Landa Branch Library

I adore this library! It is every bit the hidden gem it seems. Found out recently that SAPL has multiple book clubs and you better believe I jumped on the one offered at this location. The librarians and staff here are all helpful and sweet as can be. There is two separate areas to this library. Downstairs offers children and young adult sections with quiet reading and study sections. Walking into the library it gives you the feeling of mystery with the stone and metal entrance way. Talk about getting your imagination kicked into gear prior to opening a book. As you journey upstairs into the second part of this journey you find yourself amongst fiction and non-​fiction, biographies, and espanol sections, but upstairs gives you a sense of adventure as well. You’re able to meander through rooms that are connected and past a balcony that you can easily imagine Romeo and Juliet being rehearsed prior to this beautiful home becoming part of San Antonio’s must see places and a library you want to sit quietly and enjoy. Upstairs also offers a window study/​quiet room which allows you the pleasure of enjoying the sunlight and outdoors while getting your studying done. As I write this children are playing outside in the playground. Which I might add your quiet reflection doesn’t have to be limited to just indoors while you’re here. Outside on the grounds of the library there are many benches and grassy areas to sit and read while enjoying the fantastic warm weather of spring. I’ll be returning!

Great place. Outside park for the kids to play. A nice pavilion to hang while being able to see the kids running around. It is dog friendly. The library has a great variety of books and is very nice when you go looking for the restrooms. The kids had a great time. Beautiful weather adds to the enjoyment.

Beautiful Library, rude receptionist! I can’t say all of ladies are rude, but the one who answered the phone while Heidi was at lunch was not helpful and she was rude. However, I might change my mind later, but for me right now they are average with customer service.

One of my favorite places to go in San Antonio. The grounds are well maintained and there are plenty of paved paths that are perfect for a stroll. There are two age appropriate playgrounds, a great tree to climb, and plenty of grass to let your kids run or have a picnic. The old house is filled with charm and lots of good places to sit and enjoy a read. I love the grand porch and the neighborhood.

Beautiful visually! The only negatives are that the fine arts books are very sparse. One of the librarians also seemed to think my boyfriend was a bum lol. We just moved to San Antonio so naturally he asked for a library card. Unfortunately he was told he could have one but he would have to return the books!!! Lol I guess she thought he didn’t understand the concept of what a library is. Hahaha. He was a little insulted to say the least. She was a little short with him but our little one had a great time in the park. So in summary more fine arts books and better employees :)

There «ARE» no libraries like this in Houston! Just the building alone it won me over and the inside is mouth dropping. It’s so beautiful and says so much about the history in San Antonio had and has.
Around the back of the library is a play area for kids and families to let they’re kids play or couples picnic and enjoy the scenic view.
The library has about everything any other library has but being at this location does make you feel is visit this library.
Location ¹⁰⁄₁₀. Library ¹⁰⁄₁₀.

The location is beautiful, the building is colonial, and very nice. However, the four stars are because of their lack of places to sit, and the smell of mildew upstairs. I was able to get some work done here but because of the lack of proper furniture, I was very uncomfortable here. The Internet speeds were fast, the people were friendly and helpful, and again the architecture was nice.

Love this library. So tucked away in its own little world yet so accessible. I love it here it’s lovley and quaint.

Landa Library is a beautiful public library, and it has an AMAZING playscape for the kiddos surrounded by huge shade trees and a garden. The two playgrounds are geared for different age groups. The younger play area is fenced in! Even if you don’t have children, there are many lovely, shaded areas to sit and enjoy your lunch or a good book.
As it is a library, the children’s book selection is great. There are wide aisles for little ones to grab a book and sprawl on the floor. My daughter (2.5) especially loves the corner where the board books are. They are arranged facing the front on a short shelf that she can browse all on her own. Since I’ve only visited the library with my toddler, I haven’t had a chance to meander through the adult books. I am looking forward to doing that soon though!

I appreciate the chirping birds, scurrying squirrels, and fluttering butterflies outside of this lovely, little library :)

I love that it has gardens! Im new to San Antonio and there isn’t anything quite like that as far as I know as of yet… Will come back for sure*

Wonderful library Peaceful and gorgeous The staff is helpful. The selection is small, but books can be requested from others branches. The part of lovely.

Great library and fantastic playground geared to all ages. I love to set up playgroups here or take photos. Parking is a bit sparse but I’ve never not found a spot.

This is my new happy place!
The swings: Perfect for grow ups who act like children. My husband and I stayed on the swings for 15 mins before going inside. Best. Decision. Ever.
The landscape: Dreamy. Tons of places to sit and relax. There was an amazing climbing tree but we didn’t go that far. Maybe next time.
The library building: Again, dreamy. It had great ornate detailing. There is a dragon near the entrance. See if you can spot him.
The book selection: Excellent.
The staff and patrons: Super friendly.
Pro tip: Have you kid’s birthday party her!

