San Jose Public Library

Located in a city of richly diverse neighborhoods, San José Public Library focuses its programs, services, and staffing to ensure it meets each community’s needs. The library employs staff that reflect the predominant cultures of the city and the website offers information in more than a dozen languages. At Inclusive Story Times, children with varying learning styles and abilities learn together in a safe and supportive environment where appreciation for differences is encouraged. An expanded story time program, Stay and Play, helps parents connect with their children using library-provided toys. School-age children access online homework help sessions in three languages and teens develop critical leadership skills through teensReach. Through its Family Learning Centers, some 18,000 children, young people, and adults improve their literacy and life skills each year. All library branches offer a retail-like experience and staff members have moved from behind desks to the service floor to provide assistance with research, computers, and other library resources.