Volume 3 Number 2 - Fall, 2008
To download a PDF version of this newsletter, click here.
Executive Director’s Message

Dear Friends of the Library,

Have you noticed all of the “Free2” signs around the library? “Free2” is a regional library marketing campaign to remind us that libraries help us be FREE to accomplish so much. What are you free to do at the library? Free2 learn; Free2 connect with friends over the internet; Free2 ask a librarian to help you find information about a medical diagnosis? Free2 look for a job or upgrade your professional skills? All of this and so much more is free to do at our library. It’s so easy to take for granted all that the library frees us to do.

That’s why I’d like to say thank you for the generosity of so many individual donors whose financial contributions provide our library with many special items and fabulous programs. Thank you to Applied Materials, for investing $15,000 in our Summer Reading Program for the fifth year in a row. Thank you to the more than 200 library volunteers whose volunteer time helps both the Central Park and Mission Libraries in so many ways. And of course, thank you to the library staff, for their patience, courtesy, and especially their dedication to help us become Free2 be our best.

We hope you enjoy our latest newsletter. If you would like to help the library, please consider volunteering or making a financial gift. For the first time, we are publishing a wish list of items—both small and large—that the library currently needs. You’ll find the list, titled We Need Your Help, on the back page of the newsletter. Any gift you make will help bring additional services and programs to your library, which provides free services—every day to everyone in the community. In fact, to more than 25,000 users every week!

Best wishes,

Maria Daane Executive Director Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends
Read Santa Clara Adult Literacy Program
Jesus Morales wanted to improve his reading and writing skills, so he asked a volunteer in the Friends’ Bookstore if the library had a program that could help him. The volunteer, Rose Alvarado, had just become aware of the library’s adult literacy program, Read Santa Clara, a few days earlier, when someone suggested that she become a tutor. So Rose became Jesus’ tutor.

Jesus wants to improve his literacy skills so that he can help his children with their school work, write messages and reports at work, and someday become a volunteer himself. He would like to help others improve their reading and writing skills.
Jesus says: “I just needed someone to encourage me to do this, and Rose gave me the confidence to join the Read Santa Clara literacy program. I encourage any adult to join. It’s there and it’s free.”

Rose says: “It’s so satisfying to know that someone is benefiting from the time I give to the library’s literacy program once or twice a week. When we work on literacy skills, we benefit ourselves, our family, and our community. Sometimes we inspire others to learn, as well!”

Please contact Read Santa Clara at 615-2956 if you would like more information about free literacy tutoring for adults.
Three new services have been added for you to enjoy!
Mercury News Archive: 1886 to 1922
Anyone with a library card can now access the San Jose Mercury News Historical Archive database. This digitized database contains the San Jose Mercury newspapers from 1886 to 1922. It can be searched by word choice and is available online from home or at the library.

To access the database from home, go to the library’s Research Databases webpage at http://www.library.santaclaraca.gov/research.html. Besides news articles, the database also includes advertisements, real estate transactions, death and marriage notices, and society gossip columns. Search results appear on screen as reproductions of the actual newspaper pages and clippings, so you also see etchings and photographs that are in ads and articles.

Franck Building showing “Public Library” on the upstairs windows

Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel, has used this resource to answer reference questions and to find information about photographs in the library’s historical photographs collection.

For example, an East Coast scholar researching a woman named Lucy Rose Mallory knew that Lucy died in Santa Clara County in either 1919 or 1920. The researcher asked whether the library had a picture of Lucy or knew the exact date of her death. Checking the database, Mary found an article—with a photo of Lucy Mallory—titled: “Injuries Received in Auto Crash Hasten Death of Woman: The Late Mrs. Lucy A. Rose Mallory,” San Jose Mercury Herald, September 4, 1920, page 2.

If you have questions about searching this database, please contact Mary Hanel, Local History Librarian, at 615-2909 or by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.
Kits for Developmentally Disabled Patrons
The Mission Library staff has created special activity kits for its developmentally disabled patrons. These ABLE (Activities for Basic Learning and Enjoyment) kits are available for borrowing in three subject areas: Language & Vocabulary, Health & Hygiene, and Reading. Each kit contains books and materials for activities related to its subject area.
Using an up-to-date library card, caregivers can check out one kit for three weeks, and each kit can be renewed for an additional three weeks. The program began in April and five ABLE Kits have been checked out so far. The library is currently contacting special education classes, group homes and special need centers in the community to make the kits available.

