Press Release
SAN JOSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Media Contacts
Elizabeth Castaneda, (408) 458-0662
elizabeth.castaneda@sjlibrary.org
Nancy Macias, (408) 712-2150
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 28, 2025
New ‘Tech Hubs’ are Unveiled Across San Jose to Increase Access to Free Internet, Tech Devices, and Hands-on Digital Skills Training
San José Public Library and City Leaders celebrate innovation at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of “Tech Hubs Powered by SJ Access”
San José, Calif., March 28, 2025 - The San José Public Library (SJPL), alongside City and County leaders, proudly announced the unveiling of Tech Hubs Powered by SJ Access during a press conference this morning. The Tech Hubs are digital inclusion spaces operated by six Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in under-resourced neighborhoods in San José. These spaces provide residents with access to onsite tech devices, internet, and digital skills workshops to learn about cybersecurity, navigating the internet, computer basics and more – all for free and with the personalized support from bilingual staff.
“Access to the internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a basic requirement for success in today’s world,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “We’re proud to partner with Sourcewise to launch six new Tech Hubs that meet residents where they are — delivering technology, training, and support directly to the neighborhoods that need it most.”
The press conference was held at Sourcewise, located inside the Roosevelt Community Center, where San José Mayor Matt Mahan, interim District 3 Councilmember Carl Salas, District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan, City Librarian Jill Bourne, Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong, and other City and County staff gathered to celebrate the unveiling with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. To conclude the event, Sourcewise offered an open learning lab equipped with tablet devices for older adults to get hands-on practice with basic digital skills.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see that our constituents have Tech Hubs within multi-service centers where they can enhance their digital skills, which is a necessity for personal and professional success. The availability of one-on-one support is also an opportunity that I encourage everyone to take full advantage of,” said interim Councilmember, Carl Salas.
These Tech Hubs are expected to serve over 3,400 people annually, are open at least 20 hours per week, and are operated by the following CBOs: Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, International Children Assistance Network (ICAN), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Sacred Heart Community Service, Sourcewise, and Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation (VIVO).
Services and programs may vary based on the Tech Hub. Each Tech Hub provides targeted support to serve specific communities, such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, low-income families and non-English speakers, and provides welcoming spaces for adults and families. Tech Hub participants can also benefit from the services offered by community organizations, as well as city and county services.
City Librarian Jill Bourne shared, “Ensuring safe and reliable internet access for all is not just about connectivity, but also about empowering residents with knowledge, tools, and resources to navigate the digital world responsibly. This fosters opportunity, education, and security for a brighter and more inclusive future - something we can proudly say our libraries and partners are providing.”
Tech Hubs Powered by SJ Access are part of the City’s SJ Access digital equity initiative, led by SJPL. Tech Hubs are supported through the City’s SJ Access Grant Program, financed by the City’s Digital Inclusion Fund, which is funded by public-private partnerships managed by SJPL and the San José Public Library Foundation with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and grant funding from Zoom. To date, the Digital Inclusion Fund has generated appropriately $10 million to address the digital divide in San José. Over $4 million has been disbursed through the annual Digital Inclusion Grants program that launched in 2020 to build the capacity of local community-based organizations to implement digital inclusion programs in high-need communities. For more information, visit: sjpl.org/TechHubs.
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About the San José Public Library
San José Public Library (SJPL) is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and in the nation's 13th largest city. SJPL serves a culturally diverse population of nearly one million and has over 760,000 library members, making it one of the busiest library systems nationwide. The library has worked to cultivate and establish a 21st Century library experience dedicated to public service and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core of its efforts. In addition to providing free library services to the community, SJPL proudly leads two citywide initiatives - the City's Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the City's SJ Access digital equity initiative, which has become the number one provider of free public access to Wi-Fi connectivity, tech device lending, and multi-lingual digital literacy programs and support in the city. For more information, please visit sjpl.org
About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation's most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world's greatest concentration of technology talent and development.