I've always loved libraries and this one is no exception! It's brightly lit, with plenty of seating to lounge in while you read/study. Lots of outlets available as well in case you need to plug your laptop in somewhere. Other highlights: -Small bookstore with items at super reasonable prices (proceeds go back to the library) -Maker space -Events for teens/kids + author talks and cultural performances -Group study rooms (4) -"Cafe"-type space where foods/drinks are allowed The books available are well-curated and if there's anything you want that they don't have, you can typically get it through their interlibrary loan program + pick it up in the "holds" section. I've only ever come here on Saturdays + on one weekday evening for an author talk, so it's been relatively quiet/I can't speak to the noise level otherwise. I'm so glad this place exists! :] read more

I love this library but can never find a place to sit down. It's become a hold library because you can't count on being able to chill for a while. They have that beautiful giant window with mid century living room set up's. We need chairs and tables!! read more

Wow what a difference since my first kid! We took our daughter for Storytime and who would've thought there would be so many parents and children. While I wasn't able to look around the entire library, it was very clean and welcoming. The staff was okay, but I did not have much interaction with them as I was focused on our baby. The parking lot is a bit small for the events they hold, so it's possible you'll need to park down the end of the adjacent park if you get there a little late. But all in all, it was a lovely visit. We do plan to go back again, I'd like to personally go when there are no events to see how quiet would be for studying. read more

Cute place to study with lots of parking in the lot. The library is pretty clean and modern looking. Family friendly! read more

Pleasant Hill Library - Quiet Study Area - Libraries Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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This place is the it spot for toddlers. From I heart art classes on Wednesdays, to story time on Thursdays, to dance parties on select Fridays and special events on Tuesday nights- this place is amazing. Also some of the staff is incredible ** ahem, Mr. Patrick and Ms. Kelly. My daughter adores this place and I spend a ridiculous amount of time here because she loves the programming and so many of her little friends are also always here. They do a great job and they are an asset to our community. We are so lucky to have this library close to us. read more

I have a great experience studying here, my productivity is on an all time high here, I come early to reserve a private room where it is quiet and I can study for up to 2 hours a day, then I go to a study room where others study and just vibe with each other's productive company. There are many kids and sometimes homeless people that come here and it can stink, but overall it's a clean and friendly library. read more

In a new location, much bigger and with lots of children's activities. You must still be careful of what time you visit, or the middle schoolers will drive you mad. In April alone, they handed out free solar glasses for viewing the eclipse, kindergarten kits for my oldest who will be in TK in August, and several art and craft activities for children. The hours are still just OK, but I also understand that the recent turbulent times have slashed County funding across the board, and the other libraries are suffering from similarly reduced hours as well. read more

I love the new library. It's a very nice building with a great lay out. Very spreadout, if you're looking to bring your laptop in and sit at a desk, it's great. I honestly did not cover the whole library and having been to the old one a lot, I'm thinking there are more books somewhere else that I did not go to because the old library had a lot of books, I liked that library a lot. On the main floor there, there were not the amount of books of the old library had. Now the worst thing about the old library was when school was out (which is right next door) all the kids would come in the library and just hang out so it was like the food court at the mall - super loud. Absolutely unbearable and you have to remember, the Contra Costa Libraries welcome people who make lots of noise - it's the only library system where I've seen that. I don't know if this library has that. This library's parking lot is smaller than the old one too. I'll be back for sure and spend some more time here, overall, very nice library. read more

Patrick the GM is a local legend and runs an amazing library. Our kids grew up here and have the best memories. I wish we still lived close. If you have young kids be sure to check out storytime and try to catch Patrick doing it....Epic! read more

I love taking my nephew here any day of the week! They have a play area outside for kids to run around and sit as well if you want to eat. There's a lot of toys for the kids to play with and keep themselves busy; puzzles, blocks and books or course! read more

Love this library! It's big and great parking. Lots of books. Staff is quite helpful and friendly. It's also clean! read more

