Southwest Branch Kern County Library

It honestly seems like all the people working at the desks are too slow because I can’t get 1 book checked out. No one came back after helping me «look for my book.» They are disorganized and rude. Never coming back.

First and foremost I do not come here for me, not that I do not read but more towards the lack in time to set aside for a book. However for my two boys who are 10yrs and 15yrs old, it is a whole other story.
What my wife and I like about this library is how they have self checkout, reservations/​waiting list for books and online accessibility to pay fees and reserve books. We stopped by this past Saturday to pick up a book my younger son was wait listed for and the parking lot was jammed packed. The parking lot here is not huge, I would say maybe 50 parking spots and each one was filled. It took about 2 – 3 minutes or circling the lot to find someone leaving and following them to their car.
The personnel here have always been extremely helpful and courteous to everyone. And they offer help with MS Office if needed when using their computers for whatever you need, not too bad.
Great quiet place to come to and read a book, if not check it out and take it home. And we donate books whenever we can.

Computers were moderately slow.
Wifi was ok.
Staff is kind of informative, however, unhelpful in mechanical information. I inquired a staff person about the copier machine not working. They told me about how the previous occupier had utilized the second drawer of the copier and that it should be changed to the first drawer. They said the next user should be able to redirect the copier. I asked the attendant to walk me through it and she said that she couldn’t and that it needed to be fixed by the next copy user. Her rephrasing of words made no sense and her inability to assist with the mechanics showed me her lack of service. How does Kern county hire their staff?

I gave this two stars even though it is a clean nice library with easy parking because… This is the loudest library I’ve ever been to. I’m pretty sure Starbucks would have been more quite. People talk on their cell phones in front of staff who could care less. I spent fours hours trying to read and was constantly distracted by noise.

This library gets 5 stars in my «books». They have a wide variety of books for everyone. The website is very useful and I normally use
the search option on their site to locate books. I’m constantly putting books on hold due to my son participating with his school’s Battle of the books. The turnaround time on the books doesnt take too long if there’s not a line of other people requesting for the same book. What I like is that they have other branches if they don’t have specific books to obtain what we are requesting. The atmosphere is nice and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

Friendly staff here! Plenty of parking, and what a bummer that it’s closed on Mondays. Usually filled with people on the computers and checking out books /​reading books. I wish there was a left turn lane available to turn into the parking lot (when you’re going west down Ming Ave) instead of having to do a U-​turn. Why didn’t anyone think of that?!
I’m so glad you can do «self check-​out» of books now. Welcome to the digital age!
There are occasional used book sales too!

My favorite library! Close to home, well maintained, helpful friendly staff… love it! Appreciate the time and effort everyone puts in to give us a place to go and grow. I volunteered here for a while, so I was «behind the scenes. «I know first hand people who work here are serious about their job. Bravo SW Branch!

What it doesn’t have in stock I can order online to be shipped here. They have been organizing and remodeling since last year. They removed the dingy outdated carpet for shiny new tiled floor, and now offer self checkout.
A couple times a book I ordered wasn’t where it was supposed to be but they quickly found it. The staff if very nice and always helpful.
****Tip: if you have a smart phone you download the lib anywhere app to access your account online.

I spent many an afternoons studying at this library in High School. It was conveniently close and always quiet. I had a special spot: second floor, back southwest corner behind the sci-​fi books. There, I would toil away on my Pre-​Calc homework and European History projects.
It’s small, but clean. It has a great children’s section, and the librarians were always very helpful.
And while I have very fond memories of peacefully studying and reading at this library, I unfortunately don’t remember much Pre-​Calc.