Mission Bay Branch Library

Great spot. Not a huge but a nice place to spend time reading. There’s some great outdoor seating nearby and a Philz coffee shop next door. Great combo for the weekends.

Okay this was awhile back and so I didn’t even feel the need to leave a comment on Unilocal until now… Although I have left a comment on the library website.
As I was walking in I simply saw the man talking on the phone while he was standing behind the front counter and I was polite enough to say, «excuse me» just when I was about to ask for a laptop the man quickly puts in that rude attitude by sarcastically saying, «I’m on the phone.» So I went ahead and talked to the other lady about but she told me to talk to this man and I was like «Oh shit, here we go.» So I decided to be the big person here (as always) and apologized for interrupting his personal phone call and he said, «no worries» I was like, «ok.» I simply wanted to borrow a laptop for a while but since my name wasn’t registered. I had to sign up for one which felt like a hassle to me because it took more than 2 mins to get that signed. I just thought I only wanted to get my laptop from the front desk and that would be it.
Don’t worry patrons… I don’t go to this library often and I don’t think I’ll ever come back to the Mission Bay Library either. Until they do something about customer service? I don’t ever want to go to this library.

Love this library. It’s quaint and cozy and right by the water. It’s also on the same block as Philz Coffee. It’s not going to have the massive collection of books that SF Main has readily available on its shelves, but that’s what your online library account is for. Log in and request to pick your book of choice up here, where it’s calm, there are no lines, and everyone’s in a good mood.

This library is nice. It is right next to Philz Coffee cool. I can in here to looking for some kid’s DVDs. This library is nice inside. I would come back here again when I am in the area. I would like to see here a larger selection of Kid’s DVD.

Great small library with clean tables and fast wi-​fi. I don’t think that there’s a better place to do some free studying.

This library has been here for a year or so and I’ve never seen it all those times I’ve gone to Philz Berry or that one time I went to Tsunami Sushi. It’s crazy!
I went in to get a library card and staff are super friendly. They’ve got DVDs, books old and new, of various languages, and even graphic novels. It’s a small but effective public library.
Having had a kindle for years and then moved on to an iPad mini, the idea of borrowing a book feels archaic… Even a slightly romantic notion. It brought back memories of me checking out stacks of books as a kid.
This is a great place to read or borrow a book and set up at Philz.

There are very few bad libraries in the city. I usually come to this one, to pick my my reserved books after I get off caltrain. It’s super clean, even though it is small, it’s a great place to sit and read for a few hours.

This library is new, clean, and well-​lit. I love all the natural light in the reading area. They have plenty of outlets scattered throughout the library too.
The book and dvd collection itself is not very extensive, but it’s a no-​brainer to request one from another branch and have it delivered here.
The only thing is I wish they had more comfy seats in the reading area. And they should replace the wooden chains in the magazine area with comfy ones too.
It’s also conveniently located along the Muni N and T lines. I don’t drive, but parking looks difficult around here.

I love this library and it is close to my house and the location over looks the small river and Francisco, staff, is pretty awesome as well.

This is more or less the most convenient branch of the SFPL to me, and I rather like it even though it’s on the small side and the selection of books isn’t great. That said, if I put in a request, any book becomes available in a day or two. Quite convenient!
Note on hours: They’re closed on Mondays and only open past 6pm on Wednesdays.
Note on layout: The science fiction/​fantasy shelf is hidden waaay in the back right hand corner. It confused me at first.

San Francisco Public Library Mission Bay Branch is your spot for books, magazines, newspapers and other resources. If you are looking for a quiet spot to study for an exam, complete homework assignments, read some books for pleasure or school work, then you came to the right spot. The restrooms looks very clean and the overall facility looks well maintained. Staff members are also very friendly. There are study rooms available if you prefer to study or complete homework assignments without the noise going on elsewhere in the library.
This is definitely the spot to check out when I want a book to read when I am at the coffee shop, on the train or bus. Live in an apartment building nearby? Looking for a library close to your location? Look no further than San Francisco Public Library Mission Bay Branch! If I am near Caltrain Station looking for a book to read, I am coming to SFPL Mission Bay Branch.
Nearby Dining Establishments:
1. Philz Coffee
2. Panera Bread, Bakery and Café
3. Starbucks Coffee
4. Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria
5. The Iron Cactus
6. The Creamery
7. Alexander’s Steakhouse
8. Subway Sandwiches & Salads (inside Caltrain Station before the Ticket Vending Machines)
9. McDonald’s
— Nearby Financial Institutions: JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo
— Nearby Shipping Centers/​Postal Facilities, Grocery and Drugstore: Safeway, Walgreen’s, United States Postal Service and The UPS Store
— Nearby Sporting Venues: AT&T Park
— Nearby Train Station: Caltrain Station at 4^th St and King St

pros:
— free, reliable wifi (yay!)
— has workspace with outlets
— lots of natural light
— nice location overlooking Mission Creek, near transportation and coffee shops
cons:
— limited hours and selection
— out of control kids (I am wearing earplugs at the library)
— harmless but unkempt regulars

