It's 2025 Thanksgiving holiday weekend and just a quick update on my outdated review. I was going to head to this library today and because of the holiday, checked to be sure they are open. They have been closed since Thanksgiving day and won't be open until Monday. Thanks to the good people at GCL for updating the hours here on Yelp! It's nice to see you post "Special Hours" and to know this library is closed today through tomorrow. read more

There's free parking available for one hour but I feel people abuse that and park here and walk over to the Americana. The interior is very spacious and has plenty of seating available. Check out their special events which are usually held in the upstairs rooms. read more

Glendale Central Library - Plenty of room APR2026 - Libraries Near Me - Glendale, California

I came here an hour before close to print something out. It was my first time visiting the Glendale library. The employees are very nice. The library itself is huge, plenty of computers scattered around the computer area. Parking lot is small, but there is paid parking across the street. There is also street parking available but it's also packed. Would definitely visit again for any library needs. A+ read more

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I recently came here to study for my college courses. First of all, the service was very friendly. I asked if I can get a library card and the staffs were nice and uplifting. They processed everything and got my library card and they explained what room the library offers and what it was. Shoutout to the staffs for their lovely service. read more

One of my favorite places to visit! I love going to the makerspace here and using the 3D printers and sewing machines. I love browsing the manga and graphic novel sections, and also chatting it up with some of the employees who are passionate about books and getting recommendations from them. It's a nice piece of safety in a busy and bustling area. Very quiet and dim with study areas in places ranging from full sun to staring at a wall -- whatever helps someone concentrate. It's pretty safe and people have left their supplies around for quick restroom breaks. This library also allows food and drinks! And the best part? They have those uber comfortable Herman Miller chairs to lounge in. The ones you usually see in college libraries and have probably fell asleep in yourself. Only knocking off a star because I wish their manga section was as great as their graphic novel one -- and for the makerspace not having good airflow. They weren't included in construction plans to improve circulation in there, unfortunately. read more

So grateful for public services. I had a seamless experience here where my guest pass got me 10 pages free printing, which I desperately needed to get my passport renewed, and free parking. Love the library!!! read more

It's been thirty years since I've had a library card, but when I saw the spacious Glendale Library I knew I had to pick one up. Plus in this heat wave they had good air conditioning so it was a no-brainer. In addition to the a/c, they had a huge collection of books. Let me tell you that the library has come far in the past thirty years. There was an art installation, they had a little studio to introduce you to sewing and 3D printing, and other resources. There were plenty of workstations, chair, and computer stations for people to take advantage. You'd almost forget that since the rise of big box bookstores like B&N had replaced the neighborhood library, but it looks like they're coming back. Be sure to stop by your local library and pick up a card. If you're ini the neighborhood, the Glendale library would be an excellent choice,. read more

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I came through because I had a few hours to kill and I honestly enjoyed my time here. Everything is so spacious and they have lots of places to just sit and relax. WiFi was pretty solid and they looked like they have some pretty cool rooms. They have a pretty decent children's section if you got kids and I heard there's even a recording studio you can spend some time in. They have so have some decent sized conference rooms. I would find myself here again if I was in the area. Parking is across the street and the first 3 hours are free when your ticket is validated at the front desk. read more

One of the best public Library in the San Gabriel Valley area. Or must I say Los Angeles County, because Glendale borders the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys of Los Angeles. Anyways, way back in the days, when I worked in Pasadena, I'd come to Glendale Library sometimes to check out the resources and books here. I recently stopped by here just to take a quick look at things. Place has been remodeled since than, and more new computers and books have been brought inside. The library is big with lots of magazines and old books. Being that Glendale has the largest Armenian community. You can find lots and lots of books about Armenian culture and history. There are a few books and video audios to study the Armenian language here as well. So, this is a library with alot of purpose to it. Its always a pleasure to visit here any chance I get. read more

This place used to so great to come and study now there are homeless everywhere, there are people who watch the special needs kids who are soo loud and very unprofessional , there is no room for people who actually need to study and need to concentrate it's a shame what this library has become read more

