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These aren’t your parents’ libraries. Gone are the days of pin-drop silence and borrowing cards stamped inside the front covers of tattered tomes.
While the voracious readers amongst us can still find an abundance of books ranging endless topics and decades of publication, the libraries of the Peninsula have been diversifying and expanding their scope over the past few years. There are numerous libraries in the 650, and each one boasts unique and interesting offerings. There are now a myriad of items to check out, free weekly events and access to the latest technology.
The Peninsula and California have an interesting library history. On the Peninsula, there are city libraries and county libraries. According to Redwood City Public Library Director Derek Wolfgram, “Many of the city libraries are quite old. In 1913, California passed a county free library law establishing that each county would have a library system to serve all the residents not already served by city libraries,” which created the county libraries.
“In the 1970s, the Peninsula Library System was formed and is a cooperative of the city libraries and the county libraries, including a shared library catalog, some shared technology infrastructure and a delivery system to move books across jurisdictions so every resident of San Mateo County would have access to every public library in San Mateo County regardless of city residence,” Wolfgram added.
Of the many libraries to choose from, here are nine of the most interesting. Some are city libraries, some are county libraries (marked with *) and all are unique libraries!
South San Francisco
Last fall, the South San Francisco Main Library moved to a new, state-of-the-art building shared with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The library houses the Discovery Center, Teen Zone and meeting rooms, alongside the Parks and Recreation Department’s fitness studios, classrooms, teaching kitchen and spacious event spaces. There is also a large park and playground outside the building.
The impressive Discovery Center is a highlight at this library and offers a variety of STEM tools and games, including 3D printers, Raspberry Pi kits, iPads and more. According to Supervising Library Specialist Monte Gordon, “We want to circulate nontraditional items that are tech-driven and more hands-on in order to reach kids through technology and help supplement education.”
Events at the South San Francisco Library include Lego club, bilingual storytime, Tech Tuesday classes and more.
901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco.
Millbrae*
The Millbrae Library serves a diverse clientele from all over the world and is part of the San Mateo County Library system. The hand-painted murals in the children’s areas and high ceilings “create an airy, inviting atmosphere that our libraries are known for,” according to Carine Risley, deputy director of library services for San Mateo County Libraries. On the horizon, construction is underway for a makerspace that will open this year.
As for interesting offerings Risley shared, “We have an ever-growing library of things we call Try it Out to give people the chance to explore new activities and hobbies. Items in our collection beyond books include San Mateo County Parks and California State Parks passes, bikes (with helmets and bike locks), energy kits, ukuleles, sewing machines, hiking poles, GoPros, Discovery Skills backpack (and) karaoke machines. That’s all in addition to more typical fare like CDs, DVDs, magazines and newspapers and streaming services like eBooks, movies, music, online classes and more.”
Events at the Millbrae Library include sewing class, Super Smash Bros. tournaments, martial arts demonstrations and more.
1 Library Ave., Millbrae.
Burlingame
Nicknamed “the jewel of Burlingame” by the American Library Journal, Burlingame Library is known for its Italian Renaissance architecture. The front facade of the building and front rooms are still the original build from the 1920s. The rest of the library was updated in the 1990s, but with the same aesthetic as the original design by Burlingame architect Col. E. L. Norberg.
In addition to a beautiful space, the library is filled with interesting offerings such as digitizing kits, high-speed photo scanners and a “repair cafe” run by volunteers. Unique among most of the libraries I visited is a cafe on-site serving food and drinks. Cafe Fika is an independent restaurant owned and operated by Ghana Albaghah and serving Mediterranean food and international coffee.
Events at Burlingame Library include a sound-healing class, “Star Wars” bingo and speaker series events put on by the Burlingame Library Foundation that have brought in well-known guests like Ira Glass and Michael McFall.
480 Primrose Road, Burlingame.
San Mateo
The San Mateo Main Library is an airy three-story facility adjacent to downtown San Mateo. It stands as one of the largest libraries on the Peninsula and boasts a comprehensive collection of resources and services for the San Mateo community.
