Online Resources FAQs

  • The Palace Project

    The Palace Project app brings together San Mateo County Libraries’ OverDrive, Boundless eBooks and eAudiobooks into a single collection. The Palace Project app is the next iteration of the SimplyE app.

    Yes, your checked out eBooks and eAudiobooks will show up, but you may not be able to access them in The Palace Project app depending on where you downloaded them.

    Yes! You can add multiple libraries as long as they offer The Palace Project app and you have a valid card with those libraries.

    Make sure you have a stable internet connection and try downloading again. If the problem continues, you can contact Customer Care for help.

  • Calm Service

    To sign up for a Calm account, you must have a library card with a barcode starting with “29041,” "29731" or "29735" and an account in good standing. Fill out this short form with your library card number and email. In 3-4 business days, you will receive an email from the library system with instructions on how to set up your account.

    At this time, Calm is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese. The company is looking to expand its language options in the future! You can let Calm know what language you'd like to listen to by filling out their Calm Language Request form, opens a new window.

    Yes! Calm Kids has beginner meditations for various age groups up to 18 years old. The Calm Kids meditations are under the "Kids" category of the "Meditate" screen. Calm also includes more than 30 Sleep Stories for Kids which can be found in the "Kids" category of the "Sleep" screen.

    You will receive an email from San Mateo County libraries 3-4 business days after you’ve submitted the form. In your email, there will be a code to use to sign up for a Calm subscription. Please follow the below steps:

    1. Visit our landing page, opens a new window to subscribe. This should be done on a computer or your mobile browser (not in the Calm app itself).
    2. Once on the web page, sign in to your Calm account or create an account if you have not already.
    3. Once you have signed in, enter your Library card number to activate subscription access on your Calm account.
    4. Log into the Calm app or website, opens a new window with the same account you used in step 2. (Make sure to “X” out of the initial setup questions, and then you'll see a page prompting you to Create An Account. At the bottom, there is the “Have an Account? Log In” option. Use that to log into your account.)
    5. The new premium subscription will be active, and the full content library will be unlocked.

    Most sessions and tracks in the Calm app can be downloaded for future listening offline. For more on using Calm without an Internet connection, visit Calm’s Support site, opens a new window.

  • eMedia

    OverDrive provides information, opens a new window about downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks from their collection.

    Boundless provides information, opens a new window about downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks from their collection.

    Hoopla provides information, opens a new window about downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks from their collection.

    The Palace Project provides information, opens a new window about downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks from their collection.

    We also offer classes on how to use eBooks.

  • Museum Passes: Discover & Go

    You must live within the service area of San Mateo County Libraries in order to log in and reserve passes, opens a new window. Discover & Go is set to track your zip code. If you do not qualify to reserve a pass because your zip code is not in our service area, we recommend that you try your home library (within your own zip code) since many local library systems offer Discover & Go.

    Below is a list of other libraries in the Peninsula Library System that also participate in the Discover & Go program. If you have a card through one of these libraries, follow the link to log in and print out your passes.

    More information on the program is available at our Museum Passes.

    Once the pass has been printed your reservation cannot be cancelled.

    You can cancel a pass that has not been printed by logging into Discover & Go and clicking on Cancel Pass. Please remember that once the pass has been printed your reservation cannot be cancelled.

    Most attractions do not have an annual limit per library card number; however, there are some attractions that have placed a restriction on the number of times you can use a pass. You will find details about each pass within the Attractions page while logged in at Discover & Go.

    You can have two active reservations at a time. For example, if you make one reservation for a visit in June and you make a second reservation for a visit this Saturday, you can make another reservation after you complete your visit this Saturday.

    You can see which museums and cultural destinations are available within the Attractions page while logged in at Discover & Go.

    There are various limitations on using the Discover & Go passes. One of them is that you cannot use an eCard to get them, so you will need to come to one of the San Mateo County Libraries and get a library card in order to use the Discover & Go system.

    As a San Mateo County Library card holder, Discover & Go provides passes for numerous museums and cultural institutions throughout the Bay Area.

    Each Discover & Go pass expires immediately after the reservation date, so there are no returns required and no possibility for overdue fines! This unique program allows library users to make reservations online by date or by attraction and print out a pass.

    Patrons without Internet access can reserve a pass by telephone or in person and print out a pass at their local library.

