A quiet two-story library tucked behind Mountain View City Hall, with a public park. It's more beautiful than East Bay libraries I've ever been in. No more mentally disturbed/homeless people on site. It's surprisingly busy on the weekends, especially back-to-school season. I love how they have a quiet area with a fireplace, cushy seats, and sunshine shining through the windows facing the park. No talking in this area. The children and teens' section is conveniently located downstairs, which is an ideal location since they tend to talk loudly. Study/meeting rooms are spacious upstairs, but must be reserved ahead of time. Also, the restrooms are clean on both floors. Love the sculpture near the entrance. I can't believe it took me ages to discover this library after walking around Downtown Mountain View for the past two years. There's a parking garage available on the side of the library including street parking. Nice to walk around after dining in nearby restaurants and worth coming back to chill and read. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Teen section - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

I came here to see part of the old Berlin Wall! And a big wall it is! I only seen small part of Berlin Wall in a restroom of a downtown hotel in Las Vegas! Well this wall is so much bigger and better. Thanks for donating to the library! This library is pretty and I enjoy the layout. I like to visit other cities library as you can always learn something new. Back of library is a very nice Pioneer Memorial park with cute Animals sculptures from popular story books. This is Toad's book club. Located behind the Mountain View Public Library this collection brings a childhood story to life. "Toad's Book Club" illustrates Wind and the Willows characters doing what is at the heart of their lives - reading. The sculptures include some classic works such as Of Mice and Badgers, Tail of Two Cities and Red Badger of Courage. The sculptor is Albert Guibara sculptures are almost always in bronze and have achieved international attention which I can see why as they are cute and imaginative. Makes me feel like a kid again. Yes I believe this is a great place to be a tourist to see what this city and California has to offer. Great for locals and out of towner to enjoy. :) read more

See all

Amazing little spot I was able to set up and work at after checking out of my Airbnb and before heading to the airport. Very quiet and wifi was easy to set up.The nice little park and garden areas surrounding the library are also pretty cute. read more

Excellent library: both it's physical location & it's online catalog (via Libby). Very polite staff, plenty of seats to sit and read, and tables to work on, as well as computers. I have not attended any events there but I have seen the schedule and all of them seems fun as well. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

It's "OK" so far... I have been spending my own time at the library every day, because it is the closest library to commute to. I have plenty of work and I appreciate the quiet environment. Sometimes the librarians are perfectly polite and don't say anything weird, like attempt to spread false rumors about a civilian who has every right to be at the library-- or worse, attempt to ADvertise HeR to strangers (a very clear hello!). Sometimes they are a bit creepy, and it makes me wonder what they REALLY do for work. I am REALLY trying not to make assumptions... but a woman has to watch out for her own safety. There are a few staff who seem to be more mindful and considerate of such. A charger for my mobile phone that I ordered will arrive soon, so there will be no need to interact with them on a daily basis (to borrow the library's). I usually don't pay much attention to others at the library, but I notice that there are students and adults working from their laptops or completing class work. I just do my best to be aware of my surroundings, so that I don't end up sitting near creeps and stalkers. The traffic is quite questionable at times, although much of it has died down (thankfully). It seems that some people walk around the library looking for SOMETHING or SOMETHING TO STARE AT. Such traffic are very uncomfortable to be around-- I thought this was a library, not a zoo or a MARKETPLACE. So I just find a quiet desk to sit at, and concentrate on my work. I have borrowed and read a few books from the library, too. They have a fairly standard selection of a stereotypical American library in 2025 (the YA section is downstairs, whereas ADULT sections are UPSTAIRS). I appreciate the books they carry in the Computer Science section, as I am becoming more Computer Science literate these days (learning how to code, researching and using Artificial Intelligence, etc.). read more

I am writing this review to inform that when I visit the Mountain View public library (Franklin St) and the Santa Clara Central library (Homestead Rd), I feel that people behave in an unusual manner as though they want you to leave the library as soon as possible. It is difficult to report as an official complaint as you know certain people are making you uncomfortable and yet the subtle negative behaviors or mocking mimicry will not be taken seriously by any authority. However I want to report through Yelp, since if this can happen to me, it can happen to anybody and we need to speak up to stop such nonsense in public places that are supposed to be safe for everyone. The 3 star rating is for the vast collection of books and polite customer service by the library staff. read more

