Portola Branch Library

One quick and easy tip for making this library 100% better — get rid of the gaming computers in the kids section. I’ve never been in here when there hasn’t been a group of 50 little Chinese boys crowded around these computers shouting at the top of their lungs while playing games… I really don’t see what internet gaming has to do with the purpose of the library.

Strange how where the pin shows up is not the actual location of library …
Not even close in fact

First off, if you are looking for a quiet place to study, this is not the place. If you are looking for a library with a great selection of books and other media that has the flavor of the Portola District (San Bruno Ave) then you are in the right place.
NOTE: If you are looking for a quieter place to study, you might want to check out the bernal heights branch which isn’t too far away.
I am always amazed that such a small library can have such a great selection of books. I find here books on business, parenting, cooking, architecture and interior design. There isn’t much seating because this place is busy and there are lots of people there. If you are patient you can always find a seat.
As to loud libraries, aside from main branches and extremely large libraries such as in Saratoga, Cupertino or San Jose, I have typically found most non-​university affiliated libraries in the Bay Area pretty loud in general, especially on weekends. I believe a large part of this is in the larger libraries have the space for a separated children’s section and have separated quiet study areas.

This is a great part of our neighborhood. Shiny New library. Great kids section. And fantastic foreign (mostly Asian) DVD section. Very impressive. Great staff.

Nice place to be on a Sunday. My son really likes this library n it’s close to our house too n parking is easy to find. One thing was bugging me was that the library suppose to be a quit place but the libraries two lady sitting in front was just so loud n lost in there conversation and they work there!!! Didn’t even care to lower they voice was just loud n going on n on… that’s why I gave the library two stars I didn’t had that quit moment I was looking for.

This library in my neighborhood so it’s great for walking distance. Unfortunately, it is by far the worst place to sit and study. Their private «quiet» room is always occupied with an event, so there’s no place to seclude yourself (weekends). There are children running around or speaking super loud or babies crying. None of the librarians say anything so it remains as loud as a playground. In terms of picking up a book and reading leisurely its good, but again, studying in peace and quiet is not an option. (Which I think is the purpose of a library, don’t you?)

Nice location and layout, sunny, relatively few residentially challenged patrons, «International lang» sections here = mandarin/​cantonese. It’s the loudest library I’ve visited particularly during weekends, forget it. No epiphanies here, the open-​air children’s section is often quieter than the video gamers. World of warcraft, minecraft and ringtones… cmon. Studying can be challenging here.

New location between Martin Luther King Middle School and ER Taylor Elementary School. One of my neighborhood libraries since I happen to live within a driving distance from here. I’ve been coming to this library when they were over at San Bruno and Silliman.
My first time coming to their new location today. I’m coming here again since the library is the place I’d usually a lot of time at. A very good study space for me to get my homework completed cause I also get distracted when I am at home. The procrastination seriously leads to forgetting there is a homework assignment to be completed or falling behind.
Free Wi-​Fi? Nice! The library is a good place to be at! Why?
The art of learning new knowledge is not just a one time opportunity, it lasts a lifetime! Looking for information, resources or books you need for any homework assignment? Your local library has the answers you need. Books, magazines and newspapers along with an abundance of other resources are available. Come check it out!

This branch is not near my home live but I’ve occasionally visited its old location at the corner San Bruno Ave and Silliman because it’s near my work, and I dine out there occasionally.
I made a visit at this new location because I found in the library search catalogue a video I was looking for. I definitely admire the big difference between here and the former location. It is definitely much nicer, more spacious. On top of that, they now have a much better selection of videos than before. I commend the San Francisco Public Library for the good work on this new branch.

Woooooottt, love this library. Great location for everybody, love the environment inside. So blessed to have library near my house, benefits everybody. Except those that dont goto libraries.

Just a great, local library. Wonderful section for kids and teens.

What is the best way to get and give kids more chances to educate themselves?
Putting a public library inside a public middle school. This new remodeled library is located just at the corner of the middle school Martin Luther King. Jr. More than that, right across the street is E. R Taylor elementary school. For elementary and middle school kids, this is a great location for them to borrow and read books. What a great way to help kids learn. Reading is knowledge.

i am sooooo happy for the new location because 1) a block away from my house 2) great for kids. conveniently two schools are right next to each other-​makes the parents and guardians for easy pick up 3) clean and 4) great staffs
i usually come here myself or friends to study and to do homework because i always need study space cause i get easily distracted when i’m at home (due to having way too much snacks at home then i get food coma and leads to «get no work done»)
this library includes wifi, but some times its on and off-​bad connections at time, but bare with it. it is a public library and everyone in there shares the same connection.
they open 6 days a week except for mondays. WHYYY? please consider opening on mondays and please please open until later nights.

I have to thank this library for restoring my faith in libraries. As a kid I would check out 8 or 16 books at a time (whatever the limit was back then) when this branch was still located next to the firehouse on San Bruno Avenue… you know, back when that blond librarian with the Southern accent still worked there. She read ‘The Polar Express’ to my class.
Anyway, during my teen years and entering into early adulthood, I felt that the library — ALL LIBRARIES, because this issue followed me to college — was always charging me for books I had already returned.
This past year of tough economic times has affected my return to reading as much as I did when I was a child. I would love to buy books from bookstores but who can buy a book these days?
The new location has been open for a while, and I finally paid a visit last month. Checked out 3 books, read them in 3 weeks, and returned them. Thankfully, I have not been charged. Faith restored.
I expected the actual stacks to be a little more updated looking, and fuller, but they weren’t what I was used to when thinking about this branch. I do like that they have new books right by the door, but they need a bigger fiction selection. Staff was friendly. I like where this is going.

I’m so thankful for the reinnovation and new location. This library is amazingly techy. Maybe I’m not so up to date with the library technology, but you can check out your own books at this location. The same concept as self check out at a super market. Pretty nifty for a library that locate in this area. Staff are very useful here, just like most libraries in San Francisco. The place is well-​lighted, clean, and organized.
I’d come to this library more often, but I don’t seem to finish most books that I check out. One of top SF library that I’ve been to. I’ll wait for the Richmond district to open. I heard that one will be beautiful and techy as well!

After two years in San Francisco, I finally got my library card!
Now that this is my local library, I strolled in the other day looking for some light reading. Seeing that I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, the small selection wasn’t an issue – kind of the opposite, actually, since it narrowed my choices significantly. And that’s not a bad thing. I walked out the door with a couple good books.
I get a good little community vibe when I’m walking around on San Bruno Ave. It’s magnified ten times in this small space. Good job, guys.

Roz, the librarian, and the rest of the staff here are great! They do a lot with the limited resources (e.g. space). The branch is used heavily by the community, especially kids. It will be great when the new branch is built, with more space for adults, and additional computers. The collection is more limited than at other nearby branches (e.g. Bernal, Excelsior) but all books in the system are accessible and can be picked up and returned here.
³⁄₂₀₀₉ Update: The above info referred to the previous location on San Bruno Ave. The brand-​new branch, which is twice the size, has now opened. The staff is still terrific, but now the collection is too! A whole bunch of new materials are available, and the DVD collection is way larger than it was previously. There’s more room to display new materials, and browsing is easier with more space on the shelves and between stacks. The new branch has more computers, and comfortable places to sit, and is a terrific improvement over the previous facility.