This is an excellent library. The staff are energetic and eager, the depth and section of books pretty darned good. They seem to have some strategy; they've split the books from an author and spread it throughout the branches. Go online and put a hold on the book and it will be delivered. Or try using the ebook system. One of the better online collections. So why do I hesitate? Like many towns Vallejo has a homeless problem. I've seen the camps right next to the library (very small, neat and clean). I've seen the homeless ( very neatly groomed). Compared to the overall homeless problem this one is positively genteel. The library has security. Nevertheless I am uneasy. Don't send your kids here. read more

It's been years since I have been here and learned that the kids library that was on the first floor (last time I remembered) had been moved to the second floor with the adult section. It is very open and spacious with tables with computers and chairs spread throughout. There is also an area in the back for kids and even a play area. Self check out kiosks in the front which were very interesting and quick to use. My mini me and her baby came to get some books and have a little fun in the kids area before we headed home. The little one enjoyed her time exploring and choosing books too. I need to come back and renew my library card and see about checking some items out. read more

Vallejo John F Kennedy Library - Libraries Near Me - Vallejo, California

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Hailey and I have been coming here for 13 years for children to read to her. We have rescheduled to March 25 from 4-5 pm. We hope to see you then. She loves fist bumping with the children and we have a Children's book that tells all about our adventures that you can see. The Adventures of Hailey the Therapy dog. Eric and Hailey. read more

Vallejo John F Kennedy Library - Hailey loves to listen to you read. - Libraries Near Me - Vallejo, California

Great library quiet and perfect for my young child and teenage daughter to find a spot to read. Easy to signup and my 7 year old found it easy to find the books he looked up. read more

Saturday morning cartoons, farmers market and going to the library were some of my favorite memories as a kid. I was 14 when we moved from southern California to Vallejo and coming to this library gave me a place to roam from home without getting in trouble. Ive always loved reading so when I was old enough to take on the responsibility of a library card J.F.K was and still is a big part of my world. Its come a long way from the dusty books that were in a dark back corner where you were positively going to meet some pedophile or homeless person. Within the last decade its had a nice face lift with access to more technology, activities, classes and events for the whole family. Currently Im taking a 6 week nutrition class and learning about Diabetes which has been great. I appreciate the library and its staff for all the people it caters to day in and out. Always a fan! read more

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Impressive repository of books. Would visit this library again if I needed to. They have modern appliances and have some books I couldn't get elsewhere. The staff printed my first library card in Solano County, same day. Thanks you saved me a few bucks x2. (2023) read more

Always helpful and present. Innovative approach to the community such as getting different books and creating new programs to reach not only the children but all ages. read more

I went here with my friend not prepared to get a library card! I asked the librarian Nicole what I needed and she said a drivers license with your current address! My drivers license doesn't have my current address. So instead of having to go home to get my proof. She suggested that I could find proof on my phone. So I was able to sign up for my library card with no difficulty! I'm also looking for work and asked her about if there was an row to look on. She said that there wasn't but then she went above and beyond to look up the section and give me the information! I always appreciate dedicated people who go above and beyond to help others!!! Thank you very much Nicole!!! read more

It has amazing books and even has manga for people who like thet type of thing and also it has a like program for kids just to play games and stuff like that read more

It was a very clean & quiet library. It is by appointment only. It is definitely not full which I really appreciated. I needed to print several documents for work since my printer at home does not like large print jobs. Unfortunately, there is a limit on printing & the printer machines kept spitting change out when I would put exact change &/or dollars in it (it shorted me a few times & I did not get all my money back). Also, the printers will not always accept $1's or 5's if there Is no change in the machine. So I had to find a machine that would work with the change I had. The staff was very helpful in refunding my money that the printer kept & helped me to print all my documents successfully after my many failed attempts. read more

Baby Bounce is so much fun. Ariel my daughter and I started to come to Baby Bounce when she was a couple months old. Now is almost a year. I heard about it through a friend and thought I should check it out. The classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30am to 11:30am. They also added Saturday's for parents who can't do weekdays. They read books, sing, dance and after we get 30min of playtime. I honestly love coming to Baby Bounce. It's a fun way to bond with your baby. Meet other Moms, Dads and Babies. I highly recommend it to all parents. You can also go for a walk at the waterfront after, it's right across the street. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do . read more

Vallejo John F Kennedy Library - Baby Bounce! So much Fun! - Libraries Near Me - Vallejo, California

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I love this library and I love it even more now that it's been remodeled. Whenever I need a CD or a DVD for free ninety-nine this is where I go. Why bother with red box when you can keep these DVD's longer and without a fee. I especially love getting cook books from here and browsing the ridiculous titles for urban fiction. (For Example "Justify My Thug" or the follow up "Honor Thy Thug") If those titles don't make you laugh, you are dead inside. Love you JFK:) read more

