El Cajon Library

First time coming to this library, and I must say I was disappointed! Staff were rude! Not fond of homeless people surrounding the area, but I guess that’s pretty typical for El Cajon, coming from Serra Mesa we’re not used to seeing so many homeless people, although they don’t bug you I must say I was a little uncomfortable walking by them. Looked around and didn’t find much to check out, won’t be going back to this library again!

The last reviewer complained about the homeless. I would FAR prefer them to screaming kids, which seem to run around here with no restraint. The security guard just stands there. Parents are on their phones while the children treat the library like a playground. The homeless are quiet and respectful. More than can be said for most of the parents with kids!

I want to love this place, I really do. I am a avid book reader and so are my children and I love this library. Once you get inside the children’s section. But the array of drunk homeless people make me not want to take my children here. Now I know that sounds horrible and i feel horrible writing that but let me just set the scene for you. Me and my two young daughters parking by the fire station and start walking. First set of people were laying in the grass with the man touching the women. Wow advert
Children’s eyes. Get closer to the door hear a couple men talking about drugs and what vein. I mean come on! Even once inside the library in the bathrooms where my kids need to go there is a women laying on the floor inside there and after dark it’s just scary around this area especially with young kids. But I love the kids section here my daughters absolutely love reading and no other libraries close to me offers what selection this branch does.

Place is pretty good quality with nice staff and utilities. but as with lots of libraries during the day it’s literally CROWDED with drunk homeless people.
Bring headphones.

This is a nice library; it was once a very nice library. It has gone downhill over the decades. Families with unruly children and homeless people out front of the library at all hours makes visitation discouraging. They really need to curb these problems. The public funds built this library, take it back.

Love this library I come here with my kids quite often, the only reason it’s not a five star is because there is always homeless people outside hanging out, it’s a bit uncomfortable
The library has a small bookstore at the entrance and the prices are dirt cheap

I enjoy going to this library. Most of the staff are friendly and helpful. There is one librarian who isn’t as friendly or helpful. A good selection of books video and cds. Not a large selection of country music cds. The Cds need to be categorized. They have concerts on occasion. I recently sawcthe Shirthouse Band play at the library. I like browsing in the bookstore, but I’ve banned myself till I read all the books I bought from them. A good way to spend some time.

This library has gone down hill. The way this library is ran is a joke. DO NOT come to this library and think you will have a quiet place to study and read. NOPE not here.
Children are allowed to scream and even encouraged to by the staff. I am not kidding! When I complained about a baby that was screaming to the library manager, I was told, «we want to welcome people here and telling people to be quiet is not welcoming» OH WOW, REALLY! Since when is it protocol to let loud screaming and loud conversations go on in a library??? I know the staff has no control over the quality of patrons who frequent the library. But they could set some rules in order for people who need to study to be able to concentrate, instead of be distracted by inappropriate screaming and loud conversations. I wish the manager would realize how much harm she is potentially causing to children using the library to learn. I bet she would’t care even if she did, based on here lame way running things.

I feel libraries are suppose to be a place to read, study and a place of silence. This library is not the case. A lot of people go there to study or do work for jobs but the employees are the issue. They talk extremely loud and even when I’m in the quite areas this is an issue. I play my music and can still hear the loud employees in a loud back room laughing and talking about unprofessional things. How am I suppose to get work down when people who work there are loud? I asked to borrow one of there penicel and the old worker was extremely rude and I walked away and him and a lady at the library laughed at me rudely.
I understand it’s not in a good area but
They don’t need to be rude to people who come here. There is also very loud activities going off. This just isn’t a good place to study I have a bad experience years ago and tried to give it another shot.
This place just gets worse hopefully they will have friendly quit workers one day and a better study environment.

I went on-​line and found that you can borrow books electronically. There is also an option for audio books. I love love love this feature! I have a 40 minute drive to work and really enjoy audio books to pass the time. Sometimes I will finish an audio book on c.d.‘s and don’t have time right away to make it to the library to get another. Now I can go on the app on my phone and borrow one right away!
On android phones the app is OverDrive Media Console.

I give up on this dump. It’s always busy and filled with the most random people.
This is not a place to study, it is usually loud, and if you’re trying to get work done with a computer most people using the computers are either watching YouTube music videos or playing games on the computer, mid day. Don’t you people have jobs or school?
Before you even walk into the library the front door and surrounding area is usually crawling with homeless, or crack heads, not very welcoming, some of them even wandering around inside.
The selection is just meh, I never find anything.
They also seem very unorganized.
I’m going to go to the rancho library from now on, even if I have to drive much further.

This seems like a fine library, but it’s really busy. This is a tiny bit closer to my house than the Rancho San Diego library, but when we came for a visit on a Saturday afternoon it was quite loud and crawling with children. Since I’m looking for a library where I can study, this one just didn’t fit the bill.
I also prefer a newer or remodeled library. This one was just dated, although not dirty. We decided to spend our afternoon at the Rancho San Diego library instead and loved it.

This library is just okay the librarians are very nice but the books are just okay.

