The Central Valley is home to a diverse population of adults and their children from countries and cultures outside the United States. To assist these New Americans with understanding and accessing community resources that can help them adjust to U.S. culture and achieve permanent citizenship, the Fresno County Public Library offers many free services and programs. New Americans are invited to contact their local branch library for further information and assistance or call (559) 600-READ (7323).
Services to New Americans
Your library card can be used at any San Joaquin Valley Library System library, from Mariposa to Bakersfield. Children under 14 will need a parent/guardian signature.
Applications are available in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Photo identification (including AB60 licenses) required to have a card issued.
The Fresno County Public Library is proud to partner with the USCIS to offer six Citizenship Corner locations, opening December 2015. In these Citizenship Corners,
you will find resources to help prepare you for the Naturalization process. This includes information about the process, the exam and the interview as well as
flashcards and DVDs to help you prepare. There is also AB60 information and financial literacy information for New Americans.
Visit one of our Citizenship Corners at these following branches: Central, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Selma and Orange Cove. Opening December 2015.
This page provides information on requesting consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA).
Online resources to study and apply for an AB60 (or standard) California Driver's License.
World Languages Collections - Materials are offered in a variety of languages, including: Armenian, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Hmong, Italian,
Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. The Kerman Branch Library offers the larges Punjabi collection in the United States. There are significant adult
Spanish Language collections at many branches that provide books and videos for learning English as well as novels (featuring Latin American authors in the original Spanish).
We offer resources to assist individuals preparing for citizenship, including civics primers and practice tests.
We also offer voting resources in Spanish,
Chinese,
Hindi,
Japanese,
Khmer,
Korean,
Tagalog,
Thai, and
Vietnamese.
Please check out our Citizenship Corners.
The Aprendo Van is based on the West Side of Fresno County and serves community sites such as Head Start, Home Base Head Start, Migrant Head Start,
Day Care facilities in Mendota, Tranquillity, San Joaquin, Five Points, Halfway, Oro Loma, and Cantua Creek. AprendoVan staff are bilingual in English and Spanish. The goal of the AprendoVan is to assist parents and caregivers in preparing
children (from before birth to age 5) for school entry and success.
Literacy Services provide free reading, writing, spelling, and math tutoring to Fresno County adults who cannot read or write English. Trained volunteer tutors
provide one-on-one, learner-centered assistants. Families of enrolled adults are eligible for Families for Literacy, which provides free books to children age 5 and younger. Conversation Circles are offered at branches to provide
additional opportunities for Learners to practice their conversational skills.
Newspaper Source Plus has selected full text from a collection of over 1,000
regional, national, and international newspapers; also includes full text television & radio news transcripts.
Referencia Latina Integral en español de datos de contenido que ofrecen las
enciclopedias, textos completos de más de 100 libros de referencia, informes de salud, decenas de revistas de interés general y los informes de salud y un diccionario Español-Inglés.
Citizenship Corners
Important Updates to the Naturalization Test
On Dec. 1, 2020, USCIS implemented a revised version of the civics test for naturalization (2020 civics test). Due to recent policy changes, some applicants required to take the 2020 civics test may now have a choice to take the 2020 test or the 2008 civics test.
Please note that beginning on April 19, 2021, USCIS will only offer the 2008 civics test at the initial interview appointment regardless of filing date.
Interested in becoming a U.S. Citizen? New to America? The Citizenship Corner locations have materials to check out and handouts to help you get started.
Materials to check out (library card required) include:
Civics Flashcards for the Naturalization Test
Vocabulary Flashcards
The Naturalization Interview and Test Video
Free handouts include:
I am a Permanent Resident. How do I Apply for U.S. Citizenship? (English and Spanish)
The Wrong Help Can Hurt: Beware of Immigration Scams (English and Spanish)
Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test (with CD)
Information about USCIS Benefits and Services (English and Spanish)
AB60 driver's license information
Financial self-help information specifically for New Americans
List of BIA Recognized Organizations with Accredited Representatives
Only attorneys or Board of Immigration (BIA) accredited representatives can give you legal advice about which forms to submit, explain immigration options you may have, and communicate with USCIS about your case. An attorney or a BIA accredited representative can legally represent you before USCIS.
CRLAF provides free legal assistance on DACA renewals and naturalization, including community education and trainings on health-immigration policy crossover issues, such as public charge.
Family petitions, affidavit of support, naturalization, green card renewals, fee waiver, DACA, DACA renewals, FOIA checks, FBI check, public benefits
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Fresno County Public Library Test Preparation Resources
English Language
Call Numbers:
323.6
428.24
428.2461
Citizenship and Citizenship Preparation Books
Call Numbers:
323.623
325.182
342.73083
FCPL Databases
Learning Express Library
Adult Learning Center - Become a U.S. Citizen
Citizenship Test Practice: History & Civics Questions
Prepárese para su Examen de Ciudadanía
Mango Languages
English for speakers (19 different first language choices)
Procitzen Preparation for the Naturalization Test. Spanish version here.
Pronunciator Language learning courses taught in English, Spanish and many other languages. Spanish version here.