Marina Branch Library

A young software developer moves into San Francisco’s Marina District, and as he is schlepping his duffel into his bay view apartment he is hit by an onslaught of bad news from his roommates.
«There’s no Internet.»
«There’s no TV.»
«There’s no Cellphone service.»
Luckily, it’s evening with no pressing obligations, and of all things, there is a mattress, so this budding youth decides to sleep on the issue. Awakened by the day, reality hits, as does the cloud of spring triggering allergies that have been dormant for what feels like decades. Desolate, disconnected, congested, only one entity provided light. That was this library.
«Five stars,» were the only words he could muster through the tears of bliss.

The last time I came here was back in high school. This facility looks better than before especially since its renovation. Libraries always make a perfect spot for studying, reading a book, magazine or newspaper. Yes, this branch is indeed a little small which is my only criticism. But I must openly admit that it’s good to have a library nearby because it’s of very good use. It is an environment where anyone can educate themselves outside of the classroom.
I will be back to borrow a book when I want to find something else to read and educate myself outside of the classroom. An edit to this review will provided once I try the service here.

Understood there are limiting factors for a public facility in making changes to infrastructure; however this library is in dire need of an overhaul. Seating, and electrical outlets for laptops are far too limited, and at times the library feels like a homeless shelter. Again, not the fault of the library staff per se, but the community could use a reasonable facility to check books and conduct research.

I love studying here. I usually come on Sunday and stay from 1pm-​4pm.
It gets crowded and there’s usually a lot of people waiting for a computer.
Not too many books to choose from (I need books related to the fashion retail industry).
The neighborhood is quiet and safe. The staff is friendly.

Sometimes new things are great: street trees, parks, eateries and retail stores, museums. But especially libraries.
I spent inordinate amounts of time in libraries as a child. It was a place to study, read and meet friends. The Chinatown and North Beach branches with their yellowing books and card catalogs were second homes in my after school life.
Fast forward many years. Although I hadn’t been to the old Marina Branch library before, I have a feeling it probably was like the North Beach one now-​poorly light, old furniture that’s falling apart and loved to death, small windows and awkward layouts for modern use.
The newer version is nice-​clean lines, good space planning, organized, large windows to capture light and the ability to see outside, comfortable and decently sized tables and chairs, and yes, for modern conveniences, enough places to get online, whether you bring your own laptop or use one of their few computers. I also liked the reserved holding area where you could pick up items you saved online.
It’s a great joy to borrow books and videos that are pretty current for free. Or even vintage finds too. Kudos to the invention of the public library.

I love love LOVE the SF library system. This branch is particularly nice and the employees are really helpful.
I checked out some books and went out of town for several weeks. I planned on renewing my books, but I realized I had left my library card at home. I couldn’t renew my books online since I didn’t have my library card number with me. I called the Marina branch and told them my situation. The lady that answered the phone helped me by going into the computer system and setting the renew date for after I would be back in town. I found this to be above and beyond my expectations. I was only hoping she could tell me what my card number was, so for her to go ahead and renew them for me was really helpful.
On another occasion, I had returned some books, but then the next day my account showed a late fee. I called the branch and told them which drop slot I had returned my books into, they looked and found them, then removed the charges for me.
Kudos for great customer service.
I also like the layout of this branch. There is a lot of natural light, so even though it’s kind of small, it doesn’t feel cramped. They also have a nice selection of periodicals.

I just realized on the SFPL website that you can create «lists» of books you want to read, so that solves the problem of having a lot of books to read, but not enough time to reserve all at once and have the request expire. Yay!

I am an unabashed library lover and now I have one more to love.

Their Pages do a fantastic job keeping this place well-​kept and organized (+5 stars)
Aside from the rating, I feel somewhat uncomfortable being in close perimeters with men watching porn on the public computers (where there are children around and a playground in close view). In my opinion, if that’s something you like to do, it seems like something you should do in the privacy of your own home.

