Concord Library

This is the LOUDEST library I have ever been to. I have been there today, for the first time, to study and as much as I understand that they have some sort of after school program, for little children, the people there are loud overall. The staff is nice and everything and I thought that living really close by, I would support this library. But man, it’s impossible! I thought libraries were a place to get some quiet study/​reading time. But this one is just crazy. I guess unfortunately, living about 3 blocks from here, I’ll have to drive all the way to walnut creek and use their library. I did complain and was told to go to WK or Clayton libraries for peace and quiet.

I’ve had to start coming here lately because this is closer to my work place which has moved. The people who work here are real nice. Outside that, it’s a small library, it’s okay but it’s a library so everything is free so that’s always a plus.
The bad things are the noise — «silence» is not a word anyone here is familiar with so if you’re going there to do some work of some sort, forget about it. Kids are screaming all over the place and people talk loudly as if they’re in a mall. This is probably the first library most of the people have ever been to and most of them don’t comprehend other people exist or the idea that it’s supposed to be quiet in a library.
But what’s worse is the smell. Bums come in here and hang out all day so the place reeks. When I get books, I order them online, run in and check them right out, so I’m never in there for more than 60 seconds any more. I couldn’t imagine having to work in that stench every day. But sadly there is nothing you can do about it. Can’t tell the derelicts they can’t come in. They could do something about them hanging around outside all over the place. It doesn’t feel real safe. I’m a strong male but if I was a single female coming there late at night, I’d be nervous.
You could do something about the noise but I don’t think the Contra Costa Library system cares about noisy libraries.

Cute little library, close to downtown concord near Todos Santos. It looks like it’s really good for kids and seniors. The lot they have for you to park is small, not a lot of places. But you can park on the street, so it’s not unbearable. They’re really good about accepting donations, I brought several old VHS tapes here, ones that libraries in orange county wouldn’t accept, but this library did. Thankful they know someone will be able to use this type of donation!
It’s only one level, but it makes it easier for everyone! I haven’t yet checked it out enough, to see if I can bring my computer here to work, but I do plan on a return visit.

While the Concord Library is the closest branch to my home, it is not my first choice.
I find the selection better at other branches in the county system. The «new» book area leaves much to be desired. Also the «atmosphere» at the Clayton and Walnut Creek branches is more pleasant for browsing and researching.
Sad that Concord could never pull off the grants needed to build a new library.

I volunteer here to provide computer support once in a week. This library is one of the 26 libraries in the Contra costa county library (CCCLIB) network. With a CCCLIB membership card, one can check out a book from any of these libraries and return it in any other. The membership card is free and can be got from any of the 26 libraries. The concord library is quite small and does not have a quiet ambiance. On weekdays lots of school kids are here doing homework and using the computers for printing documents. There is a family area here which is more like a kids entertainment area. There are events happening here regularly. It is quite a happening place and I have lately grown fond of reading here amidst the crowd. Definitely not an ideal library for those seeking to read in silence.

If you love the sounds of screaming kids this is your library. My review isn’t based on one visit, this seems to be the norm there every time I’ve been to it. Feels more like a day care center with books than a real library, which I always thought was supposed to be a QUIET place for study and reading. I guess the staff at this Salvio branch Is poorly trained and don’t feel obligated to remind these irresponsible parents the purpose of a library is NOT to provide a playground for their children to run around yelling and misbehaving. This is a very small library, so enforcing the quiet rules is even more important (or should be). Parents who don’t want to take responsibility for their kids’ bad behavior shouldn’t be allowed to inflict the results of their lack of parenting skills on the rest of us, but if they do the library staff should at the very least attempt to do *something* to put a stop to it…

