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    Capitola Branch Library

    3.5 (22 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This library is beautiful (they did a great job with the remodel) and a great location. The staff are friendly and helpful.

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    4 years ago

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    Diane C.

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    4 years ago

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    Amanda R.

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    5 years ago

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    Diane C.

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Diane C.

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    5 years ago

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    Diane C.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Diane C.

    Thanks for the nice review Miguel, we're glad you like it!

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    5 years ago

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    Diane C.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I made an appt to get computer help on 3/8/22. Both the volunteer and employee were extremely helpful. Great service!

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    Diane C.

    Thank you for the great review! So glad you liked the service.

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    What a watse of money 13 million ????????? Should have gone to the police and fire departments

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    12 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Capitola Branch Library

    Which branch is at the "capitola mall", it says "temporary closed" here on yelp?

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    Review Highlights - Capitola Branch Library

    This is a smaller branch library with an attached children's playground which has been serving Capitola.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Downtown Branch - Santa Cruz Public Library Home

    Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Downtown Branch

    3.6(37 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    Pretty decent library. Parking lot is right next door, but limited spots. Could be difficult to…read morefind a spot and street parking is also challenging. Suggest not coming on a Saturday or maybe even any weekend day, not sure about a weekday. Older building, but well maintained and friendly staff and plenty of books. Downstairs is for adults. Some people seem to be long timers and frequent visitors. Upstairs is for kids and teens and they make sure it's only 18 and under + families for kids safety. Colorful and cozy area. Many computers available for kids to reserve and use for hour at a time. All in all, a pretty decent library for the community in Santa Cruz. We stopped by to check this place out and for the kids to rest before more adventures and it was a nice place to find some quiet and calm.

    Adj: Oldie but Goodie Library in Downtown Santa Cruz…read more We've been here a couple of times. It's an older library, and parts of it feels kind of grimy, but it's still a pretty decent one and a good resource for the local community. There are 2 entrances, the side one closest to the small parking lot (spots limited) might have some people loitering, so you may prefer the main entrance. Parking can be challenging, street parking available, but there's fees for those. Not too bad on the weekend afternoon when we came. Lots of seating and relatively quiet considering it was quite packed downstairs. Upstairs where the kids' section is located was a more cheerful and bright area with more natural light and colorful decor and furniture. The whole library is older so everything felt a bit 1970s-90s, but most parts were well maintained and kept clean. Towards the back of the 2nd floor there's a large community room where some kind of board game gathering was taking place during our visit, as well as some family-friendly bathrooms only for kids and their parents. The general public are directed to use the downstairs bathrooms which I passed by and peeked into and they looked kind of dirty and unkept (or very used by the afternoon). There's a campaign going on to raise funds to remodel or update this library, and I can see the need, hopefully, they will get there. The library staff are friendly and helpful. Plenty of computers throughout, on both floors although I noticed they were quite outdated older systems. Wifi was pretty good. Overall, an OK library in downtown Santa Cruz.

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    Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Downtown Branch
    Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Downtown Branch
    Santa Cruz Public Libraries: Downtown Branch

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    Porter Memorial Public Library - Photo in the historical room of Soquel Historical Library.

    Porter Memorial Public Library

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    This is such a cute library. From the wonderful volunteers to the awesome historic collection it…read morereally has something for everyone. I've always passed it going up and down Old San Jose, but I had time to stop in and I got a library card the second that I could. Everything is by the books and you won't find a computer to save your life. I think that is what gives it the unique charm that most libraries don't have. 10/10

    Soquel Porter Memorial Library is an all-volunteer effort to provide library services to the…read morecommunity. It was begun by pioneer descendants in 1912 and has been kept open (except in times of flooding) ever since. When it was ordered closed after passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the people of Soquel fought to keep it open. It functions like a regular library under the guidance of several (retired) volunteer librarians who are highly skilled. Volunteers accept books and must decide which are suitable for cataloging in the collection. Volunteers deal with county regulations. Volunteers sweep the floors. Volunteers keep the doors open on a regular schedule. Sometimes volunteers get grouchy, but they perform a tremendous service for the town of Soquel. It is the little library that could.

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    Porter Memorial Public Library - Photo in the historical room of Soquel Historical Library. This is a photo if a family member.

    Photo in the historical room of Soquel Historical Library. This is a photo if a family member.

    Porter Memorial Public Library - Photo in the historical room of Soquel Historical Library.

    Photo in the historical room of Soquel Historical Library.

    Porter Memorial Public Library - Historical library hours. Remember cars have to be parked around back.

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    Historical library hours. Remember cars have to be parked around back.

    The Court of Mysteries - Interior stairwell to nowhere; banisters repaired with new columns and column caps to finish it off :)

    The Court of Mysteries

    4.0(14 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    Once abandoned and in ruins, when we first moved to the Bay Area it was a desolate and decayed huge…read morelot with a pet goat and a caretaker in a mobile home to shoo off explorers and vandals. Built in the 1930s by Kenneth Kitchen. It's inspired by romanticized Hindu mysticism as well as the arcane and occult. Because of this the site is covered in symbology and hidden meaning. From the obvious all seeing eye at the front gate to the mini details in the brick there is an esoteric design language that keeps it all unified and cohesive. The legend is also complemented by the fact that the owner and brothers were bricklayers and stone masons and it was only constructed under moon light. It was purchased in 2016 and lovingly restored and developed by the new owners to preserve the local folk-art style architecture. The new main house is next to the "court of mysteries" and a lot of the missing abalone and smashed brick has been painstakingly replaced.

    The Court of Mysteries (which also goes by The Red Brick Castle, among other names) is a beautiful…read moremonument and home in Santa Cruz, which not many people know about. It has a very interesting history to it, and though you cannot go inside the house or on the property itself (because it is a private residence), you can still appreciate the architecture from out front, including a lovely fountain in the courtyard, and learn about the stories and mysteries that have defined this unique landmark. These stories can easily be found online, but some of the most interesting details are that the original builder (Kenneth Kitchen and his brother) built it only during the night, modeled it after a Hindu temple, and incorporated hidden messages throughout, using shapes, astrological symbols, and dashes and dots resembling morse code, with possible connection to the occult. Also, there is no historical record of Kenneth Kitchen after he left Santa Cruz in the 1950's, so yeah a lot of oddities to drive your imagination and make you wonder. One of the most intriguing parts of the Court of Mysteries is the "Gate of Prophesy" which has two magnificent towers and an intricately designed archway with the mysterious triangular structure at its center. Beautiful trees and vegetation surround the brick and abalone "temple" and entire site, creating a picturesque scene overall. Apparently the property was restored a few years ago by the previous owners (I'm pretty sure that rebuild didn't occur "only at night"). They even built a house on the left side to live in while reconstructing the Court of Mysteries. The property was subsequently sold in late 2021. If you're interested in a quick visit, it's easy to just park right on the street, take a few photos of the amazing archway and towers, and peek through the gate to see what the Court of Mysteries looks like today... and then maybe amuse yourself with the legend and history behind this strange phenomenon.

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    The Court of Mysteries - And more ....

    And more ....

    The Court of Mysteries - Under restoration and looking beautiful!

    Under restoration and looking beautiful!

    The Court of Mysteries

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    Capitola Branch Library - libraries - Updated August 2026

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