Really beautiful library it's nice and really big library it's clean plenty of parking I enjoy coming here people are nice here the workers here are nice read more

Glendale Central Library - Libraries Near Me - Glendale, California

The female staff in the children's area this morning was extremely rude. I was in the children's area with my young adult autistic client that reads at a 2nd grade level. This staff told us in a rude manner that we had to leave, even after explaining that to her. She said that only children and their families are allowed in that area. My client was very upset that he was kicked out. My client was working quietly and not disrupting anyone. read more

I prefer the Glendale libraries over the LA public libraries, there is just something about the friendly staff and cleanliness that keeps me coming back! This branch is our primary location to receive all of our books on hold. I love that everything is so neatly organized and clean. People on yelp complain about the homeless people hanging out here but it's not like they're taking over the place. From my experience I have never had a bad experience with homeless people at this branch. Yea I do see them on the first floor but most of the time I've only seen them minding their own business either reading a book or trying to use a computer. Children's room: this is the main reason why we come to this library. My 2 year old son loves reading his books in the tree section. Although he can't really read and understand the words in the book, he seems to find happiness and satisfaction when he grabs a book in this area. Parking: parking here is super limited, you might get lucky by getting a spot in their small parking lot, but they do validate for 3 hrs if you park at the public parking structure across the street! We always try our luck and hope we can find a spot but if not, we just park across the street. Staff: I've interacted with staff here pretty much every time we visit and I've always had a very good experience! The people I have interacted with have always gone above and beyond and provided me with a lot of good information. For example, I asked an employee at the front desk about the new CA State park pass program (I had no idea what it was and how the pass works), not only did the staffer explain the whole process to me, but went out of his way to help me put a hold on one of the passes online. I was able to check out the pass when it was available to me and I enjoyed visiting many of the locations where parking was free because of this pass! Returns: Another reason why we love this branch is their state of the art RETURNS machine! I don't know if that's what they call it, but that's what WE call it lol. I always come here with my toddler and he simply LOVES returning the books in the "book machine". If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll explain. This branch has a conveyor belt machine, and when you put your returned book in the slot on the wall, the conveyor belt will take your book, scan it and sort it by making sure it goes into the correct box where the book will later be put back on the shelves! My son loves putting the books in the hole and watch it go through the belt. We spend a few minutes here just returning books. It makes a great experience for my toddler and it's another reason for him to come to the library. Holds: The hold system at this library is awesome! I have a list curated online with all the books I would like to read and place on hold, and once that book becomes available, I get an email and I come pick it up. I know other libraries have this system too but I just love that the hold section is close to the entrance of the library. There was a time I literally got dropped off by my husband, walked in the library, picked up my books from the hold section, used the self check out machine and walked out of the library and back in the car. That whole process took me less than 2 minutes and the reason why it only took a couple of minutes is because of the organization and easy to use hold system this branch uses. Thank you to everyone that works here! You guys make our experience so enjoyable! read more

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Used to be a an amazing place to read books, and study as a student. However, after covid the place is filled with homeless people and it is unsafe! It is extremely hard to study and concentrate especially if you plan on taking practice exams which requires a lot of concentration! I had someone snoring very loudly next to me and no one was doing anything about it! The security only tells the ppl what to eat and what not to eat which is ridiculous! Instead of focusing on a stupid sandwich how about go tell the other person to not take his socks off and put his feet on the desk and make the whole area smell bad!! If you ever come just ask for disinfecting wipes from the front desk and wipe everything and I mean everything. The place is filthy and even after wiping everything down isn't enough! read more

This is a huge and gorgeous library. Unfortunately it has become a homeless encampment. Homeless people everywhere sleeping with numerous bags. This leaves limited seating to the people who come to study. I don't feel this is a great place for children unless you want to surround them with homeless people. The security does pretty much nothing. They just walk around watching people sleep. Don't say anything when people are talking in full voice on their cellphones. This place has a lot of potential but needs to be cleaned up. Also the upstairs that has giant windows they removed the majority of the tables. Anyhow really poorly managed. The tables are dirty and the carpet looks like it hasn't been vacuumed for days. Super gross. Some guy is yelling in here right now. Security? read more

