Burbank Public Library – Buena Vista Branch

This is a fabulous local library with lots of great resources. Today, I had a couple hours to kill, so decided to come here and catch up on my magazine reading. They have a big selection of your favorite titles — today I picked up a copy of Entertainment Weekly’s «Best of 2015» issue. The library also has lots of Books on Tape (CDs), including some pretty interesting novels.
If you ever find yourself in Burbank with a little time on your hands, I highly recommend the Buena Vista library! There’s something for everybody here.

I love this library. Came here a couple times throughout my junior year on those weekend where I was just swamped with homework and needed a change of scenery. Nice large place with plenty of seating and an abundance of parking. I came here a couple days ago to open a library card and the lady in front was very helpful.
It is a bit further from me than the Burbank Public Library on Glenoaks, but it is worth the drive!

I’ve been to this library several times, and yes it can be a little noisy at times, but it’s honestly not as bad as the noise in other libraries. I’m a student so I have been to many: North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Glendale, Studio City, Valley Plaza, and finally Buena Vista.
Yes, people talk in the library, and it goes against common sense… especially around the front. What I do is I sit in the back by the study rooms, or behind the movie collection and come prepared with headphones if necessary. If you do this, the noise shouldn’t bother you a good 80% of the time.
There are morons that will take their phones out to talk, but I have witnessed on multiple accounts that librarians do ask them to get off of their phones. There is also a man in a blazer who does rounds walking around the circumference of the library to assure people are on their best behavior. If someone in the library reads this, I would also like them to know people bring food in tupperwares (that make me want to hurl) and will stink up the whole area behind the video section. I was studying for a final and one girl took out what smelled like old chicken and dumplings. It smelled like a bad nursing home for like 10 minutes after she closed it back again to only surprise me with the aroma for her second helping 30 minutes later. If I didn’t have the final within 2 hrs of me being there I would have moved, but I already had my spot.
At least that has been my experience the last 6 or so times I have been there.
Something that does shock me, however, is how loud the librarians can be at the information desk in the center of the library. People come to this desk, asking questions at a normal volume, and the librarians respond at the same volume. I’m talking about, I could sit all the way in the back behind the stacks where the private cubicles are, and hear every word both parties are saying.
Half of the time I have been there a man in his electric wheelchair has continuously moved from the information desk to the back of the library with both a very squeaky wheel and something consistently knocking on the back of wheelchair (to the second). This sound echoes throughout. I don’t know if the librarians could address this without the risk of a lawsuit, but maybe they can offer to bring things to him instead of him squeaking around for 45 minutes? I’m not trying to be insensitive, but his noises do travel throughout the entire building, and if I need to read and retain what I am studying… I might as well leave or study in my car when this happens.
(Note: Last time I was there, about three weeks ago, the librarians were different people at the said information desk (a young hipster looking brunette, and a middle aged brunette). Both were lovely and were mindful of the volume of their voices. If I go back and see the older woman with white hair, or anyone else working that desk for that matter, I know I will have to pull out the headphones.)
Again, I’m giving this library four stars because of how well it compares to the other libraries above as well as the libraries attempts to get people off of their cell phone, which I have not observed in any of the other libraries mentioned above. Also, the space is inviting with large windows, very spacious, and the staff if very friendly and helpful.
If you find the space is still too noisy for you, and you need complete silence, you could also come with a friend and rent out a study room for 2 hours.

For a public library this place is top notch! Great children’s library contained within. Lots of literature prompting ideas for local events. Great vibe in general.
We will definitely be coming back!

My as quite as I hoped but a great place to study versus the one in North Hollywood. This one is clean, has everything you need, and helpful assistants.

Really beautiful library with a great kids section and activities! They now have self checkout which is really nice!

One of the nicest libraries I’ve been to. Went to go get some work done and I got lucky finding a spot to work on my laptop (it was pretty packed).
Generous amount of parking for the library and very helpful staff. Easy to navigate and the bathrooms are clean (that’s always an extra bonus!!). Children’s section was very cute and they had study rooms for group projects. Good study area as long as you can find a spot!

One of the cleanest libraries I’ve been to around the area.
I’ve been coming here for years now, since college days to study and
It’s always been one of my favorite places to study.
Another added bonus is that there a park right next door! So if you want to take a break and get some fresh air, you can just walk out got a few minutes and walk around the park.
There’s also conference/​study rooms for groups that you can reserve for an hour (could be more but I forgot, sorry!) with a library card. It’s private rooms with a dry erase board that you can use and you can talk in there also.
The staff can be a bit strict but I understand why cause it’s a library (duh!)
But they are very informative and helpful so if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask them!
the hours are
Monday — Thursday 10am-​9pm
Friday 10am-​6pm
Saturday 10am-​5pm
Sunday 1pm-​5pm
This is a library I’ll always look forward to coming to and I highly recommend it for everyone, both adults and children!

I really really like the library it is beautiful and spacious! It has a great kids center many computers, a lot of seating and parking!
I was going to write a very positive review that it is a great place to study but it really depends on the people there — - one day it was so quite and wonderful the second day I had a man sit at the table i was at studying and he was so rude and loud/​disruptive! He was standing then sitting, his sound on the computer was so loud I could hear every word playing through his headphones, he was talking to himself, eating… ehhhh I just couldn’t!!! It took everything in me to not punch him!!! Seriously people if you are going to do all that dont come to the library, and if you do dont invite yourself to a table with a person who is studying or more simply DONT SIT BY PEOPLE!!!
So overall the library is great but the people can be suspect as goes for any location — -so maybe bring your own headphones and try some classical music to drown out the the disruptive people

Huge clean free parking lot.
Many desks to study but are taken most of times.
As a bonus, extremely quiet. You will literally hear a needle drop.
Selection of books is rather limited. Maybe more donations needed?
Librarians are kind.
I am a patron for life!

