North Beach Branch Library

Very nice books and is very helpful. Great place to stop by and read. Also has many computers so if you don’t have Internet access you can stop by and use one of them

Have been coming to this library since birth, literally for 23 yrs. My dad used to bring me here as an infant. Not sure how I feel about the new renovations. Sorta, kinda disappointed. I personally feel like they could of utilized the space better, especially for the 2^nd floor upstairs which doesn’t have much to offer (which is odd because there’s a huge staircase leading there = waste of space). Instead of having a several really small work/​study spaces (more like hidden corners) spread throughout the library, they could have a couple of larger, more airy spaces that would have been easier to find. On the bright side, they do offer more computers now. This goes to show not everything new is improved. Looks shmancy from the outside, but didn’t find it to be practical on the inside. I guess this is what’s becoming of San Francisco. Okay, I’m done.

they obnoxiously funnel bad music/​random noise loudly out to columbus street.
the irony of a library being the loud ones on the street doesn’t escape me.
they purposely play the weirdest shlt possible (e.g. people talking excitedly in a different language, cars honking, indian music), like they’re a modern art museum and starting something new.
when they’re just starting something f7cking obnoxious/​being as creepy as possible.
message: «WE OWN THIS BLOCK B8TCHES and you’ll listen to any weird shlt we want to play from our useless outdoor speakers!»
I don’t see how this could possibly attract children.

The new facility is good, but the other libraries might be better. They cut off a majority of the library for the teens and children, and there is not much table space at all. The upstairs is mostly for other things and is generally nothing without an event. The mens’ restroom only has one urinal so you will have to wait awkwardly outside as the other person finishes their duties. However, it is still better than the old building which didn’t have a restroom.

I feel like this library would be great towards children and teens because there’s a lot of children and teenagers there. Also, lots of manga.

I really like this library. I don’t know what the old branch here used to be like, but this one has a little bit of everything you want, and then some. I think the size of the library (relatively small) makes it more welcoming, and homey. There is a great selection of books, movies, comic books, and periodicals, and the tables are always full of students or people reading, and studying. I can’t say enough about how great this library is, and a change of pace from the other libraries in San Francisco.

A wonderful sanctuary with books. It has a pretty small selection of books, but I am so grateful that it exists. Bathroom is very clean and much more accessible than the old North Beach library. The automated check-​out machines are convenient, too. However, I really I miss seeing Posey, who was a really sweet and happy employee in the old branch– any idea where she went?

Where is the «like» button on this thing? Just kidding.
Yes, the latest newest library is LEAPS and BOUNDS above the old NB one.
My likes:
*Picking up your books, dvds, etc. and checking them out yourself.
*The new floor plan
*Soaring ceilings
*Clean and new furniture and floors
*More public computers and different rooms.
*Love the fun colors in the kids’ area.
*Staff seems much happier in new digs.
My not so great likes:
*Bland and blank taupe stone tiles chosen for the exterior. A missed opportunity for color, mosaics, something to jazz up the building façade. The building lacks a distinct character /​personalty as it could be from any town. We are in vibrant North Beach. Why so conservative?
*Poor planting plan. Why are there trees only on the Columbus side? And what about the weird plaza area on once formerly Mason Street? Will it become a temporary staging area for the future construction of the Joe DiMaggio Playground? It looks unfinished and awkward. Another missed opportunity to frame an important view corridor and provide more pedestrian scaled amenities or be inviting to walk through.
*Same books. With the infusion of $ to build a new building, it would have been nice to add newer books to this branch.
*Interior feels smaller than previous branch even though it’s a couple of times bigger…
This bibliophile is still pretty happy.

This library is a HUGE improvement over the old north beach branch. It is two stories, with two separate sections so children and teens have their own space. There are plenty of desks and computer terminals, as well as a table of iPads which are set up so you can read hundreds of different daily newspapers in just about any language. There is a community meeting room upstairs. This beautiful library is a great addition to North Beach.