Malcolm X Library & Performing Arts Center
🏢 San Diego Public Library · San Diego, California
Malcolm X Library & Performing Arts Center
Malcolm X Library & Performing Arts Center anchors the Valencia Park neighborhood with a 26,000-square-foot civic hub on Market Street — opened in 1996 and remodeled in 2016 with the addition of the Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab — offering an African Diaspora collection, public art displays, performing arts space, and 39 public computers to southeast San Diego's diverse community.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 5148 MARKET ST., SAN DIEGO, CA 92114
Phone: 619-527-3405
Website: sandiego.gov
Plus Code: 8544PW68+5C (SAN DIEGO, CA)
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📖 About Malcolm X Library & Performing Arts Center
Malcolm X Library & Performing Arts Center has served the Valencia Park neighborhood of southeast San Diego since 1996, when the 26,000-square-foot facility opened on Market Street as one of the largest branch libraries in the SDPL system. Named for the civil rights leader and Black intellectual Malcolm X, the library was designed to function as both a public library and a cultural center for the community, and it holds a curated African Diaspora collection alongside language collections reflecting the neighborhood's diverse population. A major 2016 remodel added the Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab — a multimedia STEAM learning center for ages 12 to 18 — bringing 3D printing, digital fabrication, and creative technology resources to the branch. The building also contains a performing arts center, four meeting and study rooms accommodating groups from 6 to 140 people, public art installations throughout, and a 124-space parking lot with 6 accessible spaces. Accessible via the MTS Trolley Orange Line and multiple bus routes, the branch is a cornerstone civic institution for southeast San Diego.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 26,000-sq-ft civic library and performing arts center opened 1996 — one of the largest SDPL branches
- Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab added in 2016 remodel — multimedia STEAM lab for ages 12–18 with 3D printing and digital fabrication
- African Diaspora collection and multilingual holdings reflecting Valencia Park's diverse community
- Four meeting/study rooms accommodating 6–140 people; performing arts center for community events
- 39 public computers, 124-space parking lot with 6 ADA spaces, and MTS Trolley Orange Line access
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
SDPL cardholders stream, borrow and research free with San Diego's digital collection:
📚 Services
- 39 public computers plus Wi-Fi access during all open hours
- African Diaspora collection — curated titles on Black history, culture, and literature
- Language collections reflecting Valencia Park's multilingual community
- Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab — STEAM/multimedia lab for ages 12–18 (3D printing, digital media)
- Four meeting/study rooms — capacities from 6 to 140 people; reservable for community events
- Performing arts center
- Public art displays throughout the facility
- Interlibrary loan through LINK+ (California-wide consortium)
- Holds pickup and returns for any SDPL branch item
- 124-space parking lot with 6 ADA-accessible spaces
- MTS Trolley Orange Line stop nearby; multiple bus routes
🎸 Programs
- Teen IDEA Lab workshops — 3D printing, digital fabrication, and multimedia creation (ages 12–18)
- Performing arts events and community cultural programming
- Story-time and children's programming aligned with SDPL system calendar
- Summer Reading Program for children, teens, and adults
- Community meeting room events — check sandiego.gov/public-library for current schedule
📍 Nearby Libraries in San Diego
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in SAN DIEGO · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab at Malcolm X Library?
The Legler Benbough Teen IDEA Lab is a multimedia STEAM learning center for ages 12 to 18, added to the branch during a 2016 remodel. It provides access to 3D printing, digital fabrication tools, and creative technology resources — all free to teens with a valid library card. The lab is designed to give young people in southeast San Diego hands-on experience with the same tools used in design, engineering, and media industries.
Does Malcolm X Library have a performing arts space available for community use?
Yes. The library includes a performing arts center as part of its 26,000-square-foot civic facility. The branch also has four meeting and study rooms that can accommodate groups ranging from 6 to 140 people. To reserve space, contact the branch at 619-527-3405 or visit sandiego.gov/public-library.
Why is the library named Malcolm X, and what is the African Diaspora collection?
The branch is named for Malcolm X (1925–1965), the civil rights leader and advocate for Black self-determination, and the name reflects the library's role as a cultural institution for the Valencia Park neighborhood. The African Diaspora collection is a curated selection of books, periodicals, and media covering Black history, literature, culture, and civil rights — one of the distinctive local collections within the SDPL system.
Is there parking at Malcolm X Library?
Yes — the library has a large 124-space surface parking lot directly adjacent to the building, including 6 ADA-accessible spaces. The branch is also accessible via the MTS Trolley Orange Line and several bus routes, making it one of the better-connected branches in southeast San Diego.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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