Parkside Branch Library

This is my local library! I’ve been here for years and I still remember how it was like before the renovation. they opened a part of the library to give teens and children their own section, but the lighting’s better now and everything is newer, and the library is also now brighter and slightly bigger. The location is very good, L runs along Taraval so it is very convenience for me, the staffs here are friendly and service is efficient.
There are plenty of tables with outlets, free Wi-​Fi, which makes this library a great place to study. It’s very clean, some time I like to go read different Chinese newspapers there, but I’m little disappoint they did not subscribe the news paper that I love to read it. – The Epoch Times, which is in print in Chinese and English in the Bay Area.
I hope all the public libraries can subscribe more different kind of news paper for readers to read, especially a paper like Epoch Times. My favorite section in the newspaper is the uncensored news about China and the Life section. The articles in the Epoch Times taught me about really interesting topics such as the affect of meditation on memory, what dishes to make to go with the seasons, etc.” Or «What I admire the most about the Epoch Times is their courage to speak the truth. I hope people who go to the library like me can also benefit from reading this newspaper.

I am very impressed with the San Francisco library system for their wide selection of books. I pretty much use the book hold system on a weekly basis which allows me to pick up books at my local branch even if they are housed at another SF library branch.
But what impresses me most about the library system here is that you have access to online classes, audiobooks, streaming music, movies, and documentaries with your membership. It’s a shame that more people don’t take advantage of these resources. My favorite site is hoopla which allows you to immediately stream or download a wide selection of audiobooks, movies, and music. I use this on my commute all the time. It’s free and beats similar services like
.
Here is the link for all the e-​resources that the library offers:
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Parkside represents a neighborhood library at its best. Recently remodelled facility steps from the L train and a nice playground.
Morning story times are packed and popular, and there are countless programs here. However, unlike the West Portal branch you can pretty easily find a seat if you just need a moment of repose.
The selection of children’s books, dvds, ya lit, and audiobooks is great. If you know how to use the library system you’ll always be happy with selection because you can have books delivered here from any branch. Having said that, browsing is a pleasure as the shelving is appropriately spaced away from study tables so you aren’t bothering someone when you reach for a book.
Parking is easy in this area, though you may have to use meters. Community news is proudly displayed with handouts etc. in the entryway.

The staff is very nice here and very helpful. Parking is accessible. I don’t mind paying the meter. My daughters like it here the best because of the bigger selection of graphic novels.

Clean and great location. With they had longer hours more days of the week and were open on Sundays, but really no complaints.

I thought that I would give this library a chance… time and time again. But there’s just too many negatives outweighing the positives. Yes, it’s convenient for ALH students, KFC, Walgreen’s… etc. But so are the other libraries around the city. Forget the books, DVDs, CDs, VCDs, etc… staff is what really gets me. In a word or two: rude & disorganized.
I placed a VCD on hold and it showed it was located at Parkside. A couple of days later it still showed it was at Parkside — «check shelf». Next day, it showed it was «missing». Knowing that this library is disorganized I decide to head over there and check for myself. Sure enough it was on the shelf NOT missing. There are too many possible locations, so why can’t they make it more simpler for them and their patrons.
How are they rude? Hmm… maybe for the simple fact that they know you are looking at the shelf but they still decide to step in front of you and just stand there. I understand you have to put things back on the shelf, but don’t do it in front of someone. At least the Ortega branch staff has the decency to put the items aside on the shelf to be put away later.
Oh, they give out wrong information. A patron asked if the seven-​day rental posted on the cover was correct and the employee said «yes, you only have seven days». The library had changed this for quite some time. Whatever… what can you do when the packaging says one thing but their rules say another. Too confusing for some people if you ask me.

This library serves as a convenience very well for Abraham Lincoln High School students.
There is a KFC/​Taco Bell nearby!
Brief review update for 7÷2÷2013:
This facility looks nice since it received a renovation and it looks very modern as well. The staff here are friendly and service is efficient. I’ll be back the next time I’m in the area!