A lovely library in Mountain View. I expected it to be nice given the nice city this is in, but it exceeded my expectation. The building looks pretty new. As you enter, you'll see a Library lobby store, with new souvenir type gifts and little toys as well as used books for sale. Next, you'll see the children's section on the right, and it's bright, colorful, and filled with child-friendly decor and paintings. The rest of the 1st floor contains the teens section and then some general books section. 2nd floor are where adults books are housed, and there's also meeting rooms, I believe. There's bathrooms on both floors and lots of seating throughout the library. In short, this is a great library to visit and chill with a book or if you need to use the computer, there's plenty of them here as well. read more

Mountain View Library is great, all except for the rest room. The rest room trash can is circled with hair that has been there for the last several years and it is doubtful that the floor has ever been cleaned... Dennis Yu read more

very nice two story public library in the heart of downtown mountain view. check it out if you happen to be there. parking is limited they have sculpture. their book recommendations they put on the shelves are good. check out their event calendar for children and team. they offer Drop-in Bike Clinic every third Saturday of the month! read more

Happened to bump into a public library while I was exploring around Downtown Mountain View, but this is a good place to study, work, read, and borrow books especially those who around it. It also has a children's section where kids can find good books to read. Surprisingly, they have like a bunch of newspapers (not sure if they are a mixed of old and new ones). Anyways, good place to work or study! read more

I sat on the first floor to get some work done before meeting friends for dinner and it was surprisingly quiet. I also love how there's a beautiful grassy field outside of the library. I saw a lot of people laying out in the sun and even sitting on the benches to work. The internet was reliable and was usable. Around 4 pm, I saw a lot of high school students coming in and it got a little loud. read more

This library is the best! My holds always come in quickly, and I love when they are ready and waiting. The nonfiction section has some great true crime, and the fiction section has all my frivolous favorites. I'm impressed with the new fiction section, too. I love the self check kiosks. The librarians are always so friendly and helpful when I need to renew a book for the hundredth time. read more

See all

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! They have a really tiny parking lot next to the library, but I believe there is a parking garage below and a great amount of street parking. There are kiosks all over the place to check out the library catalog. Staff are very helpful. I like that the library large and very open. I don't feel like I'm in a tiny box and squeezed in corners. read more

This library closed March 17, on orders of the Santa Clara county health director, Sara Cody, due to the pandemic. If you had books due after March 17, you got a pass on returning the books, until the library reopened in mid June for sidewalk service. In July, got on the wait list for Daniel Silva's "The Order", Brad Thor's "Near Dark" , and Ace Atkins "The Revelators" at Mountain View Library, as those new books were not available at Sunnyvale Library. Sidewalk pickup Tuesdays-Saturdays 2pm-6pm. Books checked out for 4 weeks here, compared to 3 weeks at Sunnyvale. You have to place a hold on the book several days in advance, notified by e-mail when it's ready, and then call an hour ahead of time, so that they can get the book off the hold list. Even if the book is available on the shelf, it can take several days before the book is placed on hold and ready to pickup. The web site now says "We are now Fine Free", same as Sunnyvale Library. There, you are billed for books way 14 days overdue for the cost of the book, plus a hefty administration fee. Gone are the days when people with $100 in fines have their library accounts frozen. There is a guard here to make sure people don't steal books out of the return bin in front of the library, and to keep the homeless away. Eventually picked up and returned Brad Thor's "Near Dark" , and Ace Atkins "The Revelators" , taking a picture of the returned books through the 24/7 return entry slot, just in case they didn't record the book returns. Today came to get Daniel Silva's "The Order", the last day it was on hold for me. Checked their internet site to make sure they were open for "grab and go' service. Left a message with my library card number, name, announcing I would come today. 20 minute drive on El Camino Real, only 3.8 miles, but 16 traffic lights, through the heart of Sunnyvale and into Mountain View during Tuesday rush hour. Plenty of nearby parking. 10 minutes standing masked in a social distance line waiting for my book. Internet site says they will announce if outside pickup will be closed, when air index quality over 150, due to unhealthy smoky air from nearby forest fires. Was going to come Sept 12 Saturday, but they were closed for pickup, and so had to wait until Tuesday to pickup. Another reason why you need to wear a mask even outside these days! Starting September 15, you will have to make an appointment by either calling in, or online, before picking up books placed on hold. Library places a hold of 96+ hours on returned books, to disinfect them of the virus. Hence they can't enforce the late fees for books returned. They don't want you trying to disinfect the books by putting them in the microwave, which will fry the metal radio wave tracking strip, causing the paper to catch fire! read more

