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Make the most of your San Antonio Public Library visits

Your card gets you books, but the San Antonio Public Library system offers services beyond the shelf that residents can utilize.

An exterior view across the street from the main library in San Antonio, TX.

We’ll leave you with one more library pro tip: curbside pickup. | Photo by Avinash Bhat via Flickr

Avinash Bhat

Calling all San Antonio Public Library prose — before you book it to your branch, read up on some SAPL features you might not be taking full advantage of. Pro tip: Don’t have your library card yet? Sign up now.

For the artsy San Antonian

  • Art Gallery | On the first floor of the Central Library, you can browse free exhibitions featuring local artists and community partners.
  • Craftsy | One of the library’s digital offerings, Craftsy gives you access to over 1,000 instructional video classes with downloadable materials that support the lesson.

For the busy bee

  • Fitness stations | If traditional gyms aren’t your style, you can work your body and your mind at one of nine branches. Plus, the kiddos can get out their energy at eight branch playgrounds.
  • Events | Bookmark the calendar for free weekly happenings that can be broken down by audience groups, from kids and teens to adults and older adults.

For the music and movie buffs

  • Kanopy | The streaming service offers movies, documentaries, and kid-friendly favorites. Each month, your library card gets you seven film credits and one Great Course credit to watch videos.
  • Catalog | In addition to audiobooks, books, and magazines, your library card allows you to check out a collection of CDs and vinyls.

For the curious mind

  • Texana/Genealogy Department | Staff can assist researchers with navigating the collection of records, plus the department hosts related programs and events.
  • Active learning resources | External platforms allow library patrons to continue their education through courses in their specialized industry, tackling a new language, or understanding how to make informed financial decisions.

Rapid-fire tips

  • An enhanced library card offers the same benefits as a typical SAPL card, but its design includes a user’s name, photo, and address. It can serve as a supplementary proof of identity in some cases.
  • Running into pesky paywalls? Using your library card, you can access digital newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and San Antonio Express-News.
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