It is a lovely new library with an attached, fenced patio for kids to burn off some steam. While I adored the old ramshackle library that it replaced, this one is light, bright and welcoming. There may not be as many items available to peruse with being able to place items on hold from any library with the county system it is rare that I cannot access what I want. read more

Not the place to study unless you get a private room, even then you can hear the kids outside. I've been here a couple of times, if it's not the middle school, it's the reading time for kids session they provide. Which I think it's nice but at the same time this library is not friendly for those that need quiet time to study. The retreat room would be great if the table weren't so small I can't fit a textbook and a notebook it has to be either or because the tables are so small and the bigger tables are always full with people. Also the place isn't clean I usually visit in the morning when they open and tables are dirty and there's a bunch of ants by the room where the shop is .. I also don't like the way the books are organized. read more

it's such a pretty building and has so many amenities inside, but i came here from 6-8pm on a Tuesday and it was SO LOUD. They had just ended a child reading time(?) and the parents stayed and socialized. which is fine, if their kids weren't screaming bloody murder for 20 minutes straight (it's their bedtime) and the ones trying to study eventually all got up and left. it's my first time here & hoping it's not always like this, especially so close to closing when kids should be going to dinner/bed. i'm a preschool teacher so i'm used to child noise but this was a bit much even for me. read more

Pleasant Hill Library - Libraries Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

This is a beautiful library--it's such a pleasure to study here. It is surrounded by beautiful trees which you can admire through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The staff is super warm and friendly. They put on a lot of fun events, and have a wonderful maker space with 3D printers, a laser printer, a vinyl cutter, and sewing machines! They have a cute bookstore. There is also a retreat room, too, if you need to read or study in a quiet space with plenty of cozy seating. There are lots of outlets throughout the library to plug into. Oh, and there is also a cafe-type space and outdoor patio where you can bring and eat your own food! read more

I give this library a big YAY! Been to many story times in my day but this on by far was the most engaged, energetic, and eclectic! There were kids of all ages and bonus found it very diverse with a good mix of moms, dads, and caretakers. They have great reading/activity programs for kids during the summer motivating them to do things educational and get prizes along the way and it also gets parents involved with the children too. Also like to give Kudos to the main librarian, Patrick who is making magic at this library. I know I'm not alone when I say this guy super cool! So lucky to have this for the community. read more

I love coming to this library with my son. There's a great toddler/kid area for reading and playing outside. The library itself is brand new and super clean. The layout is perfect for adults who need quiet and parents with rowdy kids. They host an array of family fun events and it's all free. My son loves coming and it's really fun seeing all the cutie pies dancing during dance parties. Make sure to check their website's calendar so you don't miss out. read more

Pleasant Hill is my favorite public library, even though it's not nearly as modern or comfortable as the nearby, newer Walnut Creek library. What they lack in terms of architectural triumph and huge windows, they make up for in terms of programs for patrons and (usually) ample seating. In particular, this library is a great resource if you have kids; they have story time on weekday afternoons for the very young, occasional evening DIY/science workshops for older kids, and a fantastically busy Lego creators hour (find it WAY in back) on Saturdays at 2pm. During the workday, there are a fair number of people working on laptops and a rush of generally well-behaved, if a bit loud, high school kids at whatever time classes get out. As is the case with most Contra Costa public libraries, you can reserve a computer with Internet access and Microsoft Office for an hour at a time, and there's almost always at least one available. WiFi is pretty good, though it wasn't always; I wonder if they invested in faster Internet access or better hardware recently. Also, parking is easier here than in Walnut Creek, and there's plenty of bicycle parking out front. Worth noting, they've hired a firm to design a new library to be built in an adjacent lot in the early 2020s ... stay tuned! read more

Pleasant Hill Library - Libraries Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Clean and modern library. Staffs are kind, knowledgeable and respectful. Bathrooms are clean and bright. A ++

If you want a chill and quiet place to study or work this library is THE BEST! I love that they have many sitting options for anyone who would like to be alone or is comfortable working with other people around them. The high ceiling helps in making the whole space feel breathable and large. read more