See all

This library seems relatively large for the community and its amenities, like the study/meeting rooms are usually available and easy to reserve. There's a sweet park with a short loop trail and several benches behind the building. read more

Living in Sunnyvale, we used to go to Sunnyvale Library for its convenience/short distance. However, my son started getting sick consistently after every library visit & I was 100% convinced that the library (kids) was the culprit. We started going to Mountain View Library, the next closest, and immediately fell in love with it! I loved the playroom for kids and they have an amazing organization for board books. I was SUPER sad when COVID closed down ALL the libraries. Unfortunately, once they reopened for pick-up service, I didn't have a great experience so we started going to Cupertino Library instead and haven't been back since. I hope the library is still as great as I remember and I hope all the patrons enjoy their time there! read more

Was in town from UCSD and needed somewhere to take a final for 3 hours. Called this place to see if I could take it here somewhere private. Wouldn't let me. Was told that I can only have two hours and they would kick me out and I couldn't stay even if someone didn't book afterwards. Lady on the phone was rude toned and just sounded miserable. read more

Look, for a public library if you don't give this place five stars - I need answers on which public libraries you've gone to that are better. If there is a Michelin star equivalent of libraries, I would give it to this one for the following reasons: -Space & Organization: The place is clean, well maintained and well organized, and there is a whole secluded children's section with a set of grown up doors AND child sized doors. This attention to design can do wonders to make children feel welcome and intrigued. Their study offices are clean and remind me of the ones at my college. -Technology: The kiosk to return books is highly efficient. It does not need any books to be scanned, regardless of quantity. You just chuck them into the slot. There is also a self serve kiosk with a touchscreen that can help you with various needs. -Up to Date content: Highlighted throughout the library are books on modern topics that reflects today's youth generation, like K-Pop, women's studies, and queer and transgender topics. That makes a library more refreshing and modern and shows that they're thinking about the future and what's current. -Extensive Weeb content: The manga content here is extensive, and surprisingly a lot of the titles offered are quite popular and complete series. -Hand sanitization stations everywhere. Like I said, Michelin book star for this library. (We came here on a Sunday where the was very few people. It was quiet but this was the overall impression I got from the library!) read more

See all

i am equidistant from this library and the sunnyvale library but i prefer this one. even though it's located in downtown mountain view, ive had no issue with finding parking here their online hold system is very convenient and easy. i am always able to find the books i want with ease. check in and check out system is also pretty easy. if you want to save money and space but your goal is to read more, the library is a great alternative. i even got my friends who have kindles to borrow ebooks from the library as well, it's great read more

Far and above the best library I've ever been to! Open a book and let it transport you to another space. MV Public Library has the widest selection of books, e-books, and movies in the nearby vicinity. It is connected with the Palo Alto library such that your library card works there as well. There is a kids area downstairs to allow your younger ones to explore. Also there are numerous study tables / rooms upstairs that can be reserved. Parking is a breeze with a dedicated garage and a drive through book return (but sometimes it is out of order). Most of all, MVPL is extremely spacious with lots of study tables (can get quite busy though on weekends). The Winnie the Pooh sculpture outside is simply astonishing, opening up to a vast expanse of a park in downtown Mountain View. Street side, there are two slabs from the Berlin Wall that were donated to MVPL which are memorable pieces of history. There is a walk-up book drop street-side as well. They participate in Libby too. Highly highly recommend. read more

