Palo Alto City Library's Mitchell Park branch is part of a new 56,000 square foot joint library & community center facility. The library is approximately 41,000 square feet housed in two-stories close to Middlefield Road and Mayview Avenue.
It is just off the 101 freeway and is near route 82 as well. Bus route 35 stops across the street and can take you to the nearby San Antonio Caltrain station and to the Palo Alto and Mountain View transit centers. Just down the street you'll find everything from healthy take-out wraps to fast food chains; relax in Mitchell Park to unwind on your lunch break.
The new building features:
Varied and flexible library spaces - large children's room, separate teen room, computer training room, 100 person program room, and quiet reading areas
Shelving for collection expansion, including books in international languages
Flexible classrooms, game room, and half court basketball area in community center
Environmentally friendly facility, built to LEED Gold, or higher, standard
Improved site plan with single entrance directly across from Mayview Avenue and safe corridors for children coming from the park and nearby schools
Small cafe serving snacks and beverages for users of facility and the park
Sufficient ground level parking for cars and bicycles
Services
The Mitchell Park Library collection includes a selection of reference materials, fiction and nonfiction, magazines and newspapers, DVDs, Books-on-CD, Music CDs, and a rich International Collection in a variety of languages. You will find free wireless access, loaner laptops and internet terminals available throughout the Library.
There are two study rooms you can reserve through Liquid Space - start here.
Travel Instructions
HIGHWAY 280 (Northbound): Take the El Monte exit, and turn right. Go to the Foothill Expressway, and turn left. Turn right on Arastradero Rd., and proceed to Middlefield Rd. You will cross El Camino and Alma/Central Expwy. Turn left at Middlefield Rd. At the next light, turn left into the Mitchell Park Library.
HIGHWAY 280 (Southbound): Take the Page Mill Rd. exit. Turn left on Page Mill, and proceed across El Camino to Middlefield Rd. Turn right and cross Colorado, Loma Verde and East Meadow Roads. At the next light, turn right into the Mitchell Park Library.
HIGHWAY 101 (North- & Southbound): Take the San Antonio Road exit (northbound travelers turn left; southbound travelers turn right). Turn right at Middlefield Road, which is the third signal light. Take Middlefield Road past E. Charleston Road to the next light at Mayview. At this light, turn left into the Mitchell Park Library.
BUS ROUTE: #35 runs on Middlefield Road.
PARKING: Parking is shared with the Mitchell Park Community Center and the nearby park. Charging stations are available for electric vehicles and over 90 bike racks are provided throughout the Mitchell Park Center.
History of the Mitchell Park Library
Mitchell Park Library was opened to the public in 1958. The Main Library and this branch were the result of a bond issue of $700,000 approved in 1956. In 1974-75, Federal Revenue Sharing funds were obtained to expand the facilities floor space by 70 percent to its current size.
