San Diego Public Library – San Carlos Branch Library

You like books? Computers to use? Old people and kids? Air-​conditioning? Maybe a little peace and quiet? Yeah this place has most, if not all of those things.
San Carlos Public Library has been a place for people of all ages to do whatever it is that you do at a public library. Book sales, computer use, reading, book rental, study… whatever. It has been part of the neighborhood for a long time, undergone some upgrades (and currently undergoing expansion) in order to stay appealing and functional.
The place is pretty small but it is still a nice and quiet little place if you need to get out somewhere and do some studying, reading or whatever. There are a few large tables, some chairs, some computer stations and several aisles of books and most importantly, has air-​conditioning during those hot summer days.
This place isn’t a bad little community library for people of all ages.

This is a small local library that I come to fairly often because it is the closest city library to where I live in La Mesa. If they don’t have what you’re looking for just request it either on the computer or by asking a librarian for help and they will have it sent over from another branch. I’m not crazy about the self checkout system because I prefer to deal with a human being but since all libraries are going to this system there’s not much we can do about it.
The times when I have needed help the librarians have been cheerful and friendly about helping me find what I’m looking for. The only bad experience I ever remember having was one time when I came in while there was a Zumba class going on in a side conference room. It was extremely difficult to concentrate with all the shouting and stomping going on. Being old school, I felt the library should be a quiet place. But overall I’ve been extremely happy with this location.

Very old, but charming in a way. Staff was helpful. Self Defense class was terrific. I am enjoying these free programs sponsored at County libraries.

Very small and quiet library, all you can hear is THE ENTIRE STAFFS’ CONVERSATIONS?! Everyone in the library is quiet and working, yet forced to listen to you guys be corny.
No one wants to hear fifty year olds flirt.

This is a small library. Wish they had more outlets closer to all the tables. But everyone is friendly and helpful. This library is close to my place so it’s one of the reasons I like to come to this library. Wish they were open later at night.

I come to this library sometimes to print off the computer. There’s almost always a computer available. They also have a good selection of used books for sale as well as free magazines. The check out system is super annoying though. The library is supposed to be a quiet zone to study, research, etc and this machine is loudly saying «scan the item you want to check out». It’s the most ridiculous thing ever. Libraries should never have gotten rid of check out via a librarian. There is very little human interaction anymore. The kid’s section can also be loud here, sometimes with someone reading out loud. There should be a room for that – it’s too noisy when you’re trying to work on something. That being said, this is one of the better libraries in San Diego in my opinion. I love that they recently allowed it to be yarn bombed, and the librarians here are easier to approach than other locations.

NIce little Library with well stocked shelfs and friendly staff.

Although seating and outlets and even library materials are somewhat limited at this small neighborhood branch library, it does have among the most comfortable chairs to sit in, very good WiFi access, and plenty of parking. It is also located near some restaurants and stores I like and outdoor recreation area trails to walk before or after.

The staff at this library are not friendly.

Access to this small library can prove to be tough. Jackson Dr. somehow makes it illegal for you to make a U-​turn at the light adjacent to the branch so it’s advisable to come from a southern direction on Jackson Dr. and make a right into the branch. Careful ’cause the entrance ramp is steep and can tear up the undersides of cars taht have been lowered (like mine). The collection isn’t all that impressive and a friend of mine told me that a beehive had sprung up along the east wall. Lots of old people frequent this branch, as I believe the library is surrounded by senior retirement communities and apartment complexes.

This is my local library. I’ve been coming here since I started reading. So many great children’s books that bring back memories. I take my little cousin here to check out books and movies.
Their selection is pretty limited, and they don’t really have anything in the way of new books. They have a «new book section» but most of their collection is pretty old.
It’s pretty small and has lots of nooks and crannies to sit and read in privacy. Lot’s of good books on tape, if thats your thing.
They have a booksale every saturday morning which can yield some pretty good gems. This sale has its own little foreign language section where you can find really cheap books in spanish or french. Also it has a «classics» section where you can get the books you or your kids might need for high school english class or something for like 50 cents.