Samantha G.
Yelp
It's a great library with plenty of room to do work at. I used to come here to study for my NCLEX or whenever I needed to be productive. I love Santa Clara county libraries. I've only been to milpitas location because I'm local here but the other locations look just as spacious and clean. It's more spacious than SJ libraries apart from of course the MLK library. If you want to come here and want to know the best shoes to study or get work done, keep reading!
Some things I learned from coming here very often:
-Wifi: used to be ok, times have changed and they're REALLY BAD. I get disconnected, or the prompt to get connected won't come up. It's different every day. Some days I get lucky and I have a great experience. I tried chatting with a librarian once and they said they're trying to improve this, within the next year or so. Looking forward to that!
-Parking: there are plenty the garage, lots of people come and go so I sometimes get lucky at the ground floor, sometimes it's so busy 2nd floor is taken. I think there are 4 floors, including a spacious rooftop garage. There are a few EV charging spots in the ground floor.
-Almost every spot has outlet access! But at certain times almost every spot can also be taken up. It opens at 10 but it can get way too busy/difficult to find a spot around 3 pm or later.
-Bathrooms: clean bathrooms upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs ladies bathroom only has 3 stalls, rarely full. Downstairs is more spacious.
-Teenopolis is supposed to be reserved for teens/high schoolers but a majority of people who take up this spot aren't. I've never seen anyone kicked out for being old lol
-No eating here except for the lobby. Then again, it's a hit or miss whether the security will catch you. They will tell you no eating but usually will not kick you out if you're respectful about it. Vending machines by the ground floor bathroom with snacks and drinks.
-Bring a jacket if you get cold easily. Upstairs is usually colder than downstairs. Upstairs in some areas they have AC vents in the ground
- Belongings: I don't trust people so I'll bring my backpack and leave a couple less valuable items to "save" my spot. Sometimes I say yolo and just leave for a short time. Some people will ask you to watch for them. I haven't experienced any theft, but also I don't recommend giving the opportunity to.
Downstairs there's a Quiet Study room but it tends to get hot there. They don't have automatic blinds like upstairs. This place is quite hidden so often times it has plenty of room on busy days.
-Upstairs first thing towards the left is "Teenopolis," and there are 4 sets of booths, perfect for 4 ppl each but usually taken by 1 person. It's usually full, so try coming right at opening or try catch someone just about to leave. I'm too shy to ask to share, but I personally wouldn't mind sharing the seat across from me to a stranger. They changed the tables from computer area to just regular desks. A nice addition for more seating. It's nice area, seating is parallel to the window. I believe it also has automatic blinds here.
-The right side has smaller booths, designed like cubicles for privacy. They vary, seating 1 or 2 people. Because of the way it is, it's difficult to tell if anyone is leaving. These also get taken up pretty early. When I try to go for these spots I'm usually here for the long run because it's usually quiet and private.
The middle-back side next to the windows is my other favorite go-to spot. I can come here around 2 or 3 and still get a spot. The chargers are in the ground and tables are similar to the quiet study room, but the blinds are automatic. You can ask the librarian to lower them when it gets too sunny in the afternoon. I prefer to sit facing window because despite the automatic blinds it sometimes still gets a glare through my laptop. Btw the manga section is on one of the walls so you sometimes can get little kids who are a bit talkative or loud look for books here. Some people also talk. I've had conversations here myself but the general consensus is to be quiet lol or bring headphones. Because no one will tell you to shut up unless you're being extremely loud.
-There are also more seating towards the back-right side of the library.
The middle area has library computers. I tend so see a lot of regulars here.
-The downstairs by the children's area is typically kids only. I hear people get kicked out if they notice you're not with or waiting for a kid.