Love this place. They have a great kids section in the library and the design of the room is so nice. They really spent time thinking about what kids would like and would keep them interested. Also they have Reading times for kids and arts and crafts days.

I have always enjoyed visiting this library, especially since it is located next to a park… I actually used to be employed here under the city’s youth employment and have been going here since I was 15. But what keeps me coming back is its large selection of books and other media.
Admittedly, staff can be a bit stuffy and strict … And why wouldn’t they be? It’s a library and it is meant to be silent. Staff is also knowledgeable and helpful whenever I need them. If that’s not enough, they also have computer catalogs that inform you where you can find certain books, if you can reserve them. A nice little bonus about this place is that it has a used book sale daily, so you can pick up really good finds at an affordable price.
What can I say, I truly am a fan of learning, and I am so glad this library is easily accessible by all.

A nice library to study at and do work. I come here alot to work and there are always lots of places to sit if you come before 3. Spacious and nice atmosphere.

This is my fave place to study in Burbank right now. Ample cubbies and desks to study. Free Wifi. Be warned that they close at 9p on wkdays, but 6p on weekends!
I do wish that the chairs could be a little bit more comfortable, but no real complaints here.
Parking is available in their lot and I do appreciate them allowing drinks w/​lids to be brought inside.

I love bringing my kids to this library the staff is always nice and helpful and the children’s area is cute and clean! They have free family events like movie nights, arts & crafts for kids, events for teens, and there is also a park right outside and always plenty of parking!

I think libaries are awesome in the first place so it doesn’t take much to make me happy… except if your chairs are sub par. This particular library has great chairs and there are plenty of them.
The WiFi is super fast for free Wifi. I did a speedtest at noon and I was getting 16 Mbps DL and almost the same for upload! I wasn’t doing any heavy transfers but it made using my blog much easier as there is a lot of refreshing involved when I am messing around.
Parking was easy on the street and the lighting is good.
I hope this helps!

I never went to the library until I had my son but since he’s been old enough to read, we come here at least once a week to rent movies and check out books.
This particular branch is quite lovely, and the kids section is fantastic. The selection of older videos keeps my son coming back.
They also do a lot of fun activities including movie nights, author meet and greets and other special events.

This is a very nice public library. It’s big, has all the books I need to study, and has free wifi. I have been coming here to study for maybe a month and half now and I find myself very productive here.
The only problem is that the staff can be very rude and seems unwilling to help. Every time I come here there always seems to be a problem with one particular worker and a person who is not even doing anything bad. For example, a man fell asleep and he rudely escorted him out and caused a huge commotion that disrupted the people around. Another time (the same worker) made a fuss about a girl having an unopened granola bar instead of saying nicely «there is no food allowed in the library.» Last example was when an older man asked for help on the internet and he was REALLY rude and didn’t even help him. Even when I see people rent out books or asks questions they seem very impatient.
Overall, great library but it would just be top-​notch if the staff were nicer.

What a lovely expansive space! I admit, being new-​ish to the area, I haven’t fully explored every crevice of this darling of a library. As a mom of two little ones, I mostly go to the children’s library which is outstanding! So I’ll discuss that.
Upon entering, it looks a bit like a hobbits house. Realistic looking artificial trees create the illusion of nooks and canopies for the different sections of books, dvds, computer areas and many study tables. The layout is so much more interesting and inviting than the norm. There’s a series of books called, The Library Mouse that we read at home and this children’s library looks exactly like the illustrations in the books. So we always look for the mouse. Which adds to the fun for my family.
There are a few different areas where the kids can use the computers and play ABC mouse and various other learning games. Having kids that are quite young still, I tend to get a little uncomfortable with the noise factor. Got a couple of loud talkers on my hands! However, it’s totally engrossing with so many activities and just HUGE, HUGE selection of books.
Within minutes my kids are focusing in on a book or learning game and before I know it, It’s happening! Peaceful, quiet time… together…in a library! Mine are one and three years old, so, I’m just sayin!!! It says a lot about a library that can fully capture the imagination of toddlers with so many choices.
The staff are all so sweet and helpful there too! And, to my delight, I’ve never been SHOOSHed. In this section, its not like anyone is uptight about a little noise anyway. Every once in awhile, some little voice will say at the top of their lungs, «mommy, I gotta go potty!» And it is hilarious. Speaking of potties, theirs is always nice and clean.
I highly recommend checking out the Saturday morning events. I’ve attended a few story-​times and puppet shows across the hall. And a great time was had by all.
Oh and, bonus, you don’t have to live in Burbank to get a card!

Thank you Burbank. This is what it’s supposed to feel like to study in peace. And have access to outlets. And have little privacy cubicles, some sans the computer so if you brought your own laptop you have a workstation. And lots of natural light. And updated furniture, carpeting, shelving. And comfortable velvet armchairs (yeah boo, I said velvet). Thank you for hiring an interior decorator OR WHATEVER to do this place right. And thanks for being open until 9. Don’t nobody have time for a library that closes at 5. Nobody.