My Reviews of Libraries of the San Fernando Valley (3/21)

Hello! This is my catalog of the libraries of the Valley. My ratings are based on 5 stars and include my personal thoughts, the vibes, and very very professional reviews of the 21 libraries within the San Fernando Valley in no particular order. I am updating as I go!

Here you will find:

• Pictures of cool lighting fixtures

• Gripes on finding parking

• Anecdotes and general vibes

Van Nuys Branch Library

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've been here a few times now! I like the open floor design - the entire space is one big room with a little separation

in the back created by a lower ceiling over the Teen and Kids sections. 

The Kids section in the corner is so cute - it has green cushions and a playful atmosphere. Easily viewable and

accessible from the rest of the library (which is a downside if privacy is more of a priority with the kiddos). 

The lights over the bookshelves brighten automatically when they detect motion! How Lovely!

A man was in the Teen section and an employee told him he had to move - extra points. He wasn’t doing anything

weird, but I appreciate the respect for the rules.

A security guard patrols the back aisles (rows?) every so often and I appreciate the diligence. Although

it makes me think he takes a peek at my screen and I feel slightly ashamed when I’m watching YouTube videos

instead of working (this is probably a positive, thank you social pressure, security guard).

The overhead lights are so cool! Wiggly round patterns (as seen here):

Overall - 4 stars! I like the accessibility to parking and the beautiful plaza outside - this area also houses the

courthouse and some other official-looking buildings with big responsibilities Also, do NOT park in the underground

Civic Center lot like I did the first time I went here. I mistook it for library parking as well. It closed at 8 pm and

by the grace of the merciful security guard, he let me get my car out, but he could only

take cash so I had to run across the street to Chase to withdraw and then run back. Anyway, highly recommend

parking for free in the little lot that is marked "Library Parking" further up ahead.

I did get catcalled on my way back to my car. Thumbs down, but we can not let it ruin the vibes. There were also a few skaters in the area because of the high school nearby. They did cool tricks (or tried to) so props to them. 

Woodland Hills Branch Library

🪵🪵🪵🪵

Hello Woodland Hills - I like your library! No surprise that it’s beautiful and cozy - there’s wood paneling that goes

up the walls and the high ceiling in the general study section - quite beautiful. There’s a man doing a crossword in

the chair right across from me and I think it’d be rude to take a picture since I don’t want to alarm him and make him

think I’m being a creep. But trust me, nice wood paneling. Here’s a picture of this ceiling - please imagine the rest of

the coziness.

Thanks, Woodland Hills :) The Teen and Kids Sections are nicely separated from the general public area - allowing for a bit of privacy and peace of mind if you have young kids.

The parking lot was right outside and easily accessible... kinda slim and small though so sometimes parking

is limited. It’s a one-way so take note of that - do NOT be a silly dummy and oppose the flow of traffic. I didn’t do

that. 

I've gone back a few times now and I've always been able to find a seat in the work/study area. I'll stay for hours,

look up at the high wood ceilings, and feel like a lil forest creature. Then, back to eye-burning tech and

clicking away at my keyboard. Like right now!

Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch Library

⭐⭐⭐

We're covering the next library south of the 101 and almost directly south of our first review - the Van Nuys Library. As I sit here now, I am in the teens section (even though I am a few months out of teenage commission). I was the only one sitting at one of the two tables here until a boy who couldn't be older than 11 sat at the table across from me. 

And I thought, "He's not a teen." 🤓☝ As if I have any more claim to this section than he does. 

Then, in a flash of paper folders and Jansport backpacks, two grown women sat down accompanied by a second boy presumably around the same age as the first claimant to this table, and a little girl no older than 7. I was furious. 

None of these kids are Teens! There is a card on the tables saying "This area is reserved Just for Teens" followed by "and their parents or caregivers" in a smaller font. I see they're pulling out books and binders. One of the women starts pointing to the papers and speaks to the little girl. The five of them sit here along with me in the Teens section - none of us teenagers in the slightest.

To be honest, I was annoyed only because I had moved here to find a pocket of quiet here in the Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch library. It's small, but it sports a lot of character. Like most LA public libraries at 5 PM, there are kid's workshops just finishing their sessions, echos of cutesy laughter that would delight me if I wasn't trying to finish a 5-page overdue lit review for my Honors Communication class. 

I had the sobering moment of catching myself being annoyed (and hypocritical) at something so menial and silly. I remind myself how neighborhood libraries are hubs for community engagement and not just quiet study spaces for procrastinating college students. How a family studying and working together on the kid's homework is not a hindrance to my success. And if anything, how beautiful it is that they carve out time to come to the library - a resource that is so vital to enriching the minds of these young kids. 

Still, I want to drown out a bit of the side conversations so I put on library ambient background noise on YouTube and open this window to write. I don't think I'm alone in this, though - how I get annoyed at trivial things. How much happier could we be if we didn't let the little things bother us so much? Or forget happiness, simply how content would we be? I have been so accustomed to immediate gratification that the slightest bit of discomfort is annoying and I am so quick to voice the complaint. And I know some other folks who are also culprits of chronic complaining syndrome... 

Anyway, my point is: don't let your Negative Nancy brain stop you from appreciating the silver lining of anything, even when especially when it doesn't go your way. I guess live, laugh, love, and whatnot.

As for the library review... 3 stars! The parking lot is small (once again, as is the library), and one time I came there was a librarian who answered my question in a monotone voice rather than a soft, sweet librarian voice so, of course, I had to dock points for not being super duper nice to me and entertaining my silly question. There's also no cool lighting here or really anything that sticks out about it - it's a good standard library (with noisy kiddos around). Okay back to writing my lit review - bye.

Canoga Park Branch Library

2-24-25

🖍🖍🖍🖍

Canoga Park, I like your library! One word pops out to me as I look around and write this: color. These librarians intentionally used vibrant colors to craft the space, and I love it. I see a Clifford the Big Red Dog plushie on top of some shelves behind the librarian's desk - super cute.