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Aliso Viejo Library
Category: Public Services & Government Libraries Libraries [Edit]
1 JourneyAliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 360-1730
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
15 reviews for Aliso Viejo Library
15 reviews in English
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Review from Suzel N.
Irvine, CA
12/13/2011
Good library for those in Aliso Viejo. Nice atmosphere and it's in the suburbs so it's pretty peaceful and the architecture of the building is pretty nice. They have a drive thru drop for the books which is convenient for some. It's a bit of a drive from where I'm from but it was worth it to see. It's big enough in my opinion.
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Review from Emmi M.
Laguna Niguel, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
On the plus side, the library is a welcoming, comfortable place to visit. The staff I interacted with were all reasonably friendly. In the interest of full disclosure, I didn't try the coffee or check out a book, but I did use the "adult internet stations," because my wireless network at home has been acting up.
This is where the library earns its low marks. My phone is faster than the computer I used, and I was only visiting Google docs. Apparently the library offers free WiFi, but I don't have a laptop so that was not an option for me. All in all, I was satisfied with the atmosphere (minus a few loud children), but sorely disappointed by the computers. 3 stars on a generous day (but 2.5 at best on most others). -
Review from Daniel T.
8/2/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Pros: A great place to get books and media. I got an inter-library loan for FREE. (The Mission Viejo Library charges around $5 for loans.) The cafe next door has good sandwiches and coffee if you need a study break.
Cons: This library is one of the noisiest I've been to. It's an awful place to study if you're looking for a quiet work environment. -
Review from Kitty S.
Laguna Hills, CA
10/14/2011
I absolutely agree with Lin P.'s review below. I go to this library because it's the closest one to my house. It's not the best, but it's decent enough. Major cons are: children's books that are not shelved correctly or are missing most of the time we are there (the catalog says they are available on the shelves, but they are not on the shelves) and SURLY customer service that needs obvious improvement. I can't say this for each staff member - I have not have contact with all of them and will not generalize here - but in my experience, if I ask nicely for help finding a book or checking out a book, I get a look that says, "Can you please not bother me!" Hello? It's a library - let's keep it upbeat and friendly! And professional!
Case in point - I've always used my husband's library card to check out books in SD and OC and everywhere else we have ever lived. We're a family, we don't see a need to have four different library cards for the each of us. Plus, other librarians have told us, when applying for a card, that it's perfectly fine to have one family-use card, under the name of one applicant. It's not like they want to stand around processing cards for a bunch of people. I have never had a problem checking out a book this way at any other branch EVER.
Today the old guy working the checkout desk said it's against the law to check out a book using someone else's card. Really, call the cops now! I told him, fine, the card owner is my lovely husband and I have the PIN, so I'll just check out my materials using the self-service machine. As if I would have the super-secret PIN otherwise, right? So he immediately throws his arms over the books to protect them (I'm not robbing a bank here) and drags them to his side of the counter. It was such a preschool move. He says I cannot do that. And tells me to basically take a walk because there's NOTHING that can be done. He says that if I want those books, my husband has to come into the library to check out them out. So the patron behind me says, "Can't she just apply for her own card then and check them out?" DUH, why didn't he suggest that? I'll tell you why. Because he just wanted to stick it to me. Grudgingly, he agreed and then double charged me for a book that I checked out that was on hold. It's supposed to be 25 cents and he charged me 50 cents. I told him that fact and he just peered at the computer screen and was like, I can't look that up. Fine, it's an extra quarter, pocket your shiny prize, but it's the principle of it - he still wanted to win, even if it meant a little bite out of my wallet. I guess I'll be using the self-service machine from now on...with my husband's card, haha!!! -
Review from Joe A.
Laguna Niguel, CA
6/20/2011
I love this library! We go here all of the time, a great cheap way to pass time with the kids.
The friends of the library store is huge. The staff in their is always friendly.
I agree that some of the staff Librarians are a bit unfriendly, but I have never observed that this was the highest people-skill career choice, so I take that in stride. -
Review from Terra M.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/4/2011
Coffee Shop.
Lots of outlets.
Conference Room.
Books.
Plentiful parking.
So fantastic.Listed in: OC- Tea/Coffee/Study
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Review from Evelyn K.
5/19/2009 1 Check-in Here
4.5 rating. Aliso Viejo's public library is nice. In addition to the usual OC Public Library amenities such as books and magazines, photocopier, wifi, computers for use, there are foreign language books in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Persian. They have the usual Vogue Magazine, Motor Trend and other popular titles in the periodicals section.
If they don't have the book you want, I would suggest using OCPL's website to search for it in other branches. If they have the title at another location, it can be transferred to the branch of your choice for 25 cents.
