This is one of the better libraries in the area with an especially good children's section. Parking can be more interesting then you'd want sometimes. The lot is one way-no matter how many times people try to come in off bluebonnet road it never works- and on saturdays when the farmers market is in session or on public transit heavy days (it's across the street from the metro station connecting to san jose, santa cruz, and felton among other places/routes. The lot is also free and has no time limits unlike the bus station parking) it'll be nearly full, giving you the choice of taking the first available spot far away from the front doors or going closer on that one way drive for a closer spot that may not be open. If you try for the closer option-and there isn't any open spot you enjoy a lovely round the block excursion to try again. Good times. Not a factor if you just take the bus. Very easily accessible via public transit. Anmywhoo once you get parked and in this is a very useful library. Large (for the area. Doesn't compare well to other cities, but what can ya do?) collection of good stuff to read, nice artsy decor, lots of natural light, nooks all over to be comfy in, tons of public access computers, great noise insulated meeting rooms, and the largest children section in the local library system. The children's section is a real standout. Fully visible from the rest of the branch so's you can get some adulting done while keeping an eye on things, and there is lots of animal scupltures/kid sized benches/seats. Mind you this at times that you'll hear children instead of seeing them, but any area library isn't going to be a silent sanatorium these days what with people taking marketing calls, arguing with their deaf spouse what left the hearing aid off (on purpose I suspect) and the general lack of awareness that marks public spaces these days. Even with that though this is overall a very useful community resource and just a great library to visit. read more

I have a problem with the library staff. Most of the staff is fine, but some of the staff have become very hostile about the study rooms. It seems if you are a nice elderly person with a floppy hat and a crochet bag, you're set. Otherwise, watch out! I was told my "time was up and I needed to leave" by one of the staff, five minutes before the hour. I rushed around, thinking I had somehow run over my allotted time, but no. And.... No one else was waiting! I was rushed out early, just for the power play of being able to throw people out. Really? It's rude, unnecessary, and I think we can just act like adults and talk if you have an issue. Badly done SV Public Library! read more

My 9 year old is scared. Yes, we are at the SVL library and she is scared. She won't even look for books. There is an unbearable amount of teens partying, throwing things, oh... I just heard something hitting the floor. And clapping. More stuff hitting the floor. My daughter and I have been coming here since she was 4, it was one of our happy places where we could explore books. She won't even go and look for books alone anymore. What is this? Why is this allowed? I have been told that Thursdays are the days to avoid because teenagers take over but it's Friday. And why are they allowed to be a menace here? They are not using computers or discussing books or working on projects. It's clearly their social hour. Why their horsing around is allowed in the first place? Why is this abuse tolerated? read more

fun great kids books the seats are great it is a great place to hang out and read books read more

How this library has more than one star is absolutely appalling. This is ridiculous that a million teens are in the library quite literally screaming and being as loud as humanly possible. if this is some kind of outreach program, move it to the community center or something. I'm a college student trying to do work and there are many people here just trying to do their job but can't focus with the obnoxious teenagers. I cant even use the study room since it's been decided that it's now a game room for the teens. The librarians aren't being paid to babysit your kids, either pay for boys and girls club or get the school to make an initiative to have a place for these kids to be. read more

Scotts Valley Library - Libraries Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

I was trying to study in the teen section and some entitled millennial parent brought his toddler there and let her climb on the stairs. I could not hear myself think because the kids were so loud. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought a library was supposed to be quiet and a place where people could work. If those kids want to play they can go down the street to sky park and stop screaming and playing and yelling in the library. Can we please ban the kids section this is ridiculous. I'm so sick of entitled parents thinking the world revolves around their kids and they don't have to actually parent their kids and they think they can just let them run and be loud. A library is not the place to be loud. read more

Personnel proved extremely helpful today! I am in my 80s, and required quite a number of official copies for the VA. Thank You dear young employee for your generous assistance!, my copy machine could not handled 80 pages read more

Fantastic staff and amenities! I would give them and the amenities five stars. However, this library doesn't feel like a library but more of a free daycare center for tweens and teenagers who are loud and obnoxious, playing video games and screaming at each other. Loudest library I have ever been to. What a waste! read more

Really good at wasting tax payers money. Hasn't been open in forever because someone thought that they should add a million dollar in zinc and wood siding to make it look pretty. All this cladding has added hundreds if not thousands of holes in the original structure that will create serious maintenance expenses for decades to come. This library isn't even old and was amazing. read more

3 stars for the amazing staff. But also 3 stars for the disgusting smell constantly coming from the bathroom. I have been coming here for months and every single day the bathrooms smell like there is a massive sewer issue. It's seriously unsanitary. Why isn't this prioritized? read more

