Welcome Rachel Gaither,
                 Senior Librarian,
​         Almaden/Vineland Libraries

Rachel Gaither recently joined the San Jose  Public Library team as the Senior Librarian for the Almaden and Vineland Branches.

She brings with her over 15 years of experience and was most recently the Senior Librarian at the Pacific Grove Public Library.  

She holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree and a Master of Business Administration from Dominican University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from St. Mary's College. 

She has two chihuahua mix rescue dogs, has a cook book addiction and she is very excited to be a member of the San Jose Public Library team.​
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2023 Volunteer of the Year at Almaden Branch Library - Tom Trudell

Tom Trudell has been a faithful volunteer at Almaden Branch Library. Not only has he served as the President of the Friends of the Almaden Library for four years, but he also served as Treasurer and trusty friend at our Bi-annual Book Sale. He has lead the charge on many Fridays, guiding teens and volunteers with the large dollies, pushing out boxes and boxes of books to our sale location. He has, as treasurer, manned the collection of money at the sale. He has also collected monies from our lobby sale and teen book sale. He has helped organize our Friends when he was President. He has served faithfully throughout the years: pre-covid, covid, and now post-covid. He has been an asset to our branch.

Get to know a little about Tom:
  • My first job... was working as a paper boy in Los Angeles and lugging the LA Times with a cart because the papers were so thick and bulky.​
  • I am most proud... of my son, an aerospace engineer at NASA.
  • My role model is... my dad, who raised me and my sister as a single dad.

How We Raise Funds


Twice a year, the Friends of the Almaden Library bring out all of the gently used books and media that have been donated and have a one-day sale. The prices are extremely reasonable and the Library's patrons look forward to the events. The money made from these events are donated back to our local library for local programs and needed materials. 
We also have a small amount of books for sale all year round in the lobby of the Library.
Please come and check out our sales. Every dollar donated goes back to your community!

How Are We Using the Funds Raised...

​    Spring 2019:
     FAL donated $6700 towards special collections and various         programs held at the Almaden Library including:
       Summer Learning Programs   $2500
  • African Village Celebrations
  • Wild Mind: Bay Area Wild
  • Magical Moonshine Theatre
  • Children's Discovery Museum: Oh Seuss!
  • Spencer Grey Magic
  • Dave Rocha

    Saturday Music Programs with Sean Mendelson  $1500
  • June, 2019 through November, 2019

    Harvest Festival   $1900
  • Not-So-Scary Halloween Show
  • Little Explorers
  • A New Twist
    Winter Program   $495
  • Traveling Lantern Theater

    Fall 2019:
    FAL donated $11,770 towards special collections and various programs held at the Almaden Library including:
  • Paid Programs  $6800
  • Staff Recognition Pizza Party  $100
  • Story Time and craft supplies   $500
  • Program Room Equipment  $1200
  • Program Supplies $500
  • Program Hardware  $300
  • Programming Subscriptions $270
  • Technology Programming Supplies $1600
  • Collection Enhancement for Juvenile Non-fiction $500

Library News

EXPANDED HOURS AT THE LIBRARY

You joined us six months ago to call for more open hours at your neighborhood library - and it worked! Over the summer we saw library hours and staffing return to pre-pandemic levels.

Now, we are very excited to announce that starting Sunday, October 2, 2022, 16 branch libraries will open on Sundays, expanding hours of operation to 7-days per week! This unprecedented hours expansion in San Jose would not have been possible without your support and advocacy! 

SJPL will pilot Sunday hours (12-5pm) at the following branch libraries:  
  • Alviso
  • Bascom
  • Berryessa
  • Biblioteca Latinoamericana
  • Dr. Roberto Cruz-Alum Rock
  • East San Jose Carnegie
  • Edenvale
  • Educational Park
  • Evergreen
  • Hillview
  • Joyce Ellington
  • Seven Trees
  • Tully Community
  • Vineland
  • West Valley​