The new Santa Teresa library is part of the City of San Jose's Branch Library Bond Measure, which created 20 new and expanded public libraries in the period from 2000 to 2011. This library was designed on a theme of openness, where the interior is conceived as one great public room, with subsidiary private spaces for quiet study, teens, children and staff. The uncluttered interior is visually accessible from Santa Teresa Boulevard, via a shaded glass facade. An arcade connects the symbolic front along Santa Teresa to the rear of the building, where the primary building entrance and parking are located. A large public meeting space is located adjacent to the entrance, and is designed to be accessible during hours when the library is closed. To encourage high community use, the interior of the library emulates the environment of a private bookstore and incorporates vending and eating spaces, unlike traditional libraries.