San Diego Central Library

I went to try and renew my library card and the lady at the front desk was rude and giving me attitude. She acted as though she was doing me a favor by speaking to me. This woman definitely needs a lesson in good customer service and better interpersonal skills.

I can’t believe I still hadn’t been to the new Main Library here in San Diego, but my first time visiting was for this year’s Local Author event. Now in its 50^th year!
The library is both architecturally beautiful and full of great books. The gala was held on the 9^th floor, in a room accessed via the dome — which is open to the elements. Also on the 9^th floor is the Rare Books Room, which was opened up after the guest speaker (Brian Selznick — the Local Author Literary Achievement Awardee) had finished his talk. Definitely give this room a look if you’re in the library, as there are many wonderful gems showcased here, including a collection of miniature books, many first editions by California authors, and some historic Bibles and Latin hymnals.
Looking down from the dome, you can also see into the Main Reading Room, which is full of natural light (during the day, anyway!), and looks like a great place to read, study, or research my next book. ;D And did I mention that view?
On the first floor you can find the Local Authors Exhibit through the end of February, featuring over 300 local authors — including young authors still in school. I was excited to see my own book (San Diego from A to Z) in a display case towards the front of the exhibit, along with several other San Diego and California-​centric titles. There are lots of really intriguing books in the exhibit, so be sure to check it out!
Even if you can’t make it to the downtown library, you’ll be able to find all of the authors and their 2015 contributions in the online exhibit available here:
And after the exhibit closes, you’ll be able to find each of these books in the stacks for your reading pleasure! All of them are donated to the library by the authors, so mark your favorites down and borrow them once they’ve been added to the permanent collection.

Love the new the new 500,000 square feet Central San Diego Library! Rob Quigley did an incredible job on the architecture. What used to be a ghost town downtown has been rejuvenated to an opened and welcoming environment outside and inside. Yes, there’s homeless inside reading and minding their own business. I didn’t see any homeless in the woman’s restroom when I was there Sunday late afternoon through closing time. I was able to read and study peacefully for a solid 4 hours.
I felt safe at this library. The main entrance is located at the lobby. Here you are greeted by the security guards. There’s between 3 – 4 security guards to make sure nobody’s walking out with unchecked out books and protect the visitors.
There’s plenty of tables, chairs, and computers. It’s a low to silent tone environment. A perfect location to study for exams, read, or write. They also have private meeting rooms to work on group projects in or host meetings.
Parking is available in their underground garage. It’s free for the first 2 hours there’s a charge there after.

Beautiful library. Too bad the parking staff behave more like high security prison guards and tried to illegally sieze and kidnap us. Terrifying experience

This library is beautiful and very resourceful, but there are too many homeless people here who are loud and obnoxious. This is a library and it amazes me how many people are talking loudly on their phones or talking amongst themselves. The library seriously needs to get its act together by monitoring the people around here.
I wouldn’t recommend this place to go to and study.

Library or homeless shelter?
When the city was first building this structure, I thought to myself, «Self, who on earth thinks it’s a good idea to throw money at a relic of the past?! This is the Internet age, when information is at our fingertips ²⁴⁄₇!» Then I visited soon after it opened and changed my tune and thought to myself, «Nice! The facilities are great and I take back my earlier, narrow-​minded, opinion!»
Really a beautiful library and I even got a library card – my first since childhood. Unfortunately on a more recent visit it seems the local homeless have taken over! Not to sound unsympathetic but the sights and SMELLS certainly take away from what should be one of San Diego’s prime attractions.
As someone who had actually hoped to use the library I think I’ll pass and stick to my computer and devices in the comfort of my home.

Really great place to study and the 2hr study rooms are very convenient. It does have a lot of homeless folks that can bring up the odor of the building and some of them do shower in the bathrooms. Some have mental illness and so its common to see folks talking to themselves or riding the elevator the whole day. Overall its a good place to be and study.

I love this library it’s beautiful and the employees are very nice. There can be a couple homeless people but it is a public place so who cares. As long as they are not bothering anyone. I always go to the children’s section with not kids and sometimes they have a guy with a guitar singing children’s songs and they also do crafts which is fun :) I do this with my kids when we are short on money for the week so they can at least go out and do something productive and fun that doesn’t cost anything :)

Best library I’ve been to. It’s got so many modern amenities (such as a 3D printer!) and the architecture is slick! I work right across the street and am always having to run in there for different reasons.
They’re book selection is amazing too. There’s rarely a book I’m looking for that they don’t have up on the shelves.
The only downside, which is controlled to the best of the library staff’s ability, is the lingering foul odor scattered all throughout each floor. This is inevitable since the library is located right next to a large homeless population, actually pushing the homeless further east out of downtown.
There’s free 2-​hour parking below the library (entrance is on 11^th and K Street). Just make sure to validate your ticket on the first floor. Check out the very top floor too — super nice view of the Coronado Bridge.

