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Resources at the San Jose Public Library

February 7, 2022 • 
Nicole Calande
A photo of the exterior of a tall library with people walking by and a tree in view.

San Jose’s Martin Luther King Jr. Library is the largest public library west of the Mississippi. | Photo via Wikimedia

Table of Contents
Families
Technology
Hobbies + skills

Need help repairing a car or starting a garden? It might surprise you to learn that you can get all the help you need through the San José Public Library (SJPL). 📖

Beyond the aisles of books and across 25 branches lies a treasure trove of resources and services that most people might not know about. Just make sure you have a library card — if not , don’t sweat it. Just apply online, and if you can’t show proof of a California address, there are options for you.

Once you’ve got a card, the possibilities are endless.

Families

  • San Jose is an infinitely diverse city and to reflect this, the SJPL hosts LOTE Online for Kids, which offers picture books read aloud in 48 languages.
  • Families looking for free and low-cost passes to museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other destinations should try out the Discover & Go program.
  • The SJPL Caregiver Support Network offers a free, nine-month program that provides training, supplies, and one-on-one support to family, friends, and neighbors looking after children.
A photo of a large black van, decorated with the Maker<Space>Ship logo and other colorful designs.

The Maker Ship makes stops all around San Jose to share state-of-the-art technology with the community. | Photo via San José Public Library

Technology

  • The Maker[Space]Ship is a mobile program that can blast off to any local school, community center, or mall to bridge the digital divide. On-board you can find a 3-D printer, laser cutters, a robot petting zoo, and more. 🤖
  • Need Internet access but don’t want to camp out at the library? Now you can actually check out a Wi-Fi hotspot for your home. 📶
  • If you’re a little rusty in your computer skills or specific applications like Google Drive, the SJPL offers free computer classes in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
  • Kids aged 8-18 can register to download self-paced coding software through the Prenda Code Club.

Hobbies + skills

  • Car enthusiasts — be sure to check out the ChiltonLibrary archive for car manuals, diagrams, and Technical Service Bulletins. 🚗
  • Whether you’re remodeling, woodworking, or installing a new toilet, get guidance through the library’s Home Improvement Reference Center. 🔧
  • Take the seeds you need from one of three SJPL branches — Almaden, Berryessa, and Vineland. These free seed libraries also encourage you to “return” or donate seeds when your plant finally sprouts. 🌱

With all the resources the SJPL offers, we just want to say:

A GIF from the television show "Arthur" with shows character walking towards us holding library card. The caption reads "Having Fun Isn't Hard When You've Got a Library Card."