George & Elsie Wood Public Library

With new longer hours on Thursdays, as of October 1^st, 2015, the Thursday Evening Programs have recommenced.
Check out the web site for the schedule and come enjoy this charming library.
Sun: Closed
Mon: 10 – 6
Tues: 10 – 7
Wed: 10 – 7
Thurs: 10 – 9
Fri: 2 – 6
Sat: 2 – 6

Love this small library, well stocked easy going employees, generous timing with the computers, activities for everyone and they even have a pet cat, no wonder it is the best small library in 2014!

What a surprise, this small library is open on a Sunday. There are clear views of the vineyard just behind the library, a cat napping in a basket, an art wall and free Wi-​Fi. I just glanced at the programs offered, but it appeared there was something going on everyday and evening. Free movies, lectures and things for kids; it appears that this is a library that is really a part of the community
This is indeed a lovely library.

Excellent library! Great views, comfy study areas, free wifi, AC, lots of wine books, kids section,… Perfect small library.

Excellent public library that takes particular interest in helping kids learn to enjoy reading. Their children’s section is very large and it means the other section are not as large as they could be, due to limited space.
Bottom line is that this place is great for young ones and if you have any then bring them here to check out a book or two. They sometimes even have challenges where children can win prizes if they finish off their booklist in a certain amount of time.
I have been here countless times and never once was treated impolitely by the library staff. I’d also like to point out that many of the people working here are volunteers. Also they have a bank of computers that are free for the public to use, I think they may have some restrictions on content and time allotted for usage. However, I think if you bring your own laptop you can use the free wifi for whatever you want. On the note of electronics I would like to say that this library has an extensive movie and audiobook selection.
All in all this is a gorgeous library with excellent staff and I think you should check it out some day.

Beautiful facility, one of the nicest small libraries I have seen. DVD selection is very very good. Views from the library are so pretty you can’t believe you are in a library.
If only the people working there were as nice as the facility. The problem is that the staff is really unfriendly when they are on good behavior, and downright rude the rest of the time.

I love public libraries. This one is surrounded by vines, has an excellent outdoor picnic table and great views from inside, full-​on air con, free wi-​fi, DVD and book lending, and movie night on Monday (with wine countryish movies, like, oh, Under the Tuscan Sun). I’m a fan!

Well its small, so the selection in all areas is weak, but it is much less crowded than the Napa Library.
The most important distinction, and the only reason I am writing this review is because this library has subscribed to an internet filtering service and is now blocking a host of sites including all P2P file sharing sites (BitTorrents) they deem as unfit for you, the taxpayer to access.
They have even blocked
… WTF! Teenieboppers Unite! Cast off your chains of bondage… com, which is also blocked by the way.
For a full list of site categories not allowed by St. Helena’s new fascist internet overlords go here:
Soon the librarians will be reading your emails and forwarding them to Homeland Security.

My grandma was a staunch St. Helena Library supporter even before the current building… but more importantly she was a woman of remarkable interest. Not just an interesting character. Grandma was truly engaged in life and interested in the things around her.
A college graduate and one-​time newspaper reporter, grandma read voraciously and never owned a television, she preferred to walk places so she could really experience them and made friends wherever she went because she was truly *interested* in what people had to say. Her house was lined wall-​to-​wall with books, books and more books… and yet the SHPL enticed her with stories and knowledge to be discovered.
If you go to the SHPL you will find yourself in a well-​lit space, surrounded on three sides by vineyards. And if you curl up near a window and become absorbed in a book, you will find that time passes quickly. When you leave, take a moment to ponder what you’ve read, and appreciate that your life is now just a little bit richer.
Grandma was right, the SHPL is a wonderful library. In addition to a collection of books larger than one would expect for a town this size, you’ll also find the SHPL has:
— a large room dedicated to children’s material
— another smaller room of picture books for young kids
— an extensive selection of VHS format videos (which Peter’s Video no longer carries)…and DVDs too
— free wi-​fi for your laptop… and a number of PC terminals for easy Unilocaling
— the Napa Valley Wine Library collection
— movie nights
— an art gallery wall
— friendly, helpful librarians
A five-​star library experience and a nice way to spend a SH afternoon. Open daily.