Coming here as an adult recently I brought along memories of coming here as a child with my grandmother for storytime. Sure,since then it has been remodeled, updated, and modernized. No more card catalogs or microfilm readers. Instead it has been taken over by homeless people using the bathrooms, charging their phones, sleeping in the chairs, and I witnessed one man rolling a joint. The library did not smell of old books, it smelled of urine, alcohol, and cigarettes. I was given my library card after filling out the application, I took a quick tour around,and I left. There is no way I would want to come back. read more

The staff is very helpful knowledgeable. The building is older, but it's well kept and clean.

Gave it a 4 because the children's area is on the waaay opposite side of the adults which is a little inconvenient for us. Overall, always a pleasure coming here. Usually a calm and peaceful place for us to relax and unwind with good books. read more

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Except for them still charging late fees for overdue books, they provide a very good service.

If they could work on having the homeless part make it feel safer they are all over the place and I don't feel very safe . It smells like gross inside I did want to sit places lack of safety inside to the homeless come in . Unsanitary. Like one they roaming and harassing people when coming in trying to return items in the box. Need newer selection of books so little variety I have to have it sent from the other libraries some areas adults aren't welcome to sit for teens makes sense in kid section but the cushions smell like pee or whatever homeless person sat on. But if you look through windows near kid section homeless hanging next to those windows feels unsafe . Oh and the employees are load like . And people get come in talk even louder i some them just wondering watching people like not there to get books one guy was creepy. And they sell books but they have no change to get it but honestly I may just go to the other library because I never been in such spot that grossed me out and makes me feel unsafe like in other cities I lived in are cleaner and nicer this just I can't do. read more

Tulare County Library - Very empty shelves and worse adults very little variety more nonfiction and records . Half the books are old or beat up. - Libraries Near Me - Visalia, California

Everyone was super helpful! The children's section is awesome can't wait to go back!

Giving my previous reviews an extra star for one reason: A woman named Roxanne who works at the circulation desk. She is seriously the nicest person that I have had help me in the library and probably the best person working in customer service overall. So respectful, sincere and kind. My day is always better when Roxanne is there. Some of the other staff can be very rude, but if you are lucky enough to have Roxanne help you I can guarantee your day will be bright. She really has that effect on the patrons. I wish everyone in customer service could be as awesome as her. read more

This place has definitely gone down the drain. I came in today to study and do some schoolwork. It has definitely change from the last time I was here which was 15 years ago and not in a good way. There is no wifi unless you go to the computer lab. Why do I need to go to the computer lab for wifi when I have my own laptop? Haha The front desk employee with brown wavy crunchy hair was pretty ignorant as well after I asked a simple question. Another thing is the amount of people who aren't in there utilizing the books, computers and resources just standing around. Are you kidding me, they even have a security guard patrolling... is it that bad? Definitely won't be returning. read more

The service was great my child had a problem with his computer and it wouldn't boot up so we had to go on another pc to download a software anyway we got to the library and logged on to computer but we weren't able to download the other software well let's just get to the point they helped a lot a few people weren't able to help but they asked around to see if any of their staff could help and soon enough it worked they had no intention on just saying we can't help and let us go.Just great service! read more

I was looking for a quiet place to study, and for the most part, this library provides that space. There is free wifi, though it does not allow you to stream music and you'd have to ask for the username and password as they change daily. I found quiet areas with tables towards the Young Adult and Biographies sections, but electric plugs are limited for laptops. Perhaps the most annoying factor about this library is that a bunch of riff-raffs hang out towards the back of the library in the Computer Books section. They pretty much just talk all the time and listen to music out loud, even when security has requested them not to do so several times. I'm not sure why after the third or fourth request to quiet down, security just doesn't kick them out for disturbing others, but whatever ... I'll just stay away from that area. It's too bad since there are study desks in that area with electric plugs. The children's area has been remodeled since the last time I was here (which was 15 years ago). It looks fantastic, though it does not contain a large volume of books. The library overall is sparse in books, which makes me a little sad. The librarians here are very friendly. read more

I love Danielle's review ....these people are very rude towards homeless and I sit in there every day and read ...and I watch them mov furniture around to dismiss perfectly fine people from using chargers and trying to find employment...they are limited to so many minutes on a computer and its just outrageous...the majority are obviously here to further their way out of homelessness.This library should embrace and help homeless people instead of acting like they have germs...! Hint ...it could be your family member ... read more

