San Juan Community Library

San Juan Community is the only open to the public lending library in San Juan—the capital city of Puerto Rico. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit.  Our library members and visitors are from cities all over our island.  We circulate every year nearly 11,000 hard copy books (36% of our 30,000 bilingual collection) and 1,100 ebooks and audiobooks (almost 20% of our 6,000  and growing digital collection).  San Juan Community Library is needed now more than ever.  While literature and arts curriculum and educational institutions are suffering, our programs are the heart of our community. Children, young adults, and adults count on us for our services, including our digital and hard copy lending collections, meeting and study spaces, classes, magazines, workshops, proctoring program, daily book sales at very modest prices, complimentary WiFi, and our public computers with free internet access along with spreadsheet, word processing and presentation applications. Your support now will help to keep us open in 2020.  Our gofundme campaigns are essential to our library’s operations. After Hurricane Maria, our 2017 campaign “Help My Library Relief” was a lifeline! Our 2018 campaign “Keep us Open Anti-Gala” raised funds without costly event expenses. Rather than hold a gala, this year’s campaign “Stronger Together,” will ensure that your donation goes to our operations rather than to event expenses.  Any size donation is welcomed. In 2020 San Juan Community Library will be 33 years old. With you by our side, we are “Stronger Together.” Together let us serve the communities of Puerto Rico!  Here’s what some donors have told us: “Libraries are incredibly important, often overlooked institutions in communities that provide everyone, from every background, a safe space to access the world's knowledge. Plus, books rule.” –Chris Kessler “Un pueblo sin bibliotecas, es un pueblo en peligro. ¡Gracias por lo que hacen!  (A people without libraries is a people in danger. Thank you for all that you do!)”  –Rebecca Plaza-Gotay "Literacy is important, and this being the only public library in Puerto Rico with a digital library makes it extra important to stay up and running. Everyone deserves access to books.” –Private Donor

Join our "Keep Our Library Open" Anti-Gala Fundraiser

Your donation will ensure the continued services in 2019 of San Juan's only open to the general public lending library: San Juan Community Library.  The adults and children who count on our services come from many different backgrounds and from cities throughout Puerto Rico.  They depend on us for free access to books, computers, meeting and tutorial spaces, a program of classes, complimentary Wi-Fi and internet access, and a daily book fair with modest prices.  San Juan Community Library is also the only public library in Puerto Rico with a virtual branch (digitalsjcl.org).    
 
100% of your support will go to our library's 2019 operations.  No caterer to pay or other expenses to absorb your contribution.  For residents in Puerto Rico there is no need to hire a babysitter, to buy an outfit, or to look for parking.  Free up your time and keep our Library open in 2019!  

For our followers throughout the world, you are helping to support a unique institution that guarantees access to books, computers, and so much more in a safe and secure space that is open to everyone!

San Juan Community Library is a non-profit organization recognized by the PR Departments of Treasury and State.  Your support is also tax deductible for federal reporting purposes, as we are a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  

Thanks everybody for your support!

San Juan Community Library, the only lending library in the San Juan area, was greatly affected by hurricane Maria.

We are located in a park and lots of trees fell all over our premises. Our wooden roofs were damaged and water flooded our main building. Our sales book section, one of our main sources of revenue, was also damaged. The Library was about to celebrate its 30th Anniversary, however our main fundraising event of the year had to be canceled due to the aftermath.

San Juan Community Library is currently without power but, thanks to our volunteers, we are working manually under a limited schedule. The library is run by volunteers and encourages community, corporate and individual participation for its upkeep and day-to-day operations.

Please help us in our recovery efforts! Your contribution* to this campaign will help our beloved Library recover from this unfortunate outcome. Any amount will help, no matter how small you think your contribution may be. Puerto Rico is a beautiful island. Its natural beauty and its people are resilient and strong. With your cooperation, we will rise again! Thank you!

San Juan Community Library, 30 years transforming our community everyday!

*San Juan Community Library is a 501(c)(3) charity. Tax deductible.

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San Juan Community Library , la única biblioteca que aún presta libros en el área de San Juan, se vio gravemente afectada por el huracán María.

Estamos ubicados en un parque y muchos árboles cayeron en nuestras instalaciones. Los techos de madera resultaron dañados y el agua inundó nuestro edificio principal. Nuestra sección de libros de ventas, una de nuestras principales fuentes de ingresos, también sufrió daños. La biblioteca estaba a punto de celebrar su trigésimo aniversario, sin embargo, nuestro principal evento de recaudación de fondos tuvo que ser cancelado, también debido al huracán.

San Juan Community Library actualmente no tiene electricidad, pero gracias a nuestros voluntarios, estamos trabajando manualmente bajo un horario limitado. La biblioteca es administrada por voluntarios y fomenta la participación comunitaria, individual y corporativa para su mantenimiento y las operaciones diarias.

¡Por favor ayúdenos en nuestros esfuerzos de recuperación! Su contribución* a esta campaña ayudará a nuestra querida biblioteca a recuperarse de este desafortunado resultado. Cualquier cantidad ayudará, ¡no importa cuán pequeña creas pueda ser tu contribución! Puerto Rico es una hermosa isla. Su belleza natural y su gente son resistentes y fuertes. ¡Con tu cooperación, nos levantaremos de nuevo! ¡Gracias!

San Juan Community Library, 30 años transformando a nuestra comunidad, ¡todos los días!


*San Juan Community Library es una organización benéfica 501(c)(3). Su donativo es deducible de impuestos.