My babysitter takes my daughter to Baby Bounce class on Tues & Thurs. She sends me videos & pics. My baby absolutely loves it. What a great service for the community! If you're looking for a fun, educational activity, try this storytime out. The teachers are awesome! I love Vallejo. I know there are sometimes homeless people out front or an unpleasant smell in the entry but instead of complaining, do something. Help out! read more

I love Solano County's library programs for kids as a whole and we've been hopping from JFK Vallejo and the Fairfield locations to meet all our Storytime needs within the week. It's a great way to start the day and my daughter now associates the library, any library, as one of the funnest places to be! This location, although a bit older than others, is spacious in the center of the building and does allow for my daughter to sense it's a place to be quiet. At least until she gets inside the Children's Room for Storytime! The storytimes are always so fun and they choose a lot of great activities to do afterwards. Last summer they held a lot of great shows at this location including Magic Dan and a reptile show! They always have really fun and elaborate decorations on the big wall for the children's room. I'm not sure if anyone else cares to notice but I always thought it was cool so great job to who does it! Haha I also like how this location has a Friends of Library shop to look over for any gems on the way out. As far as the location outside, there can be a lot of people hanging around if that matters to you. Going to and from your car should be fine, but I typically don't picnic for lunch just outside the building. The waterfront is close by and it's great to eat and walk there. read more

I take my 6 month old son to the Baby Bounce every Thursday morning and he loves it! They read a few stories, play a few interactive games, and even have a play time after which is really awesome. read more

Vallejo John F Kennedy Library - Libraries Near Me - Vallejo, California

Hella ghetto! There are homeless people posted right outside and inside there are people who come in and just sleep in the chairs... also parts of the library smells really bad of BO... this library is not what it use to be... also today as I was leaving there were firefighters in the parking lot of the abandoned USPS location across the street. I am guessing homeless people are posted inside of there as well... read more

Library has been completely renovated! Kids area is now on second floor along with adult section. Restrooms easily accessible. Great kid area for kids to learn and read! Mom takes kids to baby bounce,story time and activities/events for the kids. read more

It's obnoxious here if you're looking for a quiet place to study. I remember when you used to whisper in a library and have respect for other patrons. Not here. I have seen security here patrolling the area a few times but the only things they have disrupted are the random homeless who come in, fall asleep and begin snoring. Meh.... I used to make the trek because their hours are more flexible, but I appreciate the appeal of the Hercules library much more. read more

I've been to the Vallejo library once. It was enough time to see the vibrant community of Vallejo which includes a mean security guard hassling library patrons and me having to chase someone through the library to kick his ass. So the security guard situation. This old man in uniform literally hassled everyone. Young and old, black and white, smart looking people and well you know.... He'd find stuff to hassle you over. Here's some examples: 1. "You're listening to the headphone too loud" 2. "No cell phones were allowed" (even when you just looked at it not talking or texting) 3. "No drinks" (even in a thermos) 4. "No talking" (though people were whispering) Note that the Mighty Dfens did not get yelled at once. This is probably due to my years of military training and discipline, which I recommend you take if you don't want to get yelled at by the security guard either. Before you go judging the old security guard, listen to what happened when that old fool took a break. A random guy approaches me and hovers right over my head. He spends the next few minutes telling me to give him money including classic gems such as, "you Asians always have money, give me some". I let that go, but then he asks to see my computer. He starts asking questions about it and wanted to try it out. So I let him and he starts trying to hit the "alt-cntrl-del" command to erase everything I'm doing. I slowly stood up and a wave of PTSD overtook me. He must have noticed it because the look of fear in his eyes after I shoved away from me was unforgettable. Did I tell you that the Vallejo Library has a room with free use computers? Because that's where he ran to as I chased him through the library. The computer lab is not only great resource to the public but also a good place to trap someone because it has only one door out. I'm not going to elaborate what happened in there, but lets say that I don't think that guy is going to be hassling people at the library anymore. Just in case this happens to you, the Vallejo Police Department in next door. Stay Classy Vallejo! read more

* 2.5 stars * NOTE: I felt bad rounding down on this place, so I rounded up. I've definitely experienced better libraries... BUT the extra half star is for the fact that this library is such a gem when taking into account what city it's in & considering how much worse it would be without it. Interior is boring, drab, & circa 1997-ish. Computers are, however, modernized & relatively quick (also have flat screen monitors). Book selection is limited but could be smaller. Definitely not a grand resource for any major research by any means. Staff are helpful if not also a little cold. Place is pretty clean. I'd rate it a 4 in this category alone. Facility in general is quite impressive looking from the outside but doesn't maintain the expectations once inside. Plenty of seating room, though, as well as printers & computers. Wifi is offered as well as computers for printing, internet surfing, and newspaper viewing. Overall the place could be better in many ways, but at least it's here and provides the city's citizens with internet and books. Will I want to return ever? Only to use the wifi signal. read more

Courteous Staff and best selection of DVDs and books!! I was even allowed to print my materials and stay throughout my appointment!