Right next door to the library is a coffee shop called The Neighborhood Cup which sells food and drink. -
Review from Alex G.
PRINCE, NY
2/6/2009
Okay, I gotta give this place five stars. This is a great place to come to study. The Neighborhood Cup is attached for your coffee fix. It is relatively quiet. It has a little courtyard thing. It has a little used book shop. It has pretty much everything you would want in a library. Also, I have to say I have some appreciation for the architecture, the ample parking lot, and the prime location right on the corner. The people who were building this library weren't like, "Let's hide this over here where no one will see it and it will be out of the way." No, they were like, "We're buildin' a muffukkin' library and we gon build it right here, RIGHT HERE GODDAMMIT."
Yes, I will swear in a review of a public library. That is how I roll.
Also, got to give a shout-out to the whole OC Public Library system. They have a decent collection which you can browse on-line, request, and then go pick it up at a convenient location. It is very convenient. You can even re-new online. Which reminds me.... -
Review from Albert E.
4/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I came to the Aliso Viejo Library to have a meeting in the giant conference room. The library probably holds many events here where many clubs and groups meet in this room once a month.
I also managed to walk through the library....it seemed easy to navigate and find everything I would be interested in.
I was pleasantly surprised a working coffee shop. Although I did not buy anything from this coffee shop, I was able to walk and see the different coffees, drinks, snacks, and pastries for this shop.
This is an impressive library, but what gets me, is there is no FREE internet connection for my laptop that I could find.....BOOO.....one star deduction.
Four Yelp Stars. =)Comment from Cathy L. of Aliso Viejo Library 4/21/2010
Thanks Albert E. for your review! We really appreciate it.… More » -
Review from DJ C.
Aliso Viejo, CA
2/12/2008
It's a good neighborhood library. It's a library, okay? It comes with lots of books. It's got free wifi. It's got an outdoor courtyard with chairs and tables. It's got a coffee house next door (The Neighborhood Cup).
What's extra is the DVDs and CDs (and VHS videos) that you can check out. But that's not unique to this library; I think you can get that at any Orange County Public Library.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from tim c.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2006
I only come to this library because it is conveniently close to my home.
The children's section is very nice (I'm told). Kids will probably like it here. Older folks however will not like that there aren't that many tables/chairs to study/read at.
I noticed the patrons here don't have manners. There was some dude that had no qualms about answering his loud ring tone ringing cell phone and then speaking at full volume, "Yeah Margaret. I'm at the library. I'll be home sooooon...."
I think there are also escapees from the local mental institution that think it is OK to borrow a French movie from the library and then immediately proceed to watch it at full volume on their laptop, all the while speaking along with it.
The only other upshot is there is wi-fi access here. They seem to block all ports except port 80 (http). My attempts at using my email client here failed. -
Review from Jay P.
Laguna Niguel, CA
12/31/2011
This library is pretty quiet and calm, good atmosphere for studying. The crowd seems to be older folks on the weekends. If I can comfortably make progress studying, then that's a good enough library for me. The only downside is that the internet connection speeds fluctuates rather annoyingly and doesn't load pages fast enough sometimes.
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Review from Burrito M.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2009
The Orange County Public Library system kicks @$$!
You can go online and order any book from any library in Orange County you want for .25 cents, they will deliver it to your local branch if not already there, then alert you when it's available, and you pick it up. You can also renew it multiple times online if you need to. So simple. -
Review from Lin P.
Laguna Hills, CA
6/15/2011
I find some (not all) of the staff at this library to be less than friendly and additionally, some are downright scared rabbits about making any kind of decision or having any independent thought. Sad. If management is practicing micro-management and is encouraging this fear-based structure, then shame on them. The older man who mans the front desk should be encouraged to crack a smile once in awhile, and fake some kind of pleasantry. He behaves as if he is angry at the world, is as sour as the day is long and almost bends over backwards in delight to tell you "no" about something trivial that you are requesting. Since he is an important touch point for this establishment, I think he needs a quickie crash course in customer service, or no one is going to want to go back there! These aren't life and death decisions that are being made, people. We're talking book renewals, etc. Get a grip.
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Review from Devon B.
Aliso Viejo, CA
5/15/2008 1 Check-in Here
As libraries go, this isn't the best my any means, but it is decent. I did go here frequently when our wifi was down a while back, since you can use the internet for free for 1 hour a day. The movie selection is pretty good as far as classic stuff goes - sometimes you get lucky. I've always found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. When the last Harry Potter book came out I put my name on the waiting list and received an email when it had arrived on hold for me, but I think most libraries do that now. I still haven't made my way over to the Neighborhood Cup, which is a nice feature of this library.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