Maybe I’ve been spoiled. Maybe I’m so used to the Main Library that everything else is just not awesome enough. But I found this branch to be too small for me and anything other than a pickup station.
I can browse Main, everything’s listed under Fiction. They don’t mix some of my favorite paranormal/​urban fantasy authors with sci-​fi I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole so I have to check two places and then find out they’re just too small to have what I’m looking for in either place.
I can see using this one to pick up ordered books, but for anything else it’s a miss.

Great neighborhood library! Wish it could stay open a little bit longer on some nights. I highly recommend going here as there are little Rec parks nearby and it’s close to chesnut

Good selection (you can also request books/​DVDs from ANY SF Public Library location), very clean, and *super* staff. They are all friendly and overarchingly helpful.
Efficient sign-​up system for computers, and decent «clientele,» barring the annoying talkers (I don’t mean asking a question or having a short conversation — I mean those who choose not to shut up for extended time, or, ever). Earplugs only block out so much.
If you want to have an inane conversation with your ugly girlfriend, go outside or take her to KFC. If you want to sponsor an ESL tutoring session, do it at your place, where you can enunciate loud instructions to your heart’s content.
Other than that, I give this great SF public resource a hushed «Woo-​woo!»

Why spend $ 25 on something when you don’t have to? Because I’m lazy and I’m not very good with money.
I had a copy of the 2010 edition of Eyewitness to Ireland in my hand all ready to purchase when my friend «K» starts to scream.
«WHAT ARE YOU DOING???»
me. «umm, what, I am buying a book for my trip»
«NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, YOU CAN BORROW IT FOR FREE AT THE LIBRARY!!!»
She then proceeds to rip the book from my cold dead hands. And we are out of there minus my book.
I take her advice and head down to the Burlingame Library but am unlucky in love as they do not have the Eyewitness guide. I go outside and call my friend ‘K” and tell her that the book isnt there and I am heading straight to a bookstore and buy it. She early jumps though my phone and tells me not to.
A few days pass and I am in the Marina and walk into the Library there and I find my book! Woo hoo! However I am not a SF resident and cannot check out my book. DOH! Who do I know who lives in the area and can grab this for me? hmmmm LIGHTBULB! «K»!
An hour later we sitting in her apartment with wine in hand and reading my newly borrowed Eyewitness Guide to Ireland.
Since I’m heading to Ireland and the luck the Irish should have rubbed off on me I am going to take the $ 25 I saved and buy lottery tickets!

It was 4:47 pm as I stood in line patiently waiting to get a library card. The person checking out books announced to the line of patrons that they could check out their own books at the express checkout. I mentioned to her I was waiting to get a library card.
She then proceeds to tell me that they do not accept or process library card applications 10 – 15 minutes prior to closing time. Did I mention it was 4:47 pm? I was clearly in the 10 – 15 minute window, but she was too lazy to take one more application. I needed the book, it was in my hand, and my second grade class was excited to learn about Christopher Columbus and I had been searching all day for this book. I was so close, but she was too inconsiderate and couldn’t be bothered to process ONE additional application. I politely asked where this 10 – 15 minute window for applications was posted, she couldn’t tell me, but instead gave me an application form to bring for next time.
The lack of customer service at this branch will certainly discourage me from taking the time to fill out the application and have them process it when it’s convenient for THEM.

So this cuts down my spending on books, which is great. They can get any book you need that the city library carries, also great.
However…
The homeless people who park it here make it less than superb.
The staff is okay, they put on great free playtime/​story/​sing along for little kids.

Really I’m just so very impressed by the SF public library system. Look for a book online, request it, wait for it to be delivered to your favorite branch. and VOOWALAA! I walk in, pick up the book, beep beep at the automatic check out and I’m done! so easy and free!
This branch is one of the nicer ones, being newly remodeled. I’m a big fan of the public library!

