Beale Memorial Library

The unmistakable smell of a library.
It’s an all too familiar smell that reminds me of childhood, education, and hope. There’s just something about it that’s hard to explain.
There’s plenty of little nooks to read or study in peace. Occasionally, a noisy child or unstable homeless guy will break the silence. But for the most part, it’s a decent place to escape the heat and get your reading on.
My one complaint is computer availability issue. Sometimes all I want is to lookup the location of a book and that’s it. They need to keep a few of these computers available for those that only need to do this. It seems half of Bakersfield’s homeless are hanging out using the Internet to update their
accounts.
Other than that, Beale is your best bet for a local public library. Cal State reigns supreme for content, and Baker takes the cake for architecture and style.

So far the biggest library in Bakersfield or so I’ve heard. Overdue book fees are ridiculously expensive! 50cents per day per book. And it adds up REAL fast. On my first time borrowing books (I borrowed 3), I was late returning them and I ended up paying almost $ 25 for them! I’ve been to other cities and this by far has the most expensive fees. In LA, its 35cents/​day. On other states such as New Mexico, they can offset late fees (no matter how much) if you use the automated system in returning books. Never coming back. I’d just buy my own books.

This library is pretty big. I like the children’s section but they need to update the books a lot of books are old. They need more modern books to keep the children interested. It’s hard finding what you need in this facility. Sometimes the librarians are helpful sometimes they’re not. The computer lab is always full and they give you a time limit on it. 1 hour max but I think that’s reasonable. We went here on a field trip for head start and the kids weren’t that interested.

I think this is the largest library in Bakersfield at the moment, with two floors and an open floor plan. Magazines & fiction books are downstairs. Nonfiction books (using the dewey decimal system) is upstairs. :) I’m glad they have «self check-​out» for books, similar to self check out at the grocery stores, so convenient.
Also, it was easy to apply for a library card, there are applications on a stand right when you come into the library. Staff are friendly and helpful, which is nice. Plenty of parking spots. Popular best seller books are available, but usually not at this location or «checked out» so you have to enter a waiting list to get them when they’re checked back into the larger library system.

It’s big,. The restrooms on the 2^nd floor are better then the ones on the first, the computers are fast, and you can get what you need done. Simple, I hate that now a days it’s a computer that checks your books out, rather then a librarian.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this library. It has everything you need. Good selection of research materials (both printed books and internet database access), novels and leisure reading material, free CD rental, and a section for kids/​teens.
They also have a lot of archives, with magazines and periodicals going back to the early 1900s. I could spend hours browsing them just for fun.

Love this library cause it’s the oldest in town, they are having book sales every month now super excited more people reading :)

This library has not changed too much over the years. I had not been by here in about two years until very recently. It’s like I never left because everything looked the same as it did even 15 to 20 years ago. This library appears not to have aged at all.
I do not go here to do research anymore. The World Wide Web has made libraries almost obsolete.
What I do like about this library is that it is very peaceful and quiet. When I went back to college a couple of years ago and back in my high school days, I loved coming to Beale Memorial Library. I would find a nice secluded spot and just study away.
If I had rated this place 15 years ago, I would have given them 5 stars. Nowadays, I can only say they are A-​ok. 3 stars. Times have changed, but this library has not really changed with the times.

One of the best libraries in town. Comprehensive in topics and great staff!

Largest public library in town. Lots of sections and books available. They can also truck books over from other facilities if they don’t have what you’re looking for in stock. They even have audio books to check out!
If you want to study in peace go to the second floor and talk to reference and have them check you into a private study room. That way the screaming kids won’t bother you!

Books, BOoks, BOOks, BOOKS!!! The Beale is pretty much the place to go if you want to get free books in Bakersfield. It has the widest selection on site, lots of desks and areas to study and read, free wifi, and friendly staff. You’ll be surprised at the wide selection they have. The Beale is connected with the other library systems in the San Joaquin Valley, so you’ll have access to their collections too. If you want a book at one of the locations, they’ll order it for you and call you when it arrives. Overall great place.

