Richmond Public Library

The staff it’s great. The place is clean. The kids bathroom are well stocked and clean. The kids room are filled with toys. I go many times to study and do a little web searching. I study while my daughter plays with the toys or color. I love this library

I used to avoid this library because if the area it was in. But that is no excuse because every time I visited it was nothing but clean, quiet and organized. Nice sized and has a children’s area.
I do think its time for some remodeling though.

Great library. I expected a shitty place for Richmond, but it surprises you.

I’ve been coming to this library since I was a kid and it it’s as good as it gets. These are some of the reasons why I continue to visit this library and why it is G approved :)
Note: This review is mostly for the Children’s Library.
Pros:
–Staff is extremely helpful and friendly.
–5 computers to surf the net.
–4 educational computers with learning games.
–Clean bathrooms that are locked.
–Self check out.
–Outdoor benches and bike rack.
If you would like to use one of the computers you need to sign up and the librarians will be kind enough to set you up additionally if you call the children’s library searching for a specific book the ladies here are very helpful and friendly they will locate a book for you and put it on hold.

I used to go to this library when I was a kid. This was and probably still is one of my favorite libraries. It isn’t in the best part of town which really sucks but it still hold potential. It seems that they keep it up as much as they can or as money allows.
Parking here is good, they have their parking lot so it rarely ever gets full unless its on the weekend. The library has two floors & a kids room with kids books. The second floor has more historic books and the first floor has general books, articles and magazines. The librarians that worked here at the time were all really nice and super helpful!
Coming was really fun and I feel like they had a good selection of everything. They also have computers that you can use and some in the kids rooms as well. Great library over all

Like. Used to tutor here as a volunteer.
They carry seasons of Dexter on DVD, and Overdrive Media Console is finally in place!
Very close to the Civic Center:) never have prob parking right in front. Very UNLIKE the Berk lib experience on Kittredge.

Stuff are really nice, it very clean and organized.

A great place to take the kids on a low budget. The staff is usually pretty helpful and friendly in the children’s room. They have lots of great books and the summer reading program is fantastic and inspiring.

I know I haven’t come in a while now that I’ve lived in SF for many years. Still, reading the other reviews here reminds me of the days I spent walking or driving here to study because it was such a nice place to do so. Being a Richmond resident back then, there was pride knowing that the city of Richmond would have a large library on its own instead of being part of the Contra Costa County Library system. I admit maybe back then (even to some extent now) I’m partial to places with the name Richmond on it. That’s one reason why, during my BART riding days as a student, I preferred the Richmond BART Station instead of El Cerrito Del Norte like too many others.
Anyway, going back to the Richmond Library, coming across the reviews here makes me want to go there again during open hours just to see how things are there these days.

Richmond Public Library has provided me with years of good service, but one visit always sticks in my head. It was my turn to accompany my son and his junior high study group to the library for their research, so armed with ear plugs and library card I picked up the crowd and drove on over. I turned in my due books and then searched for more to read. Not sure of a subject or author, I wandered about a bit, while keeping and ear out for the kids. I wandered past the glassed-​in quiet-​rooms used for music listening and tutoring. Only one quiet-​room was in use, but the image filled my sense of the time and place of our lives. Richmond Public Library is a place of learning seated in the midst of a neighborhood disused by reputation of violence, and by reputation of a repudiation of learning.
The scene in the one occupied quiet-​room belied the later reputation. A young man was staring intently at a book, soundlessly mouthing the words that he read, perspiring profusely the width of his dark forehead, eyes focused and head canted with the effort. The physical work indicated by the perspiration and body language could have been a heavy task, but instead he was simply sitting and reading, learning halting word by word to assign meaning and sound to the lettered pages in front of him. All in the midst of that Richmond reputation.
Seated with the young man was a lady who was the iconic image of my grade school teachers, she was tutoring, focused on the same page as her young man student, listening just as intently to each bit of enunciation. But no perspiration, no beads on the forehead, not a blue-​gray hair out of place, dressed as a teacher of my memory, and teaching also in the midst of that Richmond reputation. She and the young man were making his future, a future better than that Richmond reputation.
Reading is the necessary key to our modern learning, our libraries public and private are the reservoir for that reading, so teaching reading in libraries seems to me to be a very right thing.
Richmond Public Library has provided my family with learning and recreation for many years, I find them excellent and wish the services to be continued!

Well, when the economy suffers, libraries suffer. As the daughter of a library worker of nearly 40 years, I know this all to well.
However, the Richmond Public Library has some pros worthy of mentioning. Unlike Berkeley Main you can always find ample parking and seating. While the hours are limited, the staff has always been very kind to me. Additionally, the library is deeply devoted to adult literacy.
Finally, the library’s secret gem — the section devoted to Richmond History is exceptional. When researching flatland Richmond flooding and Richmond creeks as an undergraduate, I was permitted into their back room and relished in the amazing collection of documents. WOW!
Library is also quite close to the Richmond Art Center and the Farmer’s Market.

I went to three colleges and during those times I needed to go to the library a few times. I had a bit of a hard time finding what I wanted at this place, although I did find some books I needed. Back when I would go there the books were not very up to date.
Almost a waste of time for people who need up to date information. However, it’s better than nothing and I know they try. For an area where people could really use an excellent library, this is sad that this is all they get.

RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
website:
Don’t be put off by the fact this library is in Richmond.
Four BIG stars for:

Easy Parking
Pretty decent collection for the size and budget of this library.
New book titles you may not find at your own library
(We are always finding books that are not in the Berkeley
Public Library collection)
Nice staff
Nice used books for sale by the Richmond Friends of the Library.
Literacy Program for adults
Homework help for kids
Story time and programs for kids
Movies and lectures for adults