Oakwell Branch Library

This library has a very nice atmosphere and lots of workspace with comfortable seating! Too bad that the LIBRARIANS can’t seem to stay quiet while the rest of us are considerate of one another and sit here working quietly.
I was sitting in a complete opposite area of the main desk and I could clearly hear what the librarians were talking about, one was talking about her kids, one about some call she had gotten the night before. Whenever they were helping anyone find a book they were talking much louder than is necessary as they walked through the shelves of books, I mean like on the verge of yelling loud.
There was a class of grade school kids that added to the noise, but they are kids and are going to follow suit of how loud other people are talking. No one told them to quiet down, the librarians just talked even louder to try and be heard by the screaming kids. And to top all of this off there was a maintenance person there DRILLING in the middle of the day.
I don’t know about the rest of San Antonio, but I come to a library to work in the quiet and get away from the noise at home, and that was not achieved. I should have stayed home and I would have gotten more done. This could be a great library if the staff was respectful to the public trying find a peaceful environment.

I really enjoy this library. The librarians and staff are friendly and the layout is comfortable. I enjoy the couches by the front, and the quiet room that includes the magazine section. Their request/​hold system is very efficient and I’ve watched so many movies and have read so many books thanks to this library.
Also, I really love that the library system has laptop check outs. You can’t leave the library with the laptop, of course, but you can «rent» it for two hours and use it anywhere within the library. Make sure you bring it back before the two hours or you’ll be charged a $ 25.00 fee for any fraction of the hour to your account. You have to have your own flash drive and you can’t print from the laptops but it’s helpful if you want to surf the internet or work on some documents and not sit on uncomfortable stools. There a little more fine print to the laptop usage so make sure to ask.
I love libraries to begin with, and am really thankful for the welcoming atmosphere at Tobin.
Whenever I can, I donate some books to the library or even plastic bags that the library then uses to give out to patrons for their books. So please donate!

This branch isn’t quite as good as many of the others. It’s next door to a middle school, so you have a large juvenile section here.
It’s not very quiet, because it’s one huge room, and the middle schoolers these days don’t know that you’re supposed to be quiet in a library.
It was recently redesigned, so it has fresh carpeting, new chairs and tables, new computers, etc.
The staff is usually helpful.
They used to have an area at the front door where you could exchange magazines, and take other literature for free. This has been done away with, which I’m disappointed over.
It has this back room which is the «quiet study» room, if you really need solitude and quiet, this is the place to go in the library.

I love to read. I read so much that I have to get a new library card every year because the bar code wears off!
I can usually be found at the Tobin-​Oakwell branch library. I can also be found sitting on the floor in a couple of sections. Drool marks on the carpet are probably mine.
Great staff! Helpful! Free Internet (or at least about an hour a day you get free). You can checkout yourself or have one of the librarians do it for you. I’ve never had to wait to check out as I have at other branches. This branch is one of the quieter ones I have been in!
One HUGE plus and KUDDOS to the San Antonio Library System: you can place holds on books and have them sent to any branch of your choosing. So you find the book at Central library but don’t want to drive downtown for it? put a hold on it and they bring it to you. Simple!
I have also ordered books that the library system doesn’t have in stock and they have each and every time accepted the request and ordered the book for the library system. I LOVE THIS LIBRARY!