The whole Slab City experience for me was very "The Hills Have Eyes."…read more From a guy named Moth who lived in an old water tank (his bed suspended from the ceiling), to a pirate named Chase who invited me to jump on his trampoline, and to the guy in overalls smoking his pipe in his rocking chair while watching a bunch of girls dance to trance music...I would have to say Slab City was a surreal experience. However, I digress. This library earns 5 starts in my book for the following: 1 star - Very "modern" technology 1 star - Open 24/7 1 star - eery, creepy, mysterious, awesome--all at the same time 1 star - Gem in the middle of nowhere 1 star - Book collection

If you're heading out to The Slabs for a weekend you're most likely expecting some quirky, unique…read morelittle odd spots to see. This place is exactly that. It's charm comes not it's appearance, but in it's ... shabbiness. A makeshift library in the middle of the desert, created by practically just throwing whatever could be found together. The books are completely random, old tales left behind by some stranger, but that's what makes the treasure hunt of it so exciting. It's always open, and you're free to come grab any book you please - just return it, or replace it with some of your old books. There is something so refreshing about a place that's based on the idea of open community and sharing. Especially being a library, the little shack feels like it's full of it's own stories just as much as the books are. (This is coming from my visit in November 2012. Also, I believe this is the library in the Slabs, but some of the pictures posted are from the library within East Jesus.)

I did a long weekend trip to Palm Desert with the goal of visiting the Salton Sea. Originally, I…read moreplanned to loop the entire shoreline, but after talking with a ranger at the visitor center, I stuck to the east side and doubled back, which was definitely the right call. Our turnaround point was Salvation Mountain, right next to Slab City. Before going, I had read about Leonard Knight and the story behind the mountain, which honestly made the visit more meaningful. The dedication and message behind it are almost as interesting as the site itself. It is kind of amazing that the structure still stands today and is in such solid condition. The drive out was mostly fine, though hot and dusty, especially on a Saturday afternoon. I would recommend going earlier in the day if possible. The mountain itself looked better maintained than I expected. The colors were bright, and it was clear that ongoing work is being done to preserve it. I left a small donation since it felt like a meaningful effort to support. That said, it did not fully resonate with me. While I can appreciate the effort and story, the style of art and the surrounding environment did not quite click. If you are into outsider art or off grid communities, you will probably get more out of it than I did. The biggest downside is the immediate setting. Being next to Slab City definitely impacts the experience. The vibe felt a bit uncomfortable at times, and we did not stay long or continue on to East Jesus. Overall, I am glad I visited. It is unique, and the story behind it adds depth, but it is more of a one time stop for me than a place I would go out of my way to revisit. 3 stars.

Quirky fun is all I can say. About 90 minutes from Palm Desert. Just a strange experience but fun…read more I didn't reel it was inspired. Just the work of an obsessed man. Glad us was free. Then up the road is Slab City. Nothing worth mentioning there. Just ramshackle campers, burned out campers and various types of encampments. It was interesting once.

I happen to notice this building as I was sitting in a restaurant across the street. As I left the…read morebuilding I checked out the sign to see what it was. I reached my campsite and decided to read up on the library. The reviews were great so I decided to go the next day. Since I was visiting in the area I asked the librarian if they had any info what to do in town. She was very helpful and friendly. After pointing me in the direction to look for things to do in town. I sat and looked around the library and was admiring the architecture. It was a gloomy, windy and very wet day. But, being inside the library I didn't get that feeling. It was bright and open and with floor to ceiling glass windows it brought the outside beauty indoors. They had individual work rooms, meeting rooms, teens and youths areas. I decided to walk around and view the outdoors from the youth section. There the floor to ceiling windows opened up an entire room you can only look at from your chair. With the storm hovering above you could see Mother Nature in the works. What a grand room! So also in this area they had set up on the tables easels with canvas and paint supplies. I found out from the librarian that they sometime offer different art projects for anyone to do at no charge! So after my town adventures in the rain I returned to do a little painting of my own. In the two hours that I was there painting I also enjoyed the sound of the heavy rain tapping on the rooftop and windows. Watching the plants blowing in the wind and the dark clouds pass by. The library has a security guard just inside the front door. The entrance lobby is open and bright. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I would definitely return to the library if I'm in town. You should see for yourself what they have to offer.

Worth stopping by if you're in the area, or if you need a place to study, relax, take photos, or…read moreget out of the heat. They have a computer room which the public can access.