See all

I really enjoy going to this library. I've been coming here for a long time. Outlets are plentiful. Ventilation is good. Usually you'll be able to find a good spot to sit. There's one particular librarian who is very strict about study room usage. Even when there's no one using the room, she will kick you out when your time is up. Which doesn't always make sense to me if there's a small 15 min window of time between reservations. She's a bit mean about it. I started using the study rooms more because there is a middle aged man who makes me uncomfortable at the library. It provides peace for me to know that he isn't loitering around me. He is consistently at the library. He's approached me once but since then whenever I go, I always find him 2 steps near me. Hopefully, he isn't bothering anyone else. But I wanted to post this just in case. I know there are a lot of young students that come here. read more

I've been coming here since I was very little and it still my favorite library by far! They have a wide selection of books and services, even a gift shop. It's also super close to downtown and the performing arts center so you can just stop by on your way. A great place to study with stunning views and a second floor with designated quiet space areas. Recommended for all ages! read more

This library has my heart! I really enjoy coming here to study. I have a huge exam coming up and this has been a sanctuary for me. I typically camp out in the second floor quiet zone 2. They have large tables located throughout and each has outlets. There are also cubicles. Their bathrooms are also well maintained and very clean. Noise level is usually quiet with occasional loud moments but 99% of the time I have my Airpods in so I don't really notice it. The view is beautiful and there's big glass windows that give you a nice scenery break when you need to! It's so lovely inside. I would say only downside is their hours they open earliest 10 am and sometimes close as early as 5 pm but overall still a great and spacious spot to get some work done! Their wifi speed is also great and very conducive for putting in some work. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

This is specifically for the noise level and cleanliness of this library. The second floor has an area marked "quiet zone 2" but it only on the outer perimeter of the bookshelves where people chat loudly, children run around screaming, the staff talk loudly to customers showing them books, and the staff slam the books from the carts onto the shelves. I have asked staff several times and they say they do not enforce their rules. I witnessed one staff member actually tell a customer that she would not keep her voice down because she does not have to since she is an employee. Yikes. I also witness a guard asking a mother if she was almost finished finding her books since her child was have a screaming melt down on the 2nd floor in a book aisle, and the mother got very angry and said she does not like negative parenting. Oh my. "Quiet zone 3" which is no conversation only, is a large room with no door and you can hear everything happening from the bookshelves to the front desk. I only recommend if you are ok with loud conversations and books slammed on shelves. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

I had to print an urgent document in the area of Mountain View . I got registered by very quick by very warm, hospitable customer service staff. I was here around lunchtime so it's fairly quiet and most people using the computer were of senior age. Helpful librarians and clean. read more

Nice library, good quiet working environment. Sometimes the tables will fill up on weekends, but you can also book a private study room beforehand if you have a library card. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Work area - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

Great facility with wide selection of books across 2 floors and even video games! My son loves coming here and reading the picture books. Also have a kids section with lots of things to play with read more

Mountain View Public Library - Kids play area - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

very nice people and staff in this library they will help you to find a book that you are looking for. Highly recommended

Great library but unfortunately there were no readers here. It was kinda depressing for me to sit and watch people here. I went around the whole place both upstairs and downstairs and couldn't find a single soul reading a book. No, don't get me wrong, there were plenty of people but none of them were holding a book. Everyone was here for the free wifi. They were all engrossed in their laptops and tablets. I felt like an alien there holding a book looking for a spot to sit and read. I finally found one but it was too disturbing and felt out of place to sit there for a long time. It is certainly one of the best public libraries I have been to and is very well maintained. read more

Mountain View Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

I come here almost every day to sit and read and get work done. It's so quiet and peaceful. Great book selection too. Charging ports available, all kinds of seats and desks and tables, lots of windows etc. The atmosphere is amazing. The only thing that could improve my experience would be a vending machine for snacking outside!! It would be so convenient, and i'd probably buy something every visit. read more

Great place to study! Lots of seating one negative is wish there were more non-silent places to sit! But staff is too notch and book selection too read more

Mountain View Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

It's really cool that the city of Mountain View allowed the two segments of the Berlin Wall to be positioned outside the Mountain View library. Hopefully I'll get a chance to drop by and experience other parts of the library during the daytime. Here is a link to a photo sphere image i posted on Google Maps Views of the segments that you may also enjoy. https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/101604334147734489484/gphoto/6080493948150206194 read more

