On Thankful Thursday, 11/20/25, I have to reflect on all the libraries of my past that made me into the successful broadly educated person that I am today. Instead of doing a review for each library since it's been a period of time and changes obviously occur I am mentioning libraries I found useful in my growing up and college education process. Growing up I lived in El Cerrito and it was a comfortable walk with my mom and sometimes a sister or two to visit the El Cerrito Library. We each had our own library card and would pick out two or three books to check out. My favorite section the children's books. On occasion our family would visit the Richmond library for which my parents had a library card. My memories serve me that the Richmond library had records and movies that could be checked out. I browsed the books but rarely asked for one to be checked out for me. I did make requests for records that may not have been my parents choice. Once in college I became well versed at the Berkeley Main Library, the North Berkeley library, the University of California Berkeley library, the Boalt Hall Legal library, and the Contra Costa Court Reference library. I even spent hours in Sacramento at CSUS library. You probably can guess I was in need of all sorts of legal reference books to excel in classes, write briefs and papers. My thanks to each and every library as I passed all my law classes with straight A's. I have no idea of the quality of these libraries currently but I am THANKFUL that in the early 1970's all of these libraries allowed me access and were the quality that I depended upon. read more

What a special place. I haven't thought about family library events until recently after a few friends began sending me events happening in the area. We attended a Firefighter Storytelling Hour and it was so much fun. A few members of the local Fire Department came out on a weekend morning and introduced themselves, read a story, and we all sang "The Wheels on the Fire Truck". After, everyone had the opportunity to see/touch/take photos/and go into the truck with their respective groups. A wonderful start to the day. Checking out ccclib.org, you can categorize the library locations to find upcoming events/times. Today for example, there's a Therapy Dogs for Grown Ups hour. How fun! The staff is so friendly and there's lotsa parking/accessibility. Have you been to a recent event at the library worth sharing about? Would love to hear more as I begin this new quest of family fun! read more

The library is housed in a nondescript building; however, the interior is warm and inviting. It appears that there is only street parking. I was there for an introduction to mahjong talk. There were a lot of people attending this lecture. Looking at the Contra Costa County Library site ccclib.org, they do have other events here There was a nice selection of books for sale along with comfortable chairs. computers, and of course, books read more

Such a precious library. My son and I recently discovered the library. He absolutely loves going here and enjoys exploring the children's books and the coloring station. The staff are incredibly helpful. I had to use the restroom to change my baby and they were so accommodating. I am so happy this is available in our neighborhood to us and our community. read more

The library is cozy and welcoming, especially the kids' section. The friendly and kind staff provide engaging activities like storytime and ABC mouse for children. read more

My only contact with the El Cerrito branch has been by phone since my disability limits my mobility. When I first contacted them, quite frankly I did expect good service; however, I I did not expect the level of service at such a high level. I really needed guidance. My first encounter was via live chat. Subsequent to that, an employee named Anasa, has continued to assist me with navigating their system. I appreciate the entire staff. read more

The staff bends over backwards n forwards to make sure that you have everything you need! Great helpers.

Came by to reserve A Tiger in the Kitchen.... my oh my... grateful that this branch exists so that I needn't cross the Caldecott and go all the way to Lafayette to tap into its plethora of resources and materials, I oft-times just LINK+ it or reserve intrasystem to "get it over the hill". But the dismal conditions here.. sooo dated that I'd guess this one is even more in need of overhaul and $$$$ than even the El Portal branch! It's a tad depressing for me to be inside. However, a library is a library. If one is patronizing for the ultimate reason for coming, then it shall do. Resting within the walls are indeed books... new and old. The intricate linking system of LINK+ and using Overdrive allows reading at one's fingertips.. hey, it's your own hard-earned tax dollars... back at work! PS 10 am next Sat, Apr28, spring book sale read more

My friend and I brought our children to Oakland Zoo Mobile at the library. It was great. We viewed a few small animals and learned some neat things. Plus, they have a summer lunch program for children so they were able to enjoy lunch too. The library was a bit cluttered and with a 1 year old that can be a little challenging. read more

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This is my go to library. Easy vibe, easy access, nice staff.

Nice library. Many tables to work at - some quiet areas and others where you can talk in low voices. Chairs were quite used and the first one I sat in felt like the seat was about to cave in. Welcoming space and nice to see so many people using the resources. read more

