Special Checkouts

Green Thumbs, Green Minds is dedicated to increasing library usage and community involvement, food independence in Alameda, transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next, and the diversity of edible plant life and nurturing strains suited to Alameda’s specific environment. The Seed Library is located in the Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda.

Printable Resources

    General information about the Seed Library

           English(DOCX, 190KB)    Chinese(DOC, 352KB)    Spanish(DOC, 394KB)

      How to save seeds

           English(DOC, 480KB)    Chinese(DOC, 483KB)    Spanish(DOC, 918KB)

If you are looking for seeds for a particular plant and can’t find them, then look up their family name in the Plant Index, which is available at the Seed Library and below.

         Plant Index - English(PDF, 203KB)

         Plant Index - Spanish(PDF, 90KB)

Other Resources

     Organizations

          Alameda County Master Gardeners

          BASIL (Bay Area Seed Interchange Library)

          Ploughshares Nursery

      Gardening Calendar courtesy of Alameda County Master Gardeners

* We have temporarily paused the Tool Lending Library. Stay tuned for updates.

The Tool Lending Library is focused on handheld gardening equipment. The tools are searchable through our catalog with images of the tools. To see a list of all tools type “Tool Lending Library” as a keyword. Tools check out for three weeks and must be returned to the Main Library’s front desk in clean and working order. There are fees for dirty tools.

Located on the first floor of the Alameda Free Library at 1550 Oak Street, Alameda.

The Tool Lending Library is made possible by a grant from the Bay Area Library and Information System Innovation Fund Program BALIS,with the assistance of Ploughshares Nursery

Brochures and Forms for Tool Library

Brochure-English(PDF, 281KB)

Brochure - Espanol(PDF, 280KB)

Tool Library Waiver Form-English(PDF, 28KB)

Tool Library Waiver Form - Espanol(PDF, 29KB)

A hotspot provides a portable wi-fi connection. Connect your devices to the internet without wires. The Alameda Free Library has hotspot kits available for a 3-week checkout. Each kit includes the hotspot, instructions card, charging cable, and a case.

Pick up a jigsaw puzzle to complement your next adventure! Puzzles range in difficulty from 500-1500 pieces. Puzzles may be checked out for 3 weeks. Find them on the first floor of the Main Library near the holds shelf.

Board games for all ages are available for check out. There are "old school" games as well as brand new games. Try one out. Games may be checked out for 3 weeks. Find them on the first floor of the Main Library near the holds shelf.

Interested in picking up a new hobby? Pathway to Learning Kits are here to help get you started.

Available Kits:

Pathway to Learning Baking(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Birding(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Computer Science(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning DIY(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Knit and Crochet(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Machine Sewing(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Mindfulness(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Astronomy(Check Availability)
Pathway to Learning Ukulele(Check Availability)