Growing up, this was my local library. I used to love coming here with my mom. Today I came back with my daughter for story time and it was great. Such a blast from the past and still looks the same. read more

Ygnacio Valley Library - Libraries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Not only do they have books, they also have community pamphlets such as the DMV guide for seniors. It beats making a trip down to the DMV. They also have a huge collection of puzzles and games that you can check out. What I enjoy is there giant checker board they have set up at the entrance. We play every time we come. The library has really evolved since I was a kid. It used to be a quiet place where you read books. Now it's a much livelier place catering to modern needs. read more

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On 12/16/25, I took my kids to this library in the afternoon to play in their kids section. I was sitting at a table with my kids who were playing with a puzzle when a female staff member with a white striped shirt came up to us and told me that the kids were being too loud and I was asked to leave. Please keep in mind I was there for less than 10 min before she approached me. She was extremely rude and doing so without giving any sort of warning or explanation. So I then had to have my kids put their puzzles away and drag them out of the library screaming and yelling (which caused more of scene then when they were sitting and doing their puzzle). I was shocked as I've been to this library numerous times after story time where there are over 10-15 parents/nanny's who are talking in loud voices and children are being children and playing in the KIDS section and not once were asked to leave or make their kids be quiet. If this library does not allow children to be children in the KIDS section then I would recommend to not come to this library or be ready to be silenced by their staff and not feel welcomed. This was very sad occurrence for me as I left in tears as this was my childhood library and will no longer be returning or recommending this place to anyone. read more

"All Contra Costa County Libraries have computers available. You may use a computer for up to ONE HOUR a day." Nevertheless, some can stay longer specially some teens for few hours a day playing video games. How and why?! read more

I really like this library. It's small so they usually don't have the books i want. But they are very respectful.

Friendly staff but it's a hit or miss with concentrating. Worst place to read or study quietly. One-story small building. If you are reading in open area, some days you'll hear a bunch of crying, yelling and screaming kids. The staff doesn't seem to discourage it. In the quiet area, you'll hear the librarians chatting. read more

Great size and is always welcoming. Love the selection here! I've been coming here for years and it's still one of my favorite library locations across the Bay Area. read more

The Ygnacio Valley library is an older, but well-maintained, neighborhood library, especially popular with nearby residents of eastern Walnut Creek. Given its size, it's book catalog can only be so large, but the ability to order books from the Contra Costa library system and have them delivered here makes that almost irrelevant. And of course that with theWith the app, you can get books sent directly to your Kindle or hear them on audio. There's always a healthy sized collection of used books for sale in the entrance lobby, a highlight of the library. I have definitely found some keepers here. The children's corner is a nice resource for young families. I would have to concur with those reviewers that mention afterschool times can be a noisy experience. Young kids stream in then, hang around outside, and the parking lot fills with parents avoiding more crowded at-school pickups. The front of the library does seem relatively calmer than the back where socializing kids tend to hangout. Certainly not all kids are disruptive, and I feel sorry for those attempting to do their homework amidst the distractions. For older patrons needing quiet, mornings and early afternoons are usually better. read more

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One of the better libraries in the area. Good people working here and good places to read or work. I've rented a conference room here before for stuff. Everything was well run. Their book selection is good and of course you can have books sent here. I've also rented a lot of the DVDs here. I don't live around here anymore (I used to work close and would come here on my lunch everyday) but when I'm near and need to go to the library to return a book or whatever, I love coming by here. No 5 stars simply for the loud kids you get now and then. For some reason the Contra Costa library system welcomes loud people. I know the days of "shh" in a library when making noise are gone but come on - scream kids need to be stopped immediately. This is not acceptable in any public place, let alone a library. Outside that, one of my favorite libraries in the CCC system. read more

I love libraries so I may be biased, but the staff is friendly and helpful and the place is clean and quiet. I love browsing the books they have for sale and find something every time I go. read more

Timing your visit here matters. My once favorite library in Walnut Creek has changed. Between unhoused people sprawled & snoring in the large chairs, and the mass of pre-teens that bombard the library at 2pm & congregate toward the back, screaming at each other, chasing each other around the library, objects crashing, etc. it is no longer the peaceful library it once was. And no one working will confront them. A sad state of affairs for the students actually studying and the public using this library. read more

