Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library
🏢 San Diego County Library · Cardiff, California
Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library
The Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library is the San Diego County Library branch serving the coastal village of Cardiff, part of Encinitas just off the Pacific. A short walk from Newcastle Avenue's shops, it lends books and digital media on a free county card and stays open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12pm–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2081 NEWCASTLE AVENUE, Cardiff, CA 92007
Phone: (760) 753-4027
Website: sdcl.org
Plus Code: 85542PC9+P9 (Cardiff, CA)
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📖 About Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library
The Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library is a branch of the San Diego County Library (SDCL), the countywide system serving San Diego's smaller cities and unincorporated communities, and it is separate from the City of San Diego's San Diego Public Library. The branch sits at 2081 Newcastle Avenue in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a laid-back beach neighborhood of Encinitas in North County's coastal corridor. It pairs a seaside-village setting with practical services: free Wi-Fi and computers, a MakerBot 3D printer, a bookable community room, and a Friends of the Library used bookstore. A single free SDCL card borrowed here also unlocks reciprocal borrowing across all county branches and the system's full digital collection.
⭐ What makes this library special
- San Diego County Library branch for the coastal village of Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas
- Open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday for after-work and after-school visits
- Free Wi-Fi, public computers and a MakerBot 3D printer
- Bookable community room and a Friends of the Library used bookstore on site
- Open-study space plus science, LEGO and concert programming for all ages
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A free San Diego County Library card unlocks the system's digital collection from home:
📚 Services
- Free San Diego County Library card and reciprocal borrowing across all county branches
- Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- MakerBot 3D printer
- Bookable community room for meetings and programs
- Cool Zone cooling center during extreme-heat events
- Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks and streaming media
🎸 Programs
- Open Study drop-in study time
- Project NexTech natural-sciences workshop
- LEGO drop-in sessions for kids
- Chair Yoga for Adults
- First Wednesday concert series
📍 Nearby Libraries in San Diego County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cardiff · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library part of the San Diego Public Library?
No. Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a branch of the San Diego County Library (SDCL), the countywide system that serves Encinitas and the rest of North County coastal communities. The San Diego Public Library is a separate City of San Diego system. A free SDCL card works at Cardiff and every other county branch.
Is the Cardiff library the same as the Encinitas Library?
They are different branches of the same San Diego County Library system. Cardiff-by-the-Sea serves the Cardiff village on Newcastle Avenue, while the larger Encinitas branch serves the rest of the city. A card from either works at both and at all county branches.
What programs does the Cardiff branch run?
The branch hosts a mix of all-ages programming, including Open Study time, a Project NexTech natural-sciences workshop, LEGO drop-in sessions for kids, Chair Yoga for adults, and a First Wednesday concert series. Check the branch calendar for current dates.
What days is the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library open?
The branch is open Tuesday 12 p.m.–7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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