    • In order to make a reservation, you must have a valid San Mateo County Library card, and be at least 16 years old (according to your library card account).
    • You cannot use an eCard or institution card.
    • You can have up to 2 reservations at a time.
    • You can cancel a reservation only if you have not already printed the admission’s pass.
    • The pass is for use only by the person named and only on the date specified. No photocopies are allowed. Valid ID is required.
    • The number of persons admitted per pass varies by attraction. Consult the Attractions page while logged in at Discover & Go regarding admission.

  • SimplyE

    The SimplyE app consolidates San Mateo County Libraries’ Overdrive, Boundless, The Palace Project, and public domain eBooks and eAudiobooks into a single collection.

    Hoopla is not integrated with the SimplyE app at this time, but there are plans to do so in the future.

    Yes, your checked out eBooks and eAudiobooks will show up, but you may not be able to access them in the SimplyE app depending on where you downloaded them. For example, if you borrowed and downloaded an eBook using OverDrive Libby, you may not be able to access it in SimplyE. Your activity in the OverDrive, Libby, and Boundless apps may interfere with SimplyE.

    Yes! You can add multiple libraries as long as they offer the SimplyE app and you have a valid card with those libraries

    Make sure you are using a stable Internet connection and try downloading again. If the problem continues, report the issue in the SimplyE app by scrolling down to the bottom of a title screen and clicking Report Issue.

  • eBook Stop

    If you’re waiting for an appointment, headed to the park, or taking a break at work, eBook Stops are a great way to help you pass the time! Browse, check out, and download an eBook to your mobile device in a matter of minutes and take it with you to go!

    eBook Stops are a small network device that generates its own Wi-Fi network and connects to an eBook collection curated by San Mateo County Libraries. When connected to the network, you can download and read eBooks in on your phone or tablet without the need for an Internet connection, an additional app or a library card.

    You will need a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop that can connect to a network. It must have an Internet browser to open and download the eBook into the cache.

    You do not need existing Wi-Fi or network connectivity, an app, or a library card.

    Here’s how to get started:

    1. Visit one of our locations with an eBook stop.
    2. Look for the blue “eBook Stop” signs.
    3. Access the Wi-Fi connections on your phone or tablet.
    4. Select the network called eBook Stop from the list of available networks on your device.
    5. When you have connected to the network, visit smcl.org/eBooktopS/, opens a new window, accept the Terms and Conditions, and tap “Go” to start reading.
    6. You can also download the book to your browser by clicking “Offline Access” at the top of menu on the site. You will also get a message while you’re browsing through your book with instructions on downloading it and to bookmark it in your browser. This way, you can take the eBook with you after you’ve checked it out from the eBook Stop!

    After connecting to the eBook Stop Wi-Fi network and visiting smcl.org/eBookStop/, opens a new window, you are ready to start browsing! After clicking yes to accept the terms and conditions, you will then see San Mateo County Libraries’ eBook Stop collection and available eBooks.

    1. Click the three lines in the left corner to browse by subject or use the magnifying class to search by author, title, or keyword. To learn more about the title, click on the thumbnail image. You’ll then see the summary and author information.
    2. Click “Read Now” to start reading in your browser.
    3. A new window will open and your book will load in about 30 seconds or less (depending on file size.)
    4. Swipe to turn the page or click the Main Menu at the top to skip to a chapter.
    5. You can also download the book to your browser by clicking “Offline Access.” Users will also get a pop-up message instructing them to download for offline access and to bookmark it in their browser. In order to read your eBook away from the eBook Stop, you will need to download the eBook by following Offline Access.

    Yes! When a user is having trouble connecting to the network, the website will automatically redirect to step-by-step instructions on how to connect on an Apple or Android device.

    The website also provides a helpful pop-up instructing users on how to download their eBook and bookmark it in their browser.

    Our eBook Stop collections include adult, teen, and children's eBooks in both Englisn and Spanish. There are no holds or wait times, so eBooks are ready for checkout immediately.

    eBook Stops are meant to be as easy to access as possible without the need for an app, a large amount of storage space, or a high-tech device. Therefore, the eBook, text-based format works best.

    No! Just like all of our digital collections, your books will return automatically after the loan period is up, so you don’t need to worry about returning the item or late fees.

    Although the connection is an open connection and therefore not secure, all data and content within the device is encrypted. Additionally, no user data is stored on the device.