Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library

It’s a library but one of the loudest ones I’ve ever been to. There are 3 kids to every person and when I say kids I mean toddlers. Far to young to be reading books let alone know what a library is, or how to act or behave in one. Besides that it works, it’s small but has parking. Opens up late to the public at 11am most days… I have to say I stayed here all day and after the morning mom crew cleared out. The library was actually quiet and I was able to get a lot of work done. This took till around 1:00pm.

Libraries are one of my favorite places to study or read a book. This library is a little on the small side, however it does have a corner in the back where you can see some boats that are docked. Warning! this corner does get pretty hot in the afternoon! There are only a few cubicle desks and the rest are tables that you share with other people. Lighting is pretty good. The only con is people here (librarians as well as visitors do not know what an inside voice is. There were multiple times where someone would be talking extremely loud and everyone, including people with earphones, look and they see the librarian talking to someone in a really loud voice. It is pretty hard to concentrate here for that reason. If you are looking to get some reading or studying done, be sure to bring ear plugs! I love that parking is free!

Small and Small sellections but quiet and cozy for study, right next to the Marina and has a pretty sight of boat pier.

The library closest to me is closed for remodeling. I love libraries– the DVDs, e-​books, regular books, graphic novels, etc. It is usually a nice end to a work day to pop into a library to pick up something to read or watch. As others have noted, this is a tiny place with a small parking lot, right next to the water.
Some of the people who work here are very nice, most are polite. But the customer service depends on who is working that day.
There is one small older woman (you know who you are!) who is rude and unpleasant. I witnessed her being condescending and sarcastic to the customer in front of me; I felt very fortunate to have a polite young woman wait on me, but that was short-​lived. I was there to pick up 2 DVDs which had arrived, according to my library web account. Only one was on the hold shelf under my name. The young woman and a very nice older woman looked around, could not find it. The nice young woman helping me asked the short rude one what a notation on her screen meant; the unpleasant older woman snapped at her, told her to disregard it, and just order the DVD again for me. I asked a couple of questions, or rather I tried. Her exasperated repeated response was a heavy sigh, with an eye roll, and telling me they would just order another copy.
I went back over to the hold shelf to see if my DVD was filed under someone else’s name; the martinet instructed me to not touch anything, as if I were a 2 year old.
I thanked the young woman for her help, left the facility, accessed my on-​line library account, and immediately changed my pick-​up location to the West Hollywood branch.
This type of attitude could discourage library newbies.

Not a very welcoming atmosphere. They acknowledged my presence by glaring at me but not one word was spoken. Being that it’s Christmas time, I did notice other customers were wished «Happy Holidays» upon exiting but I guess my holiday experience is irrelevant. Older white people working here, I wonder if this disregard stems from my noticeable African descent. Aside from that, the audiobook and movie section is nominal. I knew that when coming but I would at least expect the small amount of material to be good material. I hardly saw any classics in the audiobook section. The DVD section was alphabetically out of order making it more difficult to locate my desired movies. None of them were there by the way. I only come here if I have to. That will now be only if I absolutely have to. Would rather travel a little further to go to the Culver City library. 2 stars for the location

This is a teeny, tiny library with one of the best library views ever. Go all the way through to the back room to be treated to a lovely marina view. It’s right on the bike path, so easy to return books when you’re out for a bike ride. And though this library is small, it’s part of a mightier system, so if there’s something you want, you can order it online and it’ll be sent to this branch for you to pick up. Also, note that it’s a county library, and not part of the Los Angeles Public Library system, so you’ll need a separate card.

cool place. clean. friendly people. next to dock with lots of boats.

That’s a pretty good FREE library with a great view. All the people there are friendly and helpful.

Small, nice and neat library. Free parking but they do not have enough hours. Moreover, this library has very limited book selection. Enjoy!

Free parking. Not common in this area, so they have signs all over saying «Only for the library». This is one of the smaller LA County Library branches, as I guess most are. There seems to be a nautical focus at this location, as you’d expect being right on the marina – they have a special room devoted to maritime books and stuff. As for the staff, I haven’t gone out of my way to interact with them, but a few seem rather standoffish. Government employees, amirite? Oh well, books is books.

This library is old and funky and really needs an update. The location is cool, I can walk there from my house and the late hours are terrific. The only downside besides how old it is, they never have the books I want. I usually have to order what I’m looking for (and wait for delivery) from another library. Also, there tutorial section is kinda lame, they won’t let you use the ‘Card App’ if you have uploaded your card onto your phone– LAME! Who the heck carries all their frequent user cards with them? Bahhhh… I guess the only positive is the location. Frankly, I wish the SanMo library was positioned there instead… Now, THATS one helluvuh library!