Small library that could use a face-lift and close to Foothill Middle School, so the kids take over the place on weekday afternoons. Still, the chaos is more manageable here than at other locations. Despite being a more dated facility, the fact that it is tucked away and often has the materials that I'm looking for is part of the charm. I have been coming here off and on since 2008. read more

4 stars bc it has shade parking if you can get to it quick enough and some of the cleanest bathroom facilities for a library in the area. I like going here and the pleasant hill location when I'm in the area bc they're both very accessible and easy parking. read more

Staff is always helpful. A lot of services from the library including free courses from Lynda.com, reading magazines and newspapers online, and the Link+ system which allows me to get books from libraries all over the state. I browse the catalog online, put holds on the books I want, and the library has them ready for pickup in a few days. As someone else mentioned, this library also has the cleanest public restroom you'll find. Main problem is parents use the library to babysit their children after school and it can be a little loud in the afternoon. Plus, it is so sad to see kids sitting in a room full of books with their noses stuck in a stupid cell phone. Not the library's fault, though. read more

Libraries are great! This one had Karaoke on one Saturday morning which was fun for the kids! This place has a ton of books crammed in a small place, plus movies and other stuff a typical good library has. Although the place looks like it was remodeled in the 1950's, the content and people are great! yay libraries 4ever read more

Ygnacio Valley Library - Entrance - Libraries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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So I took a Professional Student's Day today. "What is a Professional Students Day?" You may ask. Well, you know how teachers and professors get an Administrative Professionals Day, a day off to spend a day lesson planning and what-not? My professional student day is spent doing the exact opposite: spend the day being quite productive usually at a place that doesn't allow me to procrastinate. The library is one of these places. I chose to come here after going to the Pleasant Hill Library and finding out they don't open until 1 in the afternoon. What an inconvenience! This library isn't half bad. I used to go here a lot during high school. My only complaint is that it was NOISY today. Kids screaming at every corner of the place. There was this annoying, old, salt and pepper wavy haired employee who worked at the help desk that was talking louder than normal to the other worker. He was sooo obnoxious. Like seriously...it's a library. Speak like you're in one. Tone it down a notch. Be sure to bring headphones or ear plugs just in case. Oh yeah. I really had to go to the bathroom really bad, but they weren't near the door like I thought. I didn't bother to ask since I was on my way to a Starbucks anyways. read more

Very small. I was only able to stay for a short while. There must be something in the air that I was allergic to. Is seems like it has poor ventilation, like they never air that place out or their ducts haven't been clean for many years. Whatever it is, it's not healthy. read more

This is an older, smaller library but usually not a problem when you can have stuff sent over from other libraries. The only gripe I have is the noise. They have a quiet reading area but when the kids fill the place, keeping the place quiet is a challenge. With an elementary and a middle school near by, this becomes a after school hangout place so noise is inevitable. To avoid this, stop by during school hours. read more

This library has been here FOREVER. It's quite small, but has lots of books and DVDs packed in it. In fact, I feel like I'm usually able to find books I'm searching for here, rather than the downtown WC library. I usually use this library to check out books rather than study. There are limited desks due to the size of the library, and limited outlets. I often see kids getting tutored here, so I would come here early if you want a desk. When it's hot, the A/C is usually on too high. Because the library is so small, as soon as kids are out from school, the library also gets very noisy and packed. Otherwise, this is a pretty solid library. read more

Actually 3.5 stars rounded up for the nice staff. This location is close to the office easier to get to then Pleasant Hill even though it's a little bit farther. The last time I went the paperback section was a little disappointing. I love that the location opens at 10 am six days a week! read more

Small library, but convenient for me. It gets loud, which is a drawback. Hopefully the librarians will change this someday and ask people to use "inside voices." You know, like a library. read more

This library seems to be free after school childcare for the school down the road. The kids take over after 2:00 and are LOUD. You cannot hear yourself think if you are anywhere near the back corner where they all gather. They make no attempt to be quiet, and the library staff makes no attempt to ask them to be quiet. Maybe I'm getting old, but in my day, the thing you heard the most while at the library was "Shhhhh!". Not only is it tween social hour, but the book organization is a complete mystery. I have seen random books lined up on a shelf, with no apparent relation to each other, and then looked at the call numbers to see they were identical. Not a fan of this branch...all I want in a library is to find a book and have some quiet time. Which I guess is too much to ask. read more