Not a bad library at all. It’s definitely MUCH better than the one I used to go to in Oceanside and the other library in OB. Looks are deceiving, however; it looked brand spanking new on the outside, but when I entered it, it looked like the library I went to when I was in elementary school (not that I’m complaining, but just my pov).
Everything you need and want is provided for you: books, internet, and plenty of desks to occupy. There is also a used book section near the entrance, and sometimes you can find some good gems.
There are a lot of interesting people who frequent here, however; usually I see a couple drifters and one person with their cute dog and cat. I know this is downtown El Cajon (which I actually think is great and nice, contrary to how some people view El Cajon), but… I remember when I was walking out of the bathroom this lady was talking to a younger woman about how her daughter had the same color hair as the younger woman, but it grew dark as she got older. The older lady then remarked, «I don’t know how her hair color is now, I haven’t seen her in years.» I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she was talking loud… then as they walked out of the door, she remarked, «The last I heard she was in jail. I don’t know if she’s out now or not!»
It was my sign to leave at that point. I tried not to laugh.

this library has everything. Wifi, large tables, plugs, a private laptop room, kids area, adult area, self checkout, and a water fountain!
Oh, they have books too :-)
Only downside is that they do not provide POP3, SMTP, IMAP email service (like all libraries :-(Can only access email through a web browser, like if you use yahoo or gmail

Even though it is not a new library (like the one in La Mesa) I prefer it to any library in east county. It is huge and has a wonderful selection of books, audio books, DVDs and CDs. My kids enjoy the video games and the large selection of kids games and books. And it is free! What could be better?! A word of advice– make sure you know how to log on to the online website
so you can request anything you want and have it delivered to the local library of your choice. It often makes our visits run much more smoothly since 2 year old doesn’t have much patience for the non-​kid section. =) I often do my ‘browsing’ from home and then I have a few things to pick up next time we go!
We try and frequent the library at least once a week and never leave without checking out no– less than 15 books!
The staff are very helpful and have always found them to be polite and pleasant.
I LOVE the new (ish) check out system! So user friendly!
The ONLY thing I would suggest is that for the after hours drop-​off you have to drive around the building — and since you can’t just drive around the building you have to drive a block over and then you can drop off the books through the drive-​thru drop off, which is convenient. I just wish the first few times I showed up after hours I had known I couldn’t drop them at the front door. I had parked and gotten the kids out of the car, loaded all of our books up in our bags and walked to the front just to have to turn it all around and pack it all back up.
Take advantage of their FIND FREE FRIDAYS! The last Fri of each month they will forgive ALL fines on any library material. **As long as you have not renewed an item with a fine on it…((If you have a DVD with a $ 1 fine on it and you renew it then the $ 1 fine sticks. If you go overdue on it again and turn it in on the FFF then the additional fine will be forgiven but the ‘renewed fine’ will not. I learned this the hard way.**
If you go to the
website you can check out the MANY MANY free and fun activities for ALL AGES that they offer.

What am I doing here? Why am I in El Cajon?
They had the book I needed for a class, instead of buying the book for I decided to be smart and check the county library website to see if they had it. Lo and behold the el cajon branch had it.
Downtown El Cajon is pretty cute.
This library doesn’t have a stellar view like my favorite library in North County but it had what I needed.
I came back to return the book and there were a few sketchy looking characters hanging out in the front… mind you this is at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Other than loitering I don’t see what business they had just sitting there and looking like their about to mug someone. Minus the hooligans the courtyard is pretty cute and it’s near the popo dept so I think you’re safe.
Being a County library I’m able to use my San Diego County Library Card at ALL the county libraries in San Diego; which is awesomeeeeee.
Anyways, would I be back? Only if the book I want/​need is available at this branch.

The San Diego County Library is an example of local government at its best. I’ve lived in quite a few places around the U.S., and no library system has even come close to the SD County system in terms of access to other branches and catalog expanse.
The El Cajon branch is great for many reasons… it’s spacious, there are lots of activities, and the service is excellent. I love all of the various cultures of people you will find at this library too.
I shop at the library bookstore as well. I rarely see a book priced higher than $ 1, and there are some real treasures here!
The Story Crafternoons for kids are a little crowded, but still a fun event to attend with children. I’ve visited the La Mesa and Rancho San Diego branches, but this one sees me the most for various reasons.
The new RFID checkout system is awesome too! So fast!

Great Library. I would say that County libraries are soooo much better than SD libraries… more money or what I dont know but the selection of movies, cds, and books is amazing. I came here and checked out a huge stack of great cds, and a book my friend recommended that you would normally not find in a library. i love you el cajon library!

This library is a wonderful oasis of air conditioning and intellectual freedom in the hot, sometimes (usually) conservative East County. The librarians are really awesome and are always helpful. They have tons of music cd’s, the latest (and classic) films on DVD, tons of magazines, and free Internet access.
Even if the library doesn’t have the book or DVD that I want when I visit, they will order it from a different branch and will usually have it for me to pick up within 3 — 5 days! What great customer service!