Have you been to the library recently?

By Jessica B

Have you ever wanted to read a book, or have a book from a series but can’t afford to buy the full set? Have you ever bought a book, only to read it once and never really read it again?

Well, I have good news for you. The San Jose Public Library is free to use and has a lot of books to choose from. If you don’t like the book you pick out, you can just choose another one!

The library even buys new books. For those of us who are introverts, you don’t have to talk to anyone. You can browse books and put them on hold, all online!  If you are like me and only like going to a certain library, then you can set that library as your preferred library. 

You can also place books on hold that are from different library branches and pick them up at any branch you want. The San Jose Public Library has 25 branches you can choose from, like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Santa Teresa Branch Library and the Tully Community Branch Library.

The library also doesn't just have books, they also have computers that you can use if you don’t have one at home. 

Yamasaki: “I think what people missed a lot were those folks that didn’t have access to a computer. And so they would come into the library, log into a computer, check their email. I think a lot of folks missed that and then like, ‘oh, I don't have a printer at home.’ So we have a lot of folks that come into the library because they don’t have a printer because they don’t have internet access…”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, public libraries have been suffering from low reception. The San Jose Public Library has been making efforts to maintain the space for book lovers and upcoming readers. The Evergreen Branch Library manager, also known as the senior librarian, Margaret Yamasaki shares the current status of the library.

Yamasaki: “We are working back towards all the pandemic madness right, so you know, we were closed for a while during the pandemic. We shifted to curbside service, we shifted to virtual programming, so now we're kind of transitioning back towards normality with, you know, still Covid going around and all that…”

Yamasaki has worked with the San Jose Public Library for 14 and a half years, working at the Evergreen Branch library for 4 years. Yamasaki also manages the library at Village Square.

Yamasaki: “I know every time I say it out loud, it’s kind of crazy. I have been here with the library since 2006, so it’s actually longer than 14 and a half years…”

Yamasaki has a social work background, which she quickly got burnt out in. She still wanted to do something in the public service center.

Yamasaki: “…I kinda just kinda fell into it as a second career…”

During the pandemic, the library shifted to curbside service and virtual programming. 

Yamasaki: “We started doing curbside service and people were able to request their books online. We'd pull them, package them and have them ready to pick up at whichever library they want to visit.”

They also started a program where you can check out computers and internet hotspots that are still being offered today. 

Yamasaki: “...During that time as well, we launch hotspot checkouts and laptops and chromebooks, and so that's definitely one of the new services that we are offering and it's extremely popular. There are still a lot of folks in the community that don’t have either any internet access or spotify unreliable internet access...”

Now the library is trying to do more in-person events like Valentine's Day crafts and activities. They also have events for Black History Month. The library is trying to get their visitor numbers back to where they were before the pandemic.

Yamasaki: “...All the stuff we tried to shift virtually, like story time, we are now offering in person…” 

The staff at the library are nice and always happy to help with whatever you need. 

Yamasaki: “…A lot of the time is responding to email. It's always some kind of surprise that comes in the email, so whether it’s responding to a customer that has written to the Branch, potentially answering the phone when customers call in email requests from other staff...” 

You can also just come in for a visit if you are bored and want to get out of the house. 

Yamasaki: “I think a lot of patrons as well missed being able to just come into the library and browse. We have a lot of folks that just want to come in and look at the new bookshelf. A lot of our customers in the community missed just being able to come in and for a lot of folks too, it’s their socialize time right to get out, run an errands, come check out what's new at the library and chat with staff…”

The library also offers a mail service for folks who have disabilities or can’t leave the house. The way it works is you request books online and someone will package the books and send them to you by mail and you do the same for returns. 

Yamasaki: “...We want to be able to serve everyone in the community. We realize that not everyone either has transportation or is physically mobile enough to visit the library but we still want to meet their needs. We have a lot of readers and library lovers out there that would love to physically come in the library but for whatever their medical reasons or physical limitations, they can’t. It's a way for us to still meet their needs and still be a part of their life.”

Everyone is welcome, so what are you waiting for? Go get your library card!

For the Warrior Times, this is Jessica Brasil.