Community Engagement: Your Voice Matters

Library staff at event talking with members of the community

Reaching Out

The San Jose 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 our residents and neighbors. What kind of community would you like to live in? What concerns do you have about your neighborhood? What kind of services and programs would you like to have at the library? These are the questions we've been asking and we've been learning a lot about the communities we serve.

Community Survey

 

Tell us more about the kind of community you want to live in by filling out a brief survey:

 

More Details

 

Where might you find us out in the community?

Library workers from your neighborhood can be seen at various events across the city all year long. You may run into us at back to school nights at your child’s school. You may see our table at a local event such as Viva Calle. You may even run across us at places like Emma Prusch Farm Park or Happy Hollow Park and Zoo.

It’s not just family venues we attend as our goal is to reach out to all ages and interests. Neighborhood association meetings, or even local area coffee shops are places you may run into us. We want to help create the kind of city you are proud to live in, and that starts by reaching out and listening to the communities we serve.

What happens with the information we gather?

The information gathered helps us to:

  • Build on your aspirations: Guiding City, community partner, and library efforts, based on your aspirations for our community
  • Find new partners: Identifying opportunities for growth and community partnerships
  • Develop strategies: Working on community issues together
  • Improve your services: Mobilizing your City, community, and library services to adapt to community aspirations

We will summarize what we heard in quarterly blogs, featured on this page below.

Your Dreams for Your City

This is your city. We want it to reflect your aspirations for the community. Come talk to us when you see us out in the community. We love hearing from you.

What We've Heard

Community Engagement: What We've Learned From Listening to our Neighbors and Communities (Spring 2023)

Four times each year we share what we have been hearing from our communities throughout the city as library staff visit public events around them.

Melissa Maglio
05/09/2023 - 6:36 PM

Community Engagement: What We've Learned From Listening to our Neighbors and Communities (Winter 2022)

Four times each year, we share what we've learned from our communities throughout the city as library staff visit public events around them.

Melissa Maglio
02/18/2023 - 10:07 AM

Community Engagement: What We've Learned From Listening to our Neighbors and Communities (Fall 2022)

Four times each year we share what we have been hearing from our communities throughout the city as library staff visit public events around them.

Melissa Maglio
11/01/2022 - 5:46 PM

Community Engagement: The Power of Kindness, Resilience, and Hope

Winter 2022 Community Conversations Wrap Up.

Melissa Maglio
04/27/2022 - 5:30 PM

Community Engagement: Racial Inequity

A summary of what we heard from community members relating to racial inequity

Karla Alvarez
01/07/2022 - 4:43 PM

Community Engagement: We are Listening!

A summary of what we heard from community members in the first semester of 2021 Community Conversations.

Karla Alvarez
11/01/2021 - 3:15 PM