Been coming to this library for years. Loved how it looked prior to construction but great either way. People complaining ab homeless people on here have no clue what libraries are about. Often times especially in this heat the library is the only air conditioned place they are welcome. Have some heart. Contrary to some reviews on here this library is very clean in my experience and a wonderful place to study, though I do think having more seating would be better (and more tables, as a lot of the seats are "modern" looking but dont really provide comfort, hence the 4 stars) Great staff, helpful and always kind. Great selection of new books, and will get books transferred from other libraries if they do not have it. read more

I f'ing love it here. It exists smack dab in the middle of what I would consider the mix of Glendale (I could be wrong.) without the production. It's in the cut, but not. The library is specious in all the right ways with high, and long window accents. There's a parking lot available although, it's not very big. There's also street parking available at no additional cost. There are kiosks available to check out, and renew books. For as many people that seem to frequent here, it's always kept up. The librarians are helpful, and knowledgable. If there is a selection you're interested in, but cannot locate, you can more than likely have that title transferred over for your convenience. There are sensory objects available upon request if you're looking to ease your mind along with coloring material. There are an array of impressive handmade bookmarks available art the information desk that are absolutely adorable, and appear to be created by children in the community. This this library offers a plethora of classes to help aid kids, teenagers, and the elderly. They even offer validation for the parking lot located directly across the street. Go GCL, I see you! read more

1/3 of the people inside this library are homeless. They mostly sit on the bottom floor near the windows. They smell, and no they are not reading books. They hang out here, sleep here, and organize their bags full of junk here. While reading, you will see the occasional bum walk around aimlessly. Why? Scooping for any potential items that can be stolen. No, they are not looking for a book to read. Be aware when you are in this library. The one security guard cannot see everything. Personally, I have already prevent one theft; which spurred me to make this review. read more

Glendale Central Library - Neat outdoor motion art !! - Libraries Near Me - Glendale, California

This library isn't a safe space. The city of Glendale really needs to make some strict rules and regulations. Homeless people everywhere!! There's no room to sit because the unhoused take up more than half the tables and chairs. This is ridiculous. As a tax paying resident we should be able to enjoy our local library. The unhoused make it filthy and crowded. I rather support the Burbank libraries from now on since it's only 15 minutes away. Hopefully the city of Glendale does something about this as soon as possible. read more

Great library. It has grown a lot. There is a Creative space for art, crafts, virtual reality stations, and 3D printer stations. There are also sewing machines, paints, and there's an audio recording studio too. It comes fully equipped with computer, DAW, mics, interface, and more. The workshops to teach you the basics are completely free and you can sign up to reserve time with the studio for your own music projects. Of course, this library still has the most cat books ever, so if you're a cat person, this library is for you. Other than that, there are tons of stations and desks where you can work. The top floor is especially conducive to flow with large windows radiating sunlight throughout the space. The other desks and work stations have plenty of power ports for your laptops and other devices. There are both IBM compatible stations and Mac stations. Also, they have some really great scanning machines at the entrance. This library has changed a lot. I say it's for the better. read more

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Too many homeless people! And employees don't care! It is supposed to be a library where people can study not a shelter

I remember the days of goofing off at this library as a kid.. The stupid joke of placing library books in someone else bag as they walk towards the exit turnstile on the way out never got old.. That was decades ago.. Yas.. Decades ago when Thrifty Ice Cream two blocks down was 15 cents. Glendale Central Library recently received a nice makeover. The skeleton is the same, however, the entrances and the guts have changed. There's even a gallery of art and artwork spaced around the library. The best part of this library is the magazine area where has a picturesque view of the park next door looking out thru a storefront.. Try this library if you're nearby and looking for a place to chill. Definitely double check your bag to make sure no one place a book in it.. read more

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Their maker space is fantastic, part of me that wants to review it because Right now it seems like a secret gem, but truthfully everyone should know about this amazing resource, sewing machines, 3-D printers, art software all sorts of stuff. Really cool, and the people there are super helpful read more

