Porter Ranch Library

Not the best library if you want peace & quiet. The library itself is relatively small and the interior is not optimized for sound dampening. You can sit anywhere in the library and if someone drops a pen, you’ll hear it. Sounds just travels throughout the entire library. It’s even worse if you sit close to the entrance/​exit and check-​out counter. Conversations just bounce off the walls.
People here don’t seem to grasp the concept of being quiet or being in a library; that goes for both patrons and workers alike. Whispering is non-​existent. Since when is it okay to talk in regular conversation volume while in a library?
Come here if you don’t mind constant background noise. Maybe I just came on a bad day. Parking lot is very tight and spaces are limited.

I was having a great time at the Porter Ranch Library doing my school project until I ran into the unfair lady at the front desk. It was my first time going to a Los Angeles County Library so I had to fill out a form to get a library card. I put my address as the current residence where I live right now (an apartment). She asked for identification so I provided her my driver’s license. On my license, it shows my aunt’s address since she’s my guardian. The lady told me that I was only allowed to check out 1 book out of the 3 I picked out since the addresses didn’t match. I asked her if I could change it to the address on my license (which is where my aunt lives) and she said no. I wrote with a pencil that the library provided so I could easily have changed it so I could check out the 3 books. While I was asking her to change it on the paper, she kept typing away at her computer to register me while completely ignoring how I felt about the situation. So she gave me a «courtesy card» which means I can only check out 1 book. Sorry, Porter Ranch Library, but I believe that anyone and everyone in the community should have access to books because in the end, no one cares where you live. This place blows. I won’t be coming back after I return the book I checked out.

A library should be the perfect place to visit to get some work done, and for the most part they typically fit the bill. However, this one is plagued with two problems; terrible Wi-​Fi and loud kids.
The «free» Wi-​Fi is worth every penny! It is simply atrocious. There’s barely enough speed to play a low-​def YouTube video, and the connection craps out every 20 minutes. There are plenty of other places to get free Wi-​Fi that actually works.
And if you are here after 3 PM when the kids get out of school you’re in for a special treat. It seems as though the staff have been told not to say anything because the noise goes unchecked, and it feels more like a playground than a library. I’m also amazed at the inability of the Mothers to hear their own kids or have any consideration for others.
Oh, and parking sucks.

Although I only spent a few minutes in this library I found it to be clean, quiet, and the staff super friendly and courteous. We came in a few minutes, note literally few, like 2, before closing to return books due that day and pick up a book I had put on hold. At this point I realized I had forgotten my library card at home. No problemo. Gave the gentleman my ID and he quickly located my book as well as letting me know that two of the books due that day were not in my pile. He quickly renewed them so that I would not incur a fine. Awesome and many thanks. Not sure what experiences people have been having here but I definitely did not mirror any of the rude personel, and trust me, I would have been rude if someone had come in two minutes before I was closed with 13 returns, a check out, no library card, and a renewal right when I was ready to go home. Thank you for the good experience.

All you hear about is how high unemployment is and how bad the economy is. With that in mind you would think the staff here would want to exhibit GOOD customer service. However, THAT IS FAR FROM THE CASE! Reference desk/​librarians, they already have a bad rep, fine, but the check out counter, OMG! FOR REAL PEOPLE! THEY ARE SOME OF THE RUDEST AND ARROGANT workers I’ve come across. How, or why or for what gain? I have no idea. The heavy Asian lady is the cream of the crop. She is just rude and makes it seem like she’s doing YOU a favor. They tend to their matters first, make you feel like you should know exactly how they want things done. Be NICE! Be inviting! A smile WON’T kill you. Jeepers, there is just nothing nice to say about mean ppl!

Library is über quiet and great to study at during weekday /​sunday mornings. All other times, plagued by dozens of children running around and teens pretending to study. Definitely need more tables… although I don’t think they would fit.

So I decided to try and study here today, terrible idea. The common conceptualization of what a library should be is not this place. What bothers me more is that the patrons who visit are not the problem for the most part, sure the occasional child asks a parent a question, a parent comments on behavior, etc. The problem here is the staff. They are loud and inconsiderate. The asian man at the checkout is nice, speaks at a lower tone and seems to mind his manners. There was a middle aged woman at the information center that was obnoxious and loud, please keep it down. If I can hear you through my ear plugs at the other end of the library, your loud! Further, the women in the back room, we can hear you arguing about who’s turn it is to make coffee. We don’t care unless you are serving it to us.
In a nut shell: The STAFF is LOUD and INCONSIDERATE. It not wonder the library system is upside down, don’t complain when you loose your jobs-​you never did them properly in the first place.

Have you ever read the Stephen King novella The Library Policeman? Yeah? Well, this reminds me of the library in that book. I don’t like it. I never have, and I never will.
Two stars for that and that alone.