I love libraries!! This is a very well staffed library with helpful employees. It isn't the best part of town but I don't go to the library after dark anyhow lol. You can go to solanolibrary.com if you already have a library card (which only costs $1) and look for books there, place a hold.. wait for them to notify you that your books are ready for pickup (phone call) and then head down and pick them up without having to look around for them. This library could be better but I'm very happy to have it here in Vallejo. read more

Been going to this library since I was a kid so it's been over 20 years now (shoutout to the 90's kids!) A lot has changed since then. Convenience! Convenience!.... Convenience! There's some who like to shop in stores and some who prefer shopping online. If online shopping is your style, then placing books on hold would be your thing. Just search on the SNAP library website for books, DVDs, CDs, etc.; place them on hold and you'll get notified when to pick them up! lThere's a waitlist for more recent titles, but I can't complain since it's freedollar! It's a #GirlOnaBudget's Netflix and Kindle. I love how paying off fines at the checkout kiosk is now available! That relieves any fear of judgement for not returning those DVDs on time. Woohoo! As always, it's great if you need to do research online or a getaway spot to get studying done. read more

I pretty much grew up in this library. My mom used to take my sister and I here when we were kids and let us check out a bunch of books in the children's section and as I got older, I drove here myself to check out books. I used to go here every week in my high school days because it was peaceful and quiet and sometimes I just didn't want to go home. I liked getting lost in the rows of books and finding something new to read for free and I especially loved picking up books or CDs that I reserved from other libraries. It was getting a new package every week. Satisfied both my curiosity and my need for packages (who knew that several years later in my 20s that I would like receiving packages so much that I'd have a "usual" UPS guy??) The location is in downtown Vallejo where you can take a peek at historical buildings and it's near the waterfront too. Now, if I can only find my library card! read more

I've been going here since 1987 and it's the only library i've ever known. Still though, i've been to others and I have to say that JFK is the best. The library was always my home away from home. It was a mere 2 or 3 minute walk away from my family's old apartment on Sacramento St. I would spend days upon days reading books about space, animals, mythology, and jokes. Failing that, I would eagerly await the arrival of the latest issue of Nintendo Power. The summer reading programs were always a blast. I relish in the victory of gaining all the prizes that came with it. Summertime also meant an issue of Vacation Video magazine (shout out to KQED Channel 9!). Sometimes there would even be karate or cultural demonstrations. The library basically always offered me something to do. When my teens years hit, so did the internet. Back then, JFK ran monochrome text-only internet thin client stations manufactured by WYSE. Even without the pictures, I gobbled up the internet. For several years on end, I would not own my own computer. It was all so new to me, and JFK was the place that basically nurtured my love of all things computer. I would then begin to study books (from JFK, no less) regarding HTML, javascript, Windows, computer troubleshooting, and all the like. Soon, the library moved up to regular Windows stations. A few years after that, they would open their own computer lab in addition to the outside kiosks. All the while, I continued on learning what I could. Eventually, I got my own computer (thank you college grants), DSL and Cable moved into town, and I moved more than a short walk away from JFK. These days, I rarely step foot into there since i'm on the other side of town. Still, I have fond memories of the place and I hope the next generation of kids can get that same sense of belonging that I got from here. read more

After two terrible situations with an intensely rude librarian at Benicia library - I need to stick with JFK! And the real kicker why Vallejo community always wins my heart ...after locking myself out of a house I was cleaning, and had nothing on me not even ID... I walked here, and was able to explain why I had nothing not even a cent. Kind hearted librarian let me give my address/name/phone number to gain access to the net - unlocking the key to contacting people about my silly predicament. In the meantime I overheard one of their programs, teaching adults to read in progress. How outstanding! One heads up for folks- last time that I tried, this location does not have any faxing capabilities which sure, would be nice if that could change. I also wish the hours were a bit longer but I understand budgets. And like others have said it's free! Great resources! I have not had a problem with noise. Actually another downside to Benicia library are the librarians talking at top decibel. I luckily never have issues with noise at JFK. Parking is a little bit scattered, and some signs for where not to park are not easily noticeable. I actually got my one and only parking ticket here years ago actually. So do be careful you don't find yourself doing what I did. ;) read more

I love, love, love the library! Free movies, music, books! You can reserve materials and pick them up at the hold section. You can be notified by email or check your account daily. Easy self checkout system. The awesome thing about your library card that it is good at any library in Solano County and you can return materials at any location. I suggest that you visit during the day and then enjoy the beautiful waterfront. After school get out, some kids and teens can get loud. Some abuse their privileges and check their insignificant Myspaces or look at inappropriate material on the computer. It's a shame because some people have homework to do. If you really need a computer, you can reserve it in advance. I really wish that the librarians would be more strict with their policies. At the Fairfield library, they shut down my 3 year old nieces because they were talking loudly about the Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin! read more

Great library, three study rooms, lots of computers. There's regular programs for all ages.