As far as LA libraries go this is a great one it's a huge space if you want to work 2 floors and plenty of outlets and good wifi very quiet for the most part You cannot avoid some homeless but if you live in LA it shouldn't bother you at this point..staff is very nice and it's clean and they also do some art installations here which I find very thoughtful I like this way more than the burbank libraries which unfortunately are trashy read more

The library is finally open for in person visits. Thank God because their book hold system wasn't the best. Okay, it was the worst. Talk about slow. My kids can spend all day here. The childrens' room is as big as some libraries. It has shelves upon shelves of picture books, chapter books and an okay section of graphic novels. The only other place that I know that has a bigger children selection is the Los Angeles Central Library. The librarians are really friendly and nice. Pre-Covid: My daughter asked for some Daniel Tiger books and they didn't have any. She cried from disappointment. The librarian ordered some for her. How awesome is that? Unsure about the adult section because I never get a chance to check it out. I get all my books from Overdrive, which the Glendale library system does not support. They discontinued it awhile back. Another cool thing about this library is that it has a partnership with Pasadena so you can put Pasadena books on hold and borrow them. read more

5 stars for all that they offer - up to 100 loans (LAPL limits you to 30 items), 5 renewals (LAPL only gives 3), free interlibrary loans, and they have an extra loan system called LINK+, which is a free service that enables card holders to request material not available locally, giving you access to a catalog of materials from over 70 participating libraries in California. A researcher's or bibliophile's dream. I cannot comment on the in-library experience, as I do not find it a comfortable place to study (the seats aren't bad & the lighting is adequate-I just don't care for the energy there. For that purpose, Brand is a much nicer branch, despite being less conveniently (possibly because of) located.) I had to deduct one star because the parking situation can be problematic. read more

Downstairs: Full of mentally challenged snots who snores and can't keep their laugh together. and homeless people. Upstairs: Place of heaven. read more

One of my favorite libraries. Many resources Many areas to sit and read/study along with different areas for age groups. read more

I came in today to print 2 images. Due to my disability, I was having difficulty figuring out how to do so. So, I asked the staff for assistance. The woman that helped me was so patient. She went above and beyond and I was able to walk out with the printed images I needed. read more

I've been coming to this library since I moved to Glendale in 2015 and I've had mixed feelings about it the whole time. I come here on the weekends to work and while I love that it's really close to my apartment and that they have free WiFi and plenty of space to work, the environment is really bad. One would have to be a moron not to know and understand that homelessness is a huge problem throughout the state of California; the city of Glendale is no exception and the library is a hangout for the homeless. That being said, anyone who comes here is going to have to put up with the unsanitary conditions of being in close proximity of homeless. Furthermore, if you will have to put up with the snoring of the ones who use the library as a place to sleep. Of course, there are also the yelling and screaming kids running around whose parents can't be bothered to teach them about using their inside voices when they're in the library. However, I have to say that the absolute worst condition (that is actually getting worse every time I come here) are the people who reserve the rooms "study" rooms (and I use that word VERY loosely) that are upstairs. Every single weekend for the past few months, there are people in those rooms who are quite honestly the loudest, rudest, most obnoxious people in the place. It's absolutely useless to complain to the librarians downstairs because they can't do anything about it. Even when the security guards do come up and tell the people to be quiet, the reprieve lasts about 10-15min and it's back to the same old crap. read more

What a fantastic job they have done remodeling this library! Indeed Glendale is a the Jewel City! Superbly done, crisp clean, modern furniture, spacious, windows for walls, and all this with high ceilings! Facilities: They have many little conference rooms upstairs, free resources; hardcopies, online resources, etc. The bathrooms are very modern, and very clean. As the parking is limited on their grounds, they validate the Maryland parking tickets for 3 hours. Just all around a beautiful place to stop to rest, check out a book, or just breathe in and out and enjoy the modern architecture. Excellent job Glendale! read more

Glendale Central Library - Beautiful space! - Libraries Near Me - Glendale, California

