North University Community Branch Library

Nur Shomik Arafat

I love this library. The building interior is beautiful. It has plenty of space for study. The kid section is huge, although I spend my time at one of the reading tables. Bonus: the Nobel Recreation Center is literally on the same complex. It's a beautiful park, great for a walk or some sports. There is also a little dog park on the other side of the library. Update: the library is now open after the pandemic closure/limited operation.

Kate Klampe

Great as always. Neat as a pin and quiet of course. Love the wide open space and natural light. Lots of seats and tables for use. And lots of books, of course. Children's room is great with story hour, of course. An extra room is used for exercise classes for kids and adults, holiday projects. Check out the book store for inexpensive used books. Display rack with all kinds of info about practically everything available.

Paul Filenko

This library branch has a very unorthodox strategy to make children feel uncomfortable. Despite a well-polished environment and a large children's section, there is minimal comfortable furniture for visitors to read books. The employees seem to be trained to iteratively tell children to be quiet and feel unwelcome. Year after year, their cold atmosphere remains consistent. This is dangerous for our society because it teaches kids to not treat libraries as relaxing places for exploration and learning, but a harsh strictly-academic institutions. Management should take a few lessons from what other libraries/museums are doing across the country. Conservative rudeness is not in the spirit of California, especially not San Diego lifestyle.

Iirai Costner

I'm no longer a student, so my primary reason for coming to the library is to either reserve and use their conference room for a couple of hours, or to borrow books that the SD Library mobile app says they have on shelf. I don't need to sit and study, but I can imagine the frustration of others. This library can be loud at times, depending on when you go. PARKING/LOCATION: Lots of parking is available near the library. Located in the middle of the Nobel park and a Small/Large dog park, the location can't be beat. It's an amazing spot. There's even grassy area right outside the library if you dare to lay a blanket on top to sit and read (beware of dog pee and poop though. :) ) LAYOUT: Inside, to your right, there is a small bookstore. To your left, the big meeting/conference room for events hosted by the library (and possibly others?) This same hallway is where you would also find the restrooms. Straight ahead is the library. Against the back left, you'll see the kids book section, where it can get really loud. In the main area, you'll also see a separate room for computer use, conference room use, and tables scattered all over the library, surrounding the bookshelves. They have an AMAZING DVD collection here, (yes, you can borrow movies for FREE, so before deciding to Redbox it, check here first). ATMOSPHERE: Even there are enough outlets to go around, I always feel uncomfortable bringing my laptop here to work... even with music playing through my headphones to drown out the little kids' screams and giggles. Even though there are enough tables, it always feels so awkward working here. :( The environment at each library is always different. At this particular one, you'll notice the place looks more modern than "quaint". I think it's the architecture and the bookshelves. Other libraries have wooden, beat-up bookshelves that really add to the ambience of the place, but here, (I forget....) their shelves are.... straight, tall, and.... made of metal? :) Either way, the look is fairly modern compared to other locations I've been to. BOOKS: Lots of books to choose from. :) Check out a title's availability through their mobile app! You'll be surprised at how organized the entire SD Library system has gotten over the past couple of years.