Celebrate Freedom and Knowledge
Explore History with Us
It's Juneteenth at the library!
Juneteenth, established as a national holiday in 2021, remembers the day a Union Army General named Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people in the state were free after the Civil War ended. This happened more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln said that enslaved people were free in the Emancipation Proclamation. However, it took time for this message to reach faraway parts of the country like Texas.
We invite you to explore our free resources and learn more about this special holiday.
All library locations will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday.
Events
Events and eResources
Juneteenth in the Streets
Jun 14th | 12:00pm - 7:00pm
South 1st St., San Jose, CA 95113
Join the San José Public Library at African American Community Service Agency's (AACSA) Juneteenth in the Streets celebration.
Third Thursdays with Poetry Center San Jose
Jun 26th | 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Third Thursdays is monthly Poetry program, in partnership with Poetry Center San Jose.
Juneteenth: Special Storytime with Rochelle Rabouin
Jun 18th | 11:00am - 11:30am
Come enjoy a special Juneteenth Storytime with Rochelle Rabouin, a vocalist, musician and master teaching artist. Rochelle engages…
Recommended Reads
Physical and digital titles
Online Resources
Events and eResources
Celebrate Juneteenth with Libby
Libby has an amazing selection of eBooks for all ages to help you celebrate Juneteenth.
Gale in Context: US History - Juneteenth
Learn about the history of Juneteenth, and how it is celebrated around the United States.
The Great Course: America's Long Struggle Against Slavery
Learn about the centuries-long fight against slavery in the United States. Check out Libby's 7-day Great Courses pass for access.
Staff Blogs
Celebrating Juneteenth at the San Jose Public Library
Learn about the history of Juneteenth, our special collaboration with Nirvana Soul Coffee at King Library and events happening at SJPL!
Celebrating Juneteenth at the San Jose Public Library
Learn about the history of Juneteenth, our special collaboration with Nirvana Soul Coffee at King Library and events happening at SJPL!