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I truly want to give this place more stars but I believe I have some legitimate basis that deems worthy of a 3-star review. During the time that I would study for my standardized tests to get into school, I would scour all throughout Glendale to find the best coffee shop to relax and study, but sometimes the noise would be too much so I would crave the silence of a library. So after a long day at work, I drive a few blocks towards the library and realize that despite the beautiful renovation, the parking situation is still horrible as ever. The few spots that are available are only for thirty minutes, while others are for Handicap parking, leaving the rest to search for curb parking on the surrounding streets, metered parking on Harvard or pay to park in the covered structure off Maryland. I'm not only aggravated at this point for having to waste valuable studying time to find a decent parking spot without having to feed a parking machine $30 each week, but what about the children? Why should this be such a hassle for schoolchildren who want to visit the library with an adult and have to struggle this much for parking? For a public establishment such as the library, why not provide free parking to its attendants? Secondly, I am aware that I'm going back on my word by saying this as it's a public area, but shouldn't there be any kind of control against unsafe individuals who enter the library? Lately, I stopped studying here because there would be so much distraction from vagabonds who would either disrupt people's work by talking to them, or disrupt people's silent time by making excessive noise and in turn creating an unsafe environment for the rest of the people. No library worker or security guard approached any of these people to dismiss them, and I couldn't concentrate on my work any longer. In addition, the computers are not clean. I cringe anytime I am forced to use one of them and always want to wipe the computer stations with Clorox wipes. I simply think this library can be taken care of a lot better. Last but not least, the hours fluctuate a bit much. It's unfortunate how early they close on Fridays. read more

It's a good place to study if you can get a desk. The desks are often occupied by homeless people as is the area by the front. On many occasions both the upstairs study area and the front smell like human feces. This is a biohazard. No idea how this is acceptable. There are also people sleeping there and security turns a blind eye. Security seems to pick and choose who they will reprimand for being loud, on a phone call or committing other activities that are supposedly prohibited. There are times when there are people casing the place to see what they can take. I've been verbally harassed by homeless people but I ignore it. I just don't understand why security allows these ppl to loiter especially by the children's area. The night cleaning person is on the rude side. He takes a long time to clean the bathroom but when you walk in there is toilet paper smeared and stuff on toilet seats, food, grit and dirt clogging sinks and the paper towels are left outside of the dispenser after closing off the restroom for extended time. The cleaning women during the day are super considerate and do clean properly as well as keep in mind that people need to use the restroom. Despite the issues I do find I can generally get a lot of school work done and the added bonus is they are open late and all weekend usually. read more

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The absolute worst library i've ever been to. My wife and I often come into this library to get our work done, but because of the covid precautions, it's been extremely difficult. The security detail at this library, run the place like it's Fort Knox , i'm not kidding. They watch your every move, whether it be on camera, or right in front of your face. I recently caught one of the security guards recording my wife and I as he walked by. I confronted him about it and he threatened me, so I did what anybody would do, I went directly to his boss and demanded to file a complaint, but to my suprise, they did not care, as they not only were aware of this behavior, but somehow sickeningly made excuses for it. I don't understand how they're allowed to behave this way, they're a state funded library, they literally get paid to work for us... read more

Glendale Central Library's spacious with multiple floors. I came here to read up on the latest diet fads. And not yet at the library... 'The Dude Diet' c2017. However, I sat quietly for an hour and read something for anyone at almost any age 'The Taco Cleanse' c2015. It was a breezy read that made me realize sticking to one diet for an infinity could be accomplishable by anyone if they loved it enough. It's not always about being cheap and simple. And maybe, I was meant to be a vitamin popping juice cleanse that like eating at least one great meal per day. So why did I ever visit this freaking library? Well, lemme go absorb the NonFiction Acting & Film Section. Large selection of autobiographies, biographies, famous resumes and other things like lifestyle. I actually want to read "Stories from Candyland" by Candy Spelling. She's the widow to Aaron, mother to Tori and Randy. Also, there's recipes in the book. But red velvet cake makes me puke. And Candy goes back on the shelf. What sort of film star am I going to be... And I sing-a-long to the top television sitcoms book with a picture of Gilligan on the front cover. The genocide section was completely frightening. And many periodicals were written in Eastern European languages like Armenian. Why... So I wandered into the 1915 commemorative art space. Sad. Weird. Small. Oh, i was invited to a discussion about Los Angeles in the 1970's at 7pm. Friendly people, but I'm not staying. Did you know Charles Manson was deemed a dreamboat, cult leader and serial killer? That was a question and a fact. Glendale Central's steps away from the senior center, church, Americana at Brand, Glendale Galleria and auto dealers. But it's a library... So if you happen to visit, BE QUIET. read more