The Concord Library is located in the Civic Center block, complete with the city offices, and is a case of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.
The Good: Many things going on here. Story time and crafts for the preschoolers. Tutors for the elementary school kids. ESL, tax help, and other various services for the adults. Convenient hours.
The Bad: It can get loud sometimes. The selection of books, newspapers, and magazines is pretty small for a large town. On the other hand, as the population switches to online information searching and reading, they may not need to carry as much. Still, little Orinda’s library is at least twice as large as this one, both building and volume of materials. The number of internet terminals has increased, yet are usually always in use. Few places to plop down and read quietly for a while.
The Ugly: The building is old, probably built when Concord started to really grow. I think we voters passed a bond issue to erect a better building. It has a courtyard that would be nice, but it looks like all of the doors to the courtyard are locked, and no one ever uses it. Parking is weird.
It works. But after the nice visits to the Walnut Creek, Clayton. or even Pleasant Hill locations, the Concord location is quite a letdown. It’s okay if you just need to get in and get out — if you can find parking.

This is the library that I always go to when my computer is on the blink. I would have given it 3 stars maybe 4. But now that I need to take some Microsoft classes and do homework and study at the library I am finding out how damn noisy it is. Right now some deaf moron is playing music with a headphone that is blaring very loudly. The lady next to me who just left had her cell phone ring very loudly and carried on a loud conversation till I asked «Excuse me do you mind?» I do understand that every now and then they will have story time with children and Special Ed time so it will be loud at those times but I mean Damn! did any of these people get any home training at all???
And yesterday a Mom my age was loudly helping her daughter type up a resume and I had to read every word in my workbook 3 times in order for the homework to sink in. So I give the nice library staff here 4 stars and the library and it loud ass patrons 1 star. If you need to study I would suggest the Orinda Library which has a 2 hour usage time for it’s computers but if you just want to check out a book this is the place because twice a week on Mondays and Thursday it is open from 12 – 9 and open on Sundays also except holidays. One more thing I might suggest that when the library staff are not busy that maybe they take a little walk around the perimeters of both computer sections to make sure people are not having loud cell phone conversations and not listening to music or transistor radios that are blaring loudly disturbing others. I will come back to rate again in 6 more months..

This is one of the smaller and louder libraries that I’ve been to. I guess I don’t mind the noise level since I have 2 kids but I always try to make sure that they’re whispering inside since thats normally what people do in libraries, right? I’ve come across some people that are totally oblivious to what their kids are doing and how loud they are in the children’s section because they’re busy yapping away with their friends that they met there. The people that work here seem nice and helpful. Be careful of some of the people outside tho since I have seen some sketchy characters.

I’ve been using libraries ever since I was a young kid in the Philippines. I used to borrow books and read them all in one seating. My parents didn’t have the money to buy me books every day so I utilized the school library for all my book needs. I know that reading made a lot of difference in my life. It took me places and made me a well adjusted person who’s able to adapt to things. So every time I move (and I moved a lot in my lifetime) the first thing I do is sign up for a library card before I even get a new driver’s license.
This library is not the best library in the East Bay but this is the closest to me and I’ve grown to love it. The best thing is that there’s a playground near it. I probably come here 2 – 4 times a week. My 3 year old son loves to come here too. It can get noisy in here with the kids and other people/​librarians talking. My son borrows a lot of Thomas the Train, Bob the Builder and they even have Chuggington videos. It’s a hit or miss with the videos. Sometimes they work fine and sometimes they don’t. I borrow a lot of books here as well, from travel, recipes, self help, or the latest novels, etc, they have it. They also have a section for new books, good for those who are germophobic and thinks they catch a disease by borrowing old/​used books from the library:-).
The staff like the videos are hit or miss as well but majority are nice especially the ones in the front. One lady that usually sits by the magazine rack told my son to use his soft voice and the she turned around and talk to a customer in a not so soft voice. All I can say is practice what you preach. You’ll be more effective this way.
I reserve the books I want online so it will be ready when I get there. The online system is easy to navigate. I can reserve, renew, and manage my account on the library’s website. You can even download your Kindle from this site. I also get a free pass or discounts to a lot of places like zoos, museums, etc via the the Discover and Go tab. Plenty of parking available in the back. They have front parking as well but always full when library is open. They have a drop off as well when they are closed.
They have a free tax service if you’re income is in a certain bracket (i forgot the limit). You can make an appointment or just drop by and pick up a leaflet regarding when you can just walked in to avail of this service.
Public library can be your best friend but you just have to have an interest and just like any relationships you have to get to know it better. More than what’s on the surface and then you’ll discover a true hidden gem in your neighborhood. Try it and you won’t be disappointed.

