San Mateo Public Library

San Mateo Public Library The Library is also part of the Pacific Library Partnership, a consolidation of four library systems in the greater Bay Area of Northern California.

The San Mateo Public Library is a wonderful destination with a comprehensive collection of resources and services and a friendly professional staff to help the community discover, enjoy, connect and learn in an ever-changing world. The San Mateo Public Library is a dynamic community resource and destination that includes the Main Library, a state of the art LEED Gold rated green building, which op

ened in August 2006; and two community branch libraries. The Library provides library services to residents of the City of San Mateo and the Town of Hillsborough and is part of the Peninsula Library System (PLS), a consortium of public library jurisdictions and community college libraries in San Mateo County.

Storytime is heading outdoors! 🌳📖🎶Bring your little ones to Beresford Park for a morning of books, songs, movement, and ...
06/06/2026

Storytime is heading outdoors! 🌳📖🎶

Bring your little ones to Beresford Park for a morning of books, songs, movement, and fun. This interactive storytime is designed to support early literacy while helping children build language and motor skills. We'll be at Beresford Park every Wednesday in June-- beginning June 10th. In July we'll be at Shoreview Park and in August you can find us at King Park.

📅 Wednesday, June 10 at 10:30 AM
📍 Beresford Park, 2720 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo

For ages 0–5. Adults must be accompanied by a child.

Calling all animal lovers! 🐰💕Meet real guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits while learning about how to care for these pop...
06/05/2026

Calling all animal lovers! 🐰💕

Meet real guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits while learning about how to care for these popular pets. Local Girl Scouts, along with Cavy Hammy Haven and Rabbit Haven, will be on hand to share fun facts and answer questions.

Saturday, June 6 • 12–3 PM
Outside the library entrance of our Hillsdale Library branch.

🀄 Ready to learn mahjong? Or maybe it’s time to sharpen your skills?Join us this summer for an afternoon of learning, st...
06/05/2026

🀄 Ready to learn mahjong? Or maybe it’s time to sharpen your skills?

Join us this summer for an afternoon of learning, strategy, and friendly gameplay with the San Mateo chapter of the OCA! Participants will learn the basics of Hong Kong style mahjong before settling in for casual play with fellow community members.

📍 Oak Room at the Main Library
🗓️ Third Sundays: June 21, July 19 & August 16
⏰ 2–4 PM

The first hour will focus on instruction, followed by open gameplay. Mahjong tables and sets are limited, so registration is required for gameplay spots: https://sanmateopublic.libcal.com/event/16826757

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned tile slinger, come join the fun!

Summer Reading Challenges are here! We have challenges available for all ages. Children, Teens, and Adults. You can pick...
06/02/2026

Summer Reading Challenges are here! We have challenges available for all ages. Children, Teens, and Adults. You can pick up a reading log at either the Main Library or Hillsdale Branch. Sign up to select your free book and log. You can return completed logs for a chance to be entered win prizes. Children can return reading logs after July 1.

For more information, go here: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3032/Summer-Learning-Challenge

For this , let's go back to earlier this month. We had a meaningful time participating in our book discussion for One B...
05/28/2026

For this , let's go back to earlier this month. We had a meaningful time participating in our book discussion for One Book, One Coast, a multi-state community reading initiative centered around "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei. We enjoyed refreshments while discussing this powerful graphic memoir.

Don't forget to join our Zoom Q&A this Sunday at 2PM. For more information, go here: https://sanmateopublic.libcal.com/event/16575579

Join us for One Book, One Coast, a multi-state reading experience featuring our inaugural pick, "They Called Us Enemy" b...
05/27/2026

Join us for One Book, One Coast, a multi-state reading experience featuring our inaugural pick, "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei. This powerful graphic memoir shares Takei’s childhood experience of incarceration during Executive Order 9066.

💬 Virtual Q&A with George Takei
📅 Sunday, May 31 | 2–4 PM (via Zoom)
📍 Watch party in the Children’s Room Book Bubble
🍪 Light refreshments provided

For more information, go here: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4952/One-Book-One-Coast

Join us every first Thursday of the month from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Laurel Room fora lively book discussion! We will d...
05/27/2026

Join us every first Thursday of the month from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Laurel Room fora lively book discussion! We will discuss "Queens of Crime" by Marie Benedict.

📅Thursday, June 4
⏰6:30–7:30 PM
📍Laurel Room

Join us every second Tuesday of the month for lively book discussions! We’ll be diving into "The Secret Life of Sunflowe...
05/22/2026

Join us every second Tuesday of the month for lively book discussions! We’ll be diving into "The Secret Life of Sunflowers" by Martha Molnar.

📅Tuesday, June 16
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Register to receive the Zoom link and be part of the conversation.
You can register here: https://sanmateopublic.libcal.com/event/16552367

In observance of Memorial Day, all San Mateo Public Library locations will be closed on Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 2...
05/19/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, all San Mateo Public Library locations will be closed on Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.

Join us for an evening with author Nicole Wong as she explores the history of mahjong and its connection to culture, fam...
05/08/2026

Join us for an evening with author Nicole Wong as she explores the history of mahjong and its connection to culture, family, and the Asian diaspora through her book, Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora.

After the talk, stay for a casual hour of mahjong gameplay — whether you’re a seasoned player, curious beginner, or simply love games that bring people together.

📍 Oak Room, Main Library
📅 Thursday, May 28
🕠 Book Talk at 5:30 PM
🀄 Mahjong Gameplay at 6:30 PM

Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Address

55 W 3rd Avenue
San Mateo, CA
94402

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 9pm
Tuesday 10am - 9pm
Wednesday 10am - 9pm
Thursday 10am - 9pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+16505227800

Website

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