Vista Library

Noisy. Lots of teens and kids talking.

I love this library despite not having as much selections on certain topics. They’re centrally located and there’s plenty of parking. Staff always offers help. But more than anything I love all the classes, and activities they offer. My kids spent their entire summer here. They had a summer reading program that rewards them for reading with free toys and free meal coupons at participating locations. They also gave out a free lunch to anyone under 18. Year round they have movie nights, game nights, free tutoring, crafts, etc. There is something for everyone. I used to go to redbox daily until I realized they have an awesome movie selection. Ive checked out movies that are available at redbox for almost 2 $ for one day, for free and I get to keep them for a week. They have a little bookstore in the entrance where they sell some of their older titles at a decent price. Their restrooms are also pretty clean. What’s not to love about this place.

Definitely trying to get back to my roots, a place where libraries and books were all that mattered (because there really weren’t any other choices for entertainment… but that’s beside the point!) Vista library is a nice location to get in touch with that crucial part of my life!
I recently got a library card here so my 5 year old can learn the joys of checking out books, my 3 month old can get acquainted with the academic atmosphere, and so that I could use the location to help tutor students learning Spanish; so many tables and loungers for studying/​reading!
There’s a very open feel to this library. On entering, going right will take you into the children’s section, left will lead you to the adult portion.
The children’s section is nice, a good selection of books, and a corner-​most area for the tinier kiddos to explore! The computer tables are set up with programs to foster a different kind of interaction between children and academia.
Adult half of the library is alive with resources, however, this might be the reason that this is not the quietest library I have ever visited.
The librarians here are friendly albeit awkward: they want to help you and mean well, but they’d rather not… so they don’t. Does that make sense?
I’ll be here routinely and I’m excited about that!

This is my favorite library! The staff is super friendly and the A/​C is always running during the summer. I wrote my resume here and I’m not ashamed to say I even looked for jobs here online. The children’s programs were great during the summer when my cousins came to visit. For those of you who need it they have a free lunch program for the kids during summer break.

Where else are you going to find free movies?
Despite the size (kinda small), the Vista library is one of the busiest libraries in San Diego County.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the shelves, you can order it online.
Free Wi-​Fi with lots of spots to sit, would love some cozy couches or chairs.
Check the calendar for all the free events during the week —
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Just wish the bathrooms were cleaner.

The lady’s that work here are totally rude, they snap at people and refuse to help. Sat here and totally watched a eldery man asked for help and the lady refused to help him. They stand around with nasty looks on there face and there always grouchy…

Just moved here. They were so helpful. Love the library. It’s not just books anymore. My favorite is to download both e books and audiobooks. For free!!!

It’s true, I am a book-​a holic. I check out so many things that I come over to the Vista library at least once a week. I come in and out though and don’t spend tons of time inside so I can’t give a review on the inside but the way they use technology gets an A+. I order the book I want online and when it arrives I get an email saying the book is ready for me to pick up. I walk straight through the doors and pick up the book that is on the request shelves and check it out. I love the ease and convenience of this process. I can’t remember the last time I actually went into the library and looked around for a book. You can request any book that you want and they will put it aside for you to pick up. If Vista does not have the book they will get it from a nearby library and bring it over to Vista for you to pick it up at the vista library. You can also check out movies and CDs for seven days. They have fairly recent movies too not just old stuff; like, recently I checked out August Osage County and 10 years a slave. Do you want to borrow a textbook? You can even order that online! I borrowed textbooks they sent over from UCSD before. Do you have a tablet or Kindle? The library has an app where you can download books for free straight onto your device. They stay on your tablet for 21 days just like if you had checked out the book and after the 21 days is up the book goes away so you don’t even have to remember to return the book.
I think the library is doing a great job of keeping up with technology and the way that people use the Internet and tablets now to access books.

Books are sooo cool!!! This library has a big area for children & it’s so cute. They even have toys for those little ones you can’t keep attention in a book :) Very nice selection as well. If we lived closer I bring the little ones every week!

