“Even if you don’t like reading, the library has so many great things that you can use to get free access to your community,” Ella Hadrovic, the Menlo Park Library’s Youth Services librarian, said.
From video games to pickleball equipment, the M-A, Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, North Oaks, and Belle Haven libraries all have a unique assortment of helpful and fun resources available for free use.
E-resources: Streaming and online books (Menlo Park + Atherton)
“Since we have so many resources, the difficulty is for us staff to remember all of them,” Atherton Library Youth Services librarian Lynne Fetter said. “The most expansive list of resources is our e-resources: anything digital that you can get access to for free using your library card.”
“If you have your own library card, you can set up an account with it, and it gives you access to a whole range of things,” Fetter said. This includes streaming movies or shows, online books, language learning programs, and more.
“I love using Libby, which is how you can read ebooks and listen to audiobooks,” Hadrovic said. You can download the app and sign in with your library card or use the website version, which is called Overdrive.
If you prefer movies to books, the library has a streaming service called Kanopy. “Kanopy is kind of like Netflix, but with a slightly smaller selection,” Hadrovic said. “There’s a lot of documentaries on it, but there are big blockbusters like Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
You can see the rest of the Menlo Park Library’s e-resources here and the Atherton Library’s here.
Park and museum passes (Menlo Park + Atherton + EPA)
Want to go hiking through redwoods or hang out on the beach? The Menlo Park, Atherton, and EPA libraries all offer state and county park passes. “You can check state and county park passes out at the help desk, and it gets you free admission into state and county parks and vehicle tags,” Hadrovic said.
The same applies to museums. “We have this resource called Discover and Go,” Hadrovic said. “It gives you free admission into museums throughout California.”
Movie and video game nights (Menlo Park)
The Menlo Park Library hosts weekly Teen Film Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Hadrovic plans to alternate every week between video games and movies. “In November, we will be playing Mario Kart and Mario Party superstars. We have a Nintendo Switch for the teen zone and we’re going to bring it out,” Hadrovic said. Free snacks are also provided for a night of fun.
“Video games are really expensive, so we wanted to find a way to have fun at the library and play video games. Even if someone doesn’t have a gaming system at home, they don’t need that to play,” Hadrovic said.
Rent video games and karaoke machines (Atherton + Menlo Park)
Both the Menlo Park Library and the Atherton Library offer collections of video games you can take home. The Atherton library also offers a Switch console anyone can borrow.
Atherton goes even further with technological entertainment. “We have karaoke machines that you can check out, which is extremely charming,” Fetter said.
“It’s really expanding that range of being able to access resources that you might not need all the time,” Fetter said.
Sewing machines (Atherton)
“Our sewing machines are in high circulation because they’re so convenient for people to be able to take home for one-off projects,” Fetter said. “It lets people do mending projects, make a prom dress, or something like that.”
“We also have our own sewing machines on site,” she said. They are available in the Makerspace.
Bikes (Atherton)
The Atherton Library also offers bicycles for people ages 18 and over to borrow.
“It comes with a helmet, a little kit of bike lights, a first aid kit, and a bike lock. They get good use,” Fetter said. “The tires are filled with filament, so you never have to run into a flat tire.”
“There’s definitely people who just discover it on the spot and are very excited because it matches with their plans for the day, or it gives them the inspiration to be like, ‘I know what I’m doing this weekend’ sort of thing,” Fetter said.
The M-A library also offers bike locks for students.
Seed libraries (Menlo Park + Atherton)
The Menlo Park, M-A, and Atherton Libraries each host their own seed libraries, offering a diverse selection of seed packets—from flowers and herbs to vegetables—free for anyone to take home and grow. The libraries aim to inspire all levels of gardeners, from seasoned enthusiasts to those looking to try their hand at gardening for the first time.
Makerspace (M-A + Atherton + Belle Haven )
Feeling creative or wanting to use cutting-edge technology for free? Makerspaces offer a place and equipment for your projects.
Atherton’s makerspace offers 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, sewing machines, and other services. “Our makerspace is open for anyone to drop in, and any of the equipment that is out and functioning is available to be used,” Fetter said. “It’s now open three days a week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
M-A’s Makerspace is open during Flex Times on Wednesday and Thursday and can be used as a quiet space during other library hours. “Our students can be creative during Flex Time and work on projects and use all our art supplies and Legos,” M-A librarian Roger Garcia said.
Belle Haven also has a Makerspace as part of the Belle Haven Community Campus.
Balls and hoops (M-A)
The M-A library bought the basketball hoops between the soccer field and the S-wing and offers balls to be checked out. Students can be seen playing on the field or using the hoops during lunch.
“Our slogan is community and connection,” Garcia said. “When you go out to the basketball hoops, you see people that don’t even normally know each other, and they just all are playing basketball.”
Internships and volunteering (Atherton + Menlo Park + Belle Haven)
The Atherton Library offers more than just books and reading spaces. It also opens the door for local teens to get involved in the community. “We have internship opportunities over the summer that are paid,” Fetter said. “We really encourage teens to apply for those sorts of things. There are ways to get involved in the library very early on.”
The Menlo Park and Belle Haven libraries provide community engagement opportunities for students through its Youth Advisory Committee. Teen volunteers contribute their ideas on library programming and community services, giving them a chance to make an impact while gaining valuable experience.
“The Advisory Group does a lot of the great work that makes our teen programming what it is,” Hadrovic said. “I’m the teen librarian, but I’m not a teenager. So I really love getting teen input on what y’all want in the space.”
Coat corner
As winter approaches, chilly weather has students bundling up in warm coats and jackets. You can get one for free at the M-A library’s coat corner.
“It’s not lost and found,” Garcia said. “It’s coats that students can come and grab. There’s also some homecoming dresses back there, and some socks.”
Meal service (North Fair Oaks + EPA)
Books are nourishment for the soul, but some libraries provide nourishment for the body as well. The North Fair Oaks and EPA libraries offer free meals Monday through Friday. The East Palo Alto Library provides meals from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., while the North Fair Oaks serves food from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
These meal services are provided year-round and are part of a broader effort to combat food insecurity by providing community members access to balanced meals, including protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The programs help bridge food access gaps, especially for families who rely on school meals during the academic year and may experience shortages during breaks.
Guitars and guitar lessons (EPA)
The East Palo Alto Library not only provides guitars available for checkout but also an 8-week beginner guitar lesson course, which anyone can join.
Here to help
“The expanding philosophy is doing what we can to make the library a real community resource and space,” Fetter said. “Our goal is to have it be the dual part of both the building itself, being a community center that can host lots and lots of different activities and events and programs for free, as well as a living storage space of different types of materials that go beyond the traditional assumption of books.”
“We do have lots of books, but really we’re thinking of ourselves as more of a community center, and we have all these different resources we want people to know about,” Hadrovic said.
“I feel like a school mom,” M-A librarian Cat Burton-Tilson said. “I want you guys to see a place where you can go to feel good.”
And if all these amazing resources don’t include what you’re looking for, our librarians would love to hear your thoughts. “We’re always looking for suggestions and feedback from the community. We love to hear what we have that we know people are using,” Fetter said.
