OC Library - Tustin Branch — Attraction in Tustin

The best library in Irvine. Yes, I realized that this library is located in Tustin. Until Irvine decides to use it's wonderful tax payer money to build a massive new library, I recommend trying out the Tustin Library. I know you maybe be scared to travel north of Red Hill, but trust me this is worth the drive. I actually surprised by the number of low reviews. Honestly, I read them all and nothing they said made sense or relates to an average educated person.

Pros: QUIET!. Its is quiet, just avoid the main library entrance, teen, and children area. -Quiet room for studying -Study/ Tutor room. Perfect for a middle school or elementary school kid to get help with homework. I'm not sure if they cover high school, but if they do I could use a review in basic calculus. -There are lot of chairs around the outside of the building. I love that most people will read or use their laptop on these chairs. This leaves the tables for people that need to study :). -Well lit with natural light. I can see my beautiful reflection on my glossy laptop screen. -Clean and new. -Outside seating area -Plenty of outlets for your laptop at most chairs and every table. -The library is quiet. I hard concept that a lot of kids today were not taught. -Ideal place for studying. -Free wifi. -Computer Lab. There are classes on how to use a computer. -A/C. So nice.

Cons: Computer area is always packed. There are some 20 plus computers. Not a problem bring a laptop. -Sometimes people around me smell like smoke or other stuff. (rare) -Not really a con, but I'm iffy about leaving my stuff at the table to go to the bathroom. In Irvine or Newport I would probably risk it.

I am very impressed with special features this library offers. Its seems like the builders thought of everything. Check it out. Highly Recommended. Tustin Library, I just wish you were closer and...

This review is specifically of the OC Memory Lab at this branch library. It is wonderful that they have this free service. However, be prepared to figure it all out by yourself. There is no one to help you. Both the printed binder and the self-help videos are out of date. For example, they tell you to put a SD card into the slot to transfer a VHS video. However, you can also insert a USB thumb drive into the slot on the top of the transfer device. The button on the transfer device may not turn the device on. I figured out that you have to unplug and re-plug the adapter to get the device to turn on. When I got home I found that one of the two VHS videos I had transferred was in an 'unrecognized format' and would not play, so the time I spent transferring that was wasted. If you have a large quantity of photos to digitize, you have to use the flat-plate scanner, which would take a long time, so I didn't do that part of what I wanted to digitize. All in all, not a very user friendly or productive service, even though it's free. Hopefully your expectations will be adjusted if you use...

I usually love bringing my kids to Tustin Library, but we recently had an upsetting experience in the children’s section. My 5-year-old started to run, and I was just about to remind him to walk when a staff member suddenly yelled “Stop running!” in a very loud and harsh voice. It startled both of us. I told her calmly, “Please lower your voice—you scared him,” and she rudely replied “No,” right in front of my child.

When I tried to speak with her again, she continued to be unkind. My son looked at me and asked, “Why is she not nice? Why isn’t she spreading kindness?”—and I honestly didn’t know what to tell him. I also spoke with the manager, but my concerns didn’t feel heard.

I completely understand the need for rules, but I believe children—especially in a library’s kids’ area—deserve to be spoken to with patience and kindness. This experience made me hesitate to return with my children, which is really unfortunate for a place that’s supposed to be...