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The San Mateo Public Library – Then and
Now San Mateo’s first
library was established in 1885 by volunteers who recognized the
importance of a shared community resource for literacy and
culture. The City of San Mateo took over the property and
operations in 1899. Two neighborhood branches were added in 1956
(Hillsdale) and 1966 (Marina). Since 1977, the Town of
Hillsborough has had an agreement with the City of San Mateo to
provide library services for Hillsborough’s residents.
Once primarily a print
collection, the Library has evolved to offer extensive and
wide-ranging resources, including eBooks, books on tape,
videotapes, CDs, DVDs, computer software, and specialized online
databases. Reference librarians answer questions in person, by
phone, and online.
Today's Library collection
mirrors a vibrant and diverse community with materials in Spanish,
Chinese, Japanese, French, and Farsi. San Mateo library users can
select from more than two million books, newspapers, magazines,
videos, and CDs thanks to an automated network and delivery system
linking public and college libraries throughout San Mateo County.
A joint online catalog can be browsed from home or business.
Today’s Library is even more!
It is the home of Project Read which provides literacy
education for adults. It contains the Biotech Center, the only
public library to have such a center in the United States which
supports professionals in the vibrant biotech field and provides a
wide array of resources including seminars for students and
individuals interested in the latest in biotech information and
discoveries. It contains the Business Center—again a resource for
both professionals and those looking to start a business, explore
career opportunities, or research investment opportunities. It
features the largest Children’s Library on the Peninsula filled
with resources for children and parents and featuring regular
storytimes and special events including the “Paws for Tales
Program” where children have the opportunity to read to dogs. It
has the traditional “Grand Reading Room” and the latest in
electronics in the much-used “Teen Zone” located right next to the
in-Library Café on the 3rd Floor. There are community rooms on the
ground floor for cultural events, movies, book talks, and special
speakers as well as for trainings and group meetings. There are
small enclosed rooms on the upper levels where small groups of
students or adults can gather to work on projects, share books or
for conversation. And, there’s a lot more!
Visit the San Mateo Public
Library Website
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