Mountain View Public Library - The Berlin Wall at night. In Mountain View at the public library - Libraries Near Me - Mountain View, California

Our first time checking out books from this library for our toddler was just before COVID closures. I kept checking back in every month (April, May, June) except the month of July, I did not check back because in June I couldn't do anything in the portal. I even tried calling in April and May with no response. Every time I tried to log in and renew you could not renew. I receive a bill in August with a 77 dollar yes SEVENTY SEVEN DOLLAR LATE FEE for 9 childrens books. THIS IS INSANE. Families come to the library to save money, and you are robbing families without adequate notices about your policies during COVID. In the very bottom of the email it states building close to public but book drop off is open 24/7. How am I suppose to know this?! I've support this library for 2 years by purchasing books at their book sale. Sorry to say I will not be supporting your outlandish lack of communication moving forward. read more

As a little kid raised in small-town Texas, I watched Sesame Street and Mister Rogers and imagined one day living in a community as diverse as the one I saw on those programs. When I walked into this library, I was transported back to those formative years. This was exactly the kind of place I thought only existed in my dreams. Folks of all shapes, sizes, walks of life, ages, and backgrounds can be found here studying, browsing books and magazines, and getting online. I stopped in recently when work took me to Mountain View and I had to jump on wifi quickly to upload a project. Finding a parking spot and a study nook upstairs around 11 a.m. on a weekday was no problem and getting connected to the WiFi was a breeze. As someone who values her collection of library cards and has toured some of the greatest and oldest libraries, I can say this is a really special place and the good people in this neighborhood have a real gem of a library. read more

Very friendly staff, clean space, great selection of book both paper and online.

This is my eight year old son's favorite place to go! We have been coming here once a week for the past year. The books are well taken care of and have a big selection. The staff is friendly and helpful. Lots of space to sit and read. read more

I have been to a handful of public libraries in California, this one in mountain view is definitely a larger one in terms of space and books available. I have been here on both weekends and weekends, normally I can find a seat with no problem. My favorite part is the quiet zones here, it's really quiet so it's perfect for studying. Plenty of parking ad well! Open everyday! read more

This is my favorite library in the Bay! I always come here whenever I get out of work early, or feel the need to be productive. There's plenty of quiet seating and large open windows so the sunlight streams in. I also like how there's a beautiful park right behind the library for taking a stroll or just sitting around. The location is also great, walkable to Castro street! Parking can be a pain during busy hours because this place can get pretty lit. read more

I'm new in the area, but this library is nice! Much Character and a park attached. Spots inside restricted and good security guy keeping an eye on things. Areas upstairs warm, air not circulating. So seek what you'd prefer. Study rooms available too. Performing arts school nearby. Underground parking there as well as street & regular library lot. I'd go here better than Sunnyvale in my opinion read more

I will say that this library has a great selection of books, DVDs and music. The online system they utilize makes it easy for me to track my library record and place items on hold. Generally I can get what I need within a month. But I have two issues: This library does not use Zinio. They use Flipster, which is not nearly as easy to use. With Zinio (the magazine app that the Santa Clara Library uses,) emagazines can be checked out and read whenever. It would be wonderful if Mountain View could follow suit and use Zinio for emagazines. The staff is generally unfriendly. One super militant man in particular, who works near the checkout stations seems to be in a bad mood most of the times that I have seen him there. I visited the library earlier today around 5:25 p.m., and upon checkout I noticed that my machine didn't print my receipt. I notified him, and he didn't seem interested in fixing the receipt tape. He wanted to print my receipt by looking up my library record (which I could easily do all by myself at home.) I keep a picture of my library card on my iPhone just in case I forget my library card at home. This was one of those times that I left it at home. He refused to look up my account from the picture of my library card, "because it's a security issue." I guess knowing all of my own personal information verbatim wasn't enough. I think he was just in a bad mood or tired. He absolutely had no interest in helping me. Which is fine, because again, I could look this stuff up myself...but he doesn't need to be rude to people. I don't think I've ever seen this man smile even once. read more