Oceanside Public Library Nature Initiatives

Oceanside Public Library is excited to highlight some of its new nature initiatives promoting community health and well-being, including a new Seed Library, California State Parks Passes and Check Out Nature Backpacks available to Library customers to borrow, and free take-home “The Great Outdoors” Busy Bag Kits for ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

​Oceanside Public Library recently launched its Seed Library, with unique collections housed at the Civic Center Library, 330 N. Coast Hwy., Mission Branch Library, 3861-B Mission Ave., and READS Learning Center, 804 Pier View Way #101. A variety of seeds are available for Library customers to take home at no cost. Seeds featured may include herbs, vegetables, wildflowers, and microgreens, and is meant to assist the community in creating edible and ornamental home and community gardens. In addition to seeds, the Library provides access to books, ideas, and programs to help get started in the garden! The Oceanside Seed Library is an ongoing collection, materials and techniques will be provided so that community members can share seeds in the form of donations to its Seed Library. This project was funded by the Native Seed Search Grant and the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library.
 
Through a partnership with California State Parks and the California State Library, free CA State Parks Passes for vehicle-day use are available for circulation at the Oceanside Public Library. Library customers can place a Parks pass on hold through the Library’s online catalog and pick it up at any Library location. They can borrow the Parks pass for 7 days and use it at over 200 participating State Parks.
 
Oceanside Public Library also offers Check Out Nature Backpacks, which are geared to helping all ages get into and excited about nearby nature. The Check Out Nature Backpacks can be borrowed from any Library location, for 3 weeks at a time, and include items such as field guides, activity books, binoculars, bug kits, and/or compass. The Check Out Nature Backpacks are for all ages, and are sponsored by the San Diego Foundation, Live Well San Diego, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego Children and Nature and Friends of the Oceanside Public Library.
 
Oceanside Public Library’s Early Learning and Community Information Hub, located within the Civic Center Library, has take-home “The Great Outdoors” Busy Bag Kits for ages 0-5 and their caregivers. These free kits include educational hands-on, age-appropriate activities for caregivers and kids to do together centered on the great outdoors and nature. The kits are available to pick up anytime the Civic Center Library is open, and while supplies last, throughout the summer.
 
These services are part of the Library’s Community Health and Well-being Initiative, sponsored by the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library, which promotes inclusive access and connection to resources that help Oceanside residents and visitors grow and thrive. For more information about these services and to stay up-to-date on what is happening at the Oceanside Public Library, click here, and follow the Library on Instagram or Facebook @oceansidelibrary.