San Luis Obispo County Libraries

Very pleased with the Black Gold cooperative library system.
I may be biased as my first library card came from the Carpinteria branch as a child, and a lifelong love of reading grew from there. Since then I’ve used the SLO and Paso libraries as well but AG is my home base for picking up hold requests.
I love being able to find out that a favorite author has released a new book, login online and reserve it, then get an email letting me know it’s ready. I appreciate that they will transfer it from whichever library in the system has it on hand, and that you can return books to any local library. SO simple! I rarely wander around the library, usually right to the holds shelf and am out of there within 2 minutes (the parking lot is kind of an annoying shape, so most of the time is spent there).

Clean, helpful and courteous staff, and good selection of materials. I have been to the Arroyo Grande Branch, as well as the San Luis Obispo location. Same experience at both.

A great library with a very helpful and friendly staff. However, the staff at the library is just plain loud in everything they do. They speak at the top of their lungs and have no clue that they are disturbing the people trying to read. THIS IS NOT A QUIET LIBRARY so be forewarned. Kids are running around the place making a racket too, but again, I blame the staff that just has no clue that a library should be as quiet as possible, especially the lady running the children’s section, serious loud mouth. I hope they get a clue someday.
Also, be warned that the place is littered with retired folk that still read newspapers. It’s not uncommon for a few to surround you and start an onslaught of crinkling page turning with the lovely scents of newspaper ink. I guess it’s better than homeless people littering the place, which is the only reason this place gets two stars and not one. I guess it’s more of a senior’s community center than a nice quiet library.

Pretty small library but it’s usually nice and quiet. I think it’s very well organized and the staff has always been friendly. They have book sales every now and then that are also a pretty good deal. All you do is pay $ 5 for a brown bag and then you can get as many books as will fit in the bag.

I’ve always liked this library. Quiet with plenty of resources.