Newport Beach Public Library, Balboa Branch

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a library, and this one is very cute with a great kids selection. The friendly staff helped my nephew find a particular book he was looking for. I definitely recommend this place if you’re staying in the area.

I came here because they had a copy of the new Nick Hornby book, «More Baths, Less Talking,» and because I intended to get a NBPL card soon anyway. It is a tiny little neighborhood branch tucked in between Balboa Blvd and Bay Avenue, which is great for those who live in walking distance. There is a tiny parking lot in the back, and unmetered parking on the side streets.
I was a bit surprised at just how small and unbusy the library was. Hardly anyone was there, most of the tables were empty, no one was camped out using the free wi-​fi, though to be honest, the ambiance was not what I would call welcoming — but this is the fault of the building, not the staff. Due to the compact layout of the building, the stacks wrap around in a way that is not necessarily intuitive, so some careful reading of the signage is needed. The new books section was quite large and well-​stocked for a branch of this size. The staff member that I interacted with was quite cheerful and pleasant, got me set up quickly with a card and checked out.
This is a great resource for folks who live on the peninsula, but due to the distance from my place, I’ll be going to the main Newport Library from now on.

I love you! First off the employees are so helpful regarding anything, from finding a book to figuring out how to print something. I live a couple blocks from here and love to come here to hang out. Also at the present time my printer is inoperative so this place is a great place to print something. Overall if you live in the area check out this place

My beachfront home :)

I love everything about this little branch library… it’s a bit funky, never too crowded, helpful librarians. Just about perfect!

This library is a mellow little spot to get some work done during distracting Newport days. Saves me from driving all the way to the UCI campus from my place on the peninsula. Kind of small and cramped, but if you need the quiet time, it can prove to be effective in your endeavors. If it had more outlets to plug in my laptop and maybe a bit more windows, this place could be worthy of 4-​stars. If it had all of the above and was a bit larger, then it would be a 5-​star in my book.

As a young child, I would come here for reading days back in the 80s when there was bad haircuts and spandex a plenty. I still enjoy this location more than other libraries. It’s quaint, small and not overcrowded in the least bit. I’ve known the research librarians there since I was about 5, and it is always a pleasure to go back and see the people you associate reading with.
But the 5 score on this branch is not due to my nostalgia. The friendliness, the easy accessibility and the location are just part of this library’s charm. They rent out VHSs still, in addition to DVDs, and the library is always expanding. If there’s a book that you need, that they don’t have, it’s almost always at the central library, a close drive away.
This place is the perfect spot to go and get work done, no one bothers you, and you can almost always get an entire table to yourself. It really is an enjoyable place.