It’s a library.
You can get lots of books and DVDs!

Cute, cozy, small library with limited hours and limited selection.
It always seemed to be filled with seniors from the retirement home next door.
If you’re looking for somewhere quiet to study, find a magazine or a movie, this is your place.

This is the library I can walk to, and it’s small and cozy.
The bathrooms are not clean.
The librarians are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I wish they had a larger selection and more hours (they are closed Mondays).

I give this place 3 stars because of its unfortunate history of homeless people. I’ve walked up to the library 5 minutes before it opened once, and as soon as the doors were unlocked, the poor librarian almost got run over by the herd of bathroom/​computer anxious home-​lacking individuals. Its sad, yes, but in your face, too, because this is such a small branch.
A good thing about this branch, though, is that it has some childrens’ programs. I take the little boy I nanny for (he’s 19 months) to Baby Rhyme Time. Its on Thursdays at 10:15. You can stroller through to the back of the library, park, unload, and go into an open room where nannies (mostly), mothers, sometimes fathers, and caretakers gather in a circle to sing kids songs and jingle their jangles away. :)
But, while on the subject of kids at the library… their childrens section needs some work! Its small and not enclosed. So if you have a roaming and inquisitive toddler, like myself, you have to follow them 5 steps behind the ENTIRE time.(othrwise their leaving the section, pulling down adult book, and generally getting into funnybusiness) This section could for sure use improvement.

I am a delinquent.
A fugitive with a library card.
This branch is 2 blocks from my house, yet I always return my books way late. Why oh Whyyyyyyy?
But, it’s not their fault. They are always there to lend me books… and take my «donations».
On the bright side,
**Late fees tally up to no more than $ 5 per item– and believe me, I’ve gotten there more than I’d like to admit.
**They have a more than adequate selection of books, CDs and DVDs for a satellite branch. Plus you can place holds on and order items from other branches to your local branch.
**And it beats buying sh*t that takes up space, like books you read once and CDs that get stored on your computer and iPod!
They are a good lender, I need to work on my borrowing skills.

How could I NOT be a fan of the library? I’ve loved trips to the library since I was old enough to read, and I read a LOT. This newer branch of the San Francisco Library system has a bright and modern feel to it. I love that the trains I work on pass right by the front door of this establishment.
They have an ample selection of books, movies, and audio cds, and if they don’t have what you’re looking for, you can have it delivered from one of the other branches to this one.
What really impressed me was the last time I updated my library card, I was offered a new «eco-​card» made out of corn (
). No more petroleum-​based plastic cards! Kudos to the SFPL for going green!
The one down side to this library is the nannies/​mothers who don’t have the sense or decency to leave the library when the child they are watching has been whining for the past ten minutes. Now I love whiny, screeching brats as much as the next person, but the public library is no place for it. Why not take them next door to the park where there’s lots of fresh air to work out their powerful little lungs? Mmmkay? Thanks.

I took my nieces to the grand opening of this library a few years back. It was a great turnout and I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it was to have such a beautiful new public library at this location. I couldn’t imagine it would get as much foot traffic as that day, but I also didn’t realize it would have as many neighboring residents and businesses as it does now!
I used to work for the Peninsula Library System so I have a different appreciation for the smaller branches. Typically, I love any public library; but this particular branch really appealed to me because of the way it was designed and its great use of limited space.
I haven’t visited it in a while and I’m not an SF resident but I sure hope to visit this branch soon.

Thank you for being my local library branch. Although small and not open in the evenings, the Mission Bay Branch is clean and organized, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the other library goers are polite and quiet.
I recently started using the SF Public Library system when I realized just how much I was paying for books each month — how can you go wrong with reading for free? It’s easy when you can just search and put your request on hold and then pick them up a few days later only a block from your apartment.