Menlo Park Library

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While this place looks to be in a nice neighborhood civic center complex, with a few big parking lots attached to it, the facility itself is pretty small and is one big room — unlike some more modern libraries in the area, it doesn’t have any quiet study spaces (they have a community room downstairs that you can’t use unless you have a large group) but I’ve seen people tutoring /​meeting in some areas so I guess it doesn’t piss anyone off to talk at low volume. The teen area is definitely a place where a little noise is ok but it’s really close to a lot of the computers.
Oddly, this place is also deathly lacking in power outlets. Once, I plugged into the power strip for a bunch of communal computers because I couldn’t find an outlet anywhere. Welcome to the 21^st century and electronic devices?
If you’re planning to get anything done in the half hour before closing, you won’t — they make announcements over and over during that half hour along with flickering the lights to get people out, which is fairly annoying.
The format of the library is kind of odd. There is a patio located somewhere in the depths of this place, which is closed in and not a real exit for the building. I felt like the whole building was one long stretch with not a lot of exits. Speaking of these long stretches, there is this one corridor lined with magazines or CDs that has some chairs in the middle of it, and some homeless are just parked here sleeping with their suitcases and other assorted luggage. Guess the cops next door at the station don’t give a shit because they’re not really hiding that they need some shelter and this is the best they have.

The children’s librarian is very helpful, but the adults’ librarian isn’t.
My biggest gripe though, is that Menlo Park does not participate in the «Food for Fines» program that all the county libraries and most city libraries participate in during the holidays in November and December. People donate food in exchange for having their library fines wiped out. This is a win-​win since, according to the San Carlos librarian, most people are very generous and donate way more than the value of their fines. I personally enjoy shopping for the food I will donate and do so every year. My kids enjoy getting in on the act too.
Most people don’t realize that the fines don’t go to the library per se, nor do they go to buy books nor sponsor services the library provides. The fines go into the city’s general fund. By donating to the local food bank we contribute so much more. But Menlo Park’s politicians don’t care about filling the stomachs of hungry children, they only care about filling their own coffers. Such a disappointment for a city that can afford to do so much more for its residents.
By the way, even if you don’t go to this library, any items you place on hold that come from this library incur hold fees that can’t be waived as well as late fees they will not waive. You are better off requesting a specific item from a specific branch rather than placing a general hold.

I would give it 5 but I come across some very distracting homeless people. I understand they’re tired and need a clean place to rest but a library doesn’t quite fit.
Most days, I do not come across this issue and the library is normally quiet, clean and very well lit. If you’re studying for long hours, I suggest you bring a jacket and maybe some ear buds (just in case). There’s also a very nice patio area where I like to take my breaks.

Ewww! The most gross and unpleasant experience for a library. I came here on a Monday afternoon. This is a small library, no study rooms, but there is a cute patio area where you can sit and study but they do not have any extension plugs/​power outlets!
So I walk towards the tables sections so I can sit and study and there are homeless people sitting on the couches sleeping. As I’m sitting there studying, one of them gets routy and starts to flirt in an obnoxious way with one of the girls that works there asking her to go on a date with him. Then he comes over to me and tried to do the same. Eventually the cops came and got him. It was loud and It truly was a disgusting experience. I will never come back here again!

They almost always have what I am looking for, much more often than the Palo Alto library. Their online catalog is very easy to use. After registering with the new catalog system, I got an error message when I tried to place a hold. I called the library and David, in circulation, explained and fixed the problem right away, over the phone. I did not have to take an extra trip to the library just to fix this problem! Their service makes me glad to pay the 75 cents charge for reserving.
There is only 1 thing wrong with the library, but I am not reducing my 5 star rating, because almost all libraries and institutions have the same problem. They design a lovely recessed entryway/​courtyard and put the handicapped parking as close as possible. They don’t realize that the walk through the entry area is a long walk for someone using a walker or cane.

