Otay Ranch Branch Public Library

I came here for the US passport services and it was great! Awesome service and almost no wait

This is a small but airy library located adjacent to the food courts in the Otay Ranch mall. It’s one of the relatively new public libraries in Chula Vista so everything is new and not outdated and breaking apart like the furniture in the CV Civic library on F street. There are only a couple of tables and cushy chairs in the small library so finding your own table can be a struggle, especially during the afternoon times when the high schoolers wander in. I do like the atmosphere, availability of outlets and strong WiFi but this library seems more catered towards children. With that being said, it’s not surprising that there are multiple visitors here who come in with not so quiet children, so if you’re looking for a quiet place to study, this is not for you. The library also does some sort of passport services, so there’s constantly a lot of visitors entering and leaving the library. While I do frequent this library for its accessibility and location, I can see it becoming a problem to other customers especially since this library isn’t necessarily quiet. The librarians are always very sweet and welcoming, but they have a tendency to talk louder than anybody else. But if noise and screaming kids don’t annoy you, this is your ultimate spot to get your study on.

I agree with most other reviews that this isn’t the ideal place if you’re looking for a wide selection of books or peace and quiet to study… however…the noise doesnt bother me. I came here to get some work done for a graduate school paper so I wouldn’t be distracted at home and I enjoyed it. It’s right by my house, and while there are a lot of teens and children that can be loud I didn’t really mind. I just put my headphones in and went to work. There’s enough places to sit and plug in a laptop as long as you’re there before 230. since that seems to be when school let’s out and it gets busy. If you are looking for a place nearby to get some work done without the distractions of home or having to drive for awhile, I’d suggest this place. It also helps that it’s in the mall food court, so if you need to take a break you can easily walk out of the main doors and get some fresh air, walk around, grab some coffee or a snack, and head back.
I’ll be back since it’s so close. but if I ever needed more resources I’d probably head to one of the main branches instead.

I am really pleased with the u. s passport services they offer at this library. I made an appointment for Friday January 15^th at 11:15a. I arrived 10 minutes before they opened, I was told to go to the back part which is called the hub. They opened at 11am, I was the second person. I was helped out and I was out before 11:15a. It was super quick, very helpful and very nice ladies. My passport arrived February 2^nd and it was standard service.

This is a cute little library. Has the bare essentials, books, study room, computers, places to read. Don’t expect a great big selection. It’s a bit far off from where I live so I only drop by when I’m taking a stroll at the mall. Times that I’ve been there it’s usually quiet and people are respectful. There really isn’t much else to say. Oh you get 30 minutes in the computer and I believe prints are 10 cents. I used it once for kicks and it took an eternity to get my pages. Ahha

Actually drove all the way out to the East Lake library just because a particular book I had been searching for during the past year popped up finally and it was only available at this location.
The Worldcat said Coroando and Bonita libraries had the book but neither library could find the book when I went or called them.
Pleasant little library that has a feel as though I was inside a Barnes and Nobles.
Staff was more than happy to accommodate my assistance since the book I desired was not filed away properly. Luckily, one woman working new exactly where she had seen it last and was able to find it for me.
Well worth checking this mini library out if your at the Otay Ranch mall.

It is wonderful to have this public library at the mall. It is on the street side corner of the food court. Plenty of parking in the lot. This library is a small one but features their newer/​in-​demand books. All the staff are very pleasant. On Wednesdays they have Baby Story Time at 11:15AM which is another great way to bring the community together.

I love the fact that is located at the mall because it gives it a nice community feel. However it is verry small, they don’t have enough books, computers, or room to study :-(wich is a bummer. So if your looking to check out a book call first to check out if they have it available.

I think this library is great FOR KIDS. Not adults. It’s small, intimate, and kid friendly. It is a bit odd being in a mall, but after visiting it, it really isn’t that bad. I like it. I will be coming back with my daughter.

Too small to call a library. More like a glorified bookstore. Really great for kids. Has one study room. A couple of desks and plenty of recharge stations. Highly recommended for kids but not your average book reader or studier. What really annoyed me was that some ignorant young person in their Tweens actually said «so what do you do in here, just read books?» What is this world coming to? Or well. The place’s heart has it right with its motto of «continue learning» but the sight, setting, size and location do it no justice. Sigh.

3.5 This location is a satellite one. It’s small but convenient for me as I believe it’s the only one in east (of the 805) to my knowledge. The staff were helpful but no staffed checkout desk-​they have a small office to the side. They have limited product but can do inter-​library transfer so that’s convenient, -.5. Lastly, hours are limited, different from mall, including closed all day Sunday. –1
Side note CV library doesn’t have a grace period. It’s been quite some time since I checked out a book but figured they still did. I was 7 days late on two and owed under $ 4.

