The October 2, 1925 edition of the Oakland Tribune newspaper reported on the many recent patrons of the Pleasanton Library. "The largest book-borrowing record of the year was established during the past month at the Pleasanton branch of the Alameda county public library, according to the report of Librarian Mrs. Walker. The report shows that 793 books were taken by home readers within the 30-day period. The library attendance totaled 1,003. In addition to the adult publications read, 173 juvenile books were borrowed and 48 magazines taken for home reference. Nineteen applications lor borrowers' cards have been received within the past few days, according to Mrs. Walker.

Community Hubs

Nearly 100 years later, Tri-Valley public libraries continue to be busy. Today, they operate at a scale that Mrs. Walker might not recognize. Patrons visited the Pleasanton library, for example, more than 264,000 times during 2022, according to the city's annual report. That year over 11,000 individuals joined the library as new members. Physical library material was checked out more than 828,000 times in 2022 and nearly 181,000 digital checkouts took place. Moreover, there were 52,865 active library cardholders during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

A library card unlocks many useful, free online services. One example is Brainfuse HelpNow, which provides homework help for students with live, online tutors in math, science, reading and writing, social studies, and standardized tests. The service also offers skills tests, a writing lab, and Spanish-speaking support. HelpNow's Adult Learning Center gives users access to live, professional assistance in writing resumes and cover letters, U.S. citizenship preparation, and more. 

Those with special interests, such as genealogy, can benefit from services such as Ancestry Library, which can be used while at the Pleasanton library. This genealogy database offers access to 1.5 billion names from the U.S. Census, church records, city directories, schools, newspapers, and more. Veterans who would like in-person help can turn to the Veterans Resource Center at the Pleasanton library's information desk or the Veterans Resource Center resource page on its website. At East Bay libraries, children, students, job seekers, and those learning English as a second language can also find services and resources to meet their needs.

Libraries Mean Business

Business owners, entrepreneurs, and individuals planning to start a company or nonprofit may be surprised by the wealth of helpful resources available at the region's  libraries. Holders of a Dublin library card, for example, have access to an online Small Business Resource Center through the Alameda County Library system. It is described by the officials as a "collection of state-specific resources, such as demographic data, fastest-growing cities, licenses and permits, organizations, and more that are important to the start and development of businesses." The Livermore Public Library also offers an online collection of Small Business Resources, in addition to other materials.

The Pleasanton Library has many magazines available, including business publications such as Economist, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Barron's, Kiplinger, Forbes, and Fortune. Magazines are available in person and online through Flipster. It also offers free access to several newspapers that may interest the business community, including the New York Times and Mercury News. Moreover, books, eBooks, and audiobooks are available on topics such as leadership, small business, business plans, legal forms, taxes, career growth, resumes, and more.

Traditionally, public libraries offer easy access to free computers, printers, scanners, and Wi-Fi in a quiet, distraction-free environment that can be helpful to businesspeople as well as others. Some of them, including the Pleasanton library, also allow members to borrow laptops for use at home. Moreover, libraries offer access to reference librarians, who are trained to help patrons, including business owners, find exactly the information they need. 

Another service available to Alameda County library members is free financial advice through the Advisers Give Back program. This program matches individual members with an expert financial adviser who offers advice at no charge. "There's no strings attached," according to library staff members. "Advisers can't sell you anything and they can't take you as a client. They're just here to listen and help." Members meet with an adviser who will listen to their concerns and questions and then help them design an easy-to-implement financial plan. The adviser will suggest specific steps unique to each member and help them avoid wasting money, which might be especially helpful advice for first-time entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Loaning materials to patrons is still a key function of modern libraries but they offer much more. These important community hubs also provide cool places to gather during hot days, movie and book clubs, and sometimes unexpected services and events. The next Evening Yoga for Families class, for example, is offered on Thursday, June 27, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Dublin Library, which is part of the Alameda County Library system. Beginners and children seven and older are welcome to learn and practice easy yoga postures and mindfulness techniques on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Many more events, online services, and resources can be found at East Bay Libraries. Mrs. Walker, the librarian for the City of Pleasanton in 1925 and beyond, might be shocked by the number of activities and services available in the Tri-Valley. But as a professional librarian, she would also be gratified to see the many different ways Tri-Valley libraries continue to serve their communities.

For more information about the City of Pleasanton Public Library, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/your-community/pleasanton-library, go to the library at 400 Old Bernal Avenue, or call (925) 931-3400.

For more information about the Dublin Public Library, please visit aclibrary.org/locations/DUB, go to 200 Civic Plaza in Dublin, or call (925) 803-7252.

For more information about the City of Livermore Public Library, please visit library.livermoreca.gov/home-library, go to 1188 South Livermore Avenue, or call (925) 373-5500.

To access the Livermore Library's online collection of Small Business Resources, please visit library.livermoreca.gov/events-services/services/small-business-resources.

For more information about the Advisors Give Back program at Alameda County libraries, please visit advisersgiveback.org/ac-library.

Photo by Ying Ge on Unsplash