Golden Gate Branch Library

BEWARE– they will tell you that there are no late fines for children’s
books but they fail to tell you that if your books are late, they will stick the collections agency on you and even after you’ve returned the books, the collections agency will keep calling and harassing you! For all I know, they could have also hurt my credit score. This is worse than any other library I know– I would so rather go to a library with late fees so you know up front rather than thinking this is the greatest library with no late fines and be stuck in this mess!!!

They are much better with their selection. If you require a book and don’t want to go the main branch, all you do is request it. It will be waiting for you to pick up. Pretty slick.

This little neighborhood library isn’t the biggest, but the fact that it’s within walking distance from where I live wins all in my little Unilocal book. I love the old quaint feel of the building and the staff is friendly. They don’t have the largest selection of books, but for a pleasure reader, such as myself, it’s plenty and if there’s something in particular I want, I know I can always just go online and have a copy (if available) delivered from another branch in the system over to this one. Anytime I’ve tried to find something, the shelves are organized and things have been easy to find. They have a parking lot in the back, but it’s pretty small and street parking is limited. They do have a couple bike racks out front for bike parking if you’re goin’ green.

Very quaint, very friendly, very easy to access.

Nice building, especially if you like old library buildings. Seems the children’s section (half of building) is too large. Other than substantial African American collection the selection is small. I appreciate the former — specialization is good, and re the latter who really comes to a library to browse? Often a nice place to read NYRB. Free Wifi. Yard in front often unkempt, ought to be a community garden.

Sorry Sharon M. maybe I am missing something, but I was not impressed by the teensy collection of books I found here. I was über excited to find that I have a library in walking distance of my house. All geared up to get a book, and nest on the couch for a lazy afternoon, I went to explore the library. Only to find almost more dvds and cds than books! While renting multimedia is an awesome feature for a library to have, I went for a BOOK. Funny notion I know. I went downstairs thinking there must be more books there! Nope, just a bathroom and a closed computer lab. Sniff.
To give the library credit though, they do have an impressive collection (for it’s size) of African America Literature, East Indian Lit, and a large children’s section. I’ll give it a second try when I have more patience and not looking fo something in particular, because I do hate to rag on libraries. It makes me feel like a bully.

this is my library. so if you were trying to stalk me it might be a good place to start. get in line!
i love carnegie libraries, i love my wonderful staff, i love the diversity of my patrons, i love my children’s room, and i love snagging like 15 movies for my long weekend. (yes, there are some benefits to being a librarian. i don’t have to pay fines either.)
i will not, however, under any circumstances, EVER touch the public restroom key. tell me you’re a Unilocaler and i’ll let you into my staff bathroom ;)

A charming library with a great staff. They hold really cool events here too, like the Diwali event that just happened last week, complete with dancers! I went last year and thought it was great, especially the part where i got Chai and mother’s cookies, reminds me of the libraries of my youth. So friendly and welcoming.
Plus it’s a rad old building.
Acting branch manager is Unilocaler Sharon M and she’s fantastic. i swear she is always writing book reviews, professional blogging, contributing to articles on children’s literature… and my personal favorite giving me AWESOME young adult books that I read on the train which makes me seem like I am either 15, or mildly retarded. But I care not!
Preschool Story Time on Wednesdays! :)

This is a proper library. It’s not huge, and the selection isn’t always the best, but the librarians are enthusiastic and friendly, and the atmosphere is that genial book-​loving sort I remember from my childhood. The north wing is all children’s books, of which they have a wonderful selection (I recommend The Golden Compass and The Goose Girl in particular). The south wing has fiction, non-​fiction, biographies and African-​American literature. Oddly enough, this branch (Golden Gate) has both a great selection of graphic novels and Bollywood movies as well. They have great programs for kids here, too (story time, homework assistance, etc).