What a beautiful eclectic village that was made from garbage of an abandoned California dump, that…read morewas once an Army base, even before the dump. Make sure you visit the library, Cornelius Van Gogh, the Librarian will even let you take out books and return them whenever you return to Slab City. If I'm not mistaken; Tuesday night is movie night outside the library. Just ask for details inside. She's done a fantastic job of running and keeping the library up to date and she even stopped what she was doing to give us the grand tour. :) Check out her You Tube Channel and subscribe to the Cornelius Van Gogh adventures. They're really one of a kind residents, they've made a home from our garbage, that they have to share with the public 24/7. You're visiting, and they live there, and, they're so willing to show and tell you all the secrets, the stories, and the treasures of their lost world. Please be kind and leave a tip and, don't forget your swimsuit to dip in the natural hot springs on your way out of Slab City.

Zoey Aurora welcomed my sister and I with open arms and let us explore the nooks and crannies of…read morethe library with were filled with quite the eclectic spread of books, magazines, games,etc. They were a wealth of knowledge and were engaging and open. There also were cuddly kitties.

Interesting experience I felt really unsettled by it though. The welcome guy at the visitor center…read morewas very friendly and a nice guy. It was about 116 degrees when we went so we were the only tourists there and all the gift shops were closed. There was one guy you could clearly tell was high on something hard he was emaciated and didn't have a shirt was hanging out by the welcome center. The welcome guy was worried that guy was going to break into his trailer so he left in a hurry to make sure. I hope he and his trailer are ok. The art was cool but idk if I would recommend going there especially with kids or all female group like us.

How do you rate a place like this? I have seen YouTube videos about Slab City and knew when I was…read morein the area, I wanted to see it for myself. It is definitely a depressing place, in my opinion. I could never survive in a place with no water, electricity, sewage, etc. I know most probably live here because there is no other option. Some of the videos I watch people choose to live here because there is basically no laws, it's free, and nobody bothers them. **The docent at Salvation Mountain, right next to it, said the people who live in Slab City are never an issue with them and cause no problems. So there is a positive! 7/29/26

My second time here and it was as great as the first time walking in. This visit, parking lot was…read morequite full In the front section. Good for them. Plus it was nice to be in someplace cool as the desert is a scorcher at the moment. We had to return a book that was checked out the week prior. The staff are all amazing and the sweetest. Anyone you talk to is always ready to help with a friendly smile. Information desk are always the sweetest. Right from walking in, the welcome in and greeting was nice. I did pop into the book nook section and picked up a couple of books for purchase. Used booked for a great price. It's a smaller little boutique but I'm sure you can find some gems. Walked out with a couple of cool book for 4.50, not bad. Also I wanted to pick up some bread from the bakery/cafe next door but they were out of what I wanted. I like the concept of food there. Everyone is so respectful with each other by keeping quiet while inside the library. Common decency while someone is studying or reading. We picked up another book and headed on out. But... That's when I noticed the observation deck next door. There's a path that leads you to the front gate but it was locked. We didn't know if you needed a code or something till a gentleman that was there came out. Erik, I believe that was his name was the sweetest. He asked if we were the group that had an appointment for the tour. Well, we weren't but he did offered to show us a quick tour of it. The observatory is part of the library where it's open to the public from certain hour. You can make appointments for private tours which he was gracious enough to show us. They have telescopes that are brought out in the evening for viewing. It's all free to come check out. Inside has the main one that pretty massive. All are welcome to come check it out. If you like astronomy, this is a fun spot. He was the sweetest and explained so much to us in that short period. He sure knows how to get you interested in something. It's a cool place to bring little ones so they can see what's out there in the evening. Also, they have mini telescope that you can actually check out to view on your own. That's amazing as I've never heard of a place that would do that. The concept of an observatory next to a literary and it's free to check out is amazing. Nice way to bring people in and enjoy the planets and solar system. Erik was a doll. Don't know if he's the only one that does the tour or if it's a group thing. But worth checking out.

Coachella Valley libraries when it's hot outside (1 of 2)…read more The Palm Springs main library is temporarily operating somewhere else while they are remodeling it. I had a chance to look at the makeshift library, which is operating in a merchant space in a shopping center. I wasn't planning to visit the Rancho Mirage Library. I had gotten a haircut, had eaten at In 'N' Out Burgers on Palm Canyon Drive, was driving along, and saw this library. I will state that I feel like I'm shortchanging it by giving it 4 stars when so many have given it 5 stars. It's that I did not avail myself of all its services and did not visit the observatory. The heat and the quality of the sky were keeping it closed. Either way, I was not planning to the visit the observatory. You can tell that they lavished money on this library. This is a more upscale desert community. With the Coachella Valley having an older demographic, you can bet that community libraries are important. I went in to work on my laptop and do some minor printing and copying. For the latter, the prices are very reasonable. While not planned, I visited their cafe' and bought a chocolate brownie. The collection at the Rancho Mirage Library is vast, the staff is nice enough, there are themed collections, commissioned artwork appears in important nodes, and there is also a small book nook where they sell used books. I don't usually visit these book nooks, but granolafied patrons who do often score big on some of their finds. I asked if the large cafe' eating area sees some coffeehouse styled laptop use and was told that it does. This is a good thing since the Coachella Valley scores poorly in this regard - Starbucks stores keep shorter hours and there are not many good independent coffeehouses, neither of which are the sorts of places you'd want to sit with your laptop and/or read. The building is obviously of some architectural import. I'm not implying it's a landmark, but that it's a library building that was designed and built with care. Parking is right out front and generously sized and there is a vehicular drop off provision to return books. The funny thing is that, after you park your car, you can stare across Palm Canyon Drive at parched bare hills that tumble down on the other side of (the) 111.

