Mountain View Public Library — Attraction in Mountain View

This is a beautiful library with a good selection and large amount of work desks. But like many folks have commented in their reviews, I have issues with the staffing here, namely that it is NOT kid friendly. I have lived down the street for 5 years and have just stopped bringing my kids here entirely.

On our last visit, my younger son was excited to read, and in the kids section he was marching toward the books and waving his hands, not talking or making any noise - but a staff member told us "no dancing" is allowed?!? That was my last straw. On another occasion, he wanted to help me check out the books, so I pulled over a step stool for him to stand on so he could reach the computer - the lady at the desk stood up and came over to say that he could not stand on it. What is a step stool meant to be used for....? So I put him on the counter up against my body for safety so he could help, but was reprimanded for that, too. On another occasion, my older son was walking in a circle, quietly pacing the lobby while waiting for me to check out the books; a security guard told him he's not allowed to do that and needs to stay quietly at my side. So my son comes over and sits on the floor next to me to wait - guess what? The same guy came over to say he can't do that either, because the floor is dirty. Sooo.... he must stand as still as a statue and is not allowed to walk around OR sit quietly?! Can the staff just let us exist and get some books? If my kids were being loud or running then sure, please say something. But they're just walking and sitting, I do not understand the need to police non-disruptive behavior so heavily.

These are only a few examples; every single time we have gone to this library my kids are talked to by staff. On our very first visit we went right at opening and no one else was there with us - the whole place to ourselves. My son was excited by the tiny door to the children's section and went through it 4-5 times - a guard came over to tell us that he needs to stop and continue into the children's section. No one else was even there!! This does not happen to us at other libraries, at stores, at school, etc so I don't think I'm being ignorant. My kids are well-behaved overall. That said, my kids said they don't like going here anymore. I will go get books for them, but they don't want to come with me. It makes me very sad that even at such a young age they were being made to feel they can't freely exist, especially in a setting that has a children's section: a place that is supposedly built just for kids.

I still come here occasionally by myself or to work, because again, it has a pretty good selection and a good amount of work space. But when I'm with my kids, we go the distance now for the Cupertino or Los Altos libraries where I have been warmly greeted and the staff encourages kids to have fun and enjoy the area. They love the building and train tables at the Los Altos library, and they love the aquarium at the Cupertino library. At both locations, multiple times the staff have come to them and asked them what topics they enjoy so they can help them find books that are fitting for them - above and beyond customer service! Mountain View should take a couple of training days to explore how other libraries are...

Very strict. No sleeping allowed, not even putting your head down. You will get interrupted by a security officer if you even look like you're sleeping (all I did was put my head down to close my eyes for ONE MINUTE and a security guard loudly knocked on my desk telling me no sleeping allowed, interrupting my moment of peace and meditation). I had been awake since 5 AM, came back from work to study and do homework, so I just wanted to take a little break and close my eyes for a few minutes to refresh my mind. But nope, not allowed. And oh boy, never ever take your shoes off at this library while you're reading or studying, even if it's a private study area. They will disrupt your peace just to tell you to put your shoes on like it's illegal. These may be small things but it's annoying and ridiculous that I can't relax freely at the library in fear a security officer will come up to me for breaking some arbitrary rule. What I was doing wasn’t even making any noise or disrupting the peace. Who knows what's next, sitting in my chair too “improperly”? I have never had this happen at any other library, and I go to a lot of libraries. I would understand if I was eating food, but just putting my head down isn’t allowed? I loved this library at first but these experiences have completely soured it for me. Gives "Big Brother is always watching" vibes. By the way, this has all happened on the only 2 times I have come here, all by the same female security guard. And it isn’t just me, she also did the same to the person sitting behind me who also got annoyed. Won't come back to study here again. Mountain View library, please fire this lady. Just her walking past me interferes with my peace now. Does not feel like a safe space at all, feels like I will get in trouble...

UPDATE: The following is my favorite part of the Terms Of Use (which you MUST accept in order to use the network): "You understand that CMV WiFi, which utilizes wireless technologies, is not inherently secure and that wireless communications can be intercepted by technology designed and intended for that purpose. We will not be liable to you or any other party for any lack of security that may result from your use of CMV WiFi. You agree that you are responsible for providing security measures that are suited for your intended use of CMV WiFi ." --- And yet that is EXACTLY what they are enforcing on us, a lack of security that we are penalized for taking in hand for ourselves. So, don't plan on being responsible and protecting your usage. Not here. /UPDATE

I SO wanted to love this place! It will be a terrible day when we lose libraries. This is a great facility, lots of shelves, lots of tables with power, nice open internet! .......but wait, that last one is actually the problem.

Apparently, this library is throttling VPN traffic. Personally, I use a VPN to do any actual business online, banking or buying, and I use it for EVERYTHING on a public/untrusted network connection. (And by that I mean anything that I didn't set-up and secure myself.) But with my VPN active I get extremely bad throughput. Turn it off, everything is smooth and beautiful. Turn it back on....crawling. (I can't even run a speed test, because the Ookla site won't load. Ha!)

I don't even live here, but I was thinking of joining the Friends of the Library, just to support the place. I'm going to have to rethink that now. Ha!

...oh, and posting this through my VPN is taking FOREVER. This is try number five....