As a library, this place gets 4 stars. There are a lot of books here, and lots of older (vintage?) books as well, which I really appreciate because I read a lot of vintage mysteries. The children’s section is also pretty big and separate from the adult section, so the noise doesn’t spill over. The librarians (and there are several) are nice and knowledgable.
Three stars, however, for baby story time. They cap it at 75 people (the capacity of the community room in the basement), so the librarian recommends getting there 10 – 15 minutes ahead of time. The stories are read by one of the librarians, and the babies play hand games in between. Overall, story time lasts like 15 – 25 minutes, depending on how the babies are doing that day.

I’ve been going to the Menlo Park library since I was a kid. Lots of books, selection, helpful staff… and a good little shop to buy books.
I recently had a great experience at the MP library. I needed some magazines for a craft project and the man at the check out brought me to the back to look through the old ones they had. I took a bundle and made a good donation. Score one for service and my craft project!

Nice laptop friendly tables in the back by the windows… Perfect for quite study! Plus I can always find parking there (free). They also have a decent selection of non-​fiction for when I need a quick read.

Been visiting this library all my life, and it continues to be one of my favorites to this day. Great science fiction section, plenty of space to study, and an amazing selection of international music. Staff is especially helpful. As a plus, nearby Burgess Park makes a great location to lay about on a nice day and read whatever dusty tome you managed to pick up.

This is a nice library in a nice quiet area. It’s clean and not too crowded. The staff was friendly too. We briefly checked out the library, but most of our time was spent looking through the used books for sale in the Friends Bookstore located inside. They had a good selection and we purchased $ 7.00 of books and movies (7 items at $ 1 each) that would have gone for over $ 60 if buying new. We would definitely go again!

Oh, Menlo Park Library, your remodel has let me down. In a region filled with interaction designers, user experience people, etc., how did you manage to make so many totally unnecessary mistakes when you remodeled the entrance area?
First of all, no one can find the slot to return the books. You know this — that’s why you have a staff librarian drifting around the entrance area (which leaves no staff sitting at the new reception/​library desk). You couldn’t even put up a sign as a stopgap measure? The slot is on a corner that is almost impossible to notice from the door. The wall where the book-​return area clearly should be has a large flat-​screen television instead, which, thankfully, was turned off today. Do you really want people stopping right in the doorway to stare at a screen?
About the book-​return slot itself — really, no counter space at all? I guess I can put my heavy bag of books on the floor and return them from there, but for anyone with back problems, this setup is going to cause some problems. And most of us like having a counter nearby anyway. Maybe put a table nearby, at least.
The new carpet is going to give someone a seizure. I understand that you want something that will wear well and where dirt won’t show up, but I can’t imagine that it had to be that bad. Also, the delightful table of book recommendations that used to sit near the counter where people checked out books is no more, and the tables over by the new section don’t make up for it.
The whole place still does not smell good. I know that’s not your fault and that the library should be a resource and a refuge for everyone, and I support that. But I genuinely do not know how people are able to sit there for hours — I get in, get my books, and get out. I can’t help wondering if there’s really nothing that can be done with the ventilation, etc., to improve the situation.
My last critique: When the automated checkout system was updated, all the font was turned into comic sans. If you are the kind of person who cares about this sort of thing, you will understand why I am appalled. If I actually believed that it increased readability for children, I might feel differently — but I bet it doesn’t. Comic sans! Come on.
So why three stars? Otherwise, it’s a decent library. Decent selection, pretty good inter-​library loan, etc. I will keep going there. I’m just disappointed that when they had the time and funding to make things better, they didn’t.

Re-​opening after a few weeks closed due to remodel, my expectations were higher. Much higher. What on earth did they do that took so long? Sure, they upgraded the computers and check out process. +1 What else? No clue.
The bathrooms needed some serious attention and it looks like they got mostly overlooked.
Remodel aside, huge selection of media (books + music + DVDs…)
If MP doesn’t have it, a library card here gives you access to the entire Peninsula Library System. Holds are $ 0.75 a pop.
Loads of seating & work space and a bundle of computers.
Remodel bashing aside, I heart the MPL for one reason: used books galore.
HUGE selection of used books for sale for cheap. Well organized unlike most used book sections I’ve seen at other libraries. They often have new titles, and for the girl that’s refused to upgrade to an e-​reader, this is pretty amazing. Win.
Loads of books at home you no longer want? Unload away on the cart by the back door, everyday but Tuesdays. Proceeds from used book sales go back to the library.

