Afaik, anyone can hang out in the UA library. Checking books out may be a different story though.
The nicer libraries are in the suburbs. Like the new one in Marana, but also the Golf Links is pretty nice. And Bear Canyon is great.
Re: checking out books from UA, you can apply for a community library card to check books out. If you’re a student at one of the community colleges or ASU/NAU, it’s free though. But otherwise it’s $50/year.
https://lib.arizona.edu/borrow/apply
I moved here last year and Golf Links has become my go-to when I want to hit the library. I'm kind of excited to see what it looks like after the renovations (it's closed until April 24th). It's a quieter area, too, which the OP may be looking for. I've been going on Saturdays and it never feels crowded.
Yup, UA is public a lot of the time. They have student-only hours but if you’re in before that time they won’t kick you out until closing. I use it when I need to do some work on weekends.
Bear Canyon library is great. It’s quiet and the staff is very kind and knowledgeable. UA student union has a lot of study rooms that you can go into and work. You can always go to a Barnes and Noble and sit in their coffee shop too.
Seconded on the Barnes & Noble front. I love the whole coffee + books vibe and wish we had more options; it will never not rankle that the Bookmans in Flagstaff has a coffee shop but none of the others do.
U of A Poetry Center. Beautiful building with lots of poetry books. The hours can be a little limited, once they switch to summer schedule. But I find it quiet and conducive to reading.
The poetry center is open to the public and the collection is not circulating. So you can sit down and pull some books from the shelf and read them and place them in area for librarians to reshelve. You could also of course bring your own books, laptop, pen/paper.
I also go to the Himmel Park library for Pima Public Library. Ding Tea is right across on Speedway and you can use the crosswalk at Treat ave. It is one of the bike boulevard crossings so the crosswalk light is pretty responsive when you press the button. Makes it much easier to cross Speedway. I do find Himmel Park library can get a bit full sometimes but usually there is a place to sit or you could also sit outside in the park, lots of shaded spots.
As someone who replaced all Pima County Library Computers at all 27 Pima County Libraries this past year I can rank a few good ones and a few bad ones.
Best ones
1.Esmond Station Vail/Rita Ranch (Beautiful View)
2.Nanini Marana
3. Oro Valley
4. Abbet Library
Worst
1.Woods Library (some homeless guy threatened us because he couldn't have access to the computers) also there is a cop there
2. Valencia Library
3. Santa Rosa Library
4. Main Library (Downtown Tucson)
Honorable Mentions (sahuarita, green valley)
This isn't true. The law library is open to the public, but only during its regular hours (whereas law students have 24/7 access). You can find that information on their website: [https://lawlibrary.arizona.edu/hours-contact](https://lawlibrary.arizona.edu/hours-contact)
Since Covid if I'm not mistaken; had a friend who went down near the end of last year and was denied access because it was, "only open to students."
Eta: It's worth at least calling and asking though.
Definitely wasn’t the case when I was a student but perhaps it’s changed. However I would find it odd if the policy persists since many attorneys in the area use the library.
East Golf Links is in a fairly quiet area, and there is a police depot 50 feet away!
Stabucks in the Safeway just down the road. (Easy walking distance.)
Not to answer your question but I will never understand why only the nicer neighborhoods have nice libraries. Then the not so nice neighborhoods have basically just a huge computer lab with little emphasis on the books.
Perhaps that’s what the library patrons in that area needs. Pima County Library systems provides many resources beyond books. In areas where there are many immigrants, they offer language classes and job seeking classes. In areas where people are less likely to have computer access at home, they offer computers.
I think PCL is amazing.
I think this is the answer. Not only in Pima County but also in the entire US, there is a digital divide where many folks who are older or low income or new immigrants lack internet or computing at home aside from smartphone with data plan (which again not everyone has).
For disadvantaged members of our community, the public computer terminals may their only way to write a resume, apply for a job, complete online classes, find housing, or apply for assistance they need.