I like to go here and do my homework I like how quiet the area is it makes me feel great, the upstairs area is great since it's just workers really or students (like me) doing homework then downstairs it's a lot of people sleeping, but it is a cold place the AC is amazing during a warm day read more

I have never seen how disrespectful people can be with not respecting being quiet. No security anywhere. People are laughing, talking and snoring out loud. I don't recommend anyone bringing children. Not a safe place. read more

I haven't been to a public library since high school because I just haven't found the need to go. But lately my laptop hasn't been working so my friends suggested this library. Walking in, the inside is huge and quite intimidating for someone like me. I went up the the front desk and they immediately noticed my confusion and tried to help me. I signed up for a library card and was provided a breakdown of the sections of the library and how to use my card. The man in the front desk was so nice, he asked about my day and even shared with me that he would be going on vacation to Australia. The card didn't take long to sign up for, I was done in about 5 minutes and it's free! After signing up, I decided to walk around and have a feel of the atmosphere. The library is so huge I didn't expect it to feel so safe or clean, but it was! There was no trash laying around anywhere, and after awhile I noticed that they do have a security guard walking around. The options of books and audiotapes are almost endless. There's so many small study tables to sit at and provide a lot of privacy. This is the perfect place to study at during finals season. I will definitely be back! read more

Glendale Downtown Library is one of my favourite public libraries. Did you know that your Glendale library card can be used at not just Glendale city libraries, but also Burbank and Pasadena? Similarly, Pasadena library cards are valid at all Pasadena and Glendale Public Libraries. A fair amount of the books I've put on hold at the Glendale downtown library transit from Pasadena Public Library. Library patrons can also return books they've checked out from any Glendale Library at any Pasadena Library branch, thus offering patrons convenience and much saved time. I've really only started coming here regularly in 2018. My first visit was in February 2017 when I was home for only a week in between fieldwork and my last semester of graduate school. It was within that time I was able to write part of my Masters thesis proposal! For much of the past spring and summer of 2018, I spent hours and hours here to read for thesis and write chapters of said thesis. If my thesis-writing stint had been a Hollywood blockbuster, Glendale Central Library would've won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor/Actress. This library is open everyday! Yes, even on Sundays! Not a day to waste when you've got deadlines, my friends. I'm so glad that chapter of my life is over, by the way. Now I can enjoy the library for fun! I'm the girl carrying too many books upstairs in the fiction section or the girl eagerly going straight to the 'Holds' section to claim the books she had reserved online. I love this location for a library because there are a plethora of errands you can accomplish along with being an anxious and overworked grad student and/or book nerd. There's a park right next to it (Glendale Central Park), site to wonderful outdoor movies come summer time. In fact, you can see the food trucks parked right outside from the second floor of the library. The library is also within walking distance to the Americana, Philz Coffee, Shake Shack, the Glendale Galleria. For parking, visitors to Downtown Central Library receive 3 hours FREE parking across Harvard Street at the Marketplace parking structure with validation at the service desk on the ground floor. Additionally, short term parking spaces are available on the east and south sides of the building. Unfortunately, these spots are only for an hour free parking. In between thesis-reading/writing session, I used to walk over to the little courtyard next to the Museum of Neon Art to eat my lunch. One time, I even had solo lunch at the Shake Shack. Another time was for having my glasses adjusted by the lovely folks at Warby Parker nearby. Lots to do around here but the best thing to do, you ask? Wander through the library stacks, of course. That, and checking out whichever exhibition they have on at the ReflectSpace Gallery. I appreciate you so much more than I can ever fathom, Glendale Public Library. read more

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A nice, large library with a good children's floor. Nice staff, and they even have a fish tank for the kids to look at... There's enough parking and you're a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Americana! read more