City of Palo Alto – College Terrace Library

I like this library because it is secluded, cozy, and relaxing. Unlike the bigger libraries this place is usually not very crowded — and there is a little park next to it for some casual strolls.
Yes the staff tend to talk amongst each other at regular voice levels and while that could be a negative to me it just feeds into to the friendly and laid back ambiance of the place. It is not as if they are screaming and shouting at each other.
The one thing I don’t like is that the wifi connectivity is spotty from time to time. So if I am not here to study or read then it may be problematic — ie may have to go to a café to do surfing.

This review is about the WHOLE Palo Alto Library system, not just this branch. Unilocal forced me to pick a branch.
Today I checked out reserved books at the Menlo Park Library (hereafter called MP) and at the College Terrace branch of the Palo Alto Library (hereafter called PA). The self checkout system at MP is far superior, even IF the checkout unit at PA had been working.
In MP I did not even have to move my books to a specific place; where I’d rested them while passing my card once was close enough. AND all the books were closed, one on top of each other, and not arranged in a particular position.
In PA it took several passes just to read my card. Then the instructions said to place the books one at a time, on the ‘grey square’. The square was white. The image shown as instruction showed a red scan line across the top of the whole square. There was NO red line for books anywhere on that square, not even an inch which could have given me a hint.
There were NO instructions about placing the book so a bar code was on the scan line, but I remembered that from the old days. I finally got 1 book checked out. THEN I had to press a ‘Continue’ button, which by the way, could not be pressed using my skin-​protecting white cotton glove. No other book after that got scanned. But I had to press ‘Continue’ many times.
I finally uttered a sound of exasperation and staff member Weili came over to say she would check the books out for me. So a poorly designed system that does not work! NOW let’s talk handicapped — I had to stand at that checkout machine; why not have a chair for elderly and handicapped people? Especially in an aging community like ours!
The staff members were VERY helpful and kind.
Bottom line, when you need a library book, go to Menlo Park. When I told Weili and the other staff member behind the desk how much better MP was, they explained that MP belongs to a large group of libraries so they have more money for a system. If that is the reason, then Palo Alto should/​must JOIN a large consortium in order to provide decent service!
The online catalog and hold-​placing system of MP is also FAR superior to Palo Alto. Perhaps another day I will write up that issue.
Special note to REALTORS: Be sure to mention the great library in MP when comparing the two adjacent cities to your clients.

This library is in a beautiful park and it’s very sunny and cute inside. I love the building, and there are nice desks to work at.
HOWEVER, it is extremely noisy. It is supposed to be a library but everyone who comes in talks extremely loudly. The librarians chat loudly among themselves and to the clientele all day. The children are allowed to scream and even run around. I understand a kid crying now and then but they screech in loud voices nearly constantly, and the librarians do nothing to quiet them down.
Why can’t the librarians put up signs for quiet and ask people to keep the volume down? People should WHISPER because it’s a library. People are trying to work in here and children need to learn that libraries are quiet places where study and learning should be respected, not playgrounds where they can holler and scream and run around.
Also the hours for the Palo Alto Library system are so limited. It’s a real shame that in a community with as many resources as ours the libraries cannot be open for decent lengths of time. Also the limited hours are the same for ALL libraries, so you can’t just go to a different branch on a day where there is an early closure/​late opening or when the library is closed altogether. With so much money in a town like Palo Alto, the public should have more access to the libraries.
Also, with the construction project going on, half the books seem to be in storage. Very basic books have only one copy and many holds. The stored books should be available for request during this EXTREMELY lengthy construction project. Also the Link Plus system is down for no reason (this is the system for requesting books from other libraries.) This system should especially be in effect now, with all the books in Palo Alto shut up in storage during the construction.
I love libraries and books and think they are a very important resource. It’s very depressing that a town like Palo Alto with Stanford right near by and tons of wealthy people should not take reading and studying seriously. I am very disappointed in the PAL system.

I love this place, this is the one of the best branch I have been in to. Small, cozy, very quiet and not a lot of people. I wish that this was my local library.

Libraries are awesome. Free books and wifi? Can’t beat that. Aside from the fact that this is a library (e.g. aforementioned awesome thing), it has very little going for it.
— Very few books. You have to order the books from other libraries if you want to check anything worthwhile out.
— Librarians move at the pace of molasses. This may be because most of the clientele are either retired or children with caregivers, in both cases trying to kill time.
— The presence of lots of children and caregivers means that it’s not very quiet or conducive to working/​studying. Plus the chairs are incredibly uncomfortable.
— And if you are the child and caregiver, there’s not much awesomeness for you either. Relatively few books, generally in poor condition, and the train table that used to be in the back area is now gone. So entertainment is limited.

This is a small library that maintains a good balance of popular content — like DVD’s, and essential books. I think it’s basically just okay, for the following reasons:
Pluses:
+ it’s a small library, tiny, so if you want that studying at coffee shop feeling, it might get you there.
+ it’s located next to a small park in the quiet residential area of Palo Alto close to shops, etc. So, it’s convenient if you’re in the area for whatever.
+ it can be quiet depending on the time of the day.
Minuses:
— it can be loud depending on the time of the day (think after school, parents walking in with obnoxious kids and both mom and kid chattering away).
— it’s a tiny space … just a few desks, not much privacy, not the type of place to park and get some serious studying done.
— furniture/​furnishings are pretty old … it’s a vintage library.

Awesome little library. I order books on the website and pick them up here. Staff is friendly enough and the place is almost always empty.

It’s a tiny little library. It’s not an ideal place if you’re looking to just browse for books. But for me, it’s a block away from the office and I can place holds for free. Yay! Free learnin’! I be gittin smrter allreddy! I’d give this place more stars if it was open all 5 days of the weekdays and open later. I’ve walked over here more than a few times to find that they’re closed. Probably my own fault, but hey, I give stars on my own opinion. :P

My favorite little library. When I moved into the neighborhood I came to this branch to get my library card. It only took about 5 minutes to sign up, and they have a great collection of new books and DVD’s. All of the staff members I’ve interacted with have been friendly and kind, and it’s never loud or crowded. There are a limited number of areas at which to study, but if you come before 3pm it’s typically not hard to stake out a good spot. Thanks, CT Library for being awesome and providing a haven for this grad student to get tons of studying done.

I love this library! Cozy, uncrowded, friendly and helpful staff…
+ Free DVD collection = 1 STAR
(unlimited number — 7 day checkout)
+ Free CD collection = 1 STAR
(unlimited number — 21 day checkout)
+ Free books = 1 STAR
+ Free internet/​wi-​fi = 1 STAR
+ did i mention FREE? = 1 STAR
other pros:
+ rarely crowded
+ search & reserve items online (see:
)
+ no FEES for reserving items
cons:
— small collection