I love it here, children and librarians can get a bit loud but nothing that headphones can't fix (: Many places to sit down and study & pretty clean which is a priority for me since downtowns can get pretty gross really quick. read more

Groups of kids come in and scream their heads off, and the library condones this, encourages it even. It's infuriating. They have childrens events seemingly everyday, and the noise level gets out of control; it's impossible to concentrate because of the loud noise. Plenty of babies crying as well, constantly. I WANT to like this place. It has a modern feel, decent internet, and has a great location. But the kids...The kids are always screaming here. Sometimes they watch movies or shows at top volume, so you have the show AND the kids making noise. If you wouldn't mind doing library work at a big active day care, this is the place for you. Everyone else should stay away. read more

Walked in to do some work. First time here so I asked the front desk if it was okay if I do some work and where I should sit. I was told to pick somewhere inside or outside on the terrace, or what they call the Fireside room. I picked a spot that was far away from anybody else so I could focus on my work. After about two hours of sitting in the same spot, filling out a stack of forms, bothering absolutely nobody, I was approached by a bored librarian and asked to move because the empty wing I was sitting in was "reserved for teens". There was nothing marking off this "teen section", and nobody else was around me. I was clearly focused on my work and had been doing the same thing over and over for two hours. Pick your battles and if you're that bored, go get a second job or something. Pretty rich being told I can't sit where I'm sitting in a tax payer funded public facility. After I moved to the Fireside room, a couple of teens came in with a basketball yelling. Where's the adults only section? Hopefully the entire staff isn't this uptight and embarrassing, but my interaction for my first time here left a sour taste in my mouth. read more

Noisiest library I've ever tried to work in. People talking everywhere, plus antoddler sing along group in the middle of an open area. Librarians doing nothing. Won't come back. read more

I am so disappointed in this library! I had some serious studying I needed to get done for a couple of licenses for my career. Library sounded like a great place to study? The amount of misbehavior from the teenage kids that is allowed is definitely annoying! We asked the children to please quiet down and they did not. We asked the staff to quiet them, they did not. We called the director of the library and not much help was provided. I would not recommend this library if you need to get done some serious studying or reading, unless you're able to study and read while children sing out loud, argue, fight, wrestle on the ground all while talking in loud voices. They are allowed apparently to run all around inside and out of the library !! Are parents not teaching children about proper Library etiquette anymore? This is so sad! We are taxpaying citizens of Scotts Valley and would like to know there is at least a place where we can also get our needs met as adults. :-(. read more

I love this library! There are always people enjoying it when I visit, which is a really great thing to see. The last time I went was right before they opened, and there were about 10 other people waiting outside. I never would have expected this at a library, but that's just how inviting this branch is! If I have the time to hang out, I enjoy grabbing a comfy chair and reading in one of their multiple seating areas. And, as a general comment on SCPLs, I love the "Lucky Day" section; what a great way to enjoy new titles and avoid long waitlist times! read more

Spent time here awaiting a writers' meet-up only to encounter a weirdly militant staff of librarian jihadists. Next time I'll try and blend in, being as bland as I can. Nice digs. Fantastically generic in a Scotts Valley kinda way. read more

Mixed emotions. As a dad with young children, I loved the kid-friendly "Family Area" and youth events. But the vibe is conflicted between family-engagement (a teen area with video games and family area for toddlers to move are both naturally loud) and the contingent of regular "adult" users who expect unrealistic silence. Result is rude patrons correcting other people's kids, and a snarky, truly unpleasant staff who manage the place by stink-eye. Plus a lot of the special programs (like kids' crafts) are really half-assed. This place needs to figure out its mission and make it happen. I support its use as a gathering place for all ages to engage with media and each other, which means kids are going to be kids and uptight adults can, frankly, piss off. The rude staff is inexcusable, though. Figure it out and lead with a smile! They keep coming back to the trough for more tax funds to pay their pensions, so how about some service, eh? I'm done supporting library bonds because of this. read more

I wish I could give a library 5 stars. But there is no mannerism here at all. Why is such rambunctious behavior allowed here!? I remember as a child even teenager being corrected for misbehaving in the library. Apparently not here. Jungle gym for kids and a great comfy spot for loud talkers. Very nice set up inside. But not a place to get any kind of work done... Annoying! read more

Very poor public policy that a single mom trying to get a job via a virtual interview isn't allowed access to a study room just because I was only one person. I had to drag my sick 11 year old with me just to be allowed to use the room, who coughed through the whole interview. I didn't have strong enough internet at home, & this was the only place where I can get an enclosed room as required. read more

