Santa Monica Public Library (main branch)

The new main branch of the Santa Monica Public Library is both beautiful and functional, perfectly tuned to the needs of its patrons.

The two-story building feels more like an academic library than your standard LA County public library, many of which are mere waystations for rotating material, with open waiting areas for loitering newspaper readers and sleepers. This building has not only large tables in open areas, but smaller carrels (though without dividers) tucked away along the windows upstairs. All tables feature plugs conveniently located just underneath the top edge; no more crawling under the table and hunting for hidden electrical outlets in the carpet in order to plug in your laptop. Plus, free wi-fi and private, glass-enclosed Study Rooms that can be reserved in two hour intervals for you or your group of collaborators. They intended this library to be a place of work, and it shows.

The lovely enclosed courtyard on the first floor shields you from the mean streets of Santa Monica while letting you stuff you face at the excellent little Bookmark Cafe. The courtyard has an oasis theme, with a border of desert plants and a clever and calming moat crossed by a striated bridge (just don't step in it. The water, with its glittering grey sand base, can look solid in the right light, and I did see a kid stumble into it once). Cute round patio tables with comfortable chairs and lovely sand-colored umbrellas invite people to pull up a chair, sit with their kids or friends, and chat away.

There's also a nice, surprisingly bright and large underground parking lot, 50 cents an hour and no meter hassles.

This library is a triumph, designed with the community firmly in mind, welcoming and serious.

And I've only encountered one mumbling freak so far! A guy sat at a table at me, plugged in his laptop, put on his headphones, and started head-bopping away. Which is okay, I can deal with that. But when he started singing along, I was out of there. One freak in three months is a good ratio for Santa Monica.