Support San José's vibrant culture through diverse arts and culture programs, fostering creativity, preserving heritage, and enriching community life.

Empowering Young Creatives

Inspire innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering the next generation of creative leaders.

Fostering a Love for Literature

Enhance literacy and creativity, building a community of lifelong readers and writers.

Preserving and Exploring Heritage

Connect residents with San José’s rich history, fostering community identity and pride.

Expanding Access to Arts and Culture

Increase participation in artistic and cultural activities, enriching community diversity and inclusion.

Artwork on display at TeenHQ.

Artrepreneurs

A series to teach creative middle and high school students to take their passions and turn them into a small business. Students learn financial literacy skills, small business skills, and how to take their creative work to the next level.

Archival document from the California Room collection.

California room

The California Room collects materials on California history with an emphasis on San Jose and Santa Clara Valley.

Young people coloring with chalk on the sidewalks outside a library branch.

Art & Culture at the Branches

SJPLF is excited to help increase hands-on artistic experiences and expand access to cultural resources. We support arts and crafts programs, activity kits, and cultural events at San José library branches, and help fund the Library’s collections and events.

Graphic novels on display at graphic novel contest awards ceremony.

Ink and Imagination

SJPLF supports year-round Ink and Imagination programs like the Winter Reading Challenge, Spring into Poetry Contest, Summer Learning Program, Graphic Novel Making Contest, Halloween Booktacular, Local Lit, and the Fall Short Story Contest.

Learn More

Impact by the numbers

19,000 Nearly 19,000 free books distributed as part of Summer Learning and Winter Reading Challange last year.

95 95 submissions each round for both the Spring Into Poetry contest and the Short Story contest.

100 Access over 100 years of history using the California Room’s new Mercury News Digital Archive