Illustrative photo: lettuce and marigolds in a raised bed in a community gardenIllustrative photo

Seed libraries in California

189 seed libraries are listed in California. 105 of them list at least one borrowing rule, such as whether you need a library card.

105 of the 189 listings are shown below so far; the others are added in stages.

Seed libraries

19 match

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Almaden Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Alviso Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Calabazas Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

San Mateo Public Library Seed Library

San Mateo, San Mateo County, California

Hosted by San Mateo Public Library

Where to find it: “Seed cabinet on Main Library 2nd floor; seasonal mini-libraries at Marina and Hillsdale branches”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “1 packet per seed type, 5 total per household per visit (Main); 3 per visit at mini libraries”

Season: “Main year-round; Marina and Hillsdale seasonal”

Mountain View Public Library

Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by Mountain View Public Library

Where to find it: “Mountain View Public Library, second floor near Information Desk”

  • No library card needed
  • Ask staff
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “3 packets per household per week, 1 per variety”

Season: “Feb 1 - Nov 20, 2026”

Evergreen Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Hillview Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Tully Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Vineland Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas (7 locations)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Take only what you need for the season”

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch; Summer 2026 seeds listed”

Danville Seed Library

Danville, Contra Costa County, California

Hosted by Contra Costa County Library

Where to find it: “Multiple Contra Costa branches: Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito and others”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Varies; Bay Point 3 packages per month, Antioch no limit”

Not listed: Season

Hercules Library Seed Library

Hercules, Contra Costa County, California

Hosted by Contra Costa County Library

Where to find it: “Multiple Contra Costa branches: Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito and others”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Varies; Bay Point 3 packages per month, Antioch no limit”

Not listed: Season

Moraga Seed Library

Moraga, Contra Costa County, California

Hosted by Contra Costa County Library

Where to find it: “Multiple Contra Costa branches: Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito and others (Moraga not visible in the text)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Varies; Bay Point 3 packages per month, Antioch no limit”

Not listed: Season

Benicia Public Library Seed Library

Benicia, Solano County, California

Hosted by Benicia Public Library

Where to find it: “Cabinet and little free library structure near the reference desk, Benicia Public Library”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “2-3 seeds per plant you intend to grow”

Not listed: Season

Civic Center Seed Library

San Rafael, Marin County, California

Hosted by Marin County Free Library

Where to find it: “Civic Center Library and South Novato Library (seed rack or binder)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “3 or 4 packets per month (signage varies by location)”

Not listed: Season

Felton Public Library Seed Lending Library

Felton, Santa Cruz County, California

Hosted by Santa Cruz Public Libraries

Where to find it: “Felton Branch lobby, recycled green dresser (Santa Cruz Public Libraries)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “As many as you plan to plant”

Not listed: Season

Goleta Valley Library Seed Library

Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California

Hosted by Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries

Where to find it: “GVL Express holds room (Goleta), Solvang Library, Buellton Library”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations not accepted
  • Return not expected
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Goleta 2 packets per week; Solvang one packet per variety”

Not listed: Season

Fairfax Library Community Seed Exchange

Fairfax, Marin County, California

Hosted by Marin County Free Library

Where to find it: “Civic Center Library and South Novato Library (seed rack or binder)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “3 or 4 packets per month (signage varies by location)”

Not listed: Season

Willow Glen Seed Library

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California

Hosted by San Jose Public Library

Where to find it: “San Jose Public Library branches incl. Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Calabazas, Cambrian, East S... (list truncated)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

Season: “New seeds monthly or quarterly by branch, seasonal”

Not listed: How much

Location not mapped

San Ramon Library's Seed Library

California

Where to find it: “Multiple Contra Costa branches: Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito and others (Moraga not visible in the text)”

  • No library card needed
  • Self-serve
  • Donations accepted
  • Return encouraged, not required
  • Pick up in person

How much: “Varies; Bay Point 3 packages per month, Antioch no limit”

Not listed: Season

Distance unknown

Distances are straight-line, not driving or walking routes. Listings without a map position are shown last.

What the listings in California say

Counted from the 189 listings in California; 105 (56%) state at least one rule. Many don't say - we count only what is listed.

142 listings have a map position; 47 do not.

Seed libraries by county

Seed libraries by city

Nearby states: Oregon

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Listings updated November 2026