Mesquite Branch Library

Decided to try again since it’s close to home. Still the same (le sigh). Phones ringing, people talking in normal voices, little kids squealing. Oh well. Btw staff is awesome I just wish there was a policy about being quiet in libraries like in the old days.

I love the Phoenix public library system. The staff at the Mesquite branch helpful and the selection is good. You can always order what you want from another branch and it will arrive in just a couple days. The seating is comfortable if you want to relax for a bit with a book and there are plenty of tables if you need to sit down and get to work. There are also a fair amount of computers available for use if needed. Check out is a breeze if you do it on your own or there is someone to help if needed.
Check their schedule they offer some interesting events at this location from time to time that are family friendly, especially during the summer.

It’s dumb that we try to take our kids to this class «baby time» and they offer 10 tickets to the ENTIRE valley. It’s once a week and if you don’t camp out over night to get your tickets, oh well, your turned away. Why not have a bigger room? Why not have it a couple times?

This is our local library and I am a fan. It is one of the smaller public libraries in the area but it is great for children. They have a large children’s book section along with DVDs, books on tape and music CDs. Computers are also available for kids (or adults) to access the web, including educational games. They have a large open area for kids to play with building blocks on the floor. This area is surrounded by sofas for parents. They also have activities on some of the tables for kids to draw. You are allowed to check out 35 items at once, including 10 DVDs. The self check-​out process is very simple and all automated. The parking lot for this location is very small but you can park across the street in the mall’s covered parking lot (which will save you from getting heat stroke when you get back in your car).

I have to echo similar sentiments to other posters about the noise level in this library. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A QUIET PLACE TO STUDY OR READ. I’m in my mid-​twenties as well and have a small child. So I would say I’m not that out of touch with society, people’s needs in a library, etc. It’s not just how rude most patrons are about talking loudly, or the staff’s disinterest in reminding people to «talk in your inside voice» (Remember hearing that phrase as kids? I still teach my kid that concept.) But it’s the multiple tutoring sessions with children taking place all over the library… at full volume… and right on top of one another. I’m a student myself and am trying to study as well, but it’s extremely difficult to do when you are also hearing math lessons on measurements, grammar lessons on prepositions, and conversations about a kid swallowing a quarter all going on around you. Right out in the open. It’s rude and inconsiderate of people to host lessons in out there like that. They should be held in a conference room in the library, at the child’s school, or heck even a fast food restaurant where wifi is free and noise and conversation is acceptable to be had there. I don’t understand why the staff allows these tutoring lessons to take place all over the library. It completely undermines the purpose of the library.

Very helpful staff. I walked in and apparently looked lost. Staff approached me and immediately directed me to where I needed to be! I was shocked bc I’ve experienced so much poor customer service in this city! This was a welcome change! :)

WOW wow WOWwwwww! At first I expected this place to be a grocery store and was a little disappointed at first, but man was I in for a pleasant surprise. This place actually has books! Tons of them! I’m from Bosnia and wasn’t familiar with the whole library/​rent a book concept and at first I was offended that they wouldn’t take cash for the books I had chosen! I fought a bit… especially when the worker said to bring them back in 3 weeks! However we worked things out! It’s an amazing concept! You get to read a book for free and then take it back and choose a new book! America is so great

This library has been around for a long time. It used to be on 32^nd St, north of Cactus in a small little building. They have a great selection of books, videos, and music. They also offer classes for your children for free. Books! Check’em out!

Great location and selection. Libraries are the best thing our taxes actually go to. The security guard here is awesome and is quick to tell idiots at the library to get off their phone or to stop talking.

The hubs comes to this library with our little man more than I do, but the few times I have tagged along with them, the place seems great. There are always activities going on for the little tykes. There’s a quiet play area in the children’s section where our son likes to build towers. There’s also a bunch of computers that he can go to to play some online games (nickjr, disneyjr, pbskids, etc.). Whenever the hubs puts a book on hold, he gets an email to let him know that it’s in. The checkout system is self serve and pretty convenient. The culture passes seem really cool, too, although we haven’t taken advantage of that yet.

I have been to this library a few times now, usually to pick up some books that are on hold or to quickly return some books. The location is ideal and yet not. It’s great because it is near the Paradise Valley Mall and if you need to get some shopping done, awesome. However, if you just want to get in and out quickly, that’s a little more difficult because you are near a mall that is busy, busy, busy! Cars are zipping in and out of the mall parking lot/​loop and it can be difficult to get out of the library. Plus the parking lot for the actual library is on the small side and it is U shaped. So if you don’t find parking, you have to leave and come back in to circle back around. Despite this, the inside is nice and has a nice lay out. I’d recommend this library just for the convenience.