The Mission Library also needs volunteers to organize the returned ABLE Kits so that they are ready for borrowing again. If you would like to help, please contact the Mission Library at 615-2964.

Mission Librarian Hilda Lopez displays the contents of an ABLE Reading Kit

Morningstar Online Investment Service
Now Available from Home!
If you have Internet service at home, the library now offers remote access to the online Morningstar Investment Research Center. Morningstar provides investment reports to help you evaluate mutual funds, stocks, and other exchange-traded funds. These reports include a five–star guide that rates overall performance and risk, narrative evaluations, performance histories, and stewardship status. The next time you want to know how your investments are performing, use Morningstar—now accessible on the Research Databases page on the library’s website.

If you have questions about this new at-home online service, please visit the Adult Services Desk or call 615-2900.

Funded By the Friends
All or part of these new services were funded by grants from the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends.
Cool Stuff for Kids!
HelpNow

Online Homework Help for Students
The California State Library has selected the Santa Clara City Library to participate in the 2008 Out–of–School–Time Online Homework Help program called HelpNow. As a subscriber to HelpNow, which is the online homework assistance service provided by Brainfuse, the library offers students free tutoring.
The Online Homework Help program will also be available beyond the summer—throughout the rest of 2008, in fact—because of generous donations from both the Wells Fargo Foundation and National Semiconductor, and funding from the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends.

HelpNow features:
  • Students in grades 3 to 12 can receive one–to–one online tutoring sessions anytime from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM every day throughout the year, in both English and Spanish. Tutoring is available for a wide variety of subjects, including math, science, social studies, and English/language arts.

  • Students select the tutoring program they need:
    • Conventional Homework Help—students receive live, one–on–one assistance from Brainfuse tutors.
    • Skills–Building Exercises—students and tutors use Brainfuse online materials designed specifically to meet California public school standards in interactive skills–building exercises.

    • 24–Hour Writing Lab—students submit their work and receive constructive comments from expert writing tutors within 24 hours.

HelpNow is available both at the library and at any location with Internet access. However, a Santa Clara City Library card is necessary to access the program from a remote location.
Additional Online Homework Resources

World Book Kids
Based on content from the award–winning World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, the World Book Kids site is simple to navigate and offers thousands of colorful illustrations, diagrams, and maps, plus dozens of activities based on national curriculum standards.
Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos

This is an online Spanish–language encyclopedia for elementary and middle grades students, as well as beginning Spanish students of all ages.
La Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos está organizada de modo que los estudiantes puedan encontrar información rápida y fácilmente.

World Book Reference Center
The World Book website includes an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. This website also includes thousands of articles, state–of–the art multimedia, recommended and editor–reviewed websites, content from a wide range of periodicals, and more!

World Book Kids, Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos, and the World Book Reference Center are available at the library and at any location with online access. A Santa Clara City Library card is necessary for online access.

Book Discussion Groups for Students
For children in the third through sixth grades, the library offers two monthly book discussion groups, for students in grades 3 and 4 or grades 5 and 6. Third and fourth grade students meet on Thursday afternoons at 4:00 PM. Fifth and sixth graders meet on Wednesday afternoons at 5:00 PM. Classic books, as well as contemporary favorites, are discussed. These discussion groups offer a great opportunity to make new friends, enjoy a lively discussion and have a delicious snack. Please check the online children’s calendar or call (408) 615-2416 for specific dates and books to be discussion.
TumbleBooks e–books for e–Kids
TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books for children that have been created from standard picture books into the TumbleBooks format.

Other items in the TumbleBooks Library include:
  • TumbleReadables, a collection of large print books and classic children’s books created in the TumbleReadables format.

  • TumbleTalking Books, a small—but growing—collection of children’s audio books.

  • Language Learning Library, a collection of foreign language children’s books—mostly in French or Spanish.

  • TumblePuzzles, a set of puzzles and games to play after reading a TumbleBook.

Items in the TumbleBooks Collection are available both at the library and online. A Santa Clara City Library card is necessary for online access.
Buy Good Books, Cheap!
By Lee Broughman
Monthly used-book sales are held every 3rd Saturday of each month, except December, in the Redwood or Cedar room of the Central Park Library. These sales are one way the Foundation & Friends makes money to support the Library. At a recent sale, I talked with two shoppers about their book sale experiences. Please join us at the next sale!
Kim, Nina and Vivian enjoy finding treasures at the Foundation & Friends booksale, held the 3rd Saturday of the month to benefit the library. While shopping, their dad asked if they could help. He and the girls have been volunteering ever since. Kim, Nina and Vivian are three of our best volunteers and always fun to work with. Kim says that she found a Nancy Drew mystery at a book sale and has been reading books in that series every since. Nina likes Dr. Seuss stories, and Vivian’s favorite book is The Hungry Caterpillar.
Book Sale Dates Come One! Come All!

