Volume 3 Number 1 - Spring, 2008
To download a PDF version of this newsletter, click here.

News from the Executive Director of the Foundation & Friends
The Gift of Literacy
Children's Activities
The Heritage Pavillion
The History of Santa Clara Collection
Do you know?
Book Sale Dates
Upcoming Library Events

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News from the Executive Director of the Foundation & Friends

Dear Friends of the Library,

It has been a pleasure meeting many of you since I joined the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends last July, and learning about your library. Did you know that in a recent nationwide survey, the Santa Clara City Library was ranked in the top five among public libraries in communities the size of Santa Clara?
Our creative, determined library staff creates the vision for the library, while dedicated volunteers and donors of the Library Foundation & Friends help fund that vision. During the past five years, these volunteers and donors have raised or contributed over $600,000 to the Santa Clara City Central and Mission Libraries. You can see these funds at work in the beautiful art on display in the children’s area, in the numerous summer reading programs, in the excellent materials of the health & wellness collection, and in many other library programs.

This fall, a Foundation & Friends grant brought Brainfuse Online Homework Help to Santa Clara. Since the September launch, 595 young people received one-on-one tutoring over the Internet from skilled teachers. These third through twelfth graders logged on to Brainfuse at the library or from their home computers, identified the tutoring they needed, and received instruction. Brainfuse was made possible by a joint grant from the Library Foundation & Friends and the California State Library.

This year, our goal is to increase funds for the summer reading program, grow the technology endowment into a self-sustaining source of income that can fund programs, and increase the library’s outreach services to at-risk families with the family literacy program.

For all of you who help the library through your donations of books, money or time, our many thanks for the amazing library you have helped to create. I look forward to working with you to help the library grow in 2008.

Best wishes,

Maria Daane Executive Director Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends

The Gift of Literacy

“It’s never too late to learn. Never give up. It’s never too late to be what you want,” writes Ike Moore in Read Santa Clara’s book of learner writings, In Our Own Words. “Ike is finding whole new worlds, and actually, so am I,” says his tutor, Carol Megas.

Read Santa Clara, the library’s adult and family literacy program, trains volunteers to provide one-on-one and small group tutoring to English-speaking adults who want to improve their basic reading, writing or math skills.
How you can help:

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Read Santa Clara’s student Ike Moore and his tutor, Carol Megas, doing a literacy skill exercise

If you can volunteer two hours each week for at least six months, please sign up for tutoring orientation. You’ll receive training. No teaching experience required!
If you know English-speaking adults who wish to improve their literacy skills, tell them about this free program.
If you have space within the city of Santa Clara where a tutor and learner can meet for about 2 hours a week, please let us know.
Donate to the Read Santa Clara program through the Santa Clara Library Foundation & Friends.

Children’s Activities

Activities Now through mid-May
Five different story time programs are offered: Baby Lap-Sit for children birth to 12 months; Young Ones for 12 to 24 months; Toddlers for ages 2 and 3; Pre-School for children 3 to 5 years; and Family story time for everyone. See the Library’s website (http://www.library.ci.santa-clara.ca.us) for schedule.

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Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library club for kids
This summer, all children from birth through the sixth grade are invited to join the Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library club.

For Pre-Readers: If your child does not read yet, participation in the club is based on keeping a list of all of the books that you read to your child, and then submitting the list at the end of the summer to receive a certificate and a free book!

For Independent Readers: If your child already reads, just keep a list of all books read—or listened to—during the summer. Turn in the reading list and receive a certificate and a free book!

For Parents: When you read, your children will want to read, too! Be a good role model by reading books for yourself this summer. Keep track of those books you read and earn a free family book at the end of the summer!