How can anyone complain about the public library? A free service that makes books available «for free» to borrow for a few weeks. They also have a selection of movies to borrow «for free». A reference section to read every magazine there is practically, and many newspapers (free)
A quiet atmosphere to enjoy, go on the computer (for free) nice, helpful friendly people. A great section for kids to enjoy with other programs available. (free) I can’t think of any better public service than the library.
If you complain about it then you should have your privileges revoked immediately. This is a privilege (not a right) Oh did I mention? It’s free.
and I’m sure I haven’t even come close to touching on so many other features they make available.

So after living in LA for twenty-​one years and always using the LA City Library (LAPL), I just discover this !
The county library system is quite widespread and their policy is better than LAPL’s (e.g. longer borrowing periods, more renewals), it seems.
And of course, this is a great building (cool corner window, the Nautical Wing, right at the Marina) and the branch has a pretty good CD and DVD selection. Super-​nice staff.

Great kids section. Typical library feel of creepiness and social misfits. Homeless dude sleeping outside didn’t help much. Too bad libraries can get the same cool hang out vibe a B&N has.

Really enjoy coming here, it’s a great place to relax with a bunch of BABY books. I love reading to my little one and he enjoys coming here and then taking a stroll on the Marina.

The area is beautiful, and the people who work at the library are nice. HOWEVER, there were plenty of transients both inside and outside the library. It made me feel less than safe. Also, the selection of fiction books is TINY.

This is one of the better branch libraries in the LA area.
This library has an extensive Friends of the Library DVD collection. The newest titles rent for $ 1 per day, and that money all goes back into buying more DVDs and books. This money allows the library to have a better collection that is more responsive to current needs than most branch libraries here in the LA area.
The building was expanded in about 2000, but it is still small. It can be very busy, but the staff does it’s best to keep things moving. If there is a line, more people will come out to check you out.
There is some free parking, but this often fills up. There is a low-​priced LA County lot next door… probably $ 3-​$ 5 these days. The library is right on the water, so it is a nice place for a walk after you’re done at the library.

I read the reviews and had to check this out. I’m a book geek of the worst kind, I not only read but I also design books. Sometimes I’m just flipping through looking at colophons. (Dork!) As others have said it’s a nice library, clean well laid out and incredibly quiet. I felt like I was in a nautical version of the Diogenes Club (
). Everywhere I turned there were smartly dressed older folks sitting deep in thought, no one making eye contact or even a whisper of sound. Amazing. You know what would make this better? Scotch.

This is the best library I believe in the whole wide world. Besides being helpful to maritime patrons, the views are incredibly entertaining. I can sit here for hours & watch the boats float by. The vista is unparalled. The architect did an outstanding job. Being here reminds me of the neighborhood library I grew up in as kid. Except the outlook is even better for a seafaring bookworm like me.
One of my favorite ways to spend time is reading. I confess I have a book addiction. As soon as I’m finished reading a book, I donate it here. I get a receipt for my tax deduction & then amble on over to the used book sale area & without fail, I find something intriguing there too.
The last riveting book I picked up from here was «Banana, the fate of the fruit that changed the world» by Dan Koeppel. It was fascinating, to say the least. Did you know people have died, in the effort to bring us bananas here in the U.S.A? Or that Americans eat more bananas than apples & oranges combined? Did you ever stop to think of the banana’s journey here?
The staff has been here for years, they are very friendly & neighborly. Several years ago I became so enthralled with a book that I was reading I lost my cell phone somewhere inside. I discovered it was missing when I got home. I called back & the librarian said her brother found it. So I gave the librarian a monetary reward, a finder’s fee for her brother. She said her brother declined it & gave it back to her. I asked her what they did with it. They had a party. Good for them. They deserve it. They work hard for the public & they tolerate some surly & malodorous characters too.
There’s legions of books, videos, CD’s, DVD’s & you can request additional items from other libraries through them. They will call you on the dot when it’s in.

I love my library! Another reason that I feel like I’m living in a small town. It’s right on the water; it’s real cozy, with 7,443 square feet on one floor with a reading area facing the beautiful harbor. It’s an awesome view! Everyone who works here is friendly and helpful.
When I was growing up, I was such a geek that during the summers, I hung out at the big, old library that was an architectural landmark in uptown Whittier. I was obsessed with reading! It’s funny how certain things will stay with you throughout the years, but I so remember — and STILL love — the unique smell of aisles and endless aisles of books.
I also remember that it was always soooo quiet; you weren’t allowed to talk; you had to whisper. Hmmm? Maybe, it’s just because I was so young, and I was told to shut up! It’s not like that now. People talk in MY library… they even laugh! :)
The Marina del Rey library was built by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors in 1976 to serve the Marina clientele.
Several years ago, this precious library was on the verge of closing due to a lack of funds, which totally upset the community. Luckily, just in the nick of time, long-​time, well-​known resident, Lloyd Taber, became the main donor to the library; it was renamed the Lloyd Taber-​Marina del Rey Library by the Board of Supervisors and the doors stayed open. Hallelujah! Lucky for all the locals, that’s for sure!
Without Mr. Taber’s generous donation, I wouldn’t be able to run in and grab another season of «Nip/​Tuck» on DVD… just sayin’.