Cesar Chavez Central Library

605 N. El Dorado St Stockton, CA 95202-1907 Directions | 209-937-8221

Closed Days | Chavez Library Remodel Project | Chavez Remodel Survey

About the library

The Cesar Chavez Library offers a circulating collection of library materials in English. Other circulating materials are available in Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, Khmer, Vietnamese, Japanese, Hindi and Filipino. 

The Library has computer workstations with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet available in the Adult, Teen and Children's areas. We also provide free wireless internet access, along with printing, scanning and fax services (fee charged for printing and faxing). Typewriters are available, but please bring your own supplies of paper and correcting fluid.

We have new, state-of-the-art microfilm readers that scan, print, email or save to USB drive.

Our Makerspace is currently available most afternoons by appointment only. It has 3-D printers, electronic cutting machines, sewing machines, photo printer, laminator and VR game system.

Programs

In-person programs are back!  Please see our Events Calendar for the schedule.

Special and Historical Collections

A number of special collections are available at the Chavez Central Library, including our Local History Collection.  

Newspapers have been printed in Stockton since 1850 and the Library has just about all of them on microfilm.  You can view, print, email or save images on a USB drive. The Library has a subject index that covers many (but not all) years of local newspapers.

For more information about our Genealogy Collection, see our Genealogy pages. To request copies  of obituaries or other vital records from newspapers, please use this form.

Bookdrop -Now open all hours

Our bookdrop is located near the downstairs library entrance on Oak Street, underneath the stairs. You can also return your material at our inside bookdrop, located next to the elevator on the 1st floor.

Parking

Free parking is available all day in the Civic lot west of the Library (across Center Street). Parking is available on the streets surrounding the Library (except El Dorado), some spots free for a limited time, some metered.

Displays

If you have a personal collection or your club has a special display to show, the Cesar Chavez Library has a space where you can share them. 

There are three display spaces for reserve at the library for public use. 

Children's Area: locked case

Adult Area (downstairs): locked case

Adult Area (downstairs): open wall display

To reserve any of the above displays, contact our staff at reference@stocktonca.gov or call 937-8221 and press 3 for Reference.

Permanent Displays 

Sister Cities Exhibit

Donating Books to the Library

You may donate materials to the library by going to the Stockton Friends of the Library bookstore located at 1724 W. Hammer Lane in Stockton. 

Bookstore Hours:

Monday, Friday & Saturday, 10am-6pm (donations accepted 10-12 only)

About Stockton

City web site: www.stocktonca.gov
Tourism: www.visitstockton.org