Its central library, [[Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library]], is also the main library of the [[San José State University]]. The building of the library in 2003 was the largest single library construction project west of the Mississippi. It has more than 1.6 million items. The building has eight floors that result in more than {{convert|475000|sqft|m2}} of space with a capacity for 2 million volumes.<ref>[http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/king/fastfacts.htm SJ Library MLK Fast Facts page] (Mentions joint university/city status, collection size and size of construction project.)</ref>
The city has 2123 neighborhood branches (17 of them open and not currently undergoing renovation or reconstruction) including the [[Biblioteca Latinoamericana]] which specializes in [[Spanish language]] works.<ref>[http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/index.htm Locations page at SJ Library site](See BL article for its references.)</ref> The [[East San José Carnegie Branch Library]], a [[Carnegie library]] opened in 1908, is the last Carnegie library in Santa Clara County still operating as a public library and is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. As the result of a bond measure passed in November 2000, a number of brand new or completely reconstructed branches have been completed and opened. The four branches currently undergoing construction are the [http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/branches/calabazas.htm Calabazas Branch], the [http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/branches/ed_park.htm Educational Park Branch], the [http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/branches/seventrees.htm Seventrees Branch], and the [http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/branches/bascom.htm Bascom Branch and Community Center]. The yet-to-be-named brand new [http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/branches/southeast.htm Southeast Branch] is also planned, bringing the bond library project to its completion.<ref>[http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/sjpl/bond/index.htm Bond Projects for Branch Libraries page at the SJ Library site]</ref>
The San José system (along with the University system) were jointly named as "Library of the Year" by the Library Journal in 2004.<ref>[http://www.sanjoseca.gov/cityManager/pdf/AnnualReport03-04.pdf San Jose 2003-2004 Annual Report] "In 2004, San José Public Library and San José State University Library were jointly named Library of the Year by the Library Journal."</ref>