Our family absolutely loves this library and we are frequent visitors. It's one of those places…read morethat truly feels like a community hub, and every time we go we discover something new to appreciate about it. One of the first things that makes it so convenient is the ample covered parking, which is especially nice during the hot desert months. The staff has always been friendly, welcoming, and very helpful whenever we have questions or need assistance finding something. My teens especially enjoy coming here because the library has a great teen room with books geared specifically toward their age group. There's also a chess board in the room that they love playing with whenever we visit. It's a great space for teens to hang out, read, and engage their minds in a relaxed environment. Another fun feature we always check out is the table where books are sold for less than a dollar. We've found some really unique and interesting books there over time, and it's always fun to see what new treasures might show up. The library also makes everyday tasks really easy. The printer is quick and simple to use when we need it, which has come in handy more than once. One of my favorite programs they offer is the seed library. Each month you can pick up three free packets of vegetable or flower seeds, which is such a cool and thoughtful offering for the community. The library calendar is always full of fun events and activities for people of all ages, so there's usually something interesting happening. Our favorite part of the library, though, is the Creation Station located down the back hall. It's a really unique program where you can become a member (or attend specific events without being a member) and explore hands-on technology while creating your own projects. The space offers tools like 3D printers, crafting equipment, and digital design resources that allow people of all ages to experiment, learn new skills, and bring creative ideas to life. Our son has especially enjoyed learning how to use the 3D printers there and has made some incredible pieces through the program. It's been such a fun and educational experience for him. The bathrooms are always clean, and there's also a nice enclosed outdoor courtyard area where you can sit and read or simply enjoy a quiet moment. Overall, it's a wonderful library that offers so much more than just books. We're really grateful to have such a fantastic resource in our community.

It's not easy to find a space or event that's safe or right for my whole family and that ends in us…read moreskipping a lot of things. The library offered a Santa event today & they did a special hour for families like mine with disabled children. I saw it in a local moms group and instantly registered. I got the notice that a hour before the scheduled event that's when our time to go would be and was so happy since lines are very hard for my guy. They came and let us in since we were one of the first families there and from that moment I was so happy I made the effort in going. Everyone was so happy and welcoming. They had crafts, wishes to make for Santa and treats. Everyone and I mean everyone was so kind I really noticed the staff going out of their way to engage with my children especially my autistic child. And let me tell you that rarely happens since he's typically busy scripting and exploring. I really was taken back with the kindness. The Santa that also at this even was very kind and patient as well. I hope he's there every year now! I really can't express how impressed I was with this event and everyone who was there. Definitely made our day and can't wait to tell more people and go to more events they host.

5 STARS - THE COOLEST LIBRARY IN TOWN! It May Be The Only…read moreOne In town but it is definitely worth a visit. Air conditioned and modernized! Winning. I had an event in El Centro not connected to the library. I also had a meeting. To avoid having a meeting in my car, I went to the El Centro Library. This library is next level cool! It's sleek, modern, and full of awesome gems--individual study nooks with its own charging hook ups, study rooms, open space layout, including outdoor seating. It may be silly to express but the vibe is relaxed, and the staff is friendly and helpful. The Mission Valley library in San Diego is tensed for no reason. And you have to watch & side eye nearby patrons. I reserved the study room for 2 hours. It was fully equipped! Television, whiteboard w/markers, sanitizer and ample outlets including USB's. The best feature is its accessibility features. From bathrooms to tables to door handles, if you have mobility challenges you'll do fine here. The doors won't slam on you, you can reach the sinks, desk clerk and computers without strain. Respectfully El Centro Library is lovely Please visit your libraries. We never want to lose this magnificent funding source of knowledge. "A library is a terrible thing to waste."

This new library has some pretty good workspaces to choose from. From desks to privacy pods they…read morehave options to get your work done. The building is kept clean and in good shape. During the hot summer months it's a great place to get your work done in air conditioning.