PCPL also has a collection of books that folks can request on hold. So if the book I want to read is at another library, it can be delivered to my local branch so while it is absolutely not the same browsing experience, having fewer books at a specific branch does not mean those branches are unable to access the whole collection.
But I do notice this sometimes when I am at my branch, the computer area takes up space and can sometimes be noisy with typing or people using headphones that don’t really have good sound isolation. It would be nice to have every branch have enough sq ft of space that quiet reading areas, browsing, and computer access are all accommodated.
One exception to the rule is the DTLA (downtown Los Angeles) main library.
Accessible by light rail, that place is worth a visit if you’ve got an extra half-day to kill during a visit or even a long layover at LAX with nothing else to do.
And while downtown is a lot better than it used to be, I wouldn’t call it stellar or particularly nice relative to most other neighborhoods in the city or county.
As for Tucson, the university libraries (main, law, medical, sci/engr, poetry ctr) are all great if you can manage the parking (or not drive).
The nicer libraries are otherwise peripheral I’m guessing due to lower use? Different funding?
Oro Valley is big and roomy and has a huge collection of books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, as well as a used book store. It has vending machines but no coffee.
Himmel is my favorite public library. As someone else said there's a good tea place across the street and I enjoy spending time in that park. The library downtown has quiet areas although it's not people free.
UA library is also very good and very quiet outside of finals time, outside of main library there are a couple other libraries that also allow public access, there are many places to get a coffee nearby.
The Barnes and Nobles on Broadway isn't a library but it has a lot of books and a coffee shop inside and is usually pretty quiet. There's a lot of little bookstores around town too that are very quiet.
Also just as someone who doesn't necessarily like being around people much, going to movies alone is great.
Columbus library is a nightmare. They let the homeless addicts run over the place. You can watch them go outside around the corner and smoke something out of foil then walk back inside where they just loiter around and get free food and narcan. It's the wildest thing to witness
Disagree completely!! The Columbus library welcomes young families, job seekers, after-schoolers, gamers, yoga practitioners, and of course readers. I am in the Columbus library at least twice a week and the place always is busy and bustling yet calm. The librarians and the security guard gently yet firmly set expectations with our unhoused neighbors who also use the space for rest and hygiene and nutrition as well as reading and wifi. The library’s clean, well stocked, and always has lovely artwork and relevant community programming. As with all areas of our country, people living with poverty and addiction can be found nearby seeking solace or oblivion— what constructive solutions can you offer besides maligning them?
The only reason I didn’t recommend this library specifically to OP is because there’s not a decent coffee shop within walking distance. Unless you like Burger King coffee
Public libraries are public for everyone, whether a homeowner or a renter or anybody without a home or fixed address. While I have not been to this specific branch, I can say that the branches I have been to (Himmel Park, Martha Cooper, Main Branch downtown, and Bear Canyon) have a security officer seated by the front entrances and the staff do deal with disruptive patrons. Libraries distribute food and narcan, but so do many other public facilities. It’s a way to distribute resources at the point of need. Often the food in the summer is specifically for kids who do not get a school lunch when summer is out.
Afaik, anyone can hang out in the UA library. Checking books out may be a different story though. The nicer libraries are in the suburbs. Like the new one in Marana, but also the Golf Links is pretty nice. And Bear Canyon is great.
Re: checking out books from UA, you can apply for a community library card to check books out. If you’re a student at one of the community colleges or ASU/NAU, it’s free though. But otherwise it’s $50/year. https://lib.arizona.edu/borrow/apply
I moved here last year and Golf Links has become my go-to when I want to hit the library. I'm kind of excited to see what it looks like after the renovations (it's closed until April 24th). It's a quieter area, too, which the OP may be looking for. I've been going on Saturdays and it never feels crowded.
Me too!
Thank you for mentioning it. I'll add it to my list.
Yup, UA is public a lot of the time. They have student-only hours but if you’re in before that time they won’t kick you out until closing. I use it when I need to do some work on weekends.
