Alum Rock Branch Library

For my daughters first time to a library she loved it.
As an adult aware of my surroundings not my favorite library.
I appreciate the security guard for being there but not really sure what he is watching for. His head was down the entire time I was in there.
The staff was okay. I stood in line to get a physical card and the employee either ignored or just wasn't paying attention that I was standing in front until the security guard who was not at his post said "hey you have a customer"
The bathrooms were filthy. I understand we as humans expect each other to clean up after ourselves but when people don't and you work at this facility please have an employee clean the bathroom.
Book options in the children section very impressive. They had computers for kids and for toddlers. Comfy sitting areas including a tiny castle. Perfect for a hot afternoon to relax and read.
Sadly this is a close library for me so I might go back. Just hoping they can improve.

Lauren went above and beyond talking with my son Mateo that was having a hard time choosing a book he wanted. Thank you Lauren I appreciate your patience. I also want to say Victoria is awesome, she is super helpful and nice. She helped with information regarding the scavenger hunt. Very pleased with the wonderful and delightful staff. If would give them 100 stars if it would be possible. I have been coming to this library for the past 13 years and Lauren and Victoria have been the nicest, everyone is so helpful and ready to help anyone.

I love going to libraries. This place however was not as enjoyable as I want it to be. The place is small with a confusing parking lot. I didn't know where to park and so I had to go to the parking lot on a different establishment and walked my way over there. When I finally found their actual parking lot which was on the left side of the building, there were grocery carts and vehicles parked over there which were clearly used by homeless people. Me and the kiddo came here because we saw an event for teens held in this library that involved drawing and manga. She had invited her friends to meet up in here and spent two hours in the community center. When we initially inquired about such event, the guy by the counter doesn't have the faintest idea of what I was asking about and had to flag someone else to give me answers. When we came to the community center it was toasty hot inside, mainly because they just finished off with the free lunch program for kids (they turned off the a/c during this time - idk?!?!?!) Now the library itself was well ventilated with a/c, I am just curious why they don't provide it to the community center which is part of the library. Anyhoo....

While waiting for the kiddo and her friends to finish with the teen event, I had a mini project that I decided to do in the library - making those flower pens for the office which I make every summer... I found myself what I thought would be a quiet and cozy table by the corner and started doing my thing ...until a guy came and gave this weird vibe. I tried to ignore him while he was mumbling to himself, then he stood up and struck and loud heated/irrational conversation with some other person regarding some newspaper which is when I was mentally red flagging him. He came back after sometime and then minutes later was trying to strike a conversation with me. I was congenial enough to answer his curiosity about my project which I finished in time and then packed up my stuff to leave. Talk about an unusual encounter.

Since there is still more time to kill, I went to Orchard supply which is next door and spent the time there by the nursery instead.

This is a small library branch,across the street from shopping centers and with a view of the East Hills from the front.The tech center is good because there is only 1 computer per table,so you don't have to worry about someone next to you being practically in your lap when using the computer.It can get noisy because of kids blurting everything that pops into their head,and parents not reminding them they are in a library.However,the kids area is a decent distance from the tech room,so the noise is not as apparent when they have the story time.They do have kid compuetrs with speakers,which is totally irrespnsible in a library and doesn't help them learn etiquette in a library.The computers in the front room face the windows!I guess some people like that sort of thing--maybe there's a lot of weirdos in this side of town---,but not practical for us ordinary people,LOL.There are some big upholstered chairs but are often occupied by people who sit around doing nothing all day.

This library is so LOUD between 3:30 and 5:00pm during the week. Loud conversations on the phone, screaming children wildly playing tag or hide and go seek. Despite my effort to muffle noises with music on my headphones, I found myself being distracted by all the NOISE! The library is nice, but unfortunately the people who come here are not respectful of noise levels. Will be looking for a new study spot... I really wish the employees would make more of an effort to keep the noise down.

Oh.. and the Internet is incredibly slow.. boo

This is a decent small-ish branch of the San Jose Public Library. The staff is really helpful - one staffer showed me how to reserve a group study room for tutoring a group of high school students for the SAT. He got me a library card, including s keychain version, even though I don't live in Santa Clara County (anyone can get a card- even non residents).

I use the place from 10 to noon on Saturdays, when it's not too crowded and there aren't too many people with young loud kids, etc.

They have displays and local celebrations - I got some free food at one. I've been there as a book sale took place in the attached community room.

One nice thing about getting there early is I can park my car under the solar-cell-covered car port thing, which keeps my car shady and cool on sunny San Jose Saturday mornings, as solar cells stack power from the sizzling sun. There is also a neat little Latin American supermarket around the corner, and other fast food nearby.

This is one of the newer libraries. Yes, it is true that their collection of books is not nearly as extensive as some of the libraries and definitely the main library.

The only complaint that I have is that the restroom is not as clean. Also, there are no towels.

I did not enjoy the environment, walking through people just stare at you made me feel uncomfortable. I usually go to other libraries but since one if my clients relocated now I have to come to this one. Also quiet room is small and has odor. People in there were eating making it hard to concentrate. So much for a quite room. Wi-fi is horrible.

I was in the area so I stopped by today around noon. They have their own parking lot and there was ample parking. Even saw a solar panel- go green. When i walked in, there was a little lobby that kind of threw me off. Walk further and you are in the library. The first thing I noticed is that it was kinda dim. I really liked that their movie selection is only 3 shelves high unlike other libraries. Got my books, checked out & left. This is a very short people friendly library LOL. Even the checkout counters were fairly low.

Pros:
_The library is nice and okay.
_ Wifi is free and 1 click easy access.
_ No library card required if you use your own laptop.
_ Some restaurants and a bakery nearby so you can take some snacks and come back to the library.

Cons
_ Working hour is a little weird. Start at 11am and no working on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
_ Some tables are directly below the AC flows so these seats are very cold.
_ Wifi is TOO SLOW.
_ Restroom is dirty.