The Community Bridge Library Collection
San Jose Public Library, Calif.
Innovation Synopsis
The San José Public Library provides under-resourced neighborhoods in San José access to library materials and programing in non-traditional settings. The Bridge Library serves as a way to provide a bridge between families and the full range of library services offered at SJPL locations.
Challenge/Opportunity
SJPL is committed to fulfilling its important role in the community by creating equity through access to resources and knowledge, and enhancing the capacity of communities to learn, grow and thrive. The Bridge Library continues the organization's goals to provide staffing and resources to serve the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the community. Through SJPL’s ingenuity, the library is able to establish an initial relationship of trust, forming a new community of library users.
Key Elements of Innovation
- Increase community awareness of the library’s resources, with special emphasis on reaching out to at-risk populations in under-resourced communities.
- Eliminate traditional barriers to library use. Lending policies, requests for information and late fees can serve as major access barriers for families. Lending on an honor system helps establish an initial relationship of trust with families.
- Provide access to a wide range of materials that meet community language needs and interest.
Achieved Outcomes
- Families have access to more books as a result of the Bridge Collection.
- Families read more together as a result of SJPL's presence in their community.
- SJPL is reaching new, underserved families through the Bridge Library.
- The Bridge Library helps more families become aware of SJPL's many services.
- Children are engaged in more early learning opportunities as a result of the programming SJPL provides at the Bridge Library.