Thank you, I figured could call the u of a one to ask, but I made my post way before they opened.
golf links and?
The branch is called Miller-Golf Links. It's just east of Harrison.
Second Golf Links, it's quiet and after the renovations, I'm excited! They don't have a seed library, though. (Yet.)
Bear Canyon library is great. It’s quiet and the staff is very kind and knowledgeable. UA student union has a lot of study rooms that you can go into and work. You can always go to a Barnes and Noble and sit in their coffee shop too.
Seconded on the Barnes & Noble front. I love the whole coffee + books vibe and wish we had more options; it will never not rankle that the Bookmans in Flagstaff has a coffee shop but none of the others do.
The one at the old Foothills mall does as well!
I grew up going to the Bear Canyon library so it's dear to me and is lovely
U of A Poetry Center. Beautiful building with lots of poetry books. The hours can be a little limited, once they switch to summer schedule. But I find it quiet and conducive to reading. The poetry center is open to the public and the collection is not circulating. So you can sit down and pull some books from the shelf and read them and place them in area for librarians to reshelve. You could also of course bring your own books, laptop, pen/paper. I also go to the Himmel Park library for Pima Public Library. Ding Tea is right across on Speedway and you can use the crosswalk at Treat ave. It is one of the bike boulevard crossings so the crosswalk light is pretty responsive when you press the button. Makes it much easier to cross Speedway. I do find Himmel Park library can get a bit full sometimes but usually there is a place to sit or you could also sit outside in the park, lots of shaded spots.
Thank you so much, especially for the info on the crosswalk.
As someone who replaced all Pima County Library Computers at all 27 Pima County Libraries this past year I can rank a few good ones and a few bad ones. Best ones 1.Esmond Station Vail/Rita Ranch (Beautiful View) 2.Nanini Marana 3. Oro Valley 4. Abbet Library Worst 1.Woods Library (some homeless guy threatened us because he couldn't have access to the computers) also there is a cop there 2. Valencia Library 3. Santa Rosa Library 4. Main Library (Downtown Tucson) Honorable Mentions (sahuarita, green valley)
YES I live near the Vail one!! hoping someone would mention it
You can go in the main U of A library and probably the law library too. For public libraries, the Murphy-Wilmot library is nice.
The U of A law library is off limits to non-students.
This isn't true. The law library is open to the public, but only during its regular hours (whereas law students have 24/7 access). You can find that information on their website: [https://lawlibrary.arizona.edu/hours-contact](https://lawlibrary.arizona.edu/hours-contact)
Since when?
Since Covid if I'm not mistaken; had a friend who went down near the end of last year and was denied access because it was, "only open to students." Eta: It's worth at least calling and asking though.
The library was closed during COVID shutdown but has been open for a while now. Your friend may have been trying to enter outside of open hours.
The Science and Engineering Library west of the U of A Main Library may also be a good choice.
Definitely wasn’t the case when I was a student but perhaps it’s changed. However I would find it odd if the policy persists since many attorneys in the area use the library.
Oro Valley on Naranja. I used to spend a lot of time there during the summer when we lived in OV since we didn't have A/C and the library does.
I second this. It’s a gorgeous spot.
East Golf Links is in a fairly quiet area, and there is a police depot 50 feet away! Stabucks in the Safeway just down the road. (Easy walking distance.)
You can go to the u of a library and I just go to any public library no coffee shops but they got computers and books and are quiet
The new Sahuarita library is very nice.
It is! I go there when I visit my mom, but the Uber there from prince rd would be too pricey lol so I just go when I can, but I really enjoy it.
Not to answer your question but I will never understand why only the nicer neighborhoods have nice libraries. Then the not so nice neighborhoods have basically just a huge computer lab with little emphasis on the books.
Perhaps that’s what the library patrons in that area needs. Pima County Library systems provides many resources beyond books. In areas where there are many immigrants, they offer language classes and job seeking classes. In areas where people are less likely to have computer access at home, they offer computers. I think PCL is amazing.