The items available to borrow here are vast. There are tech-focused items such as Chromebooks and robots, along with musical instruments like ukuleles and keyboards. As a photographer, my personal favorite is that the library offers a portable photo studio! The California State Park passes are among the most popular items, according to Senior Library Assistant Reggie Mallorca. The passes can be checked out for three weeks and can be used to gain access to over 200 participating state parks.
Events at San Mateo Library include teen movie nights, trivia nights, afternoon sewing group and more.
55 W 3rd Ave., San Mateo.
Foster City*
The Foster City Library is conveniently located across the street from Leo J. Ryan Park and is part of the San Mateo County Libraries system. The library opened in 1997 and was renovated in 2010, making it one of the newer additions on this list.
This location truly feels like a community hub for children and adults. There is a spacious children’s area complete with a large wooden ship named “The Jolly Reader.” Risley shared that all of the San Mateo County libraries including Foster City “regularly host storytimes for little ones and Power Up Afternoons, a program for school-age youth designed to enrich and activate after-school experiences.”
Risley added, “For adults, we regularly offer tech courses, ESL classes, book clubs, arts programming and author events. The tech offerings range from learning computer basics to discovering AI. We also host events helping people in their job searches, seeking U.S. citizenship, retirement planning, meditation journeys, gardening and more.” Some of the most popular events include Chess Club Fridays and After-School Gaming.
1000 E Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.
Atherton*
The Atherton Library is the third entry on this list that is part of the San Mateo County Library system. Visitors to the library, which opened in 2022 after three years of construction, are met by a large and welcoming front porch, and the building is tucked away under a canopy of beautiful old-growth oak trees.
The patio shares space with local French patisserie Mademoiselle Colette. The renowned cafe offers a selection of coffees, teas and pastries. Inside the library there is a cutting-edge makerspace and digital lab with 3D printers, a high-performance laser cutter and more. As with the other San Mateo County libraries there is a large selection of items beyond books to try out, including the always popular karaoke machines.
Events at Atherton Library include yoga classes, gem painting, drawing studio and more.
2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton.
Redwood City
The Redwood City Main Library is located in downtown Redwood City in the former Fire Station No. 1 that was remodeled and expanded in 1989. The large brick building houses a massive library space.
The library holds a makerspace, teen room, children’s area, and local history room. Inside the local history room you can view the Morrish Collection. The bulk of the collection includes original correspondences sent to J. Elmer Morrish from Japanese Americans from Redwood City who were interned during World War II.
The most unique feature of the Redwood City Library has to be the honey bees that have lived on the roof since 2018. They have three hives, and in the summer the population can grow to over 150,000 bees. As for items to check out, Wolfgram said that there are “a few fun unusual things, including home energy toolkits, WiFi hot spots, iPads, and county and state park passes.”
Events at the Redwood City Library include Crafty Wednesdays, drop-in Lego robotics, Anime Club and more.
1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
Rinconada (Palo Alto)
Rinconada Library is located across from the Palo Alto Art Center. It was built in 1958, had a major renovation in 2013 and reopened in 2015. Originally designed by renowned architect Edward Durell Stone, the library is enclosed in an iconic terracotta “veil” that surrounds the building and two courtyards.
The library houses picturesque meeting spaces, the Teen Zone and ReBoot Room. Unique items to check out include canning sets, Chromebooks and care kits for families caring for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s. These kits stood out among many of the distinctive items I came across because they help address a very poignant issue.
Events at the Rinconada Library include film screenings, celebrations for Earth Day and Nowruz (Persian New Year) and more.
1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto.
Mountain View
The Mountain View Library is located just off the bustling Castro Street and is flanked by the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts and Pioneer Memorial Park. It is a spacious structure with one of the largest Children’s Services areas on this list.
The building also features the History Center, which houses a collection that is historically significant to Mountain View and Santa Clara County. Not only does the library loan out park passes, but it also offers a full Park Pass Backpack complete with binoculars, compass and field guides. In addition to print media, patrons can check their e-books, audiobooks and streaming media, including thousands of movies and TV shows. One of the most interesting items is located just outside the building in the form of a real slab of the Berlin Wall.
Events at the Mountain View Library include free tax prep assistance, ukulele jams, author talks and more.
585 Franklin St., Mountain View.
