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Hercules Library
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Tue. 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wed-Thu., Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
14 reviews for Hercules Library
Light Bright and Airy... I wasn't sure about this place from the outside, infact I downright hated on it while it was being built and once they were through.
But the inside is a suprise modern, comfortable and easy to navigate. Study rooms can be booked and there is even a courtyard with interesting plants all around (they remind me of seaweed)
The library has self serve check out and a used book store.
1 star less than perfect because they are still new and it seems that their selection reflects that but just a little...
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This library embodies what I love most about Hercules. Modern award winning architecture with homespun accents like a wall composed of hand painted tiles (painted by Hercules children) set in between a strip mall and a track housing development. The staff is a mixed bag of dedicated professionals and kind residential volunteers.
They offer a diverse reading selection for audiences of all ages and ethnicities, a large computer station and reservable meeting rooms. They have some special features including a beautiful garden/courtyard and a dramatic reading room complete with beanbag chairs and a star-mural ceiling (which they use for weekly story-telling). The only notable downer is that they aren't open as often as I would like.
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Storytime in the kid's section is really great! The kid's section is fully equipped with children's stories from all around the world, too! I spend most of my time in the kid's section, but the other day I wandered into the adult section and found individual study rooms. AND a teen library within it's own roomed section. This a great library!
Library's have always been depressing for me. I grew up in El Sobrante and the hours were so limited that you never knew if they'd be open on any given day. The Richmond Library is a little better, but so darn far away, especially when you're a kid who can't drive yourself around so you can pick up a stupid book for a class report on the electoral college. When I went to UC Berkeley, the libraries where were I went to get a nap when I didn't want to fight the homeless for couch space at the student union.
Part of the reason why I hated libraries is because they were always dingy, dank, and dark. One hour there felt like three. I felt that again when I went to the one near me in Burbank. The Hercules Library is a rare pleasure. The place is new because the community is still growing, especially on the shore side of town. That means that the place has excellent free wi-fi, clean new books, a decent DVD collection, and checking books out are easy and almost totally automated.
The library is opened up and well lit, since the windows go from ceiling to floor and surround every room. The furniture is typical Ikea, which means it's all pretty, but not too comfortable. That's good, since I'd hate to have to loitering teens for couch space. It's always fun to drop by and hang out with my sister whenever I'm in town. This is definitely one of the gems of town.
This library is the pride of the Contra Costa County library system. It was the second library in the system built with with self-service devices for the patrons. People using this library can check out and return books on their own without any help from library staff, a trend that is becoming the norm for new libraries built all over the nation.
The building is very beautiful and has won several architecture awards. One unique feature is the patio situated in the middle of the library.
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The Hercules Public Library is a gem. I went in to check the new library out and Its spacious, clean and quiet. The proper environment for studying, researching and reading. The book selection looks a little bit on the thin side but I'm sure more will come to fill the shelves since it just has recently opened (3 months). There is even a fireplace surrounded by bean bags in the corner of the library, now how many libraries do you know have that. I found myself testing the bean bags which resulted with me almost falling asleep. I'll have to do some further testing. The librarians are helpful and willing to show you how to use their computers to look up a book.
Overall, a nice addition to the city of Hercules and its residents.
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The Hercules library is impressive, with it's clean, modern lines. It's definitely not your traditional idea of a somewhat dim, musty library with old thick "tomes" and microfiche machines in the corner. What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for in amenities.
There are separate rooms for kids and teenagers, plenty of space and comfy chairs to read in, and several computers for internet research. I LOVE their fiction section. It's up to date and I always find myself wanting to check out five million books cuz they look cool (yes, I have an inner book nerd and I embrace it!). Some of my favorite authors are missing, but they more than make up for it in terms of the broad selection.
Non-fiction selection of books is a lot more skinny, and I was surprised by how small a space they have set aside for their non-fiction books. The great thing is that all of their non-fiction books are newer, I would say 1999 and above, so if you're looking for something more recent this is the place to go. They even have a few more popular but older books. If you're looking for older research material though, you might try one of the other libraries.
My favorite thing about this library is the self check out computers in the front. It makes checking out books a piece of cake, and you don't have to wait in line for the one librarian to go through 5 million people in front of you. It also frees up the librarians for research questions and the like.
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I'm so happy that Hercules has a library. No more treks in to San Francisco to get books!
As the others have said, the selection of books are still limited, but a lot of them are brand new too. No musty old books with food and whatever bodily function stains that makes it on to the books at your older libraries.
It is self check out and there hasn't been any lines in the times I've been there. They also open pretty late (till 8 pm on some days) and on Sunday's!
6/20/2007 update: Sarah is the greatest! She went out of her way to find some information for me.
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I am so happy about this place! It's nice and big and airy, but too many kids make too much noise.
This is a great addition to the city! The library is very clean and bright. It is the perfect place to study...which I had to do a lot of while studying for my CPA exam. They have a good selection of books and all of their books are new. They even have a good selection of Chinese books. Oh...and free high-speed wireless internet is always a plus!
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Why buy books when you can borrow one? I went to the grand opening celebration - that's how excited I was about finally having a library branch in Hercules! They did a great job planning the space and I agree with Aubrey M. - the new arrivals section is rockin' (for a library, ya know). If you go just browsing for a new read, the selection can feel small and honestly, I feel like the kids section is bigger than the adult literature side - BUT if you browse the Contra Costa Library's online catalogue [http://www.contra-cost.../] before you go you can actually hold books, get on waiting lists and have them sent to the Hercules branch for pickup once they are available. I've done this several times and it's extremely convenient. Go to the library, learn something and support your community!
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who can actually study here?! +1 star bc aesthetically, this library is beautiful and the kids section is cute for them but its SO noisy.
-1 the librarians and their damn phone that rings hella loud. the cash register is acting like its ringing up a damn costco bill. the LIBRARIANS don't even know how to whisper here!! if i wanted to wear my headphone and listen to my music while i try to study i might as well have stayed at home or went to barnes & noble.
-1 hercules high school students love to kick it here too. at least the pinole library knows how to crack some whips when the pv students are being too loud. i feel like no noise rules are ever enforced here which defeats the purpose of anyone trying to study.
+2 stars because the book selection is actually decent and they have new arrivals that are actually interesting. they've got a nice selection of dvds & cds as well.
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I'm actually studying here at the library right now (well, studying, surfing the internet, and staring off into space), and I agree with John L.'s review - the library is an awesome addition to the city. With windows spanning half the room up to the soaring ceilings, and a peaceful zen like tree planted in the center of the library, I was pleasantly surprised with my visit. Besides a children's room, teen center and homework room, there are also three small study rooms, which can be reserved for an hour/day, and free wifi! Not a huge book/dvd selection, but they're working on it.
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The gem of the whole Contra Costa Library system. Unlike the 2 CCCPL branches I frequent once in a blue moon - Pleasant Hill and Pinole, this place is not decrepit, or still stuck in their depressing 1970s liveries. It's wide and open. It has new equipment. Everything works. There's even a fireplace. 5 stars, just because.