The San José Public Library is committed to connecting and listening to San Jose residents. One way we do this is by visiting public events and talking to residents and neighbors. Here is what we've been hearing from some of our 26 library locations during our Summer Community Events.
Bascom| Calabazas| Edenvale| Rosegarden|Santa Teresa| Seven Trees
Bascom Branch Library
Bascom Branch, opens a new window
On August 5, 2025 Branch staff attended a National Night Out (NNO) event held at Leigh Avenue Senior Apartments, which is overseen by Abode Services.
Many of their community partners were also present, such as Sourcewise, NAMI, and SJPD.
Branch staff explain: Our table was well attended, with many residents expressing admiration and gratitude for the library. Some residents didn’t even realize that Bascom Branch Library even existed, and were pleased to discover how close Bascom Library was to their facility (we’re only 1.5 miles, about a 24 minute walk.) Many of the senior residents are fairly mobile, or use public transportation, so they were pleased to discover the close proximity. I informed those with accessibility issues of San Jose Public Library’s Library By Mail Service.
A common request from the residents was the need for more DIY programming, and especially virtual programming. One resident in particular wondered if there could be an adult tech lab, similar to one offered at the teen room at King.”Why can’t we visit and use the Recording Studio?" He asked. He also wondered if they could allow adults to have access to the room one day, like a tour. A few residents had mentioned that they were interested in book clubs and were happy to discover that San Jose Public Library offers an abundance of this type of programming. A few residents who frequent some of the other branches, such as Willow Glen, stressed the need for expanded hours. One patron said having the library start at 2pm just wasn’t ideal. However, she also praised San Jose Public Library for offering the Summer Reading program (Summer Learning). She was very pleased with the high quality canvas bags offered to adults at the Willow Glen branch this year, stating that the bags were more sturdy and better quality than the canvas bags offered in the past. She suggested that the better quality bags be offered in subsequent years as a Summer Learning giveaway prize.
Based on all the productive feedback from the senior residents at Leigh Avenue Senior Apartments, I will be sure to regularly inform the representatives at Abode of Library events being held at Bascom Branch Library. I also plan to look into future adult programming, with emphasis on DIY/craft workshops.
Calabazas Branch Library
A bit about their "Seed Library" and it's continued impactful on community engagement.
Calabazas (CZ) Branch Library launched their “Seed Library” in 2023 with D1 funding and became an essential community resource, transforming the library into a hub for learning and engagement in gardening and plant care. The Seed Library began with 26 seed varieties and has since grown to 51 varieties of seeds, thanks to the support of the CZ Friends group.
Following the COVID pandemic, a staff member introduced her own plants to the library, enchanting visitors with their beauty and fragrance. Patrons have expressed their joy, affectionately referring to the Calabazas branch as a "plant library" and frequently seeks gardening advice.
As interest in gardening continues to grow, CZ staff launched the “Cuttings Exchange” program in 2024, encouraging community members to bring their own plant cuttings to share, pick up cuttings from the CZ Library’s collection, or exchange with fellow participants. This unique event fosters community gardening and provides patrons with a variety of seasonal planting options. Now in its second year, the “Cuttings Exchange” event brings together CZ staff and local community members to ensure its success, showcasing the library’s dedication to being a welcoming and vibrant cornerstone of the community.
Comments and suggestions collected from participants at the “Seed Library” and “Cuttings Exchange” events:
What community do you want to be part of?
A green community filled with trees and flowers.
Clean, safe, friendly, quiet, and peaceful surroundings.
An engaged environment that promotes learning and growth.
Opportunities to develop new habits, such as utilizing resources at the library.
Active participation in a community garden.
Access to workshops, classes, and discussion groups to connect and learn with others.
How is this different from your current community?
This library is adorned with numerous green plants, creating a refreshing atmosphere.
It's a lovely and welcoming space.
The library offers excellent programming and activities.
Though small, it is clean and well-maintained, with plenty of greenery.
There are numerous events tailored for kids, teens, and seniors.
The community room is frequently utilized for various purposes.
The area has a growing population of immigrants, particularly from Asia.
How could the library help create the community you want?
Organize a variety of events to help people connect and make friends.
Provide spaces and opportunities for community members to collaborate and bring ideas to life.
Offer programs that keep families, including children, engaged and connected.
Host more events tailored specifically for seniors to encourage their participation.
Increase promotion and awareness of the library's services and offerings.
Create more inclusive events for all ages, including adults, seniors, children, and those focusing on mental health.
What type of events would you like to participate in at the library?