I finally found the opportunity to come down and check out the new library. I love how open the space is. It beats the old one and that domed shape. The way the library takes advantage of the natural light is just spot on. On the other hand, I'm a little disappointed that the library isn't on the same land as the original. The parking lot is really cramped and limited. At least with the old library, the parking lot had options. I think the architect firm who designed the building missed an opportunity to use solar panels in the parking lot to offer shade for cars and to use more green energy. For all the space inside, there aren't enough books or genres. I don't know if this is because the library is still unpacking or if this was a deliberate decision to limit availability, but it already sounds frustrating to request a hold on a book/movie from another branch. All in all, I am happy that the new Pleasant Hill Library is finally here, but the execution could've been a lot better. read more

Love the openness of this library - with high ceilings, plenty of places to study and sit and just read. Place is kept clean and organized. Staff is wonderful. Lots of parking. Friendly atmosphere. Lots of books to choose from. read more

The recent updates are cosmetically pleasing and well-done-- but they are better suited for a community center than a library. This library is open concept and as such everything echos. For reference, my noise-cancelling headphones can dull out the sound of a drill but cannot handle the noise happening in here. There are kids screaming, parents using the library as a play structure. As I am writing this a parent is literally chasing her screaming child in and out of the bookcases. All for having children reading programs and activities, but whoever thought having everything out in one big open area vastly neglected the population who needs quiet to work and study. read more

Place is ok but not the best it's small and has no conference room it would be better if it was 2 story but it's not so ummm yeah

Quiet and very clean! A bit noisy between 2-4 pm. Plenty of parking most of the time.

My favorite library of the ones I've been to in CCC. I used to get here early, grab a table for my laptop and just stay here all day. Really good book selection and if not just put it on hold, only takes 3 days. The A/C works great on hot days. The only cons are not much shade for parking, the nearby middle schoolers (otherwise known as demons), and I just wish it was open longer. read more

This library is a sad depressing place. it looks like a poorly maintained jail setting than a comfortable place to study. The building needs some updating and upkeep for sure. The seats do not match. There are no plugs at tables. Wifi is slow. Shelves are bare. Is contra costa county that broke or do people just not care about libraries? I mean the place is functional for sure. Theres also plenty of parking oddly for such a small empty library. read more

I come here almost everyday before I pick up my brother from school to get some studying done, or after I get off from class myself (I enjoy being in a library environment). The staff here is very helpful and I love their selection of books. Study area is fairly quiet and there is a lot of room for those that bring their laptops and WIFI is pretty fast. It can get pretty noisy of course when school is out and a lot of the children hang out in the library. I wish this library had more flexible hours, such as opening earlier. Other than that, I am a fan of this library. read more

First time here for the 11:15a Storytime for my 11 month old, and it is packed! The guy who does this is really great: - plays guitar - interacts with kids/asks them for suggestions - have puppets - reads stories - sing songs Parking: Big parking lot and it's free, but come early as the storytime at 11:15a and 1:15p (same guy) gets packed. Tip: Not recommended but if you do get there late and there's no seats, I held my very heavy girl on top of one of the smaller shelves so she can sit and be held, and she can see the front of the room. read more

I love this library. It has friendly staff and a pretty great selection of books. I normally come to work on school research and it is pretty quiet. I brought my niece to the story time and we had a blast. This also gave me the opportunity to see the children's section. It is so cute. There is a little wooden house, a wooden car, play mats, and toys for all the little kids to play with. And the story time is really animated by the staff. I would totally bring my niece to hear the story again....plus they give stickers after the story. The only downfall is that there are only a few outlets for charging laptops or any other outlet needs. Unless I have not found all the outlets yet. But still this is such a nice library with great community vibe, especially for the younger crowdswhich is awesome. read more

This isn't a new fancy library, but it is nice and big. As books are becoming more digital this library is evolving as well. In addition to countless rows of books there are classes and lectures as well. The children's section is large and has so many toys to play with. There's a magnet wall with gears PVC tubes to roll balls down. There is a castle clubhouse and a snake chair. This is the main branch for the contra costa library, so they are usually well staffed. I think they might even have a 3D printer! read more

