San Mateo County Libraries

San Mateo County Libraries are incomparable destinations for learning and growth. Each of our twelve libraries is part of a larger family offering worlds of discovery and technological opportunities. More than 160,000 community members or 62 percent of the service population have library cards, and more than two million people visit us in person annually.

Our physical and digital collections include nearly one million items and are always growing, and we are evolving too, making the most of every opportunity for innovation and advancement in technology. As one of the largest providers of free internet access in the county, San Mateo County Libraries are equipped with wireless service and hundreds of public computers connected to a 1GBps network, and tablets, laptops and WiFi hotspots for checkout.

We are readers and educators at our core, a library tradition we will always embrace as champions of early literacy and exploration at every stage of life. We continually assess the needs of our residents, responding with thoughtfully designed programs and initiatives that enrich lives and uplift the community. We host over 8,000 events each year, curating programming that is designed to enrich and uplift our communities. Through innovative outreach services and our bookmobile, enriching experiences are also delivered beyond library buildings. Our residents comprise a diverse collection of individuals, and our services reflect that. All of these pieces culminate in a message of sharing—whether it’s knowledge, experience, stories, or resources.

San Mateo County Libraries provide unmatched service to our community members, and we are consistently ranked as one of the best libraries in the nation. Our vision is to ignite growth through transformative experiences, and it is our mission to strengthen our communities by creating an inclusive sense of place and an environment of learning.