I studied at this library every Friday for one quarter. This is a great place to take your computer and study in a pleasant quiet environment. The individual desks have a power strip that I used in to charge my phone and laptop. The free Wi-​Fi is a big plus because its fast and easy to connect.
The parking lot is very close with lots of trees.

Great public library! A large selection of both facts and fiction, and when you request something from the other branches in the San Mateo library-​system, it usually arrives pretty fast. They do charge a $.75 fee for placing a hold and transferring material.
There is also a plentiful selection of newspapers and magazines, and the hours are good, although there are usually several people waiting outside each morning for it to open.
They do have a few study spots, but the chairs become pretty uncomfortable if you are sitting there awhile, and I wish the desks were in a more secluded area of the library.

I’ve never checked out any materials here, so this review is just about the library as a place to study.
PROS:
— Plenty of tables and single-​person couches to sit at
— Spacious layout/​floorplan
— The children’s section is isolated in its own section of the library, so the main library area is pretty quiet
— If you feel like browsing the bookshelves, it’s totally possible at this library because each aisle is marked with a description of the types of books in those shelves
CONS:
— Only a handful of study carrels: a few in the main room, and a few tucked away in an isolated corner of the library
— You can hear the Caltrain horns — but after a while, you get used to it

It’s not the best library in the universe, but it’s pretty good. San Mateo library system has SOME of the books I’m interested in, but I’m often looking for design books that the library system just doesn’t have.
Menlo Library staff are very courteous and knowledgable. Friendliest I’ve seen. I’m used to librarians being like post office employees. No offense postal employees: please don’t shoot me.
Menlo Library is a fair place to hang out and work or read. I’ve tried hanging out on the patio but the HVAC units are too darn loud. The rest of the library is pretty packed all day, so you can count on moderate quiet, but not solitude.

This is my primary public library and has been for 4 – 5 years. Even after moving to Palo Alto, I continue to head over on a regular basis because its got a great feel, open, welcoming, good impulse browsing in the music, dvd and new book section and access to inter-​library loans at the .75 cent charge (a little annoying, but cheaper than buying that next book in a series I just started.)
Pros: Great layout, helpful professional staff (librarians), good collection development (newer items coming in, older stuff not weeded off the shelves irrationally just because the library needs shelf space for new material.) Spacious and open feeling with a number of good spots to set up to get some studying done.
Cons: New teen/​young adult section under-​used and crowded out some nice stuff I liked like the community bulletin board and free book exchange bin. Homeless and transient population disproportionately represented, taking over not only internet terminals but also some of the best little corner spots suited for quiet study. Parking lot can fill and they gave up half of it for the new gym. Bike and other thefts frequent (but if you didn’t lock it up or walked away with it unattended, did you give it away?)
Neighboring communities in Mountain View and RWC also have nice libraries, but Palo Alto has been a cluster for a while with crammed little branches that now all seemed to be closed at the same time for renovation.

This review is for the Story-​times. They have a good schedule of story-​times for baby’s and toddlers. Some of the readers are hit and miss, sometimes too quiet or they try to hard to sing on key or they read too many books. The toddlers don’t care how good you sound, they need to hear you to be engaged.
There are a lot of childcare providers escorting kids (i.e. nanny’s) and sometimes the kids can get a little out of control, but all in all this is one of the better story-​times around.

Menlo Park is a pretty good library as far as material is concerned. Whenever I look for something on the Peninsula Library System, chances are a copy can be found at MP be it CD, audio book, DVD, fiction, and so on.
Location wise, the library is conveniently located near MP downtown, on the corner of Menlo Ave. and Alma. From my house, I usually take the Willow exit and drive until I reach Alma, hang a right, and there I am. The parking lot is huge, with a well-​thought out 1 hour section for those visiting for a short time, and a 4 hour section for those here for an extended read.
I have also found its free books section to be a great resource. Not only have a found many a good book from the free books section, I have found it a great place to drop off good books in my collection that I do not want to send to the recycling bin. If you have textbooks from college for example that are just gathering dust, consider dropping them off here. Who knows… maybe someone may be enlightened by your generosity.