Thank you for changing out the children's librarian. The former librarian was one of the most unpleasant individuals we have met. Now that she is no longer leading children's story times, we are happy to drop by. There is a much more positive vibe now. Thank you! read more

Overall, this is a great location and has enough comfortable seats for us older parents to wait in while our kids are being tutored. But, WHAT's UP with the HEAT these past couple of days? Even gramma's house is more comfortable than the inferno going on in here! Yo, CC LIBRARY STAFF! I know it's pushing into December, but it's also 65F outside! Have you even checked the temperature? If anything, you should have some fresh cool air coming in from outside now that the AQI is very good again! Someone get a fire extinguisher! I think the YV Library is on FIRE! --I asked a student volunteer to ask TPTB to turn down the raging inferno. He was nice and did so, but said only building maintenance has control over that and they're not even here! I'm sure they're home sucking down a frosty, foamy mug of beer and kicked back in their recliners... Well, that's government for you! Of course, us taxpayers are paying for the waisted fuel to over heat this place... read more

Many of the other reviews are accurate. Its hours are pretty good by today's standards(nowadays people are happy that a library is open 6 days a week). They are open until 8 on mon to thurs. They actually have better hours than the pleasant hill library which is bigger and at least in the past was designated the central library. Parking is usually not a problem except around the period the school gets out nearby. I would advise not coming to this library during that time during the week. The school kids come and take over the library. There are parents just waiting in the cars in front of the library and taking up the spaces in the parking lots waiting for their kids. The library gets too noisy during this period and the kids hang out in the library playing around and making a lot of noise. At least for me this library appears it is mainly set up for the school kids in the areas. The tables are usually used by school kids and kids being tutored. Not a larger number of computers available compared to other libraries in the area. As the other reviewers have said you should not go to this library expecting a quiet environment to relax or study. It can get noisy at any time of the day because of the size and layout of the building but it gets even worse in the afternoon after the schools get out. read more

Neighborhood library. Great place to read and borrow books and dvds. Since it is a public library, it's free!

Great Library...they have excellent programs for kids of all ages...

Studied here last week. The library is quiet and the perfect environment for productive study. There is a decent selection of books to choose from. Librarians are friendly. Free WiFi! read more

I just approached the front desk and ask a question; by mistake instead of saying "library card" I said "card library" one of the lady at the front desk laugh at me in my face and turn over giving me her back. She didn't apology nor keep trying to help me. Embarrassing situation that I never expect from a librarian. Poor woman, my mistake made her show her ignorance and bad soul. read more

As a place to study, this library is not the greatest. It is filled with kids and teens after 2 pm, and gets a bit noisy with all their chatting and toddlers running amuck. There's a quiet reading section near the entrance which is a better place to go. On weekday mornings the parking lot can get quite full, and there were no spaces left when I arrived at 11:30 am. This library is a bit old and small, but I like the homey feeling it has. It's a nice place when it is actually quiet. read more

I used to go to this library all the time when I lived with my parents and they still use this great resource. It's not the most modern or new library but they have a good selection of books, magazines, kids books and more. I would often see teens there studying, or people tutoring. I used to volunteer and work the book sales at this location as a teenager myself. I recall the book sales with a great deal of fondness, the medium sized book room packed with donated books, and at least 30 people wondering the room trolling for their next great read. Also they would get some really high quality antique books and you know I purchased some of those! I have an old Scarecrow of Oz and 2nd edition of the Scarlet letter thanks to this library! The book sales would be these great community events were they would resell books, computer software, kids movies and more at very low prices. The librarians are very nice and helpful too. Anyway this is a good library! read more

It's 10a on Friday morning. I am here with my toddler and preschool children. Yes they do not know how to whisper. Yes the library is a huge open room which makes it difficult to contain noise and find a quiet spot. Not many patrons here. Very quiet. Toys in children's area is excellent. Lots of puzzles for younger kids. Books are updated and varied. We love coming here! We also come on Saturday mornings and not many patrons at that time either. read more

I love this neighborhood library!! The entire staff is always helpful and the Children's librarians Ms Carol & Ms Tricia are real gems. They always have fun kids programs and take the time to get to know the kids!!! Thanks for all that you do!!!! I only wish the library had longer opening hours and was open on Sunday!!!! read more