Menlo Park Library — Attraction in Menlo Park

If you want to experience the VERY best of Karen behavior and be reminded of how unwelcome you are as an Asian in this part of Bay Area, come to this library in Menlo Park!

A silver-haired, masked Karen scurried up to me while I was sitting at a desk, to scold at my w the utmost disgust at my being that I must "always keep my shoes on." Bear in mind, I'm wearing open-toed Keens (a Karen-endorsed brand), REI-branded Karen-endorsed clothing, and I was sitting cross-legged, (ankle-on-knee) with the Keen sandal of my hanging foot on the ground. Completely would understand if I was placing my feet on the chair or touching the table or chair w my feet, but I wasn't...is there some foot fetish triggered in you from seeing my tiny children-foot-sized Asian foot glory instead of halfsies in my Keens at the corner of the room?!

Coming from a society where we're used to washing our feet like our hands and having an inane amount of different slippers in the house to segregate between the outdoors; the bathroom; and the main part of the house; and where Starbucks and standard restaurants in my country require removal of feet from shoes to enter and sit at the table for meals...this Karen behavior at Menlo Park library absolutely perplexes me at how the appearance of not wearing an open-toed thin layer between the bottom of ones feet is not acceptable, particularly as there is no one else on this half of the room of desks.

I heard disdainful murmuring behind me after my incredulous face in response to her getting in my face. You just can't win w Karens at this library, especially when you're Asian in Menlo Park. Oh the guy blaring his music on his phone a few tables over? Oh no, she can't say anything to him because well, he 'looks' underprivileged and can't defend herself against potentially being called a racist. Oh the house-less guy outside the library with the speaker jamming to his own karaoke music, oh no, she can't say anything to him because that could be taken as racist, unwelcoming, and disparaging to an underprivileged population!

I should stick to the Stanford library. At least I can look around and see others who look like me and not get scolded for using the library as you're supposed to -- quietly and for private study/reading.

If the head of the library or councilmember is reading this, I'd be happy to describe her to you further for EO training as well as what drives Asians out of using community centers like this that taxpayers of all ethnic backgrounds are forced to support, but can't take advantage of due to feelings of...

Menlo Park Library – Where Dog Man Raises Your Kid & Nintendo Games Are Basically Free

This isn’t just a library—it’s Menlo Park’s best-kept life hack.

The book selection is amazing, and the children’s section goes wild—seriously, even your screen-obsessed 11-year-old will find something to get lost in (shoutout to Dog Man, aka the literary gateway drug for chaotic kids everywhere). Whether your kid’s a reluctant reader or a future librarian, they’ll find their lane here.

Pro tip: Check the book drop-off hours—they’re a little mysterious, like the Bermuda Triangle of return slots. And don’t assume they’re open just because it’s noon on a Tuesday—double-check those hours online to avoid a closed-door heartbreak.

Now, for the real MVP perks: • Free state park passes you can check out? Yes, please. • Video games and Nintendo Switch rentals for two weeks? Say less. (Just don’t hold your breath for the newest titles—the waitlist is deeper than a Marvel multiverse, often 2-3 months long.) • Their online catalog is stacked, too—stream books, movies, and more from your couch.

Want peace and quiet? The outdoor patio is a serene little haven—grab a coffee, sit under the trees, and feel like a main character in an indie film. There’s even a solid pool of leisure readers inside if you’re scoping for lowkey book club energy.

Bottom line? Sign up for a library card. Save money, discover hidden gems, and maybe get your kid off YouTube for 20...

I was there recently & sat in the corner beyond the teen section. As I was leaving & walking past the teen section (not through it) I saw two young teen boys (ie barely teens) sitting close to eachother & it looked like they were kissing each other. I was SHOCKED to be honest. I know the bay area is fairly liberal, but not radical like San Francisco . My experience around here is that it's fairly normal so to speak - ie traditional . But beyond my own personal proclivities, it seems to me that this should NOT be allowed whether it's same sex or otherwise . I would think they shouldn't be doing that here in the library. I was concerned that there's no supervision of...