Pleasant Hill Library - Riding the dragon to imagination town. Stops at creativity junction and magic corner! - Libraries Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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My family and I love this library. It is very kid friendly and they have events throughout the week like storytime and makers classes. We came for story time on Friday at 11 AM and I counted 60 adults. I think there were over 100 people there including children. Story time with Patrick is no joke! He plays the guitar, sings, and read stories. It seems like every child and parent attending the storytime knew the words to the songs- we better get on it and learn the words!! It is also very convenient that you can reserve books ahead of time and they will pull them off of the shelf for you and place them with your name in the hold section. I know this is true of any library in the Contra Costa County library system, but the Pleasant Hill location is closest to my house so it is convenient for us. I know the plans are to build a new library on the property across the street and time will tell if this library stays open in the meantime. Let's hope Patrick doesn't go anywhere- he might just get recruited by The Wiggles! read more

Pleasant Hill Library - Story time with Patrick is no joke!! - Libraries Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

It is extremely impolite to leave someone on hold for over 20 minutes without letting them know about hold time.

I like this library. Very cute section for the young. Easy to find books. Easy to login and print at the computers. The only gripe is that the librarians are a little rude. read more

I give 5 stars for Patrick at story time, the kids love him. This man needs his own show. He was able to keep my 4 month olds attention! Not to be mean, but I went there recently and Patrick was sick and I was really disappointed. Granted, it is hard to fill Patrick's shoes but even if I had never seen him I still would not have been impressed by this woman's story time. For started she used mic and the speaker was really loud and the mic kept messing up. She also was not as friendly with the kids. Next time I am calling ahead to make sure Patrick is there. Other than that the library is nice, kinda old feeling but I like it. It's feels large because of the layout, very open. Lots of parking which is a plus! read more

This library staff consistently goes over, above and beyond in providing amazingly enriching activities and a safe, fun environment for the community. My kiddo loves coming to story time and participating in all the creative projects they generously and regularly offer. These free activities are precious and offer my child regular opportunities to socialize and learn in dynamic ways. Thank you for all you do, Pleasant Hill Library! We love you!!! read more

In my opinion, the small library fits the need of the community. My only advice for the place is to extend the hours, so that more people may enjoy and appreciate the service. My colleague and I had a meeting here because the library was kindly enough to support a private office. The staff was accommodating and welcoming to all of us and was more than helpful with any request. The facility was clean and maintained, but it was obvious that it needed to be updated. I believe the city is in the process of doing this, which I'm glad because the library is highly utilized by kids and adults in the community. I have yet to borrow any books here, but I'll be sure to check it out again. I'm not sure if they supply updated books to be borrowed. Anyway, this place is still worth checking out and supporting so that it may further provide for the community. read more

Nice and clean library! Friendly people. Has a kids playing ground inside. 4 starrrrrr for this library :)

The PH Library is Contra Costa's main library, so even though its old and shabby, they've got a good selection of books and you can easily order a book from anywhere in the CC system. The bonus star? When it's after dinner, your kid is already in the bathtub, and you remember...Doh...that his library books are due today...you can easily go online to renew for three more weeks. I wish CC had the $$ to keep the library open more hours. read more

When I walked in for the first time since coming here as a child, the remodel totally took me by surprise! Gone were my favorite childhood nooks of books and the check out desk. These were replaced with a play area, less books, and a wall of self-check out computers. The children's information desk, as well as the information desk toward the back of the library are gone, replaced by a tall info desk immediately in front of the entrance. Since this is no longer the central library, the books have been dispersed among the rest of the county libraries, thus contributing to the more-than-before sparsely stocked shelves. However, the reference room is now much more conducive to sitting and enjoying your books -- and it also houses the Project Second Chance Computer Lab. In addition, in the back of the reference room there is an activity room! There the library puts on various workshops for the public to enjoy. Speaking of events for the public, the former teen reading area is now set up to host speakers in the evenings. Plus, a fellow Yelper works there and it's nice to see a familiar, friendly face when you walk in. (You'll just have to guess who it is. It's not me : ) read more