Great Northwest Branch Library

I don’t know why more people don’t have library cards. This branch offers free membership cards for the San Antonio Library System. With a membership, you get access to all branches across the city. This includes access to books, movies, video games, newspapers, magazines, and equipment. The best part though is access to the e-​reader collection. You don’t even need to go to the library to rent books. I utilize the e-​reader option much more than the in-​person services because of how easy it is and how big of a selection they have. The system is easy to use and is all accessed through the library’s website. If a book is already checked out, just place a hold on it and it will appear on your kindle when it is available. It will disappear when your rental period is over as well. No more late fees or awkward run ins when you remember that you forgot to return a book. It makes the library experience so much more enjoyable.
Overall, this library is great. The San Antonio Library System has made renting books and movies such an easy experience. This branch is a great one because of its clean facilities, easy parking, and friendly staff. I would highly recommend dropping in today.

It’s a small, cozy little library but it’s well organized. The staff are helpful and efficient. I like that it has the feel of a small town library. It’s easily accessible and there is plenty of parking.

This library is really small but they still have a decent selection and the inter-​library loan system makes the size pretty much a non-​issue if you know ahead of time what you’re looking for. Very helpful staff and I love that this is clearly a very family-​friendly location. There are always a lot of kids enjoying the kids’ section, yet I’ve never had an issue with noise. Several little nooks where you can sit down and flip through a book and plenty of computers for patrons’ use. I do wish the hours were a little more extended, but it’s still a good location with decent services.

A smaller community library with helpful staff. The kids area is quite nice and extensive. Offers self-​checkout, too. Their video library is rather small but you can have them do an intra-​library loan.

I was a loyal patron of Great Northwest Library for years until they started accusing me of not returning books that I had returned! Usually I would go back to the shelf where I found it and there it would be right on the shelf — someone had just re shelved it without checking it back into the system. Next, they said that I hadn’t returned an audio book and wanted $ 100 for it — I was so mad because I had turned it in to a PERSON — not the book drop and they still were saying that I hadn’t returned it. I paid the fine and carried on. Then it happened AGAIN, this time to my dad — he’s about to write them a check when I insisted that they check the shelves again and where was it — right on the shelf. We don’t visit this library anymore because of the poor service :(

If you don’t have a library card, you should get one!
This local branch of the SA Public Library (SAPL) system isn’t the largest one around, but they do an excellent job. They have about a dozen computer stations for use and if they don’t carry a book/​cd/​dvd you can easily request it as a transfer using their online system and the hold shelf for these acquisitions are easy to find and check out using the «self serve» kiosks. I don’t have children myself, but there are always kids activities taking place in the children’s wing of the building. They also have a little book cart at the front of the library where they sell paperbacks in great shape for $ 1 a piece to raise funds for the branch. It is a bit like a treasure hunt when I go to pick up books to see if they have anything I would like to purchase from the cart. Even though they have a small parking lot, I have never had trouble parking (except during election season) and the staff has always been super friendly and helpful.
SAPL also have e-​books and audio books available for kindles and other e-​readers, although this part of their system is limited compared to other libraries I have seen around the country (probably due to poor funding :(Seriously, look into voting/​contributing to improving our libraries!)