Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch Library

Came here to study and had a great experience. I wasn’t sure what I’d find in this part of town, but the library is actually nicely kept up and clean. There were many tables for studying and people were respectful. It did feel a bit on the crowded side, but overall, there was plenty of space for all. One downside is that there aren’t a lot of outlets so come with all your electronics charged. You can occasionally snag a table near an outlet but it’s rare. Also, the bathroom was shared, wet, and out of towels. There are a few computers, and even though there weren’t many, they weren’t really being used. You’ll need a library account to use them.

~This review is for the library as a study space, nothing more and nothing less~
While studying for finals for a change of East Bay scenery, I stopped by the Him Mark Lai Branch Library at the edge of Chinatown. Like all things in San Francisco, it’s crowded. Unlike all things in San Francisco, it’s free!!! You can take a seat at one of the tables and read or study at your leisure, as long as you don’t mind sitting close or possibly bumping elbows with fellow patrons.
Noise level was appropriately to a minimum, but not so quiet that you feel uncomfortable flipping leaves of a newspaper. I actually got a good chunk of work done here because all patrons were quiet and respectful. I was also able to carve out a nice little study space where no one bothered me. Can’t really comment on the book selection because I only came here to grab a seat and study, but it looked like a well-​organized collection of books.
The unisex bathroom on the first floor is pretty disgusting, though. It’s filthy, full of foul odors, and has some graffiti inside. I would thus recommend that you only stay for a couple hours, or as long as you can before having to use the bathroom.
As a student, I’ve been to quite a few libraries to study in and around the Cal campus, and I can safely say that I’ve experienced better than this library on the edge of Chinatown.

great selection, friendly staff, easy pickup shelves (sfpl system rocks for having an awesome holds system and ebooks/​audiobooks selection) but this place is a jewel due to the high volume scanner they have. have used it countless times, you save it to your usb or email it to yourself, and this baby can go through fifty pages in 20 seconds. i wish i had something to scan now so i could watch their machine do its magic. FREE. ten times faster than going to a copy store, 100% cheaper, and high quality.
ps — don’t even think about driving here. parking takes time in sf, but around here, you have cable cars, tourists, and narrow one way streets. i live within walking distance and love it.

Seriously, it’s free books.

One of the four branches with a Children’s Room (upper and lower level). It is very good to have a library in the area. The staff here are friendly and services are very efficient so I will definitely come in when I am near the area!
There is a stop for the Powell-​Mason & Hyde Cable Car Lines!
Seriously, some of the kids who come here really annoy when they misbehave. I’ve seen times when the library staff asked them to lower the volume of their chatting. This is the only downside which does annoy other library patrons!

Yay for a Lib in Chinatown! It’s clean and has a convenient location

I really like this location for its convenience and the fact that it’s in the middle of Chinatown, but I think it’s because the location is in Chinatown that is also its downfall. The staff are nice enough, and I love being able to request books I want to read and have them magically appear on the hold shelf when they are available. I also like the three self-​checkout machines with an option to skip printing a receipt. (I can check when my stuff is due through the SFPL website: who needs receipts for libraries nowadays?) There look to be some fun activities on their schedule, but I haven’t had a chance to participate in any yet (e.g., Mid-​autumn Moon Festival crafts how-​to class, female characters in shoujo manga).
But my biggest qualm is with the section that houses the English translations of various manga series. It’s not in any sort of order, and many of the volumes have pages torn out or partially cut out. This example doesn’t help with the perception that Chinese people don’t give a flying truck about others. Ugh, it just makes me sad + angry = sangry.
The verdict: Being that the Chinatown branch is the one closest to me, I’ll still be going here to satisfy my bookworm tendencies. However, I vow that I’ll try other branches to see if I’m willing to give up the shorter walk.

I used to go to the Main all the time before it got taken over by creepies and bums. Even though this library is crowded it is surprisingly quiet. Some people are even taking naps here! They have a good selection of movies and books. The staff here are really friendly and helpful.

As expected with a library in Chinatown, this place is packed.
The demographics mainly consists of elderly Chinese people with their grand kids. It’s a noisy, lively place, just like Chinatown. It makes for an interesting work day. I recommend it for the experience despite the opposing qualities of an expected library.
I wonder what news they’re reading so intently in their native language.

Decent library with a good selection of books — I’m not entirely sure how the books are all organized though, because sometimes I just can’t find what I’m looking for in the place where it’s supposed to be, but the librarians are helpful and always pull them out for me. It seems to have odd hours, as I went on a Friday and they were closed for the whole day (not what the website says is true). Employees are nice and can speak both English and Chinese, but I’m a little dubious of their competency, because I brought proof of address the first time and watched the guy input my information into the system… and the second time I came to the library, the employees insisted that I had never brought any address proof and would be unable to check books out until I did again.

Ah! Finally, a smaller, cleaner library. I normally go to the Main Branch whenever I need to sit with my laptop and do some work in an environment where I won’t get distracted (ie coffee shops). This branch is definitely much smaller than what I thought it would be, but I find it to be a bit cozy. Adults section is upstairs, children’s section is downstairs.
Oh, what’s awesome is that people aren’t bathing themselves in the bathrooms or sleeping on the tables. Love that!

I find this a very comfortable place to study, and it’s only 5 blocks from my pad. A little crowded, but that’s life in the big city (I mean what do you expect, it is Chinatown, the densest neighborhood in SF afterall).
Close to a bunch of good grocery stores and super markets so if you get hungry, ti’s the place to roll.
Also, had alot of my Southeast Asian Studies textbooks for checkout, so how could I legitimately complain?