My review is MAINLY based on the Children's area and activities. ----- They have TODDLER TIME, STORY TIME, MOVIE DAY and since the remodeling the children's AREA is fantastic. Our daughter loves it and already tries to sit and read books, she's only 16 months old. The Staff is super friendly with the children my only issue is the amount of riff-raff, bums.... unsavory characters that seem to make the VISALIA Library there home! THIS ALONE discourages me from bring my family. read more

Love this library. My daughter got her first library card in pre-school( she's 8 now); we've been going to to the library ever since. The children's area is awesome and big, with computers for the kiddos. There are events throughout the year too. The children's librarians are awesome and compliment my daughter for being such a good child in the library:) My daughter LOVES to learn and read. Literacy is important, and here's where you could continue to learn:) read more

They're currently undergoing some construction so the place looks practically empty. I'm a bit of a library nut and have a card for 5 other counties and undoubtedly a few late fees somewhere. The first time I walked into this one, I started pouting ::Where are the books?!:: But that aside, they've maintained their youth and children's section through this whole revamping and have a vast collection of new books along with suggested reading lists and suggested reading guides if you like a certain writer - who else they think you'd like. The magazine section is awesome too. I sat there for a few hours reading "Writer's Digest." Great mag. read more

I love bringing my kiddos to look at all the different books and they have fun in the children section and the events for children they have is happening!!! cant wait for summer and their reading programs that they have weekly!!! read more

This library is pretty cool. They have free WiFi but you need to ask for the password and username. It was pretty busy for a Tuesday, I really don't think I've ever seen a public library that crowded. I stayed on the first floor and it was a bit noisy for a library, people were talking, cell phones ringing and babies crying. I don't know if they have a quiet floor or something of the sort but thst would be nice. read more

i called and checked everywhere to make sure it was open and it said it was and i went there and it was closed. can the updated hours be posted please? read more

Am i the only one who thinks it's weird that this "library" barely has any books?! Dont go here if you are looking for a particular book, they most likely won't have it. I went looking for some summer beach reads, but they only had a few books by the well known author i was looking for, and they were hardcover and HUGE (large print only). The books are ridiculously outdated, i couldn't find any recent books. I asked the check out rep if they accept donations (i was seriously going to hold a book drive) and she told me that they accept them and sell them! well, that's why they don't have any books. so disappointing. read more

Some of the rudest people...I walked in with a cup of water with a lid on it and sat down and was waiting for my daughter to get some books...all the girls in the front seen me walk by with my cup and said nothing and some girl putting away books approached me to tell me throw away my cup not even asking me to go outside or that I could not have it there but when I was telling her I would take it back to my car that was not enough the security guard came up to me and said ma'am you need to take that outside I said to him I know she just told me that can I please get up and take it back to my car...I did not see any signs saying no water could be brought inside...Extremely rude this place just gets worse and worse, so sad. read more

The library itself is fine , they have a large selection of books, nice computer lab, the thing that I have a problem with is the homeless people that comes in and hangs out all day, they take up table space, they also come in and use the rest rooms I have actually went in the restrooms and caught a homeless lady washing her body like it was a shower, and I think two of the ladies that work in the library are two of the rudest people in Visalia I understand that they have to deal with people all day but that is what they signed on for when they took the job. read more

Best library ever! I find most of my books on line, request them, get a nice little email when they're in and off I go. Email reminder when they are due also. Very nice clean lots of books, books on tape, movies, kids section (OMG!), teen (young adult). Just love the place read more

Not five stars because 1) it's closed on Sunday and Monday (where I'm from in Florida the library is open 7 days a week, 23 hours a day...yeah), and 2) there are hardly any [good] books there. Other than that it's ok, I guess. read more

This library deserves 5 stars for its children's section. Some people look down their noses at a lot of things in the Valley, thinking that most things are second-rate compared to what you would find in the bigger cities, but anyone with young children who is trying to foster in their children a desire to read and to love books can truly appreciate this library. Recently remodeled in 2008, the children's section is quite large by most standards and has a layout that is somewhat of a three-leaf clover. The space is open and inviting with the walls throughout painted in a very relaxing shade of green. There are many tables and chairs throughout and several computers with educational computer games for kids to play. One section has rows of shelves of picture books for pre-readers and early readers. This section also has an area with big pillows where parents can read to their children and on certain days they have story-time, etc. Another section has books for independent readers, paperbacks, etc. My daughters love this section because it definitely has the biggest selection of children's books compared to the libraries in Hanford and Lemoore. My kids could easily spend several hours in this beautiful children's library wing without me even once hearing, "I'm bored." That is absolutely priceless . . . And since there is no price of admission and the books are simply borrowed and then returned, the experience in this library is priceless on several levels. As they say, "Check it out!" read more