The library sure has changed over the years! Everything is so easy to find no matter what you are looking for. I out my books on hold and have them transferred from whatever library has it to my preferred location then I get an email when it’s ready and they are on a specific set if shelves! Easy!
Only complain about this location is parking. The lot isn’t set up very well and can get tight.

Needed to do a few hour’s worth of concentrated reading in an isolated environment so I went to my closest library. My back was sore that day, so I wanted to relax in a beanbag chair versus sitting upright.
All three beanbags were isolated in an area marked «teen only». Two out of the three were empty. Rather than just plop down, I thought I should go ask somebody if I could just move one of the beanbags a couple of feet away into the adult environment.
I was passed around through THREE different employees before I finally encountered someone with the executive authority to make such a crucial, mission-​critical decision. The answer was no. No I can’t sit there and no I can’t move the beanbag a few feet. Really, it’s that flagrant of a violation? Are we in China, Russia or the Middle East?
Other than that, the place is quite noisy and most of the employees I talked to reeked of smoke.

Update: I’m DONE with this library. This library has gone seriously down hill! The librarians are all on power trips. For example: Talking at a normal voice in the KID area & being told to be quiet. Making me wait until 9:45am when it’s 9:42am for tickets to the Storytime. Lastly, telling my 18 month old to sit during Storytime when he was standing/​walking while listening. Get over yourselves! Don’t bother coming here — from now on I’ll go out of my way to go to a different library!
Many good things about this library branch! They offer a variety of story times for children of all ages. Their proximity to PV Mall (waking distance) is great for an activity before or after storytime. That being said, I believe the librarians who teach Storytime could be more engaging with the kids. Occasionally, the Storytime is funded by First Things First and those teachers (Jesse & Allyson) are AWESOME!

Used to come to this library often while I was in school. Haven’t come here many times after 2007. But still come here once or twice just to vote for City of Phoenix elections. Very good location right by PV Mall and near SR-​51 and Loop-​101. I believe the city cut the library hours, so this location doesn’t even open on Fridays anymore. But I would agreed on the good librarians working in the library.

I frequent this library mainly for the children’s section. I enjoy the layout of this library. The children’s section is equipped with several computers for all ages. There are also plenty of puzzles and books to play with. There is a magnetic board and a felt board for the children to explore.
I have tried the story time for the toddlers and my one complaint is due to the popularity of it, the room in which its held can become stuffy and a little claustrophobic. The upside to this is, they hold an overflow story time in the open play area to accommodate those who did not get into the designated room.
I have also noticed security is obvious and present. There is a guard who frequently patrols the library.

This library is close to home and great, the librarians are always warm and friendly!
Good selection and always neat and clean!

Where’s the” SHHHHHHHHHHH!”? Went here to STUDY and the place is just as loud as your neighborhood Starbucks.
I’m not THAT old, mid-​twenties, BUT why do I feel so old? I want to tell all these people, «back in my day, when I was a little girl we weren’t allowed to talk on our cell phones, carry on conversations, or comment on websites while surfing the library’s internet.»
Its a really nice library. Great A/​C. Right next to the mall. Feels clean and safe. Have event scheduled throughout the month for its patrons (which can be easily accessed online.)
Besides everyone disregarding their Library 101 skills, I’m also disappointed in the hours of this branch. Closes at 5 most weekdays.
Maybe I could form a different opinion if I was allowed to go to this branch on a more frequent basis ;)

This is a great neighborhood library. You can park in the mall’s covered lot, and cross the teeny little road to get to this library.
If you weren’t already «in the know», you can reserve any Phoenix library item online, and have it delivered to the library of your choice, for pickup. That’s what I do, do when I go to the library, it’s generally to pick up something on hold, and then to peruse the shelves for an unfamiliar read, or a DVD.
Inside, it’s comfortable. The «reserved» books section is well organized. My kids can always find some fun read.
Picture this nice summer day (mom w/​kids –style): Park in the covered lot. Take the kids to a matinée at the theater in the mall. Get a little lunch at the food court. Go to the library. No need to move the car– you’ve parked once and the car is still in the shade!

I love this library because it is near my house, but let’s face it how can you go wrong with a library adjacent to the Paradise Valley Mall. Also close to my bank and Costco this is awesome! So I use the library for getting all my books, music and movies if Netflix doesn’t have what I want and my favorite part is the little key chain library card I always have it with me so when I get my email reminder that I have a hold waiting to be picked up viola I can pick it up on my way home, park right out front in the 5 min zone and within minutes I am home enjoying my selection.