Library and Community Services provides a diverse array of lifelong learning and recreational opportunities for Menlo Park residents of all ages, abilities, and lived experiences. We employ skilled and qualified personnel, supported by contracted help and an extraordinary corps of community volunteers to deliver high-quality public services to the Menlo Park community including libraries, recreation, sports, early childhood education, after school programs, youth camps, senior programs, athletic fields and courts, community events, and aquatics.
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
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The City of Menlo Park operates two public library facilities, Menlo Park Library and Belle Haven Library. Services include physical and digital book lending, technology access, study and learning spaces, literacy support and tutoring,
cultural and educational programs that support lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, and discovery.
Visit the library webpage
The Belle Haven Community Campus project is now under construction and will include a children's library on the ground floor and all-ages library on the second floor. The second floor library space also will feature a makerspace, teen zone, tutoring room, classroom, and conference room.
The City of Menlo Park provides a wide range of recreation and sports
programs for all ages and interests. Indoor and outdoor recreation facilities host community classes at reasonable rates, for example health and wellness, dance, youth and adult sports, youth gymnastics, music, drama, art, lifelong learning and more. The Menlo Park Community Campus project is now under construction and will feature a public gymnasium, senior center, movement studio and fitness center, and aquatics center.
See the Activity Guide
The Belle Haven Child Development Center provides licensed, subsidized early childhood education and development services for income-qualified children ages three to five years. Daily nutritional breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are integral
to health and wellness, and daily activities support the socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive age-appropriate development of the children and their families. Program funded in part by grant funding from the State of California.
The Menlo Children’s Center provides licensed early childhood education for children ages 18 months through five years. The program's daily curriculum include activities to support the socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive age-appropriate development of the children, as well as a nutritional component.
Belle Haven Youth Center provides licensed after-school care for children in grades K-5, and full-day summer camp programs. Nutrition, homework support, and activities that support the development of the whole child. The Menlo Park Community Campus will include a new youth center, play structure, kitchenette, and easy access to a new children's library and makerspace.
Menlo Children's Center After-school Program provides licensed after-school care for children in in grades K-5, and full-day summer camp programs.
Nutrition, homework support, and daily activities to support the socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive age-appropriate development of the whole child.
Menlo Park Senior Center provides activities and services for Menlo Park residents ages 55 and up. Programs include weekday nutrition program and meal service, health and wellness, social activities, arts and crafts, language learning, dance and fitness classes, telephone wellness checks, transportation, and food pantry distribution.
The City of Menlo Park and its partners are constructing a new multi-service center facility at 100 Terminal Ave in Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood. The new center will feature a senior center and lounge, dining hall, movement studio, public library, indoor/outdoor gathering places, makerspace, and aquatics center.
The City of Menlo Park and its partners are constructing a new multi-service public facility at 100 Terminal Ave in Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood. The project includes 37,000 square feet of floor space on two levels, and will incorporate a public gymnasium, senior center, branch library, aquatics center, youth center (school-age child care), fitness center, makerspace, meeting rooms, and event hall, among other features. The new multi-service center is an all-electric, zero combustion, net zero energy project with onsite renewable energy generation, battery microgrid, and electric vehicle charging stations, and its structural design is resilient to serve as an emergency shelter. The project is currently on track for completion in 2024.
Project website
Menlo Park is home to many beautiful parks and open spaces, ranging from nature preserves to playgrounds, sports parks to picnic areas, and everything in between.
(PDF, 354KB)
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Library and Community Services is committed to being as transparent as possible and providing the public a clear understanding of our policies, procedures, and planning.
Department policies and procedures
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
LCS collects statistics and conducts surveys related to department activities. These data help to inform decision-making and improve services to the community. Statistical reports and surveys are reviewed by the Library Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission.
Description
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Type
|
Date |
Link
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| Menlo Park Library Annual Report 2023(PDF, 245KB)
|
Infographic
|
Nov. 2023 |
View(PDF, 245KB)
|
| LCS Statistics October 2023 (PDF, 171KB) |
Statistics
|
Oct. 2023 |
View(PDF, 171KB)
|
| LCS Statistics July 2023(PDF, 152KB)
|
Statistics
|
July 2023
|
View(PDF, 144KB)
|
LCS Statistics May 2023(PDF, 92KB)
|
Statistics
|
May 2023
|
View(PDF, 92KB)
|
Aquatics Annual Report 2022(PDF, 937KB)
|
Report
|
Apr. 2023 |
View(PDF, 937KB)
|
| Recreation and Community Programs Survey 2022(PDF, 3MB)
|
Survey
|
Sept. 2022
|
View (PDF, 3MB)
|
Tennis Court User Survey 2021(PDF, 1MB)
|
Survey |
May 2021
|
View(PDF, 1MB) |
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Library and Community Services provides a diverse array of lifelong learning and recreational opportunities for Menlo Park residents of all ages, abilities, and lived experiences. We deliver high-quality public services to the Menlo Park community including libraries, recreation, sports, early childhood education, after school programs, youth camps, senior programs, athletic fields and courts, community events, and aquatics.
We employ skilled and qualified personnel, supported by contracted help and an extraordinary corps of community volunteers.
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Library and Community Services uses strategic and master plans as tools to help guide department activities. Strategic and master plans establish department goals and priorities, provide transparency and ensure accountability to the public.
Strategic and master plans
Library and Community Services
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Library Commission
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Library Commission advises the City Council on matters related to the services, programs, and facilities of the City's libraries and library systems.
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Parks and Recreation Commission
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Parks and Recreation Commission advises the City Council on services, programs, and facilities related to the city's parks and recreation programs.
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Youth Advisory Committee
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The Youth Advisory Committee engages teens in civic activity by advising the Parks and Recreation Commission on recreational and service programs.
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Library Teen Advisory Group
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The informal Teen Advisory Group (TAG) shares ideas for library programs and events for teens.
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Volunteer support
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Community volunteers generously give their time, talent, and resources to enhance services and resources to the community. Volunteers provide hands-on support to senior center programs, library programs, homework help, community events, recreation programs, adult literacy and language learning.
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Little Free Libraries
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Dozens of volunteer households across Menlo Park support free access to books and reading through a grassroots network of Little Free Libraries.
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Organized charitable fundraising
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Friends of Menlo Park Library and Menlo Park Library Foundation are all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organizations whose sole mission is to fundraise and support Menlo Park Library programs, services and capital projects.
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