County of Los Angeles Public Library – Manhattan Beach Library

This is a lovely public library with the MOST gorgeous oceanfront view on the second floor! It almost seems impossible to concentrate when you can see the ocean from a library like that! The study rooms are also very nice. My only wish is that this library would get more public funding so that it could acquire an even greater range of fiction.

The new libary albeit small is pretty awesome. The staff are all incredibly helpful and friendly as well.
I went in on a Saturday afternoon to get acquainted. Even though it was Saturday, it wasn’t overly packed and the selection was impressive. It’s very easy to navigate, clean, and quiet.
There’s an awesome art installment out front to boot that’s worth checking the sunset out through!

Since the Lomita branch is being renovated, my mom and I began using this location. The crystalline architecture appeals to me very deeply. Many times, my mom and I will come in here and just spend an afternoon. (A pleasant and highly recommended way to spend time out of the house.) I came here yesterday to pick up a hold. It wasn’t even an hour before closing time. Therefore, I used my time as wisely as I could. I decided to buy from the Friends of the Library collection. It is implanted near the elevator. As wisely as I decided to use my time, I moved with some haste. Nonetheless, I picked six books: Emma by Jane Austen, Day of Honey: a memoir of food, love, and war by Annia Ciezadlo, The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama, In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant, A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, and Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Four hardcovers and two softcovers for five dollars. That’s not a claim I can make at many bookstores. See the value of a library? You can buy and borrow books.

Go grab a table anywhere on the 1^st floor and rest assured, you will get your work done.
It’s beautiful, clean, quiet and has lots of charging points with great views. Has a very positive vibe and somehow boosts productivity.
A Saturday well-​spent doing work, without feeling too bad about not being on the other side of the street (: the beach)

HANDS DOWN THIS IS THE BEST LIBRARY EVER!
opened up after major renovation early this year. they have floor to ceiling windows throughout the whole 2-​story library… WITH AMAZING OCEAN VIEWS.
It feels like a resort.
Its also located in a great area on highland avenue with lots of options to grab a bite too eat and within SHORT walking distance to the Manhattan beach pier.
Lets keep this place clean!

Wanted to minus one star for the Parking — It doesn’t exist if your patron of the library on the weekends! But I just can’t, it’s a beautiful modern library, walking steps & view of the beach!
Brand new, high tech — state of the art equipment, modules, outlets/​PC friendly & gorgeous ocean views (if your lucky to snatch a seat upstairs in the study area facing it). Nice accommodating areas to study/​research (rooms for group studies), downstairs is children’s area. It has a little study area, play area (really for story time), homework help, etc. Nice new & spotless restrooms, I believe both floors, for sure upstairs. Let’s not forget the outside in back — nice area with lawn (s), benches, etc to study or read in.
And most importantly friendly, helpful staff ready to assist you. I can’t describe it any differently, as the most recent reviews state everything accurately.
Again I state the only issue is of the parking. Sure if you come on the weekdays early is not a problem;it’s the weekends (mainly Sundays since they now open at 1pm), parking’s almost gone or can be challenging unless you know the area well & park a little further away — yes a great area to walk, but you struggle if you have your laptop & other small equipment w/​you. There should be a portion of the parking garage reserved for library members only.
What should I expect? After all, it’s located within walking distance from the beach :(

Quite an upgrade from the previous MB library.
lovely private study rooms (book with librarian) and overall respectful patrons.
Awesome view, and temperature is well moderated.
the only SUGGESTION I have to the staff is for something to be done about the screeching of the chairs.
possibly put felt on the bottom so that every time a chair is pulled out to sit, it doesn’t disrupt others around? The noise of the chairs resonates.
OTHERWISE AMAZING!

Awesome place!!! Best helpful staff and modern books… view of the ocean is splendid!!!

Love this place – new, clean, and lots of views of the ocean through the glass architectural walls. Smallish, but intimate and thoroughly modern. A great place to study, research and read because of all the natural light. A massive improvement over the old library. Well done, Los Angeles.

