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San Antonio Central Library
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
5 reviews for San Antonio Central Library
After moving to San Antonio, I immediately noticed this bright red, modern building with weird purple balls and yellow squares attached to it down town. Modern art museum? Had to be. I was shocked when I learned that it was actually the San Antonio library. I don't know if y'all know it, but the majority of book-loving people have nothing (I mean, zero, zilch, nada) as cool as this book-filled, modern mix of library and museum.
I made my way down there just a few weeks ago because I was helping a family member do some family research about an ancestor. On the 6th floor, they have a family history center complete with classes on how to do research and bright and bushy-tailed staff members who know all about scary things like microfiche and archival paper.
Having never been to the library, I was a bit distracted by the soaring ceilings, amazing art and general coolness of this place. The security guards and parking garage really do make the library seem like a museum, but one that is free and loans you happy things, like brand spankin' new books and movies. I have to give props to the city of San Antonio for putting some major resources into this place.
Yeah, when I went they were doing construction, which was obvious while I rode the cardboard covered elevators, but with a library this cool, who cares if you have to wade through a bit of construction mess? In my opinion, it just shows that they are putting in effort to keep this place top-notch.
People from little towns where libraries smell like coffee and mold know this library is a true gem. Give thanks for what you've got, people!
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What has happened to my beloved library? This stunning Vilchis designed harborer of endless rows of information and imagination is in a serious state of disrepair. I don't recall any library projects in the works but the tables of blueprints and headless hardhats on a closed off section of the fourth floor proved to the contrary. All of the ongoing construction aside, the carpeting throughout the building including the elevators reeked of B.O. and wet dog. The public Internet tables on the first floor were manned by individuals I would not even let in the front door much less use my facilities. This was once a jewel in our cultural crown and we have let it deteriorate into an eyesore within. When I hear of the impending demise of the written word and the published work as we know it, I never envision this but I guess this is a harbinger of things to come.
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San Antonio's Central Library is a big red arty building in the northern downtown area. There you'll find a wonderful assortment of books, pleasant staff, and you'll probably find yourself going upstairs just to look out over the city. That's right: six stories of book heaven. Granted, some of the place seems a bit run-down, but overall they keep everything clean and well-maintained and I've yet to find any damaged books.
The biggest problem I've had is finding the parking garage, which after a few times you won't have any problem at all. Find Soledad St. and head north towards highway 35 until you see the big red weird-looking building. Soledad will be one-way, north, at that point and the parking garage is just south, the entrance being right next to the library. Grab your ticket and pay a few dollars on the way out. Library cards aren't a problem, just make sure you've got your ID and maybe a utility bill to prove you live in San Antonio (but apparently our San Antonio driver's licenses were enough). And here's something you'll really like: when you return your books? You can use /any/ branch library in town!
As far as the selection is concerned by main peeve is the same for any library I've been to: there's never enough. They don't stock a lot of the books I have at home, books I've seen advertised, and so-on. Well, it's a city library, not the Library Of Congress, but it's a big library with a huge selection.
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What more can I say but six floors of books and I am in heaven. This place is huge with lots of places to kick back with a book and peruse to your hearts content. My favorite place to do this is on the second floor where there are chairs surrounding this big purple collection of well i don't know what they are but I like to lie across them and peruse my picks before checking them out.
The media department is good and is growing everyday. You can find just about anything you want there or get it pulled from another branch and pick it up there. I also love spending time in the genealogy department taking in the local history of San Antonio and of Texas in general.
You don't have to worry about being overrun by screaming kids because they get a whole floor to themselves (3rd floor) well stocked with books, movies and their own internet access station which is closely monitored.
For the young adult, there is the youth wired section towards the back of the 1st floor complete with computers to access the internet, write reports and do research on. There are also a crazy number of books geared towards that 13 - 18 age group. There are also several programs that youth wired offers through out the year to keep teens occupied.
My personal favorite place though is roaming the stacks on the sixth floor, which is where the history books are. Its relatively quiet and it's not uncommon to stumble upon someone just sitting with a stack of books around them reading in the middle of the aisle, on of those people being me.
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referred to by San Antonin's as the "enchilada" this magnificently designed building we call out central library is HUGE. designed by local Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, this building is a work of art. this library has 6 floors, one of which includes an awesome media department. the negatives to the downtown branch would have to be the parking fees, if your over and hour you will be charged. its hard not to find a book to enjoy here, or a cd or movie to check out. this place is enormous. anyway, any local branch can order your book from central if your not wanting to fight the downtown area traffic/ streets, but do check it our at least once.
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