It's a SUPER nice library. Probably one of the biggest public ones I've been to that isn't a fancy…read moretourist location (think like Huntington Library) or a college one. Plenty of parking with a parking structure and under the solar panels, and it's a 2 story library too! Very nice and modern facility. Much nicer than the public libraries that I grew up with in my area (not that I have an issue with them, since they did what they needed to do in my childhood - provide lots of books and fun community events). The crazy thing is that it's an independent city library, not affiliated with LA County which is so cool too. I visited to get a library card since it's National Library Card Month and there's lots of neat deals with the city of Monterey Park for the month if you do get one and I haven't had a library card since elementary school. There's a used book store in the library with discounted books and I believe you can donate books there too, lots of variety ranging form fiction, nonfiction, manga, books in other languages, etc. This library has a lot of resources too and comfy chairs to sit in. Resources include: hot spots, Chromebooks to check out, National Park passes, lots of computers to utilize, study rooms, a 3D printer, fix it kits, Alzheimer's/Dementia Kits, there's lots of free programs for kids and teens too, you can volunteer, and there's so much more. I also loved that they had a small room with a historical display of the Cantonese pioneers and their impact on California history. Neat! Signing up for a card was super fast too, took less than 5 minutes and the designs were super cute. I got the one with the cats and other cute critters utilizing the library. The librarian was super friendly, welcoming, and informed me of all the resources and services that the library has. It's super convenient and your check outs can auto renew too for a couple times, you have access to Kanopy library videos, movies, and documentaries, there's appointment based passport renewal and much more. It's just so nice. Support literacy and libraries!

Had to make a stop here since they were giving out cute library cards. I needed it for my library…read morecard collection. The guy who helped us get our library cards was super cool. He talked to us about the craze of getting their library cards and was surprised someone posted it on Instagram, because now they are busy. The library itself was really pretty and clean. Such a great selection of books, and I kinda wish I lived closer so I could check out books. Luckily, they offer Libby, so I am able to check out audiobooks that I have on my TBR list. If I am ever in the area, now I know where I can stop to browse different books and to just study. Great library in a great location.

I agree, this library needs updating. I hope that the new hours and changes will help bring newer…read moreresources & aesthetic warmness. Despite my complaints, it's really nice to see the community really enjoying their time here. They have great customer service! Because it's a County Library, they try really hard to source from others to find what you need.

Man, Montebello has a huge library. It almost look like a College University library. I stopped by…read morehere once, and man, I was impressed. They have lots of older and new books. Lots of magazines, and childrens books. The computers and resources are way up to date. Plenty of parking and security here. Place is clean, and the staff have a friendly and professional staff. Id like to come visit sometime again.

Catching up on summer reading recently, and what better way than to join the reading program at…read moreyour local library? Each week if you've read your quota of at least 100 minutes, a prize awaits. For adults, the first week was a tote bag, the second being a fan-like cutting board, and the latest one was a mason jar for sipping on a cold beverage. Prizes are till the week of the July 20th and follows this year's theme, "Savor Every Story". Apart from the books and the typical resources you'd find at a library, here they've created a small section near the entrance focused on the community of gardening. Their "Let's Grow Alhambra Seed Library" provides packets of seeds to take and grow within the confines of your premises. Seeds include chamomile, lavender, cucumbers, and broccoli. And if your garden is blessed were an abundant source of fruits and veggies, you can drop them off at the "Produce Exchange Station". Win-win!

Plenty of free resources for the community and public. This library is two stories and it's quite…read morebusy. They have parking below or street parking. The children section is huge, and plenty of tables for studying. They have a large selection of kids books ranging from infants, toddlers, & kids. They always have different fun events each month, check their website or calendar for more information.

I was in the area already and decided to check this library out and get a library card as well. I…read morelove how modern clean organized and spacious. There's a lot of seating for everyone and there was an event going on in the children's section where it looks like a Star Wars theme/ picture op with the people dressed up as Star Wars characters.

The good thing about this library is that on some nights they stay open until 800pm where us…read moreworking class can still get there in time. The library feels very spacious and is brightly lit. The staff is very welcoming and they have nice clean restrooms.

I came here to East LA Library where they were holding a course via ServSafe-in order to be able to…read morerun a small business out of my kitchen legally! The Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operation, or MEHKO program now allows those with the entrepreneurial bug (and what they hope is a talent) to cook food from their kitchen. In my place, all I will do (at least for now) is make stuffed Bell Peppers... a la the name, The Holy Bell Pepper! The road to being in good graces with your city runs through LA County, so why not take the free (albeit all day) course (and the actual final test) to get the paper trail going for free! About 18/20 with reservations showed up for the class, with the final test consisting of 90 questions with you being allowed to miss as many as 30 to get the ServSafe Manager certification. And guess what? I may have missed 29, but I know I did not miss 30! After some serious memorization and seeing things through the lens of a safety inspector as opposed to a cook (my initial and major problem in the first round), I was able to quickly pivot. And while I won't know for sure for another week or so, I feel fairly good about passing the ServSafe Manager certification course. Wish me luck!