This place gives off the façade of a library. Sure, there’s shelves full of books, DVD’s, and CD’s. There’s group study rooms. You can even print something out if you need to, because we still need to do that sort of thing in this digital age. But I digress.
Parents bring their loud kids in here and folks answer their cell phones in here without even trying to be quiet about it or even stepping outside to take the phone call. Even the librarians don’t know how to whisper here.
If you’re looking to get some intense studying done, this is not the place to do it. You’re better off going to one of the other 2 «real» Chula Vista library branches or the library in Bonita.

Bring your rowdy kids to read some books and have fun? Yes.
Be a bookworm and study or read in peace? No.
Check out some dvd’s and new teen novels? Yes.
Have a huge extensive line of books to read? No.
My favorite library in Chula Vista? No.
In my opinion, go to F st or Orange to get the true library experience.

Cute little library in the Otay Ranch mall’s food court. The thing about this library is it’s smaller then most, this can be both good and bad. Why it’s wonderful? The smaller environment makes go for an intimate reading zone. Bigger then the corner book store, yet smaller then today’s corporate bookstores, it fulfills its title as library. Why it’s bad? Book selection says it all. Smaller library equals smaller space which, in turn, equals smaller selection. yes, this is the sad cruelty of life and the reason Americans say «bigger is better.» The easiest fix for this problem is the public libraries website. Since all the branches in San Diego and Chula Vista seem to be connected by this beautiful creation known as the internet, users can simply log on and order a book to be shipped from one branch to the other. They will hold the book for 2 weeks, I believe, then put it on the shelves for grabs. I recommend the library to anyone, of course, but especially this one.

I’m reviewing this facility for what it is: a micro or «express» library, if you will. Compared to an expansive, multi-​roomed reference center (such as the Coronado Public Library), it does not compare. BUT I find it absolutely fantastic that a suburban mall found the funding and gumption to construct a library in a dying food court. The place is modern and cute with fun swivel chairs and enough books and DVDs to browse. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, they can «order» it for you from another library and contact you when it’s in. If I belonged to a study group, I would reserve the only private room they have available. I wish there were more spaces for people of all ages to gather. Perhaps this library will set the trend for future establishments to provide room for citizens (especially young ones) to convene and (gasp!) read books!

How exciting that a new public library opened in Chula Vista! NOT!!! If you’re looking for a quiet library to study, this is NOT the place for you. I finally got to check this place out today and boy oh boy was I really disappointed.
I don’t mind too much that the library is located right in the food court. It’s probably convenient for parents to casually stop in with their children to read a book or two and grab some lunch. But, if you want to get any studying done here good luck!
When I walked in, I noticed that the staff were arranging books and were talking loudly. Plus, I could hear the construction workers outside working on the food court seating area. So, I asked if I could reserve the Group Study Room. As I was studying, I noticed that the walls were really thin. I could hear everything the staff were talking about in the room adjacent to me. I heard conversations about someone named «Michael» and him having an appointment, I also heard them talking about «Claudia» and etc… about 15 minutes later, I finally couldn’t take it anymore and told one of the ladies working at the register to please ask the staff to whisper because I could hear everything.
I thought the noise had subsided, but I was wrong! I even saw one of the staff ladies walk across my room pretending to put a book away just to see who had requested to be quiet. Then, I heard the ladies talking real loudly again and they were even laughing. It was ridiculous how the «librarians» were acting, apparently they’ve never heard of the concept «SILENCE IS GOLDEN» or «whisper!»
I had enough, packed my stuff and asked another lady who the manager was and it was actually the first lady I talked to. I think her name is «Joy». I told her that I was pretty disappointed that the staff were still talking loudly and were even laughing aloud. Joy’s response was «Well, it’s kind of hard because we’re all in one room» Even if there’s two or three librarians in ONE room, they could still WHISPER!
Anyways, by the manager’s and staffs’ response you can definitely tell that they do NOT CARE about their library patrons. Other than my major gripe about the staff, the library overall is a very small convenient library to stop in and browse through a book when you’re at the mall. Although, their selection seemed pretty slim since the size of the library is so small. It’s about ¹⁄₅ the size of Barnes & Noble. There are a few high tables and few regular tables to sit and do homework. But, there are no bathrooms inside the library. Park near the food court and the library will be on your right hand side as you walk toward the food court.