We had our wedding last month at the San Diego Central Library, and we are so glad that we were lucky enough to have such an amazing venue. It is so unique and beautiful — our guests were amazed that we got married in a glass box in the sky!
We were very fortunate to work with Martin, the library events coordinator as we planned our wedding. We communicated with him for months leading up to the wedding, and he was always very accommodating and did his best to help us with all our needs. On the big day, Martin and his team were everywhere helping out — setup, tear down, security, and so on. We were so grateful for his help and for his kindness. To anyone who is looking for a beautiful and unique venue for a wedding, look no further — the San Diego Central Library is amazing!

All you need to know is: It’s large (9 floors), it’s spacious, and it costs way too much to build.
To be quite I’m honest, I think it’s ridiculous that it’s here. If it wasn’t evident before, it’s evident now that the city has their priorities out of order when streets are still full of transients. That being said, that’s exactly who frequents this library. Not exactly where you want to drop your kid off to enjoy an afternoon of reading. Like another reviewer mentioned, this could have easily been a homeless shelter, geesh!
It’s modern and «chic». I tip my hat to the architects and designers (1 star for that) but I just couldn’t enjoy myself here… such a waste of money in my eyes. Especially since the world is primarily electronic world. I mean, even I prefer to turn pages occasionally, but for 185 million dollars? Give me a break.
If you’re not handicap, there are escalators that can take you to the 3^rd floor. After that, take the stairs b/​c the elevator takes quite a while. I didn’t care much for the stairwell. It felt outdoors, like the stairwell of a parking garage. When you get the 8^th floor, you must revert back to taking the elevator to get to the 9^th floor. Weird.
There’s lots of computers and plenty of seating which would be cool if the fabric sofas and lounge areas weren’t already so dingy. We didn’t want to sit in many of the seating areas for this reason. I’m sure maintenance is pricey too. Le sigh.
Please forgive the gripes, I just love people and think this library enhances the attractiveness of the city over the people which is backwards. Maybe they’ll make it on a postcard or mug in a gift shop. Whoopie.
Ok, let me say something nice…
Validation was much easier than anticipated. Just scan your ticket at the kiosk to the left of the registers and voila, free parking.
I really liked the cute store near the entrance full of witty greeting cards that brought laughter, overpriced soy candles, jewelry and vintage & retro knick knacks. Reminded me of a little mini shop you would find in North Park.
Enough of this review. That’s all folks.

Congrats San Diego. $ 185,000,000.00+ later and we have a new homeless shelter! Errr… I mean, library! Yes, you read that correctly, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE MILLION. Ugh, can you play football in it?
The good: It’s stunning. A true masterpiece of engineering and architecture with nine floors of fun to keep the community occupied. The views from the higher levels are gorgeous and the atmosphere CAN BE quiet and relaxing. It appears to be well stocked and the library’s proximity to downtown is ideal for the surrounding residents.
The bad: Look up. See that «CAN BE?» I say that because there are some very noticeable distractions here. It’s truly unfortunate but the homeless community has seemingly taken this place hostage and play by their own rules. Homelessness does not bother me but certain actions in certain places should not be tolerated and it seems that staff is either too hesitant or scared to enforce library etiquette.
The ugly: There really is no «ugly» here. Sure, there are minor problems but if you take the time to push social issues aside you’re sure to see nothing but a beautiful addition to the San Diego skyline.
But once again, can you play football in it?

I like this library… and I don’t like this library. Lemme me shower with the positives first.
Positives: This library is HUGE. It’s the biggest public library I’ve ever been to and it’s got an impressive collection. Not only do they have lots of popular/​new titles and best sellers, they have several children’s books, obscure/​out-​of-​print titles, CDs and other digital media, and newspapers and magazines. There are tons of computers with free access to the internet and microsoft office. There are many couches and desks for you to relax in and read/​study. Each floor is spacious and the 8^th and 9^th floor have spectacular views of downtown. Additionally, there is a tiny art museum on the 9^th floor. Check it out!
Meeting/​conference/​study rooms are available in the library and they are super nice. Also, there is a gift shop, although it is a tad pricey and has a lot of hipster toys. A used bookstore is also on the first floor but I believe their hours are limited. The first time I saw it open was yesterday afternoon. I’ve been to this library multiple times and haven’t seen it until that day.
Parking is also validated for the first 2 hours; after that you will need to pay $ 1.25 every 20 minutes after (I think…).
Negatives: Oh my god, this is going to sound really bougie/​snobbish but there are so many homeless people in here. They’re always on the computers (which is fine because I don’t need one and I just use my ipod to get online) but they always take forever in the restrooms. I’ve had a couple homeless people give me dirty/​suspicious looks but no one has been belligerent with me or anyone else every time I’ve been here. If you’re not comfortable with homeless people, you’re better off staying away from downtown or OB in general.
Overall, the downtown library is definitely a place to visit, whether you are a resident or just visiting!

