El Toro Library

OC Public Libraries: El Toro Branch
24672 Raymond Way
Lake Forest, CA 92630

This library was good-sized and I particularly liked that it had lots of tables inside to do homework or study. The individual study tables had outlets to charge your laptop. It was quite busy even though I was there on a Sunday. There were lots of children’s videos and DVDs. A community room was also located in the back (you had to exit the main library to get to it). There was enough parking space, which is particularly helpful on a busy day.

 

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Westminster Library

OC Public Libraries: Westminster Branch
8180 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683

This library has got some nice comfy chairs alongside a good collection of magazines.

 

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Laguna Woods and Laguna Hills Libraries

OC Public Libraries: Laguna Woods Branch
24264 El Toro Road
Laguna Woods, CA 92637

This is a city hall/library/chamber of commerce all put together in one building. The library was a desk with a young man sitting on the other side. This library is basically for residents of Laguna Woods to order library books to be sent to this branch, so that they can pick them up here. There wasn’t really much action so I stayed for a little  while and searched the library catalog. Then I headed to Laguna Hills.

 

^this was the desk

 

OC Public Libraries: Laguna Hills Technology Library
25555 Alicia Parkway
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

When I saw the outside, I got excited. It was a large building and my insides jumped with joy. “It must be a huge library”, I told myself (this OC Library Challenge is making me think my friends are right-I am a nerd).

However, when I went inside, this library was kind of similar to the Laguna Woods one. There was a room filled with computers (well, it does say Laguna Hills Technology Library on their website, so it was silly of me to expect a library with only books). There were shelves at the back of the room with books, but that was all. There was not a huge collection of books, so this library serves the purpose of computer access for its residents.

 

I always wondered, while on this challenge, why there were so many branches in the Laguna area (including the Aliso Viejo library because that is pretty close in proximity as well). My conclusion is that some of these libraries provide quick services, like book holds, pick-ups, and computer access to its residents for convenience. Library patrons can still search online catalogs, find books of interest, and finally have the inter-library loan system make it easy for them to pick up their books at a library conveniently located near them.

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Ladera Ranch Library

OC Public Libraries: Ladera Ranch Branch
29551 Sienna Parkway
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

I must say that Ladera Ranch is a beautiful city. The directions getting to the library are a little confusing, and I made a wrong turn because I have not really encountered traffic circles (roundabouts) in my everyday adventures.

The library is located next to an elementary school so I would not recommend going there around 2:30pm, when school gets out. It took me a while to get out to the main street.

The library itself is small and located on the upstairs level of a Greek-style building. It had a nice selection of GRE prep books.

 

 

 

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Laguna Niguel Library

OC Public Libraries: Laguna Niguel Branch
30341 Crown Valley Parkway
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

The area was really nice. I loved the city of Laguna Niguel.

The library was small and there was not much action, but I did find a lot of GRE Prep books=)

San Juan Capistrano Library

OC Public Libraries: San Juan Capistrano Branch
31495 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

 

 

 

 

 

Very beautiful location. I loved the outside area, where you could sit and read. It looked like there was a Jacuzzi as well, but I don’t know if people actually use it.

The library inside was great. It seemed like an old church converted into a library and I liked that feeling.

 

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San Clemente Library

OC Public Libraries: San Clemente Branch
242 Avenida Del Mar
San Clemente, CA 92672

The library is located amidst a very busy area. Parking was difficult to find and the streets were very narrow.

The library was large-sized and well-organized.

When I was coming back (at around 4pm), the streets were a lot less crowded. I drove a little farther down towards the beach and it was gorgeous. I wish I could have taken pictures at the beach, but I couldn’t find parking in the vicinity.

 

^from the back (after I had parked my car)

^the sign at the front

^the front entrance of the library

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Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library

OC Public Libraries: Los Alamitos/Rossmoor Branch
12700 Montecito
Seal Beach, CA  90740

I absolutely loved the area. The library was very organized. I didn’t have to look through a catalog to find the topics I was looking for. It had signs on every section of shelves, listing the topics that can be found there.

There was wireless internet access, but the internet was too slow for some reason even though the signal was excellent.

There were many people there and the librarians seemed friendly and nice.

 

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Irvine Public Libraries

OC Public Libraries: Heritage Park Branch
14361 Yale Avenue
Irvine, CA. 92604

The library was average sized, but felt a little stuffy. It was packed with people. I didn’t look around as I had a physics midterm to prepare for.

 

OC Public Libraries: University Park Branch
4512 Sandburg Way
Irvine, CA 92612 

  

This library was medium sized, but the way it was set up was very nice. I love the location. It’s in a nice residential area.

 

OC Public Libraries: Katie Wheeler Branch
13109 Old Myford Rd.
Irvine, CA 92602

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My favorite out of all three was the Katie Wheeler Branch. It was small, but the place was very cozy. There was a park outside with lots of greenery=)

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Seal Beach Library

OC Public Libraries: Seal Beach Branch

Mary Wilson Library
707 Electric Ave.
Seal Beach, CA  90740

 

 

 

I was kind of disappointed with the location of the library. First off, it was very difficult to locate. I actually passed the 8th Street that Electric Avenue was on, and ended up in 8th Street of Los Angeles County! Side note: The 8th Street of Los Angeles had gorgeous houses. There was a cross-street called Santiago and a golf course/park was located there. Very beautiful.

Although the library was medium-sized, it was quite spacious. The librarian at the front desk was semi-nice, meaning I couldn’t really tell, but she said that I had a nice scarf. The children’s area was very colorful. There was a good amount of computers and reference computers (i.e. for searching the online library catalog). The bathrooms, however, were not that clean.

I think the Seal Beach area is quite attractive, but the library was a tiny bit disappointing. However, all this negativity could be due to the fact that although the area is only fifteen minutes away from my place (according to mapquest), I ended up finding my destination an hour later (due to my horrible mental GPS and the not-so-obvious-street-sign of 8th Street).

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Mission Viejo Library

Mission Viejo Library
100 Civic Center
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

 

 

^Pathway next to the entrance

 

 

^Heritage Room

- Very large :)
- Located in a beautiful neighborhood
-Many, many magazines: one whole wall covered with them plus 3 racks with 2 sides and 3 shelves each with magazines
-Different language books: Farsi, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.
-Lots of beautiful paintings on the walls by residents of the city
-Lots of comfy chairs
-Lots of study room
-Separate kids room
-Separate tiny tots room
-Heritage room with display of antiques from the city’s past
-Beautiful view from the windows

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Buena Park Library

Buena Park Library District
7150 La Palma Avenue
Buena Park, CA 90620

 

 

 

 

 

 

^ “Books in Urdu are available in this library”

It seemed to me as a large-sized library.

-The library was pretty loud upstairs, even though there was a huge sign that said something along the lines of “Quiet Study Area”.
-There are a good number of computers. They need to be reserved  for 50/60 minute increments. That makes it fair for everyone, so they can get a chance to use them as well.
-Wireless did not work for my computer because I could not get connection and was unable to do any of my work.
- There were young volunteers throughout the library, as well as middle school child volunteers. An 11 year old was explaining to me about reserving a computer. Very cute:)
-Lots of DVDs, but not brand new
-Separate children's room, medium sized
-Different language books: Urdu, Gujarati, Hindi, Telugu, Korean, Spanish, etc.
-I went to get my passport made as well and the lady at the front desk was very sweet.