I needed to print something, and this library was open on a Sunday. They allow ten free prints per…read moreday! The librarians were very helpful in directing me to the right area to print my sheets. It was difficult finding parking as they are located next to the court. There's also a nice lake to enjoy the views outside the library.

How do I compare apples to oranges? The other two libraries that are my favorites are South…read morePasadena and Crowell library in San Marino. Each of those two include outdoor spaces. This library is centrally located for San Gabriel and surrounding areas. Yes, you are welcome if you live south of the tracks and if you are ESL. They say they are a safe place for people seeking safety. The library staff is helpful to place orders for books DVDs and audio books. I think the LA county system even loans things like sewing machines. Using the library website you can draw from the many small county libraries. I have always gotten a parking space and I do use the handicap door opener. When I visit it is invitingly cool and quiet. I haven't checked out the restroom yet.

I stopped by on a Saturday and couldn't find any parking spaces in their lot, so I found a parking…read morespace in the street. This library was packed inside which I was very surprised to see. I am glad locals are using the libraries even when some were using it just to stay cool from the hot weather outside.

We had a great experience this morning. Staffs were friendly and helpful. Khanh Kiet Phung was…read morehelping my kids look for books and he was easy to communicate.

This is the worst library to study at. Don't waste your time going here. I would give zero stars if…read moreI could. It's hot. There are few outlets. There are few places to sit. The staff are condescending. It's loud from children talking and dogs barking. I've gone to this library twice now and was not happy with either visit. Although the space looks like it has a lot of tables, there are very few with outlets to plug a laptop into. The first time I came, I was able to find only one available table with an outlet because I came shortly after they opened. That time and this time, the library was extremely loud. There were so many children running around and screaming. This time, there was even a dog barking and running around too. I just went to the library again today and was not able to find a single available table to sit at. The only empty seats were where the computers were. Only a couple of the computers were being used, which left 6 empty spots. I didn't really want to sit there since I already had my own laptop, but it was the only open table. I shifted the keyboard to the side and made do with the small space. Since there were plenty of computers still available next to me, I didn't think it would be a problem to sit there. Boy was I wrong. A woman with glasses approached me maybe 15 minutes after I sat down and told me that those spots were meant for people who were going to use their computers. When I told her that there were no more tables and that there were plenty of available seats still next to me, she condescendingly told me that I'm the one to ever argue with her because everyone else usually just moves. I told her that I would move if someone needed the computer. She again said I had to move then walked away without another word. Since there were no other available spots to sit at, I had to leave the library. This woman was not just condescending to me by the way. Right when I first sat down, the same woman was speaking to a man by the printers. The way she was speaking to him was equally condescending. I didn't want to listen in on their conversation, but her tone was really mean and obnoxious as she told him he was wrong about something. She was speaking to him in a way that felt like she was absolutely looking down on him. I hope upper management has a word with her about her customer service skills because they are terrible. My last note is about the temperature of the library. It's really hot outside, so I thought it would be nice to study where there's an A/C. Although it was slightly cooler than outside, it was still pretty warm in there. It did not feel that much more comfortable than studying outside. I don't think it was warm just because there were a lot of people because it was equally warm the first time I went too(right when they opened).

Small yet modern library that offers so much in a convenient location…read more I love the self-check out counter where you can easily check out items and head out the door. The library counter is nearby in case you need a librarian to assist you. Free copies (maximum of 10 per day) are also available for library members. There is a small fee for each additional copy. You can also log on to a desktop for a maximum of one hour. Ask the librarian to open the bathroom for you because it's locked. Maybe that's why it's so clean! Plenty of parking behind the library adjacent to the park or the left side of the library in front of the park. Enjoy your visit!

This library is in a really convenient location, and that's honestly the main reason I keep coming…read moreback. The space itself works well for what I need. Unfortunately, the experience with the staff has been consistently disappointing. On several visits, I've been met with curt, dismissive responses when asking simple questions, and at times I've felt like I was an inconvenience just for being there. A public library should feel welcoming to everyone in the community. I'd love to see management address customer service, because with friendlier staff this could easily be a great neighborhood resource.

This libary is my personal favorite , its never packed it's always clean staff are welcoming! I…read morebring my children here on hot days instead of going to a burning playground they have multiple toys, puzzles , kitchen area the kids love it

I would like to highlight Anali's professionalism. I came in less than 10 minutes before the…read morelibrary's closing time and she quickly jumped in to help me get the books I was looking for and was very informative about the borrowing process. She was a great help.

This is a smaller library, but it's quiet and fairly clean. I came for a kids' social reading…read moreevent, and my kid enjoyed meeting a few of the other families in the community. We ended up grabbing a few books here, and the librarian was very helpful.

My granddaughters and their friends have been attending Story Time at South El Monte Library with…read moreMs. Sil for over a year. Our granddaughters have grown much more mentally and socially then friends kids that don't attend community events like Story Time. Ms. Sil invited us to night time events that the city put on. We would not have attended these events if we were not invited by Ms. Sil. I would enjoy spending my tax money at places like Story Time! The Library Staff have gone above and beyond! I encourage other parents to get involved!