Brand new state of the art library, they have great group study rooms and amazing views for reading/​studying. Librarians are super friendly and helpful too! Free wifi with library card and free 2 hour parking.

My oh my. This library is BEAUTIFUL. The only similarity with old one has to be its name because this place is thoroughly modern in every way; décor, equipment, etc.
The meeting rooms are wonderful.
I make it a point to come here at least once a week to study, read, and write notes. Having an ocean view upstairs doesn’t hurt either!

Yep, you can safely ignore all reviews of the Manhattan Beach library dating from before last month. The new library is amazing, modern and very well-​appointed.
I was a little surprised to snag a table on the 2^nd floor right in front of the ocean-​view window earlier this afternoon. If you’re as lucky, you won’t want to leave, even if your parking meter is about to run out.

The BRAND NEW library just opened and it is GORGEOUS!!!
I will start upstairs with the spectacular ocean views and comfy swivel seats for you to read and take in the sights. The entire wall is glass. It would be amazing to relax here with a great book and take in a sunset.
On a chilly day, there is a lovely fireplace upstairs to lounge around. There are several work tables available upstairs. There are also 4 study rooms to use for 2 hours. 2 of them are first come first serve. The other 2 you can make reservations up to 1 week ahead of time.
Upon entering this spectacular building (after crossing the lush mini hill) you will encounter the children’s area. They have comfy chairs, a bunch of toys, 4 kids computers with children’s games and headphones (i would bring my own), lots of tables with puzzles, a sea wall for kids to explore and play with, and many, many rows of books. Story time is still on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
There are computers to use with you library card. I can’t remember how many, but I think it was more than 8 on Level 1.
This is what a MB library SHOULD look like. Too bad they don’t have a café to enjoy goodies while enjoying the atmosphere and view.

This is a review of the bookmobile since the MB library was demolished in June 2013 and will not reopen for a while. I grew up in Manhattan Beach and, therefore, had been going to that library my entire life. When I moved back to L.A. in 2008, I was visiting this library at least 3 days a week. It was traumatic to know it would be torn down but… that’s progress. The bookmobile is a temporary replacement. As such, its main purpose is to house materials that people have requested from other branches. I try to have half of my requests sent here and the other half to Hermosa. That way I can see more of the former MB staff. They have a limited selection of books available to check out (I think most are for children). The hours are pretty limited, unfortunately. It’s now closed on Mondays (while the building used to be open Mon-​Sat). From Tues-​Fri, it’s open 2−6pm. On Tuesdays, the parking can be tricky because of the farmers market. Saturdays it’s open 10am-​2pm but that will change soon to 11am-​3pm.
There’s not much else to say. It’s related to the library and it’s temporary so it gets 4 stars.

Quite a small library and therefore a limited selection. I believe it’s going to be torn down and replaced soon, though, so I am looking forward to that. Staff is friendly and nothing wrong with the place, just could stand to be improved… especially in such a nice community.

Good selection. Redondo main branch much better. This place will be torn down in the not too distant future.

One of the nicer COLAPLs.
Their TV DVD selection is great (for a public library — this is not
nor Amoeba Music, folks) and has lots of stuff not found at the other branches.
Easy parking, good selection of books, nice staff… yes !

Great selection! The dvd selection is very decent, and they seem to update the new books shelves quite frequently. Staff is friendly and helpful. What stops me from coming here more often is the parking– I get the feeling that people park in the lot to go to the beach or restaurants?

Shhhhhhh!!!
5 Stars for 2 reasons.
1. The walls (probably because they involve education) magically some how act as a force field from douchbaggery.
Additionally, I saw that they have been certified as a fallout shelter from temporary transplants… I’ll be damned!
2. Believe it or not, the selection is outstanding.

Good library, easy to search system. Has a broader selection of books than Hermosa Beach library. It does get super busy in this library. Closest parking is behind the library in a lot that also is parking for town hall and police so it gets crowded. A little further away is the underground garage. On Highland Ave. there is 15 minute parking if you just need to run a book in to drop off.
The monthly book sales have a good selection of books, however I find that it is more expensive than other book sales in the area (typical Manhattan Beach).