- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
North Park Library
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: North Park
3795 31St Street
(between Landis St & North Park Way)
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 533-3972
3795 31St Street
(between Landis St & North Park Way)
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 533-3972
9 reviews for North Park Library
I'm beginning to think that I have seriously overimagined what a library is supposed to be. Cause I mean... I keep going to libraries, and they're all small mishmashes of sidewalk sale bric-a-brac.
Which is not at all a knock on those noble few who keep fighting the good fight for these libraries. Libraries are the underpinning of a community seeking to improve itself. So of course it makes sense that Mira Mesa has better libraries than North Park. Cause of course.
The grand City Heights attempted cathedral notwithstanding, this is as good as it's gonna get what I consider the city. You aren't going to cruise over to Mission Hills or Kensington or Mission Valley or wherever else and find an objectively better library situation.
Which is why we're at the point now where you have to check online ahead of time for the book you're interested in and pinpoint your library trip.
It wasn't always like this, I swear.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (6)
- Cool (6)
What I always hate about libraries is that they allow the kids to run wild, let people chat on the phone, & generally have an environment that isn't conducive to studying. This place is different. They have the ka-hon-ays to tell people to go outside to talk on the phone or to take care of their kids. Sure, they don't order the books or tapes you want & the selection is limited, but the atmosphere of still having a library overcomes that stuff. These ladies put the decorum back in, well decor...um. Anyway, mean librarians rock!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
May 10th, 2003
It was a mild spring afternoon in North Park when I decided to visit the public library. I needed a copy of "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" by Frank McGuinnes for an upcoming audition. As much as I would have liked to have purchased this play, I had no money and time was of the essence. I strolled down the street.... That's a lie... I got in my car and drove the half mile between my house and this branch of the public library.
I hadn't been inside a public library since 1994 because I was awesome and far too cool to read books. As I made my way inside, I noticed the same smell of musty books and cheap Savon brand perfume spray. The smell reminded me of how much I hated the library as a child and I immediately longed to be watching cartoons instead of reading.
After a short search, I found the play that I wanted to check out and made my way to the front desk. It then dawned on me that I didn't have a library card. Damn...
Me: My library card disintegrated in the mid-nineties.
Librarian: Well let me check your information and see if you're still in the system.
Me: Swell
Librarian: Just give me your name and the address you lived at when you signed up for the your card.
Me: Ryan R, 3126 Palm St. San Diego, CA 92104
Librarian: Thanks, this will just take a few moments.
Me: Terrific
Librarian: (Makes smug face) Hmm... It shows here that you have $31.25 in late fees.
Me: (Noticing the hot girl next to me in line) Huh, late fees for what?
Librarian: Well, we have you down for three copies of "Goosebumps" returned over a month late.
Me: (Embarassed) That was like ten years ago!
Librarian: Sorry, but the fees don't just go away.
Me: Fuck!
Hot Girl: (giggling)
Librarian: (Smug)
Me: Nevermind...
I left in disgust, swearing off libraries forever! Seriously, who reads books when there is television to watch?
People thought this was:
- Useful (9)
- Funny (27)
- Cool (10)
A rebuttal to my boy Christian N...
Although your review made me crap my pants laughing, I have to defend my home branch.
I agree that the non-broadcasting wi-fi is beyond sorry, but you've had more trouble with your internet connection than Dick Cheney has had with his prostate. Your Dell laptop is so "secure", that I wouldn't be surprised if the UN weapons team found WMDs in that bitch. Whateves! I mean didn't we go here because you couldn't get an connection in Golden Hill -- the home of the free wi-fi?
I agree with many of the points made in your scintillating review, but I have my own reasons for coming here.
1) I love their DVD collection. They have seasons worth of TV shows for people like me who can't stand the word cliffhanger (unless Sly Stallone is starring in it).
2) The CD collection is pretty diverse and has enough cool music to last a short lifetime.
3) The childrens area is cool and my boy runs around here like he is the Czar of pre-Marxist Russia. There are a ton of things for him to enjoy there...like crayons and board books and shorty chairs and tables. The stepped seating is carpeted so he can bounce his head when he falls and he can just shake it off.
4) The great location, just off of University, is ideal to bike to from my house.
5) There is ample parking in the private lot and on the streets.
I forgive the lacks of books -- hell, San Diego is so bankrupt that we are lucky they have any books at all.
But tread lightly on my city, because we allow you suburbanites to come in, drink at our fine establishments, over pay at our dining houses, enjoy our city beaches, cheer on the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (don't get happy, they will never call it the Chula Vista Chargers) and enjoy the fine women that we have here (or did you forget that there is a different rating for women south of the 94...the South Bay Scale).
So before you go ballistic on our library branch system, ask yourself one question...why does Chula Vista charge a $20 annual charge to borrow DVDs from their library system when even cheap ass National City does it for free?
I'm Audi Five...
People thought this was:
- Useful (8)
- Funny (8)
- Cool (7)
I love the location, it's about 10 minutes away from my house. Even thought they don't have as wide of a collection as I would want them to, they show a great deal of care by ordering it for me from another branch. The staff is the nicest, it's my happy place. Everyone everywhere else is just so mean and dark and careless. Ok, maybe I am getting a little to sincere here, however, I will attend this wonderful understated facility as often as I can, though I am not the fastest reader in the world.
People, love small things in life, after all it is free you know..........they doing us a favor....... :)
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
This place is an affront to libraries across the county. I cannot believe how substandard it is. I read the other review posted by Al S. and I have to assume that she's not been to another library in SD. I am certain that I could find a better library almost anywhere, including prison.
The facts in her review are almost all true but what she doesn't mention is that they have almost no books...at a LIBRARY! I've seen more books in Starbucks than this place has. Unlike most other libraries there are only a few tables, almost no electrical outlets, and no vending machines...let alone drinks.
And check this out. They have free wi-fi but only if you can find it. It's a non-broadcasting wireless access point so you have to know it's there and have to make your computer look for "SDPL" if you have any hopes of going online. And it's dog @$$ slow even if you get on their hidden Internet signal.
There is a security guard who suspiciously assesses you when you walk in and out just hoping for an alarm to go off to break him out of his coma. They have an overheated water fountain that probably hasn't been cleaned since it was opened and two unisex bathrooms dirtier than in some third world countries.
With great options like the Mission Valley branch, Sunny Side and Central I wouldn't go back to North Park Library if I had to walk to the others from North Park.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (4)
mediocre library. i came in here to get a book on fixing bikes and of course they had it here. typical sd library. ok.
I like this library. It's small, intimate, but has an impressive collection. Parking is rather limited, but almost always has available spaces. I'm always amazed that the computer terminals are usually all taken when I come in. There's a line usually ten people long just to WAIT to use the computers. The DVD collection is great for this library, usually having movies and TV shows available that aren't anywhere else in the system. Access within the North Park area isn't easy, though. University Ave. is usually very crowded. North Park Way is usually best, though I always use the exit off of the 805 to get to the library.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
So close...so easy...soooooo cheap. I have burned a majority of the CD's into itunes. I get all the current magazines and fiction...FREE! I also get to "rent" dvd's FREE!!! I can even go online and put holds on items I want from newly released DVD's, books and more! Support your local library!