My local library! I’ve been going here for years and I still remember what it was like before the renovation. It’s essentially the same size (they opened a part of the library to give teens and children their own section), but the lighting’s better and everything’s newer. The library used to cast a yellow-​ish glow, giving the place a dated feel, but the library is now brighter and slightly bigger.
There are plenty of tables with outlets and of course, free Wi-​Fi, which makes this library a great place to study. It’s fairly clean and there are hardly any homeless people — just elderly Chinese people who come to read newspapers. Occasionally there are kids running around the play games on the computers (this has not changed since I was in middle school), but it’s not too bad. The L runs along Taraval so it can get noisy, but a good pair of headphones can remedy this.

This is a library at sunset that I go to borrow books and study. It is a pretty quiet place in throughout the day, but most quiet during the morning and evening hours. During lunch around 12 and between the hours of 2 – 4 are when the local high school lets out so it is a bit noisier. But it is no big deal, most of these kids just sit and talk and leave very quickly, so you won’t hear talking for hours and don’t really get bothered.
I stay here the whole day sometimes just studying and don’t get bothered by anyone. The patrons here are varied but all good people. Rarely do you see a homeless walking in and staking out a table. Th regulars are a bunch of elderly chinese people who read the newspaper here. The only complaint I have is that these elderly people take up the whole table with the newspaper (havent people every heard of folding?!?) and then they don’t put the newspapers back after they read them. So most of the tables have tons newspapers piled up and scattered around. Then other elderly people come looking through the piles and scattering them even more. I usuaully just push the stacks to a corner or on a random shelf to make room for myself. The workers pass by every once in a while to clear the tables.
If you get hungry, there are tons of restaurants, bars, and fast food (independent, not chain) places around, But you can’t eat in the library.

I never went to this library prior to its renovation, so I can’t comment on the changes.
Considering that the library is on the small size, it does actually have a good selection of books. I usually leave with more books then I intended on checking out. The media section could be improved though. The staff are helpful and friendly.

i studied there for the first time today. the smell of plastic and chemicals from all the renovations is strong. i had to leave.

Limited selection of books
Tables equipped with outlets under the table for laptops.

Disappointing! The Parkside was closed for quite some time with some much-​needed renovation. Still, the kids in the area (Abraham Lincoln High School) tend to trash the grounds with their food containers and food wrappers. The library staff does not keep the grounds very clean although I did see someone madly sweeping at 9:30 PM last night.
I asked a staff member at Information about the Hold shelf, since I did not know where it was. She did not smile, stared at her computer mostly and then told me where it was. I would think the Information desk would staff someone with some people skills.
The library has a nice courtyard area but you can’t use it! It’s closed with an Emergency Exit door. I see why. There is no scanner at that door and it would be too easy to steal a book by just walking through to the courtyard and then toss the book over the small brick fence.
The McCoppin Park area is currently experiencing a great renovation of its grounds. I’m happy to see that. But the Parkside Branch needs to be a friendlier, CLEANER place. And open up that courtyard to us readers, OK? Thanks!

Libraries got what I need and has friendly staff. They have a great kids area and although i don’t have any kids of my own I will take my cousins here. Glad to se the Parkside branch re-​opened. Thank you SFC.

They (re-)opened this branch a week after I moved in to my new place on the other side of McCoppin Square. The library is small but modern and comfortable. It’s hard to find a particular book because they don’t have all that much (although their kids section seems to be pretty well-​stocked) but they do have free wifi, which is nice. Their selection of magazines, dvds and cds seems to be decent, I will pay more attention to it next time I’m there.
The worst part is the hours. Here they are, from the SFPL site.
M: 1 – 6; Tu: 10 – 9; W: 1 – 9; Th: 10 – 6; F: 1 – 6; Sat: 10 – 6; Sun: Closed
Will be coming back of course, and plan to update this review at some point.

Parkside was a great resource for the community. Well used, it was always crowded, and busier than expected for such a small branch. I can’t wait for the branch to re-​open, it was getting a bit worn down, and could do with some tlc.
More information, and even the design plans are available online!
be sure to click «Designs Plans — January 2008» as the architects and designers have even shown renderings of what the new branch will look like. They’ve even thoughtfully considered the angle of the bookshelves that would best let in light and allow us to take in the scenery! It looks beautiful.
Feel free to cast a chuckle when you notice those yuppy designers envisioning a library full of iMacs… What with this economy… really?
One could only dream of such plastic and aluminum stylishness.
See y’all in two years!