We have a deal for you!

Every month, the Foundation and Friends conducts a book sale on the 3rd Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Central Park Library. Friends members ($15 per year) may enter at 9 AM. Books are $5 per grocery bag (we provide the bags). Come find some hidden treasures at our book sales. Upcoming sale dates: September 20, October 18, November 15, (no sale in December), January 17, February 21, March 21. Proceeds benefit the library.
Vol3No2 Final

Come To These Free Events

Monday–September 15 How To Help Your Child Be Successful In School (English)

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Santa Clara parent educator Jean Wilson will discuss how parents can build their children’s reading skills, support them as learners, and communicate more effectively with their school and teachers. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Tuesday–September 16 How To Help Your Child Be Successful In School (for Spanish speakers)

6:30–8:00 PM—Central Park Library Redwood Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Parent educator Maria Ramirez will discuss how parents can build their children’s reading skills, support them as learners, and communicate more effectively with their school and teachers. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Tuesday–September 16 Help! The Courthouse Burned!

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. As a genealogical researcher, what do you do when official records are damaged or no longer available? Pamela Bell Dallas, a genealogical lecturer, educator, author and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, will discuss what to do when this happens. Free and open to the public—no reservations required. For more information, contact our Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel, at 615–2909 or by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.

Saturday–September 20 Santa Clara City Library Friends Book Sale

10 AM–2 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends. Come and shop for great fiction and nonfiction books, sold at the low price of $5 per grocery bag. Proceeds benefit the library. Thousands of books to choose from.

Monday–September 22 International Party and Community Grant Event

6:00 PM—Central Park Library meeting rooms. Sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends. Free to Foundation & Friends donors, members, and volunteers. Enjoy international food and vote on funding library projects with the $20,000 raised through book sales this summer! RSVP to 615–2987; limited seating is available, so call now.

Wednesday–September 24 Ron Hansen Book Talk

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Join local author Ron Hansen as he discusses his new novel, Exiles, and talks about his books and writing. Hansen attended the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop, and was a Wallace Stegner Creative Writing Fellow at Stanford University. He is the author of a number of books, including Atticus and The Assassination of Jesse James. Ron Hansen teaches writing and literature at Santa Clara University. Sign up for this free program at Reference or call 615–2900.

Saturday–September 27 Kaiser Permanente Healthy Foods Build Healthy Bodies

10:30–11:30 AM—Central Park Library Cedar Room.

Tuesday–September 30 Helping Children With School

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Hand In Hand: Nurturing the Parent–Child Connection. Every child learns differently and this event will help you improve your child’s learning skills. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Monday–October 6 Getting the Most Out of Your Parent–Teacher Conference

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Parent education teacher Jean Wilson will discuss how to hold a successful meeting with your child’s teacher. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Tuesday–October 7 Getting the Most Out of Your Parent–Teacher Conference (for Spanish speakers)

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Parent education teacher Maria Ramirez will discuss how to hold a successful meeting with your child’s teacher. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Saturday–October 18 Book Sale!

10 AM–2 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends. Shop for great fiction and nonfiction books at the low price of $5 per grocery bag. All sales benefit the library.

Monday–October 20 The Importance of Routine and Limit–Setting In Young Children (ages 0–3)

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Preschool teacher and parent educator Mina Mathur will discuss how to build trusting and loving relationships with your children by using positive guidance and discipline. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Tuesday–October 21 Setting Limits That Build Better Relationships

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Redwood Room. Presented by Hand In Hand: Nurturing the Parent–Child Connection. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Continued on reverse side

Tuesday–October 21 The Use of DNA Testing in Genealogy

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Katherine Hope Borges is the Bay Area representative for the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG). She has done research on Colonial Era DNA, Mayflower DNA and Scottish DNA. She will discuss the ways in which DNA testing is used in genealogy research. Free and open to the public—no reservations required. For more information, contact our Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel at 615–2909 or by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.