I love this library. I wouldn't know what to do without it. It helps me so much to keep my toddler busy. The story times and summer activities are awesome. My boy loves Teacher Laurence. He is awesome with the kids. read more

Vallejo John F Kennedy Library - Libraries Near Me - Vallejo, California

It's open on Sunday. That's a happy, happy thing. And, as another reviewer pointed out, they have a nice children's area. It's got it's own entrance and checkout which makes it easy to enjoy with kids without getting in the way of the other patrons. The furniture in the kids area, though, feels like an epidemic waiting to happen. Seems that $300 well-spent at Ikea could really lift the mode of the picture book reading area. They have a really pretty decent selection of movies and CDs. So you really can get a bunch of entertainment options met here. And, as members of a larger library collaborative, I've found it's easy to get books sent over from other libraries. And the downtown location makes for a nice Saturday family routine: farmers' market, library and then a walk on the waterfront. read more

Growing up in Vallejo, this was the only library I've known. Even though I've been to other more modern and bigger libraries, JFK will always be my favorite. My older kid is a huge fan of this library as well. She always checks out 5-10 books each month. And I have to agree with Jennifer D. My son LOVES Tuesday's toddler time. Very well organized and interactive. read more

Way back in '95, the summer before senior year at Hogan, I got a job at JFK library. It was pretty simple - shelve books according to the Dewey Decimal system. Since then, I've been to many libraries, all over the place, but JFK will always have a special place in my heart. This is a relatively large facility compared to other libraries - expansive section of non-fiction, magazines, reference books, fiction and a burgeoning DVD collection. Plus there's a Young Adult room (I spent many hours reading or studying there) and a full children's library downstairs (where I completed many a summer reading program to earn cool prizes like A's tickets). In a town that has slowly lost its luster, JFK is a shining beacon of learning and hope. I pray it will serve the citizens of this town for a long time to come. read more

This convenient library (with separate floor for children) and Jr college extension of Vallejo's high schools sits as downtown Vtowns city hall & trippy-water-and-colors-light-show. Okay.... not really... but it is a hop skip & jump from the farmers market, overpriced coffee shops and CRAZY antique stores. Expect the unexpected with downtown's slated revitalization! Parking en masse! Commuter condos! Outstanding convention centers! Prepare to bask in the glory of the Bay Areas cheapest median housing prices.... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/09/REGVLJQNOM1.DTL&hw=vallejo&sn=001&sc=1000. read more

I used to LOVE this library..back when the children's section was on the 1st floor!! It's like a daycare at this library and I couldn't get any serious studying done. Crying babies, loud kids running around, and a kid's class in the corner.. seriously? Aside from that, everything in the building echoes! There were countless people who refused to put their phone on vibrate; one lady was texting for like an hour and didn't want to turn her ringer off; "versace versace versace" seems to be a popular ringtone; and why can't people WHISPER?! IT'S A LIBRARY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!! Two stars for the easily accessible wifi and friendly staff. There are also plenty of desks and 3 rooms for group study... If noise doesn't bother you then I guess you'll be fine. But seriously. Where is that bossy security guard who makes people follow the rules?!?! read more

I take my son to their storytimes. Been comming here for about a year. I love the staff so friendly and welcoming and theres always a security guard on site. My son loves comming here and after we check out books and he plays on the computer. They host a lot of events that we have been a part of like over the summer and cultural events as well. We have also been to the Mindfulness class for preschoolers and he loved it too! I feel like comming here really helped him socialize more and get into a routine of what school will be like. I hope they continue to offer all these activities as he grows! read more

I brought my son to the Tuesday toddler reading time today and he enjoyed it very much. The teacher read a couple of books and led the group in a couple of games/songs followed by a play time with toys. Recommend it!, read more

At JFK they have the best story time, they interact with the kids while reading the stories and singing with the little ones. My kids love it. The librarians make learning and love for the books FUN for the little ones, at the story time. read more

I love this library. Its big, not crowed and clean. i like the story time for the kids, they incorporate song, music, and play. read more

Story time is Awesome bring your kids to Story time they will have an amazing time so come on down Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:30

The first library I was introduced to in Solano County. It's a great library, with two floors- a children's section on the lower level and a teen/adult section on the upper level. It's a great place to study and get work done. You can find many references here as well as log onto one of the many computers using a Solano County Library account. The atmosphere inside the library is very homey. However, outside the top level are homeless people. What is bothersome is that they sometimes solicit those going into the library for some money or food... Overall, the library itself is wonderful to check out books, DVDs, CDs, references, and quiet. read more