What a great place to visit! As a book lover, an art lover, & a nature lover I found this place to be the kind of place I could visit on any day! They have a great little community garden out front labeled with the category of plantings (herbs, medicinal, fragrant, etc.), as well as beautiful grounds to explore with a playground for the kids and benches scattered here & there.
The building itself is beautiful, inside & out! I love the light fixture hanging outside the front door!!! I so want one! It is a beautiful wrought iron dragon holding a hanging lamp in his mouth, very gothic, very beautiful! Inside the fresco on the ceiling is breathtaking and it all just makes you go, «Ooooohhh, aaahhhhh!!» (in a hushed voice, of course). I loved the marble mantle in the children’s room as well as the many paintings on the wall. There is one of Cleopatra in the meeting room that is fantastic!
The staff was very friendly and helpful.
Even if you are not a resident of San Antonio & don’t have a library card, this is still a great little stop I think.

This library is beautiful and I had intended on reserving it for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I was directed to work with the public library system event coordinator, Andrew. After finally getting a hold of him after two emails and two phone calls (this is over a month span), we discussed renting the courtyard at Landa and he would email the contract. Well, he never called me back or sent the contract to me. I emailed him again and left two more messages (again, over another month span) to no avail. I would have loved to use the courtyard at Landa but it was just too hard to continue pursuing them.
I still hope to use them sometime for a smaller function since anything on a smaller scale goes through the manager at Landa, Michael. I have a feeling it would have been smooth sailing if we had been able to work with him. Sigh*

Did you read the other Unilocalers reviews? Yeah, I agree with what they said!
Pretty much the best library in the existence of San Antonio.
Tucked away in the romantic setting of the Monte Vista area, you will enjoy this location if you have toddlers and or enjoy reading on cool grass in the shade.
Don’t tell all your friends though, because then it’ll become a famous place for trendy lameos.

This is easily my favorite branch of the SA public library!
It’s an old mansion that they’ve converted into a library! You can tell it’s an old house because they didn’t get rid of all the decorations from the previous owner. The wooden floors creak, the stairs moan, but it’s still a beautiful building. When you enter, be sure to look up at the vaulted ceiling fresco– simply beautiful. It’s peeling a bit, and I wish the Landa foundation would touch it up some, but it’s amazing.
They have a few quiet places to read undisturbed.
The outdoors garden is amazing! They’ve obviously put a lot of hard work into decorating the place, and have done a glorious job! They have a garden to wander through, full of flowers and veggies.
They have a jungle gym and play area for the little ones, with park benches with all kinds of deep thoughts carved into the plaques.
The staff has always been very accommodating, and if you flirt with them a bit, they usually let you slide on your library fines.
I don’t know what’s up with the swastika designs on the East porch…

San Antonio’s Best Kept Secret!
I love the Landa Branch Library. It’s a beautiful library set up in an old estate in the old money area of San Antonio. The staff is amazing at this library and are really on top of things.
In addition to being a library with lots of books, Landa also has DVDs for rent, for free! I love picking up movies here since I’m a college student on a budget. I can even put DVDs on hold through the online catalog and pick them up at my convenience.
If you have some extra time, stop by Landa and explore all that it has to offer both inside the library and out around the grounds!

How I’ve been in San Antonio for nearly 6 years and haven’t known about Landa Branch Library, I don’t know. It’s a beautiful old Spanish-​built home that was converted to a public library branch in honor of the donor’s wife.
Sweet story, but thank goodness for it. The place is simply beautiful. Some days I work out of my home office. I’ll go basically anywhere there’s free wifi and a reasonable amount of quiet. In all my searches, I’ve not found any place that’s in Landa’s league.
There’s a bit of must in the air, a bit of a chill that might get to some. But to not have that feel, that spirit about the building would feel out of place, I’d suspect. Working, reading and studying here is simply a pleasure.
If there’s anything that might take away from the experience for some — not for me, btw — is that there is a wonderful fun-​looking play area outside and the children’s section of the library dominates the downstairs. Both of these factors contribute to this branch attracting more than the normal number of small children. You’ll find them chirping and stomping about the lower level. More than once I’ve been accosted by under-​fours whose days have been enriched by some book or other or a new Elmo DVD.
If that sounds like a drag, don’t show up. Otherwise, come enjoy the atmosphere of the building or take a short walk around the grounds where you’ll find a quaint garden, attractive landscaping, a stylized pagoda with picnic tables, a fair-​sized grassy area perfect for blankets and a large number of clean, curved steel benches. Tall trees offer just enough shade to allow you time to enjoy a chapter or two.