I totally know why people are always falling asleep on those blue couches on the 8^th floor. I had the opportunity to grab one the last time I was there and while I got a lot of work done, it was so comfortable I found myself relaxing between projects. *Be careful if you do fall asleep, security will come and wake you up. Sometimes make you leave.
I love this library because everyone is so friendly and it is so comfortable to just hang out. I have been making this my go-​to job hunting destination. I can sit in the cool air conditioned building, review books and search on my computer while staying focused. There is something about being in the library that motivates me.
I have been spending most of my time on the 8^th floor in the reading room. There are plenty of large tables and blue couches near electric sockets for charging your laptop. The wifi always works. It is also so close to the roof where there are tables and chairs to work at. I find this a good place to snack. I am unsure about the rules on snacking in the library, but I have seen some people sneaking a bite while in the reading room.
Go here if you need to research. Have projects. Want to write Unilocal reviews. Etc.

Went to the library to cool off. This was my first time coming here! This place is awesome!
My hubby has been here with my daughter before. My daughter loves this place. Around 2 pm, there was a sing along. This lady and a guy played the ukulele and sang some songs to the kids near the kids section on the first floor. My daughter loved it. She sang songs and got to meet other kids her age.
I got to go to the top floor which is the 9^th floor. They had a small art museum and a nerd festival going on. Mostly young guys playing video games. They had a room reserved for that. Too funny! We walked around some more before sitting down to relax and enjoying the air conditioning.
I was impressed at how huge this library was. Most libraries I have been to have been small compared to this library. A lot of resources to use here.
There’s parking underground. Hubby said the first two hours are free but after that, they charge. I wasn’t sure how much cause we managed to find street parking in Downtown in the afternoon. This library is a great place to study. I think the 8^th floor is where all the studying happens.
We will return. The open at noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s. I’m not too sure about the other days. Check out their website for the hours on the other days.

Wow! I am rarely in this part of town so I didn’t even KNOW there was a library here. I KNOW, I know. Bad San Diegan.
This building is HUGE and beautiful and new and seemingly quite state-​of-​the-​art! I didn’t expect it!!! There are tons of people working on library computers. There are also lots of table areas with outlets to work on your own laptop, too – which was what I did for a while.
There is free 2-​hour validated parking.
And arghh, it’s not pleasant to single out the transient population, but there are a large number of what appears to be the homeless folks using computers and hanging out, which is fine, but several didn’t seem to observe that libraries are a quiet space. Some guy was talking loudly on a cell phone, others talking loudly with each other… how interesting that the library is one of the few places that forces «non-​homeless» people to mingle with the homeless in the same space. I think it can make people uncomfortable. Not saying that’s acceptable or not, it just is what it is.
Wifi speed
Ping 14.55 ms
Download 1.08 Mbps
Upload .79 Mbps

I was always curious about going to this library and I finally did this weekend!
This is the hugest and nicest library I have ever set foot in. I mean, 9 floors!!! There’s so much to delight in!
This library offers so much and is a great resource for any age. So many computers and computer labs! Childrens section, teen section, CDs, movies/​DVDs, just everything. Each floor is different in terms of what you’re looking for and so neatly organized!
The best views are when you’re on the 8^th floor in the Helen Price Reading Room.
When my boyfriend and I went, we were most interested in their Art of Comic Con exhibit, which was SO awesome — not like we didn’t see that coming, though.
The only con is that this is the spot for those who are homeless. Be careful and be aware! Especially in the bathrooms…

This review is by a non-​San Diego local and is specifically about appearance/​parking.
I’m an avid reader of books and enjoy visiting libraries to see their selection of books along with their architecture. San Diego Central Library is no exception to how great modern libraries can look nowadays. A 9 story library (2 accessible) with outdoor seating on the top floor, where you are able to look at DTSD is amazing. The exterior (with the dome) and interior with its vast amount of space throughout the entire building is amazing.
There’s areas in the library that are made specifically for reading spaces. With 7 accessible floors and tons of computers, there are so many places to study. There are study rooms you can ask for ahead of time, along with many seats to read a good book. On the top floor outside, you can access an exhibition along with a «rare books» section. That section was fascinating as I saw old copies of The Bible and many more.
This library doesn’t just include books, but many other games and activities that keep people active and learning. That extra effort in spreading education is something that gave this library a 5 stars.
Minus one star because of parking. I happened to visit when there was a huge baseball game going on at Petco Park, which had library parking at $ 20 with tons of traffic! :(The parking at the library is terrible. You have to pay or walk a couple of blocks to the library past homeless people. The homeless people had a moments of rowdy arguments when I was walking back to where I was parked, so just be careful.
San Diego local or San Diego tourist — visit this library. It’s beautiful. Free WiFi!