We love this place! Truly the best looking public library I've been to, especially in a small town. Between the wonderful natural light, rotating art on the walls, huge papier-mâché animals and modern, comfortable furniture, it's a win. I use their library app often to reserve books from here and other SC county libraries. We've also really enjoyed the toddler time on Thursdays. Super nice staff (volunteers?). Kids CAN get a bit rowdy in here at times but I place the blame on them of their parents not doing anything about it vs the library itself. read more

When this library was designed one very important thing was left out: a place for QUIET. People go to a library to read, to study, to think. This is not allowed at the new Scotts Valley Library where NOISE prevails. It's like a combination social hall and daycare center where there are loud conversations, loud group meetings (the meeting rooms are stifling boxes in the center of the place where the meeters keep the doors open so everyone can hear), children yelling and shrieking, and people talking on cell phones. There is no separate place, as there should be, for people to get away from this cacophony. The only place that might be for this purpose is wide open at the top and is often used for events (more noise). On the good side, there are books. And comfortable chairs. And decent Internet access. If you don't mind constant noise, you might like the place. read more

My son had a short day at school so i parked in front since the Library wasn't open yet. It open's at 11.. The amount of people i saw try the door at 10am told me that if you were open just an hour earlier you'd serve the needs of a whole lot of people. :0) Beautiful Library! read more

The bio submitted by the business concludes with: "New areas include a large children's section, teen area, group study facility, two computer banks, an adult multipurpose space, meeting rooms for the community, an outside patio and of course, more space for the library's collection of books." Does the new space for books sound secondary? That's because it is. This library is just a community center with books. The same books as in the old location. When I first walked in, I thought, "So where are all the new books?" Perhaps they've added titles, but it seems like they really just wanted space to spread out because the last location was very cramped. I'm not sure that justifies the corresponding price tag. As a couple reviewers note, it gets noisy in there. And of course the bathrooms aren't going to remain that clean when the clientele is primarily youth. I was very surprised, however, to read one reviewer's comments that "the kids who show up are the most vulgar and racist [he'd] ever spent time with." I've lived her for over 15 years and haven't come across a racist person or vibe. This person is from Aptos and perhaps has formed opinions based on his own personal biases and limited experience with the Scotts Valley community. To actually indict the kids of Scotts Valley as being "racist" because of some rude comments he must have overheard is extremely ignorant and, dare I say, bordering on racist! This city would have been better served with a community swimming pool along the lines of the Simpkins Family Swim Center in Santa Cruz. read more

This is hands down the best branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library System I've ever been to. They have many of the best books there, such as Pandora's Lunchbox. It's also a great place to hang out, even if you don't have a book. read more

I'm stumped why there are so many bad reviews. I've been to many libraries in many places, and this one is one of the best. The facility is very tech oriented. It is clean and mostly quiet and focused. Sure, there are kids, it's a library! That's what libraries are for. A+ Would visit again. read more

Beautiful library... But the kids area has seating similar to a toddler gym. Very hard to make your child sit and not run and jump and flip around. read more

This is a wonderful library. The staff here are so very nice and helpful. The place is always clean. It is spacious and never real crowded or anything. Ample parking provided. read more

We love our local library! Great staff and environment! It is a safe place near our local park. Santa Cruz public libraries also do a good job with transfers so I don't have to drive to other libraries. read more

I absolutely love the layout of this library, it is beautiful and exciting for kids. I am giving the library only one star however because it is the loudest library I have ever been in with rude staff.. The one hour policy in regards to the study room is ridiculous. Even if nobody else is going to utilize the room they interrupt and kick you out of the room. The back patio although cute is poorly shaded. Last thought, the bathrooms were dirty and the doorknobs had some thick black sludge on them in one of the side rooms. :( Quite disappointed with such a lovely facility. read more

This museum is fabulous. There was even an unemployed loser from Aptos here accusing the lovely children of 95066 of being racists. Racist, in Scotts Valley!?! When everybody is rich, there is no race. And we don't read paper books either. iPads only. Where'd they hire this guy? My kids and I rode a "bus" from Canepa, where we dropped off the car for service, and we talked with the Aptos doosh for a bit. Racist? He thought the kid calling the other kid "tan" was angry. He was just laughing at the 99% silly! read more

The wi-fi is more reliable now. The noise level is still poor since there is no quiet place to study here. They usually have events in one part of the library that can get pretty loud. It's not a good place to study unless you bring a set of earphones. Wish they would designate quiet areas with color codes or something to let people know what the acceptable noise level is in certain areas. The kids are less disruptive. Overall, an OK place to study but not great. Expanding the library to include quiet areas would make this place better. read more