Pain. I give my local library a simple three stars. Sigh...... but Kathyrn Page's assessment of the EC library's needs (circa 2005???) has never been followed. The city of El Cerrito seems to have other things on its plate rather than updating the building. (Staffing comes from the county, buildings come from the city in CCC) It needs a better signage system. Visible across the room so that if you *can* squeeze around the kids, laptops, and walkers you can get to the right Dewey number. . And its simply too old, too crowded and too well-worn to warrant more stars. So... Let's talk about what the library *has* 1) Terrific staff...who will check out books to you without your card, if you can show an id like a driver's license. 2) An active "Friends of the Library " group, who even collect "tiny tickets" that you can't spend on BART so that they can buy *you* more books. 3) Book returns for *any* of Contra Costa County's libraries...if you check it out in Walnut Creek you can return it in El Cerrito. 4) Close proximity to the senior center and an elementary school. "Cradle to Grave" one stop service nice for the many locals...people like me who have used it for their entire lives. 5) A self-serve reserve shelf. If you "grab" a book online, you'll find it waiting for you on the shelf at EC...often the next day. 6) The ability to have a card if you live anywhere in California. I mean ANYWHERE in California. Its a rare library perk...but our state has it so take advantage of your right to freely read. So...for those who want to reach for those two additional stars... 1) Read and use the aforementioned library study...Ms. Page does thorough assessments...so listen to her. 2) Bug the city to prioritize a building upgrade...now. 3) Join Friends of the EC Library and donate your gently used books. To paraphrase that old Camelot tune (which...just may be in a cheat-sheet in the library's non-fiction area... "The way to handle a Library is to Love It, Simply Love It, Merely Love It, Love It, Love It................" read more

This library is pretty close to me so that automatically gives it one star. It gets another star for having a semi decent selection of trashy/cheesy romance novels (a weakness!). As far as public libraries go, it's not great but it's not horrible. It's one of the smaller libraries in the East Bay (not as small as Kensington!), and doesn't have the largest or most up-to-date selections for nonfiction books. There are DVDs for loan, as well as audio books, which shows it's at least attempting to attract a younger and more diverse crowd in terms of technology and variety. And they actually have whole seasons of popular TV series on DVD to rent, which is a pretty good deal considering you can watch them at leisure and not shell out a crapload of money. The librarians are uber friendly and willing to chat for a bit. There is plenty of seating, both tables, benches and more comfortable chairs, and there's actually a little meeting room in the back corner. I think this is where they hold book club discussions etc., but it's also a nice little area to relax and people rarely hang out back there. It gets the final star because even though it's not huge, or current in terms of book selection, it does have that homey feel of a neighborhood library you went to as a little kid for story time. read more

I am really down with places you walk into and find little people singing, at the top of their lungs, "If you are happy and you know it stomp your feet...." I found myself singing along in the travel section! Yes, out loud. Thankfully for those seeking the respite of a library this fantastic happy fest only seems to happen once a week at story time. But, I am tempted to visit next Thursday! This was my first visit to any branch of the CoCo County system. I was impressed. It is smaller and more simple than say the old beauties and modern dreams at Cal/USF/SF, but it has an excellent colllection of local history, Chinese and Japanese history in California as well as all the Nero Wolfe DVDs. (Sorry, I have to enjoy a man, even if fictional, that readily admits the all-too-common fear of smart women: "A woman that is not a fool is dangerous!") The staff was really helpful from the beautifully kind woman that signed me up for my card, even though I am from Berkeley, to the closing staffer with really good end-of-day boundaries---I knew she wastn't going to check my books out if it was one minute after! After I went home I was also able to monitor my account online and order an entire pile of California Women histories from all around---I'm on a kick. That you EC library---you are definitely a wonderful gateway into the CoCo County library system. read more

As much as I support my local businesses and community, I also like to venture out to see what others have to offer. Since I was on my way to Kaady's anyway, I decided to check out this library. I'm probably spoiled by the splendor of the new Hercules library. It's not fair to compare so I won't. I liked the fact that the paperback romance books were separated from the hardback books. Not all Contra Costa libraries do that. Hardbacks are nice...but they are also heavy. This library also had a nice stock of hardcover fiction books. What I didn't like too much was the parking situation. But maybe that is my fault for going around 11:30 am on a Saturday morning. They have one self-checkout station but the counter was covered with display books...so unless you are checking out one book and already have card in hand, it would be a bit challenging to use. read more

I grew up with this library, mostly because we lived (and so did the grandparents) on Liberty St around the corner. We would walk down the dirt hill, through the playground and to the library. This is probably the reason I blow my budget on books almost every month. I was a fan of story time. (I used to go home and read to my dolls and stuffed animals. Reading upside down was a big skill!) When we moved, oh, so sad. I couldn't just walk to the library any more. I love that it's part of a bigger system so there's more than you can physically see to be gained. I love the fireplace area to sit and ponder. I love the little used book rack. One star off for the administration that is taking forever to replace the building with the musty basement storage. read more