Pretty peeved that they are closing down my local branch for renovations. Looong overdue, I know, but I still need it to be open for my weekly needs.
It is a perfect location for me, because it runs right next to my daily bus line, the L Terrible. This means I can return a book that was due yesterday, but still won’t get fined because they aren’t open yet to count as a day late. ;) Cheating the city $ 0.10!!! Suckas.
Sure, it looks very outdated and it’s one of the smaller branches, but I do everything online. So they ship everything to me at Parkside within a few weeks. I go crazy with the DVD selection. You can manage to get a new release within a month… and for free! Whoever donates brand new titles is doing the city a service! The librarians are helpful. Don’t know how else to describe them. Dude, they’re librarians and not the sexy undercover types that might break out of their cardigans after dark. I think they’re quiet and subdued all the time.
This is really a review for the city’s entire library system. It has vastly changed since I was a kid. I love the convenience of browsing online and getting email updates when something needs to be returned or picked up. You can renew just as easily too. And they haven’t been affected by inflation! Late fines are still just 10cents per book!
***** Stars for encouraging me to read again!

It’s not much to look at on the inside and it always seems crowded (but I haven’t been there too many times) but I like this branch. While small, it’s larger than the awful Park Branch in the Haight Ashbury and I love how it has so many Chinese language items (books, magazines, CDs). They also carry Korean language books and Russian ones too. There’s a separate children’s room, a reference area, 4 computers for internet surfing, plenty of manga, bathroom and an efficient Chinese staff (i.e., no meaningless chit chat).
I am impressed with the DVD collection. While there are few new releases, there is a high proportion of foreign language classics that I really appreciate from the likes of Kurosawa, Truffaut, Fellini, Bergman, etc. They still have VHS tapes and cassette tapes too. Plus you can request materials from other branches so the size of the library doesn’t matter as much.
The patrons are mostly Chinese and it makes it a more comfortable place to hang out than say the Park Branch where the odors of the homeless made the small room very unpleasant.
I’ve never had to wait a long time to check out materials but it would be nice if they installed self-​service check out kiosks in the future.

This is the only library I know that hosts Lap Sit (it’s not what you think for those of you who have a dirty mind), a children’s sing along and story telling program on Saturday mornings. My sister likes to say it’s like Gymboree but free! The program is about ½ hour and has two sessions, 10 AM and 11 AM.
We took the Kid to his first Lap Sit. Despite the weird name (I wished they named it Free Gymbo!), the kids don’t actually sit on the parents’ laps. The library set up little school chairs in rows in the children’s section. Each kid gets to sit on their little chair and lyrics for the songs are passed out to the parents to sing along.
The lady hosting the lap sit was quite nice. She actually reminds me of Miss Nancy of Romper Room and all those other kiddy programs. She sang a couple of songs while strumming a guitar and read two stories. The Kid, Mr Ants in His Pants, actually followed along and sat through the whole program. Towards the end, he was singing along with the lady.
Miss Nancy (not her real name but I never caught her name) even passed out musical instruments (bells, sticks, etc. Ah, just like music time in elementary school!) for the kids to play along towards the end. A really enjoyable program for big and small.
A big hiss to the parents with the baby who actually moved their chairs into the middle aisle (chairs were arranged in rows with an aisle in the middle) nearly knocking over a kid in the next aisle (really must you be so pushy?) and who sang so loudly (or ghastly as Simon Cowell would say) that they drowned out Miss Nancy at times (she even wore a mic!).
Didn’t have that much time to browse around the books but the Kid found two cardboard books to take home and two dvds (the dvds are in excellent condition!). I finally used my library card after an 11 year absence (head hangs down in shame).
Will be back for the weekend sessions!

For the person who said this branch is a walk-​in closet, I’d like to know where they’ve lived so I can move in. This place is small but it’s larger than my current room. Despite the size, I love this branch for two reasons: 1) they have a bunch of CSI dvds and 2) they almost have the entire Ender’s Game series in the teen section (only missing the final book). Yay for not needing to schlep downtown or request books I want to read now!
I find the DVD collection impressive, an entire bookcase. DVDs are behind the front desk and not in the cases. For my «smart» magazine reading, there’s Newsweek and Time. I imagine with the school nearby, it probably gets crazy loud after school. But it’s pretty peaceful when I come here on the weekends and after work. There’s also a handful of computers for internet. You need to sign up for them and sometimes there’s a line.
Overall, a nice place to do light, random browsing.