Happy about the renovation — lot of natural light, comfortable armchairs, and electrical outlets for laptops.
Less one star for the brigade of kids and nannies singing «Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star» in the children’s section. Loud. I know it’s un-​PC to rant about this… but it’s a library, not a pre-​school.
One star less for the very limited selection, especially in the DVD section. Do you really need three copies of KINDERGARTEN COP? (An exaggeration, but you get the point.) More Criterion stuff please! Oddly, the offerings at the North Beach Branch (more like Chinatown with the number of Asian/​Chinese patrons) are more interesting and just… more.
Another star less for the constant «missing» items which I return through the drop box. I constantly have to drop by or call to try to rectify the situation. Nice people at the counter «note» the errors but it’s just a matter of time before I get stuck with a bill for an «unreturned» item. I am told that it’s better to return items to a live and breathing librarian and get a receipt.
But that begs the question: then why have a drop slot INSIDE the library?
Someone’s slacking behind that drop slot.
But all that aside — it’s a pleasant place to catch up on magazines and newspapers and to pick up stuff you’ve reserved online.

I need to study a lot. Well I got tired of spending money on coffee at cafes where all I needed was a table away from home. So I found myself at this branch on (I would add) a beautiful, sunny Saturday to read books and take exams.
Despite the teasing weather, I found this to be a great study environment. The large windows permit a great deal of natural light and the artificial lighting keeps everything else well lit. Lots of open space, pleasant staff, and a general agreement to be quiet make this an ideal study spot.
Oh, and did I mention FREE WIFI? Hot dog, Mayor Newsom. Maybe it wasn’t you who put this in, but if you did, keep it up. That and the electrical outlets at each table — bravo.
I’ll definitely be back here often to study.

I decided I was spending too much $ on buying new books and only reading it once (then it collects dust on my shelf) so I went and got a new library card. That was an interesting experience — reason for why it’s not a 5 star review. When I turned in my application the librarian asked for my driver license. When he noticed that it had a Fremont address he said sorry but I have to give you a restricted card until you bring me a mail that show you have a local SF addres — what? I was only allowed to check out ONE book at a time because of this! hhahahhaa too funny … felt like I was put on probation. Like what are they worry about — that non-​SF residents was going to rent ALL the books away from SF residents.
Since that funny ordeal and becoming a «normal» card holder, I have enjoyed my visits to the library — esp. this branch. It’s quiet, clean, and they have extremely helpful & smiling librarians. Also library has definitely entered the «online access» world — you can search for books and if they aren’t available at your branch but is at another one you can transfer the book to your branch. You can also search for books and reserve it so that when you get to the library it’s already put aside just for you = time saving! You can also rent videos or reserve time to use the computer (internet). People library is the «IN» thing to do now… get to it. *wink

I love the library. When the library closed I shed a tear. Where will I get my book fix? The book store? Amazon? It isn’t quite the same. When I saw that this branch had reopened, I burst into excitement. Yes, I have no life people.
A girl outside said it best when she stated, ‘Let’s go read a book.’ Oh what great children.
After going inside, I thought, wow this place is hip and modern. There are a lot of computers around. However, it seemed like the space was not used that well. Everything was spread out and the shelves looked rather sparse. There didn’t seem to be as much selection, despite the addition.
I have to say, I rather preferred the old library to the redone one. I liked the magazine section, the cds which were easy to browse, and I liked the shelf with recent arrivals. I often perused this section and found some neat random books to read, books that I wouldn’t have thought to purchase from a book store. The updated library shoved the magazine section into the back wall and put the recent arrivals on the far wall off to the side. Not inviting.
Oh library curator, let this be a lesson in space planning. While the old library wasn’t quite as modern, I think its use of space was more innovative. If I had designed this space I would’ve done differently. Read, an open communal area for socializing or reading, rather than computers being the focus. Care and attention to where the books should be placed. A library is such an important community space, not to be neglected. A redo is an opportunity to make a statement, something that should be well thought out. One bonus, the express self checkout kiosks.