Fall is nearly here, and the Palo Alto City Library is reopening locations and expanding hours! We reopened College Terrace and Downtown Libraries on August 26. You can visit on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 PM to 5 PM. In the fall, the Library plans to expand hours on Thursdays and Fridays, as well as include a weekend day at College Terrace and Downtown Libraries. Additionally, hours will expand at Mitchell Park and Rinconada. Please read our Reopening Plans for more information.
Starting Wednesday, September 1, the maximum number of holds allowed on a customer account will be reduced from 30 to 20 holds. This change comes as we reopen branches and expand hours at our locations, with less support staff. We are still providing the highest hold allowance among libraries in Santa Clara county, where most allow only 10–15 holds per customer. We appreciate your understanding as we move to reopen and maintain our quality of services to our community during this ongoing pandemic.
Pick up your Summer Reading Program prizes at Children’s, Mitchell Park or Rinconada Library through September 7! Please share your Summer Reading Feedback with us too!
Don’t forget to VOTE on September 14! Ballot boxes are at Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries, as well as City Hall. Find out more about the California Gubernatorial Recall Election and have your plan ready!
The Friends of Palo Alto Library will be holding their monthly book sale on September 11 & 12. Many thanks to our Friends for supporting library collections and events.
Come Visit Us!
All five branches are now open for browsing, pickups and computer use. Masks are once again required for all visitors 3 years and up and seating is still limited.
Join us from some exciting September virtual events, including:
Sensory Storytime starts on September 1 and runs every Wednesday at 10 AM on Facebook through September 29! This storytime is a fun, interactive, educational program designed exclusively for young children with autism or sensory processing challenges. We engage the senses through music, movement, stories, and play in a virtual setting. Find each week’s outline with songs and titles in our virtual events calendar.
HeritageQuest is a comprehensive treasure rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more. View this introduction video to learn about the collections and get started with family history research.