It had been over ten years since I’d been to the Beale Memorial Library, but when I returned this week it was like visiting an old friend.
I am an admitted bookaholic. I have literally thousands of children’s books in my classroom and quite a few grown up books for my own entertainment at home. I read many different genres: science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, true crime, horror; you name it — I probably enjoy reading it. I may be computer addicted for almost everything else, but when it come to reading I can’t quite bring myself to go with the high tech Kindle or Nook. There is something so tactile about the feel of the paper under your fingers as you turn the pages and the look of the print on the matte page. There’s a smell that seems to permeate the older books (not mold — ew) that adds to the experience of reading. I enjoy reading the stories, but my love affair with books go so much deeper.
Way back in college I lived in the library. When I was at the University of Oregon, my friends and I studied at the law school library. When I transferred to Goucher in Towson, Maryland, I had my own study carrel in the Goucher library, and spent many rainy weekends watching videos there. My friends and I rode the Goucher bus to Johns Hopkins to study in their library three times a week. The Med School library at Hopkins is the quietest place I’ve ever been to in my life. It almost felt sacrilegious to even whisper so we remained silent for hours at a time and studied rather efficiently.
I still read, but not in libraries. I read in bed. I read in the bathtub. I read at Starbucks, in the park, on the airport bus, on airplanes, and in doctor’s waiting rooms. Yet none of these books have been coming from the library. Instead, I’ve been buying books at bookstores, thrift stores, antique stores, garage sales; just about anywhere I can get my hands on them. When did I forget about the library? Who knows, but I’m back.
This visit was to pick up books for a middle school student I am tutoring to do a research paper. The process to sign up for your very own library card is quick and painless; all you need is your driver’s license. The catalog is online and extremely easy to use; it tells you which books they have, which branch of the library they are located at, and whether they are checked in or out. After copying down the call numbers (Dewey decimal system, anybody?) I was headed for the racks to find my treasures. Half the books were in the children’s (nonfiction) section, which was located in a different area than the adult books. I found everything I was looking for and in the right spots, too, so they are doing very well at maintaining the organization of the collection.
As I headed off in search of the adult nonfiction section, I saw that they had a number of different areas to sit and read, sections for young adults and even an area with computers in it for using the internet. Everywhere I went there was silence, and it was peaceful. All the workers there were friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful. I was trying to stay on a schedule, so I didn’t have time to start looking for books for myself. However, since I’m allowed to take out up to 30 items at a time and I only picked up 5 for my student, I can come back at my leisure to pick out up to 25 for myself. Books, movies, audiobooks — Who knows? This card is burning a hole in my pocket and the sky is the limit!
But first I really need to go buy some shoes that don’t squeak.

Absolutely LOVE the Bookmobile! We don’t get downtown very often and the Bookmobile makes it SO convenient to get the books, etc that we order online. It comes to the Target shopping center on Rosedale once a week so we don’t have to go out of our way to get the books we ordered. The bookmobile staff is SO nice and friendly. Love it!

Probably the biggest library in Bakersfield– good choice of books, and info is generally helpful. Unfortunately, the library is all the way across town, and it also seems to be the place for parents to drop their noisy kids off during the day.
Overall: Great place to hang out if you wanna get your knowledge fix. ;)

I’ve spent many afternoons studying away or just being a nerdy bookworm here at the Beale Library. This is the Kern County flagship facility, and it’s pretty big.
It has a cool kid’s collection and a huge local history and genealogy collection. I’ve researched many papers and burned the midnight oil here. Librarians are incredibly helpful and the facility is always kept neat and clean. Audiovisual rentals run the gamut — from cool indie films to the one square-​dance CD I rented (don’t ask!).
When the library moved to a brand-​new facility about 20 years ago, it was very modern and the architecture was impressive. Now it’s starting to show its age, but it still does it’s job and is still a valuable and relevant resource for the area.