Very accessible, good parking, nice talking book selection. Friendly staff. The only downside is this library is quite noisy for my taste. not conducive for meditative or quiet reading.

I’ve never heard of a library being open so late on a Saturday, or at all on a Sunday! It’s nostalgic for me, it reminds me of the library I grew up going to in San Lorenzo. It has character because it is old, the patrons are definitely some characters and there’s characters in books! I like to sit outside by the little waterfall area if it gets a little too noisy, if I have to wait for a computer, or when they close. Printing is only ten cents a paper, also unheard of to me! In a good way. I don’t see why photo copying is fifteen cents though. An hour of internet which is pretty standard. Apparently I had a card from twelve years ago when my dad lived in Contra Costa so I didn’t have to get a new one. After twelve years, I owe $ 1 in late fees. At the library I grew up with, after a certain amount of time your fee increased!
I don’t know much about the librarians or staff but I’ve interacted with two of the women and they’ve been nice. Not enthusiastic about helping but not annoyed or rude.

This library is less then two miles from my house and I’m so grateful for that. It’s a very clean library. Everything in it’s place. Everything is neat and tidy. The staff is wonderful. Always smiling and ready to help you with anything you need. Always polite and just make you feel so welcome. There are some of them who don’t seem very happy but you can usually spot them out and just try to ignore them. They are constantly and in a quick manner checking in their books and getting them back on the shelves. This is a library that cares about being a good library. The only real negative I have is the parking lot is a bit crazy. It seems like a big lot, but people drive like a bat out of hell, around sharp corners. Doesn’t make me feel very safe, so thank goodness it’s in walking distance.

The library is definitely helping me successfully achieve one of my goals for this year — to read more.
The Contra Costa Library has a mobile website where you can manage your account, including putting books on hold, renewals, etc. It is great.
This is the closest library to us so it is my choice location for picking up and returning books I have placed on hold. No, it is not shiny and new like other locations but it serves its purpose just fine.
I can always find a parking spot on the street and am in and out in just a few minutes.

I grew up here and it just seems right that my daughter grows up here. The kid section looks the same as it did 40 years ago when I came here.

Dirty, librarian definitely could care less. Not much of a selection. Although it’s a great place for people watching that’s for sure :)

I went here to get out of my noisy house. I may have well stayed home. I go in and there are census workers trying to get people to take the census. I sit down, there are people talking everywhere, the librarian included. The the guy next to me starts playing his Mexican polka music on his computer. Does the librarian even care? NO. I asked the librarian for earplugs, he doesn’t have any nor does he get a clue that the noise level is out of control. I go into the periodical room to get away from the noise and there is a high pitched electrical noise coming from somewhere. I think if I stayed in there for another 5 minutes, my head would have popped.
THIS LIBRARY SUCKS! Do NOT go if you think you will have a nice place to study. It won’t work. Avoid it at all costs. The public servants do nothing to serve the public. All they do is contribute to the noise level. I would give ZERO stars if it was an option.

Aside from the usual dusty library books, questionable patrons and free internet for one hour– I have just discovered one can get taxes done at this libary for FREE.
The kind lady that assisted me with my complicated taxes had a stunned look on her face when she found out how much I paid H and R last year to get them done. (over $ 300)
I suggest you make an appointment although they do take walk ins– also please be patient — FREE tax assistors can be S-​L-​O-​W!

Skip it, go somewhere else if you can.
Compared to the other Contra Costa libraries I’ve been to, this one made me the most uncomfortable.
Old library, old books and unkempt patrons.

What do you do when you’re broke? You look for things that are free!
Public libraries are free!
Borrowing books and DVD’s are free!
Wireless internet is free!
There are somethings in the world that are really free and the public library is one of them. Too bad their borrower’s services attendant has a terrible attitude and not one ounce of customer service in her.