The good and then bad come here to meet. The staff is friendly and do their best to be helpful. I try my best to be a good patron and return books on time, pay my fines and generally be polite to the people around me while there. I love the CC library system and that they offer Link+. I love Link+. And their online downloadable library selection is improving as well. The Discover and Go program is great! The library needs work though. Not just the building but the collections offered as well, but with a lack of funding, what's a library to do? I am doing my best to help out. I know certain books are harder to get because people often steal them so I try to buy replacement books and dvds when I can and hope others do as well. After all, what will we do when the Libraries are gone? I have had one not super great interaction with a librarian who looked over the brand new book I was donating to the library with a sneer and said, "We'll see if it meets the standards of the library." WTF? Libraries are for books, all books, even the crappy ones. It's a public library and should not be held to the whims of citizen groups. It should be free, open to the public and funded publicly and no donated book should ever be greeted with a snotty sneer. But I haven't seen that librarian since. Maybe she got a new job where snotty sneers are appreciated. read more

The library is a little small but the staff makes this library one of the best. I really appreciate that they often have after school activities and lots of stuff for kids to do. My daughter looks forward to going to the library after school each day and that means a lot to me. read more

For me, as an immigrant from Texas :)) and daughter of a librarian, El Cerrito Library is the best community library I've ever associated with. Why? (1) The staff, (2)community activities. STAFF: They're knowledgeable, polite, hard working...and upbeat. At El Cerrito, you're going to receive friendly help with your questions! (2) community ACTIVITIES: EC's children's storytime fills this small library with laughter and joy. When I was there last time at least 40+ kids/parents were having a wonderful time together. This builds positive memories between parent and child and fosters friendships among the parents, which in turn builds a sense of community. Other activities at EC library: After school kids gather at this safe environment to do their homework and quietly visit with one another. Adults eager to know more about computer-usage can get free tutoring as can people wanting to learn how to read. On Thursdays there's conversational Spanish. etc etc read more

This library is little and outdated but it is just fine if you are searching for a classic to read. So far I have caught up and some of the "oldies but goodies" I should have read before... Shiloh, Of Mice and Men, 100 years of Solitude, etc.... They have a collection of spanish books too. The floor is creaky. read more

I love libraries. I had some down time in the area and can't think of a better way to spend it. From solid wifi to the latest magazines to the quiet surrounding. Did I say I love libraries? Add El Cerrito Library to my love list. read more

Despite the building looks like it is going to collapse at any moment, it feels OK in there. I'd just stay away from the section by the restroom. It smells like they have had major sewage problems. Oh and if you are going for books, think again. Their selection is seriously anorexic. read more

This was the first library I took refuge in last year when the workers had turned off the electricity to rewire circuits at home. Architecturally it's not special. It's 50s/60s unspectacular and there are plans and intentions to replace it. But it has books and computers and comfortable chairs and nice people work there and the rack of books for sale has better books than the one in Albany does. As w/ most of the libraries its hours are limited. read more

All public libraries deserve 5 stars. They give you books for free! Yes, the building is unlovely and the contents of the stacks on any given day can be a tad uninspiring. The staff at EC is really nice and helpful though. Because so many people put the books they want on hold you are unlikely to just stumble across a new release sitting around in the stacks. This is particularly true for anything that received a positive review. The way to work it is to figure out what you want to read, then place the books on hold. When available, they will make their way to your local branch. The whole transaction (other than picking up and dropping off books) can take place electronically. The library system as a whole gets multiple copies of a vast number of books- you just have to be organized in how you go about accessing them. read more

I started going to this library because I ran up $50 in fines at the Berkeley one and would rather drive to El Cerrito for my books than pay it! As others have noted, the building itself is very small and dated, and the selection of new books is quite limited. You can request books from other branches, but the whole system seems to be poorly stocked so wait times can be long. That said, their children's and YA section is very serviceable and appears to be updated frequently. (I work as a private middle-school tutor so I'm in this section a lot.) I like their policy of low fines for children's books -- I think it's something like 10 cents per day. read more

Nice location, but parking can become tricky depending on the time and day. But it is good size.

I love this library. Despite its small size, my daughter always finds something excellent to check out. It's very welcoming for young kids with a nice assortment of toys and magnets to play with. This is a regular weekly visit for us and always great! Great staff and some really fun programs. And don't miss the book sales (twice a year or so) - such good finds for really low prices! read more

The momentum is building towards building a new building. The citizens (and city) of EC are trying to answer the call of Mother Nature (i.e., the old library won't survive the next big 'quake). Check out the latest on the replacement: http://eclibraryfoundation.org read more

I love this library! I have the most updated and newest books! The kids section is excellent! My kids want to come here several times a week! This is great! It helps to encourage them to read more! read more

i've been going to this library since i was a baby. i love how its cute and small and the staff is super friendly. i adore this place!

This review is not about the building or the collection (not great) but the fantastic staff, who are seriously as good as it gets. They are without exception kind, helpful and friendly, and make me feel better about the world. I always come home from the El Cerrito Library in a great mood (just ask my sweetie!) The library has access to collections all over the state through Link Plus, so I've been able to get all 300 Pimsleur Spanish lessons on CD (worth thousands of dollars). This place and its staff are a real community treasure. Thanks! read more