Summer Reading Program Kicks Off on June 7th!
The official kick-off of the Summer Reading Program will be Saturday, June 7, from 1 PM to 4 PM at the Central Park Library. The juggler Greg Frisbee will perform, and there will be face painting, children’s fingerprinting services, informational booths representing Kaiser Hospital and First 5, free food and much more.
Weekly Activities during the Summer
Mondays: Family movies at 3 PM and 7 PM.
Tuesdays: School-aged programs—for children entering the first grade in September and older—at 3 PM.
Wednesdays: Two book discussion groups—one for third and fourth graders and the other for fifth and sixth graders—at 3 PM.
Wednesdays: Book discussion groups for families at 7 PM.
Thursdays: Lap-Sit and Young Ones programs at 10:30 AM; Agilent Science program for middle school students at 2 PM.
Fridays: Pre-school story time for children 2 to 5 years old at 10:30 AM.
Saturdays: Family story time for all ages at 10:30 AM.

The 2008 Teen Summer Reading Program
Known as Metamorphosis @ Your Library, this program provides a certificate and a gift card to a local bookstore to every teen who reads a minimum of five books during the summer. A weekly drawing for free movie passes is held for teens who also write book reviews for posting on Teen Net, the library’s teen web page. The teen program also includes Teen Movie & Pizza night on Mondays at 6 PM, plus craft and activity programs on Tuesdays at 6 PM and Thursdays at 3 PM.

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Baby Lapsit: Julie Passalacqua, Library Division Manager: Youth and Extension Services, reads stories, sings songs and demonstrates finger plays for the Baby Lapsit Program (ages 0 to 12 months).

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AstroWizard: Over 125 school-age children came out to see AstroWizard, one of our many performers for the 2007 Summer Reading Club.

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Karaoke: Raj, Hamzah, Priscilla, and Allen are just some of the cool teens participating in the Karaoke Program during the 2007 Summer Teen Read.

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Young Ones: Young Ones is one of the Library’s most popular programs. Geared for children 12-24 months of age and their parents, our librarians do a full sensory experience with rhymes, songs, stories and more.

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The Heritage Pavilion
In the Heritage Pavilion on the second floor of the Central Park Library you can trace your family’s roots and discover much more.

The pavilion’s international genealogy collection features several thousand books for tracing family histories. There’s also online access to the NewEnglandAncestors.org database, for tracing family origins in that region.

Other online resources include the Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest Online. Ancestry Library Edition includes U.S. city directories; school yearbooks; records on immigration, court proceedings, land ownership, probate, and military service; census records; digitized historical photographs and maps, and more. Heritage Quest Online provides over 20,000 digitized history books on U.S. communities.

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The History of Santa Clara Collection
The Santa Clara City history collection includes books, photographs, scrapbooks, and newspapers on microfilm—including fragile issues of the Santa Clara Journal dating from 1890 through 1899. Santa Clara newspapers from 1901 through 1980 are on microfilm, and pre-1905 Santa Clara County vital records, early county voter registrations, and city directories for San Jose and Santa Clara back to 1911 are also available.

In future newsletters, our local history librarian, Mary Hanel (mhanel@santaclaraca.gov) will present photos, maps, and similar historical items, as well as frequently asked questions that Heritage Pavilion resources can help you answer.

For more Santa Clara history, see “On this Date” on the library’s new blog at http://www.scclnews.blogspot.com. And be sure to discover Library Trustee Bob Byrd’s display on the 100+ year history of the Santa Clara City Library—also in the History Pavilion.

Do You Know?
Facts about the Santa Clara City Library

Do you know…
…about the library’s new blog? Visit: http://www.scclnews.blogspot.com

…that over half of the 2.5 million items circulated last year were from the children’s collection?

…that over 43,000 patrons attended 538 library programs last year?

…that your library is rated in the top five in the country among communities the size of Santa Clara?

…that donated books to the Friends of the Library during the past four months raised over $35,000? Plus, the library added $17,000 worth of books to its own collection from other donated books.

…that the best used book bargains and selections are available right here in the Library? Our lobby bookstore is open every day of the week at the Central Park library. See the box to the right about our monthly book sales.

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 (except December) 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. Sale dates for 2008 are:

March 15
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 16
September 20
October 18
November 15

Proceeds benefit the library.

Vol3No1

Upcoming Library Events—April through June

April

Saturday—April 5 Special Internet Class on Genealogy Resources

Central Park Library—Technology Center from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. Mary Hanel, our Local History Librarian, will teach a class on the Ancestry Library Edition database. This database provides genealogists and historians easy access to a large selection of directories, yearbooks, records, indexes, digitized photos and maps, and more. Sign up for this free class at the Reference Desk or in the Technology Center, or call 615-2900.