Watched a guy get kicked out for talking on his cell phone in the computer lab. MADE MY DAY!
A sweet librarian also helped me retrieve some work I thought I had lost when the computer ran out if time. This place is growing on me.

Nice little library– has a little bit of everything but not a huge selection of any one thing.
The Encore book store sells used books and magazines. Too bad the volunteers can’t be a little more appreciative of the donations. I’ve never been thanked and have even been told my donations were not wanted in the most rude way!

Jesus H Christ what a disheveled mess of a hell pit. Damn screaming bratty kids running around while clueless library staff watch and shrug their shoulders.
Do not go here if you expect a quite environment.
I complained to one of the librarians (the guy looked like Shaggy) and he basically just said «yeah we are loud here».
Seriously, I could get more work done at a construction zone during an atomic bomb blast than I could at this joke of a place.
And hey parents, CONTROL YOUR DAMN CHILDREN.

Decent size & selection. I really wish there was more in the children’s section. Clean.

I’m strictly here to study.
There’s always that one kid in the library that is crying and whining. While their parent ignores them. This library is HUGE which is great for all other purposes except this situation. I wish for a moment the library was small so the ignoring parent could see me give her a stink eye! LOL!
Otherwise, this library is AWESOME! Great big windows to see green landscaping, birds chirping, lots of tables with plush and comfy seats. Sounds romantic almost.
I shall bring my boyfriend here for a quiet-reading-nerd-cheap-i’m-getting-old date

I haven’t been to a public library since I was a kid or touring some famous or historic library. I decided to get a library card so I could — here’s a tip — get free downloads of ebooks! I picked the Vista library because it is near my work and its a branch of the San Diego County library so I figured that it would have more ebooks to pick from. I didn’t do much else other then get the card, which by the way was super easy to do. Anyhow, the library seemed clean and like it had a large selection of books. It also had a number of public computers.

Too many freaks on the computer.

I agree with Kirt W.: this place is a well kept secret.
The books are in great condition with a decent selection, and since it’s part of the County System, you can always request a book from another branch if the one you’re looking for isn’t readily available. This branch is very modern in that it has a quick self checkout system.
They have little movie days throughout the week, and the staff is very, very amiable. I forget the lady’s name who registered me, but she was endlessly helpful in welcoming me to the community and sharing the ins and outs of the system.
Only negative comment: I «camped out» here once, and tried to read a book, but due to the small nature of the library, it’s rather noisy and I left (yes, there’s a lot of kids who will ghetto blast Eminem from their earbuds so not only are they causing permanent tympanic damage, but they’re also blasting it for your attention too… there’s also a man who breathes too heavily for comfort near the window).

I haven’t used the public library in a while. What a well-​kept secret!
One thing hasn’t changed, it can be a bit of a zoo after school but I can’t complain, I used the library after a school as a kid too.
What’s amazing is how you can go online, look up a book and have it waiting for you when you get to the library! All the branches are hooked together, included libraries beyond the county system, so you can request a book and in a day or three, you get an email that it’s waiting for you. With the electronic check-​out, you don’t actually interact with anyone, it’s in-​and-​out.
It’s like my four bookshelves at home just turned into a million volume collection!
Keep this quiet for Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. are in trouble!

There are a number of things to like about this library: free DVDs, they will order books from other libraries through LINK+, and the staff is fairly helpful. Internet access is free; printing is available for 15cents a page.
My main complaint is their strict policies on volunteering: you have to take a drug test in front of the doctor. I wanted to be a tutor and won’t do it because of that policy. Another negative is the quality of the DVDs; they are checked out frequently and never replaced.

The Vista library is utilitarian, it’s meant to serve the community, not to be an architectual wonder. They have more «public» computers and assistance programs than any other local library i’ve been too. They may not have the most books, but they always seem to have the best/​most useful non-​fiction; at least for vocation/​training/​knowledge purposes. If I look up reviews for a the best books on a given subject, 9 times out of 10 Vista has it. I work for another library and always end up coming here to get what i need. They are also part of the «county circuit» so you can get any book in the SD county system delivered to you here. A decent little movie selection and nice used bookstore round out the experience.