The library is beautiful! I came on a Saturday evening with my son. I do love the childrens section. Has tons of books! Free 2 hour parking in the parking garage.
My issue was probably the homeless population. I wanted to look at another isle while my son sat and read his book but with so many homeless people around that wasn’t safe. They are even in the childrens section. There is less in the childrens section. I just saw one woman.
I will probably be back during the summer with my child. Better way to spend an afternoon versus him playing video games hours on end.

I can’t believe that there are less than 100 reviews of this absolute GEM of a library.
This facility truly serves all of San Diego… can’t count how many mentally unbalanced people that I saw there, but they were on good behavior and learning a lot! This is the downtown part of San Diego, and is truly a melting pot… if that makes you uncomfortable, this might be a bit of a mind-​blower.
A really nice feature of the Library system is that you can check out materials at the downtown location and return them at any one of the 36 libraries in the San Diego City system, which is very convenient
The first floor houses a GIFT SHOP!!!, a parking ticket validation kiosk (2 hours free parking with validation) checkout/​return areas, and new books/​dvds/​audiobooks and music. The first floor alone is fairly impressive, also has a 350 seat auditorium, courtyard, and the East arcade for reading/​meditation, a video wall, and a conference center.
The second floor houses a teen center and heath/​wellness section as well as study areas… not sure how to acces them, but they looked cool, see my photos. They also have the Sciences books and references, up to and including automotive and gardening (they are located in the same section according to the Dewey Decimal System). There are computers for general use, including web surfing on many floors (I guess you have to sign up to use them, but as we didn’t need to, we didn’t get into the particulars)…there are also computers available to check books available and reserve them, which is nice/​
The third floor has Government documents and periodicals/magazines…with SUPER cool chairs and lighting to get comfy reading your magazine of choice.
The fourth floor is a computer lab, and classic literature area. We were told by one of «the regulars» on the elevator that it was boring, so we skipped it.
Fifth floor is a rock garden, career center, and a history collection.
The 6^th and 7^th are a HIGH SCHOOL (charter school) IN THE LIBRARY!!! That is soooo cool.
The 8^th floor contains the Helen Price Reading Center and the Sullivan Family Baseball Research Center.
The 9^th floor has stunning views, a rare books room that is like a museum with stuff you can acually hold and look at, a genealogy center and an art gallery.
This place is spectacular, you have to go, and when you do… please review it on Unilocal!

This is where inspiration begins! What a great public library for San Diego. I hope San Diego residents take advantage of this place because it’s a great place to simply hang out and spend the day. All the books! All the chairs! The tranquility!
With 9 floors (2 of which are unaccessible to the public), you will find that there is a lot to comb through and explore. The library even has informational flyers/​signs about events they are offering in the library. The 9^th floor seems to be where all the activity happens. Not to mention the great view! But you don’t even have to travel all the way to the 9^th floor. Each floor offers floor to ceiling windows with an abundance of comfy (yes, comfy!) chairs scattered around. You can read while enjoying a great view of San Diego.
The teen section even has a game room — not that you can play in it unless you are aged 13 — 19. I love that they have a little haven and safe place for teens to come to. I wish I had this library during my high school days. The library also has many study rooms, desks, and computers. When I came here, I was able to find lots of empty chairs and tables. I would have loved to study here for finals during my college days.
Only drawback is the parking. Only 2 hours free in their underground garage. We ended up parking a few blocks down where packing was free and unlimited and just walked to the library. This allowed us to leisurely explore the library and see all it had to offer.
Overall, it’s a great library and anyone and everyone living in San Diego should come check this out.

This library is special, because it’s not just a library. It’s almost a community center.
The cool parts:
— (small) Health and Wellness Center
— 3D Printers– just use open-​source software to create something, then bring it here to print for free
— The atrium under the dome on the 8^th floor– very pretty open reading area with great views of the Coronado Bridge
— Art gallery and outside terrace on the 9^th floor
— Conveyor belt book check-​in/​check-​out
— Lots of computer labs
— A high school on the 6^th and 7^th floors! You can’t access these though, but what a cool idea.
— Lots of community events– «swing dance under the dome», book readings, concerts, film screenings, «talk to a lawyer» events, etc.
Only downside is that you only get 2 hours of free parking. $ 1.25 every 20 mins after. That kind of sucks, because by the time you get in and get situated, you only have 1.5 hours left to do what you need to do.