Saturday–October 25 Healthy Female Sexuality: Valuing your sexual self and how your partner can help

10:30–11:30 AM–Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Kaiser Permanente. In this unique discussion, psychologist and sex therapist Bryna Barsky–Ex PhD will discuss what healthy female sexuality is and the factors that impact a woman’s sex life. We will discuss how partners can understand and help make this experience wonderful.

Tuesday–October 28 Coping With Depression In Adolescents

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Lisa Moulthrop, MFT, will define aspects of depression and support a discussion on coping techniques related to adolescents. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Wednesday–October 29 HDTV (High–Definition TV) Program

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by San Jose Station KICU–TV. Are you prepared for the switch to digital television? A speaker from San Jose’s KICU–TV will discuss your choices for upgrading to digital television. Sign up for this free program at the Reference Desk or call 615–2900.

Tuesday–November 4 Sibling Solutions

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Hand In Hand: Nurturing the Parent–Child Connection. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Monday–November 10 Loving and Nurturing Boys

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Anna Welsh, MSW, parent education coordinator, will discuss how parents can support, guide and love their boys. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Saturday–November 15 Book Sale!

10 AM–2 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends. Shop for great fiction and nonfiction books at the low price of $5 per grocery bag. All sales benefit the library. And remember: No sale in December!

Monday–November 17 Loving and Nurturing Girls

7:00–8:30 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Presented by Santa Clara Adult Education. Anna Welsh, MSW, parent education coordinator, will discuss how parents can support, guide and love their girls. For adults only. Register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615–2916.

Tuesday–November 18 History, Functions and Records of the Santa Clara County Grand Jury

7:00 PM—Central Park Library Cedar Room. Gloria Alicia Chacon, Executive Assistant to the Santa Clara County Grand Jury, will discuss the history and work of the grand jury and how to locate its reports and records. Free and open to the public—no reservations required. For more information, contact our Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel at 615–2909 or email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.

Watch the Santa Clara City Library blog or check the calendar on the Library’s Web page at www.library.santaclaraca.gov for information regarding other adult programs and Internet classes. All phone numbers above are area code 408.

How to Learn about Upcoming Events at the Library

Visit the library blog—available at http://scclnews.blogspot.com—or check the “Calendar of Events” in the pull–down menu on the library’s home page at: http://www.library.santaclaraca.gov. You’ll find information about programs and events for children, teens and adults, as well as facts about upcoming classes.

We Need Your Help
Although the City of Santa Clara provides funding for basic library services to the community, the library seeks private contributions for special projects such as the following:

500 DVDs ($20 each)
Multicultural art for the children’s area:
  • Mola Textiles from Panama ($300)
  • Ceramic toy vehicles from Peru ($300)

Screen-recorder software: Camtasia Studio 5.1 ($325)
Performance by Opera San Jose ($600)
Ten (10) New laptops for the “Read Santa Clara” tutoring program ($1,100 each)
Text-magnification software ($1,950)
State-of-the-art microfilm view-scanner ($10,000)
Twenty (20) Book bags for domestic violence victims and homeless young people ($58 each) & Craft Supplies for Literacy Events ($880)—Many families with children at the Bill Wilson Center for domestic violence victims, and homeless young people at the Homesafe center are unable to get to the library. Book bags and craft materials mean a lot to these children.

Check our web site, http://www.lovethelibrary.org, for more information. Contact Maria Daane at (408) 615-2987 if you would like to help fund any of these projects.
Recent Major Gifts to SCCLFF

$5,000 and above
Applied Materials: $15,000 gift for the 2008 Summer Reading Program.
Kaiser Permanente: $25,000 gift for the Kaiser Permanente Health & Wellness collection at the Central Park Library.
Mission City Community Fund: $5,000 donation for purchasing gift books for children who participate in the 2008 Summer Reading Program.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation: $10,000 gift for programs.

$1,000 to $4,999
The following donors provided support for the Teen Summer Reading Program, language learning, and children’s programs, including the Brainfuse Online Homework Help program.
Bilquis and Kamran Khan India Cash & Carry Mr. Jack Spillane Muslim Community Association National Semiconductor Wells Fargo Foundation
Prior Donors

Donors who have made contributions and donations in previous years are recognized on The Foundation & Friends website and on a donor plaque in the Central Park Library Gallery. Many thanks to all of you who support the library in so many ways!
Book Stacks is published semi-annually by the
Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends
Copyright © 2008
2635 Homestead Road
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Phone: (408) 615-2987
www.lovethelibrary.org