This library is wonderful and awful at the same time and I am torn between what to rate it for.
This is a great library… for kids, students and old people. The Chinatown branch has a lot of books and cds/​dvds to offer. It also has a large Chinese section. If you’re here to borrow a book or video, this is the place and it deserves 5 stars.
However, if you’re coming here to get work done or read, don’t bother unless you have noise cancellation headphones. The noise level is off the charts. I find it especially annoying to see teenagers come here to hang out, play games and talk to each other in normal voices. People honestly don’t know what it means to use their inside voices. Also, you’ll notice the heavy foot traffic and subsequent noises if you sit by the tables in the middle of the library on the second floor. (The first floor for children is like a playground.) Unfortunately, even if you skip the library during after school hours and go when it opens or late at night, the high ceilings still cause loud noises to travel throughout the library. You’ll hear every checkout, every door closing, every phone call and some loud keyboard clicks as well as a variety of other sounds. If you want to get work done in a library, go to the North Beach branch. The people there are equally friendly.
Nowadays, if I need a book from the library, I simply reserve it online and pick it up at the branch to avoid the chaos as much as possible. You might think I’m being a snob about the noise, but the noise level here is getting louder and louder every time I visit.

After avoiding the library for the past 20 YEARS… I finally started to go back to the Chinatown branch. Glad I did!
The 1^st floor has a great set up for children except after school it gets very noisy most days. We come frequently with our niece to read books.
The second floor has a great Chinese selection, new arrivals, CD and movies. Love browsing the aisles! Computers are always occupied… mostly people, of ALL ages, playing games!
Very clean AND (too) WARM — it serves as a great alternative to staying home in the winter because our flat is ALWAYS in the mid 50s! BRRRRR!!!
Staff is always friend when we need help!
5 star branch minus 1 star for the noisy kids and adults.

This place is always quite packed. In the past, I wondered why there were tons of people waiting for doors to open in such a large building with a unique façade. It turns out it was the library — one that serves everyone and anyone of all ages. I like how they have an entire section on the first floor dedicated to children including furniture for their size! There are tons of dvds and media selection here. I also see a huge selection of Chinese in language materials including children books. Highly recommended. If you are going to use the Internet, bring your own laptop and use the wireless. Huge lines for the computer terminals here.
Also, not really part of the library, but you can gawk at tourist passing by on the cable car. get thirsty? go across the street for Quickly’s (literally cheapest boba place in Chinatown). Want to relax and get away from people for a bit during your stay at the library? Take a break and walk around and up into Nob Hill.
I’ve never been blessed to utilize the bathroom facilities here so I have no comments on it.

*continuation of story from review of San Francisco Public Library — Richmond Branch
The book I had returned was sent to the Chinatown Branch library. So we called this branch after visiting the Richmond Branch, but they hadn’t received the book yet. The woman who answered the phone was very nice though and said she would leave a note for the people working the next day since she would not be there.
I was quite anxious and my mom was going to Chinatown the next day anyway, so she dropped by the library and asked them about the book and my important document. The woman upstairs told her the book had been sent to the Marina Branch, but my mom insisted that it was sent there, so she sent her downstairs. The woman downstairs said she had to go upstairs. My mom said they had just sent her downstairs. So the woman downstairs remembered that someone had found my important document earlier that morning and they had it at the reference desk upstairs. Up to the reference desk and they had my important document! Of course, they didn’t just give it to her. They had to check to make sure it was going to the right person. Two thumbs way up for the staff and service at the Chinatown Branch library and for helping me get my important document back!

I love this place. It’s full of good magazines, books, and great DVD collection. The librarians are pretty friendly. but It does get crowded with the computers sometimes. Great atmosphere with plenty of people, and kids.

Overall the SFPL gets 5 stars because of its easy online reserve, pickup, and renew services. They certainly uphold the idea that libraries are in place to share information by making the exchange so easy: D Yay!
For sure it helps that this branch is so close I can see it from my window but I would give the branch 5 stars anyway. I didn’t think of it like this before reading Heather M’s review, but I agree– its easy to focus in there because I don’t understand Cantonese. Another huge bonus is the WiFi which is pretty fast in comparison to a few café’s I know of (this place would get 6 stars if you could eat and drink in here!!) The technicians and librarians are helpful. There is no reason to be intimidated to drop in and leave with 30+ books and media like I do.
And If you DO need to use the restroom may I suggest taking a break from your librarying by stretching your legs and strolling on up to the Fairmont Hotel on California and Powell for some upscale relieving?

I work at the Chinatown Library and I love that there is a secret second floor bathroom that no tourists and/​or commoners can use. Only me! Mwahahah!
Other than that, the book section here is dull and the computers are always taken up by a bunch of dense German tourists. Not to mention that a cable car stops every 15 minutes in front of the library. Leaving a bunch of foreigner tourists staring at us Chinese like we’re some aliens they’ve never seen before. We’re here and we’re queer!
Learn to love us bitches! because we ain’t going no where!

Chinatown Library:
For 95 years, this historic public library in Chinatown, still going strong today. With a large selection of books, CD and movies in Chinese, vietnamese and of course english, this library have everything but a café. Oh Yeah, seeing older men and women sweating after a tough shopping spree in the produce market in Chinatown, and coming to this library reading the chinese periodicals to keep up with their current event. Afterschool, juveniles getting off school reading animé cartoons, Chinese cartoons, playing video games on the house-​computer, and running around the library creating trouble. I often wonder, is this a library? The professional staff and associates are friendly and constantly busy assisting other people. I went to other libraries in the city, beside the main library, this branch is the second biggest and busiest in the city. This is my reading place.
I would love to give this library a 5-​star, except this library is noisy and kids misbehaving feels uncomfortable. The public lavatory is nightmare. Like waiting in line @ the cafeteria.