Events that the teens and adults can work together
More plants cutting exchange events
Thank you for the seed library and love the seed selections
More gardening events.
May be easier to list a corresponding number for each type (i.e. lavender-1, dill-2)
Provide fertilizer/soil
Events to open everyone
3D printings, how to use new things, learning new technology
The events that you can learn, for example 3D printings.
Edenvale Branch Library
Library staff hosted a community engagement event as part of the Summer Learning kickoff event with Brian Scott Magic Show on Tuesday, June 3rd at 4:00 p.m. Summer Learning is a system wide program encouraging participants to engage in activities and programs to mitigate summer slide. Summer slide refers to the decline in academic skills and knowledge that students experience during the summer break when they are not engaged in structured learning. The objective is to celebrate reading and literacy by providing fun learning opportunities, engaging everyone to build strong and inclusive communities.
Feedback was collected via sticky notes from patrons of all ages at the table in the lobby before, during and after the magic show program. The feedback included requesting book club programs to broaden the reading spectrum, inclusive cultural events, food potlucks, book swaps and crafts, inviting family and friends for more community activities.
Regarding patron’s best library experience, their responses included a quiet environment, a great variety of comics and graphic novels collection, and friendly and helpful staff.
Rose Garden Library
On May 5, 2025, the Rose Garden staff visited the Buena Vista Midtown Senior Apartments for a tabling event. This complex was a great opportunity for branch staff to connect with seniors in their service area. Branch Librarian Priscilla Chan and Page Megan Gallagher brought with them a plethora of flyers, resources, and information for the Apartments’s senior residents. 
While meeting with residents, Priscilla and Meg asked the 4ASK questions and recorded them on their response poster. They found that seniors were interested in children’s programs since many of them attended the library with their grandchildren. They also had input on other branches such as Santa Teresa, which one patron suggested needed more parking. Others expressed concern regarding trash and traffic along San Carlos Street which runs in front of the Buena Vista Midtown Senior Apartments.
Priscilla and Megan were happy to accept all residents’ input and brought them all back to the branch for consideration. Through this partnership, events and marketing materials sent to Buena Vista have been tailored for not only seniors, but their families as well.
Santa Teresa Branch Library
Staff attended the Santa Teresa High School Fair and talked to approximately 20 teenagers. They presented the paper with the four questions and offered kids a sticker for completing the “challenge” if they answered them. The stickers were given to each table and kids had to visit a certain number of tables and do activities, so there was a captive audience.
The teens overwhelmingly wanted to live in a safe, fair, diverse community, and that they did not feel safe or fair right now. Others cited homeless issues as a reason for not feeling safe or that society was fair. Some did say the community was safe, fair, and diverse right now as well. Responses to how the library could help create the kind of community they wanted included more events and more operating hours or else they said the library was important and already helping. The fourth question was what they liked about the library and most teenagers responded with “books” or “events”.
We used the information to increase the number of Teen programs at the library and formalize a process to enable teens to vote on and run special events for us as volunteers. They’ve also started a book club and regularly help us with other things around the library. As for a department that needs to hear what we’re saying, whichever one would be responsible for helping the homeless and creating more permanent housing would address one of the specific issues our respondents identified.
Seven Trees Branch Library
The Seven Trees Library team visited Sylvandale Middle School for the incoming 6th grade orientation event in May of this year. Both parents and students were present to learn about the middle school transition, meet the faculty, and tour the new campus. Seven Trees shared library resources and programs with the families and the staff, including upcoming Summer events such as For Goodness Snakes and NorCal Bats. They were pleased to learn that all of these classes and activities were free!
Many of the participants were drawn in by the book distribution. When the team spoke with current 5th grade students and asked them what they loved about the library, they expressed their love for reading. One in particular said she enjoyed “discovering different kinds of book types.” Another student responded they “like reading and how helpful everyone who works there is.” The library team also received an excited request for more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, a popular long-time series that see a high number of checkouts. We were happy to hear that students in our community enjoy the book titles we have on the shelves. As a branch, we decided to refresh our endcap and gondola displays regularly to highlight more hidden gem titles within the collection.
With the parents, the team promoted classes, namely English as a Second Language for adults and coding for their children. We highlighted our upcoming May presentation surrounding immigration rights and services offered in partnership with the International Rescue Committee. One parent recognized the library because she attends story time every Thursday.
We had the opportunity to speak to one of the faculty as well, a science teacher who expressed her gratitude for the library. She shared that her daughter had been a previous volunteer and that in retirement, she will likely do the same.
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