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.)

This was a quick stop for me before heading to Bombay Beach. It's near Slab City, and as you drive…read morethrough the area and start seeing all the RVs around, you can immediately feel the energy shift a little :) After hearing about this place from the movie ases on a true story, Into the Wild and living in San Diego for so long, I finally decided to check it out. I was honestly impressed by how well maintained everything was. I technically arrived after hours around 6pm, but there was still a volunteer there who gave a short introduction about the history of the place, which I appreciated. As I walked up the mountain, I was surprised by how clean everything was and how bright and vibrant the paint still looked, so huge credit to the volunteers who keep it looking this way. I was even given a free postcard on my way out, which was a nice little touch. I probably wouldn't make a full trip out here just for this alone, but pairing it with a visit to the Salton Sea or Bombay Beach is definitely worth it. I also love that it's completely free so no tickets or entrance fee needed.

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.

One of the last remaining free societies, enjoy it! A unique perspective and story to be seen with…read morelots of art, resilience and creativity.

Ughh... sad place. I…read moredidn't stay long. It was hot, dusty, and uncomfortable, and honestly pretty depressing. What I saw felt more bleak than interesting, and there was nothing about it that I found uplifting in any way. There is a bit of history here. The area used to be Camp Dunlap, a World War II-era U.S. Marine Corps training base. After it was decommissioned, most of the structures were removed, leaving behind the concrete slabs and bunker-like remnants that give Slab City its name. Some of those old concrete huts are still around, and a few have been brightly painted, which was probably the only part I found visually interesting. It sits out near Slab Mountain, and by that point I had already seen enough. I didn't even bother trying to find East Jesus. It was time to go. Beyond that, it just felt like a mess. There was a lot of garbage, very little in the way of amenities, and many of the people living there looked really down and out. It had an eerily familiar resemblance to parts of LA's homeless encampments, which made the whole experience feel uncomfortable rather than unique. For me, this is not a tourist destination. There's very little here that I found remotely interesting, and definitely nothing I'd describe as inspiring. Not for me. 1-1.5 stars

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.

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.

Amazing library and views. Highly recommend to visit. Full wifi and electric vehicle stations…read more Covered parking

We came for the STRONG WORDS show. What a place! You can tell they are well funded. The event was…read morefree for members. I'll be back for more events.

This is the coolest (and probably best funded) library I've ever been to. I make it a point to stop…read morein when I visit the area. Inside the building is a cafe that also sells fresh loaves of bread, an incredible used bookstore, and a huge saltwater aquarium, to name a few things. If I lived in the area, I'd hang out here regularly, as there are lots of varied seating options (including outdoors), a humongous collection of DVDs and CDs, and 5-star programming, including concerts and free art workshops for all ages. There is also the Observatory. What a fabulous feature for a library. I attended one of their regular free OPENights and loved it. Be aware that it is an observatory (= small) and not a whole planetarium. At the OPENight, I'm glad I used the restroom before arriving, because you'll stand in line outside (bring a jacket!) waiting to be let into the observatory, as they only let a handful of people in at a time to look through the telescopes. The library is closed at that time, so no restroom access. The wait was around 40 min, but they post an astronomer out there who will talk about stars & stuff and answer any questions, so that was very entertaining.

I love libraries period. Big or Small! :)…read more This library just moved across the street. It was on 7th now it's on 6th across from the old City Hall. There is ample parking along 7th and Orchard. The Library large space with meeting rooms across the lobby. They have wireless internet - I actually saw someone outside at the tables having a virtual meeting. You have access to printing There were a couple kid events going on while I was there. It was really neat to see the kiddos engaged liked that! As far as books, It still on the smaller side as far as library's go. I mean for how big the space is, the selection does seem scarce. I would imagine availability is dependent on utilization. All in all it's a great library. The also have benefits outside of the walls too, like free passes to state amenities like parks, lakes, monuments, etc. For me, I think everyone should make of their public libraries. I highly recommend this library and any other library across the valley :)

The Coachella Library is seriously my favorite place to be ! My toddler loves to visit Ms Briana &…read morepick up some books almost every week. The staff has been so helpful and they're always smiling making it feel so warm. There are activities every week on Wednesday & the library is part of so many great programs ! There's a great selection for toddler books . It may be small but if we continue to support the library , I'm sure selection will increase ! Please come & check it out !

I recently attended a meeting here. It was what you'd expect from a library; quiet, spacious,…read morerelevant and accessible. A new(er) addition were the solar panels providing car shade from that sun, a win-win in my book! The Heritage Library nearby is awesome too as this one, but on larger scale. Take your pick!

Loved this library! They have outside seating where they even let us eat a pizza during our long…read morestudy day. No food allowed inside which is totally understandable and kept the place perfectly clean. Librarians were helpful and kind, and the parking lot had plenty of spots and solar panels! We loved it here for the couple of days we were visiting.

Cute pretty building first opened in 1919. Local public library's technological center. Great place…read moreto study, read and use computers. Pretty building. Newly renovated. Also has a nice room downstairs used for classes it seems. Open M-Th, 4-8p, and every other Friday. Closed weekends.