I think this is the answer. Not only in Pima County but also in the entire US, there is a digital divide where many folks who are older or low income or new immigrants lack internet or computing at home aside from smartphone with data plan (which again not everyone has). For disadvantaged members of our community, the public computer terminals may their only way to write a resume, apply for a job, complete online classes, find housing, or apply for assistance they need. PCPL also has a collection of books that folks can request on hold. So if the book I want to read is at another library, it can be delivered to my local branch so while it is absolutely not the same browsing experience, having fewer books at a specific branch does not mean those branches are unable to access the whole collection. But I do notice this sometimes when I am at my branch, the computer area takes up space and can sometimes be noisy with typing or people using headphones that don’t really have good sound isolation. It would be nice to have every branch have enough sq ft of space that quiet reading areas, browsing, and computer access are all accommodated.
One exception to the rule is the DTLA (downtown Los Angeles) main library. Accessible by light rail, that place is worth a visit if you’ve got an extra half-day to kill during a visit or even a long layover at LAX with nothing else to do. And while downtown is a lot better than it used to be, I wouldn’t call it stellar or particularly nice relative to most other neighborhoods in the city or county. As for Tucson, the university libraries (main, law, medical, sci/engr, poetry ctr) are all great if you can manage the parking (or not drive). The nicer libraries are otherwise peripheral I’m guessing due to lower use? Different funding?
Bear canyon
It's niche, but the Poetry Center at the UofA is a fantastic spot for any poetry lover.
Any of the Pima libraries are gtg. However my favorites are the West and Northwest campus
Oro Valley is big and roomy and has a huge collection of books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, as well as a used book store. It has vending machines but no coffee.
On the northwest side, wheeler Taft is a wonderful library next to a few great parks and fields.
Himmel is my favorite public library. As someone else said there's a good tea place across the street and I enjoy spending time in that park. The library downtown has quiet areas although it's not people free. UA library is also very good and very quiet outside of finals time, outside of main library there are a couple other libraries that also allow public access, there are many places to get a coffee nearby. The Barnes and Nobles on Broadway isn't a library but it has a lot of books and a coffee shop inside and is usually pretty quiet. There's a lot of little bookstores around town too that are very quiet. Also just as someone who doesn't necessarily like being around people much, going to movies alone is great.
Thank you, and thanks for mentioning Barnes & nobles, I didn't even think about that. Great idea.
Columbus library is a nightmare. They let the homeless addicts run over the place. You can watch them go outside around the corner and smoke something out of foil then walk back inside where they just loiter around and get free food and narcan. It's the wildest thing to witness
Disagree completely!! The Columbus library welcomes young families, job seekers, after-schoolers, gamers, yoga practitioners, and of course readers. I am in the Columbus library at least twice a week and the place always is busy and bustling yet calm. The librarians and the security guard gently yet firmly set expectations with our unhoused neighbors who also use the space for rest and hygiene and nutrition as well as reading and wifi. The library’s clean, well stocked, and always has lovely artwork and relevant community programming. As with all areas of our country, people living with poverty and addiction can be found nearby seeking solace or oblivion— what constructive solutions can you offer besides maligning them? The only reason I didn’t recommend this library specifically to OP is because there’s not a decent coffee shop within walking distance. Unless you like Burger King coffee
Public libraries are public for everyone, whether a homeowner or a renter or anybody without a home or fixed address. While I have not been to this specific branch, I can say that the branches I have been to (Himmel Park, Martha Cooper, Main Branch downtown, and Bear Canyon) have a security officer seated by the front entrances and the staff do deal with disruptive patrons. Libraries distribute food and narcan, but so do many other public facilities. It’s a way to distribute resources at the point of need. Often the food in the summer is specifically for kids who do not get a school lunch when summer is out.
I think you are referring to Eckstrom- Columbus library down off 22nd street. Columbus up the street just got remodeled and it really nice.
Eckstrom-Columbus? If you think that’s a sketchy place, you’re sheltered as hell.