have everything.