Kaiser Health & Wellness Presentation: Myths and Facts about Memory Loss

Central Park Library—Public Meeting Room from 10:30 to 12:30 AM. Presented by Dr. Myo Min Aung, M.D., from the Kaiser Skilled Nursing Facility / Continuing Care Unit.

Monday—April 7 Language Development in Young Children (birth to 5 years)

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. Presented by Mina Mathur of the Santa Clara Adult Education Center. Please register at the Youth Services Desk or call 615-2916.

Tuesday—April 15 Choosing Genealogy Software

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. Presented by Debbie Shields, Past President of the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society. The class is for those who are deciding which genealogy software program to purchase to record their family history, produce great family trees or create lineage charts. There also will be user demonstrations of favorite features of the most popular genealogy programs. Free and open to the public—no reservations required. For more information, contact our Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel, at 615-2909 or by e-mail: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.

The “Happy Birds” Performance for Children

Central Park Library—Library Meeting Room at 7:00 PM. The Happy Birds are performing parrots that always bring laughter and joy to children and parents alike. For ages 4 years and older. Space is limited and hands will be stamped for entry to this program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors close at 7:00. Latecomers will not be admitted—no exceptions.

Wednesday—April 16 Little Heathens Book Talk

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. Santa Clara City Library’s Adult Services Division and the local chapter of the American Association of University Women are co-sponsoring an author program featuring Mildred Armstrong Kalish, who will discuss her book, Little Heathens. Millie, who currently lives in Cupertino with her husband, was born on a farm in Iowa in 1922. In her own words, “My growing up was influenced by the Great Depression, by the self-reliance and work ethic of my mother’s parents—themselves descendants of pioneers—who never quite made it into the 20th century, and by the remarkable challenges and the inestimable rewards of living a rural life where children were expected to accept responsibilities beyond the ordinary.” This wonderful memoir of the depression years on a farm is full of humor and charm—and a number of recipes.

Thursday—April 17 Book Discussion for Third and Fourth Graders

Central Park Library—from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Discussions about popular and award-winning children’s fiction. Space is limited, so please sign up at the Youth Services Desk. Delicious snacks will be provided.

Saturday—April 19 Foundation & Friends Book Sale

Central Park Library—Cedar Room from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Opens at 9:00 AM for Friends of the Library members. Many reading treasures for you to find! Only $5.00 per bag of books. Proceeds benefit the Santa Clara City Library.

Monday—April 21 Promoting Self-Esteem In Our Children

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. Presented by Anna Welsh of the Santa Clara Adult Education Center. Please register for this free event at the Youth Services Desk or call 615-2916.

Saturday—April 26 Genealogy Beginners’ Seminar–Part 1

Central Park Library—Cedar Room from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Part 1 is “Getting started: Organizing your information with genealogy forms and documenting your sources.” Part 2 will be held on Saturday, May 3 (see page 4). Free! Please RSVP by e-mail scchgs@hotmail.com or leave your name and phone number on the Society’s answering machine at 615-2986, or sign up in the Central Park Library Heritage Pavilion.

Library Volunteer Appreciation

Central Park Library—For all library volunteers. Exact time will be announced. Please call Charity Trajico for more information at 615-2919.

Wednesday—April 30 Book Discussion for Fifth and Sixth Graders

Central Park Library—from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Discussions about popular and award-winning children’s fiction. Space is limited, so please sign up at the Youth Services Desk. Delicious snacks will be provided.

Wednesday—April 30 Ballet Folklorico

Central Park Library—7:00 PM. A program for families to celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day (El dia de los ninos/El dia del los libros). This is a celebration of children, families, and the joys of reading. The event emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

MAY

Saturday—May 3 Genealogy Beginners’ Seminar–Part 2

Central Park Library—Cedar Room from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Part 2 covers “How to search US census records.” How to use the Internet for genealogy research will also be discussed. Part 1 is held on Saturday, April 26 (see page 5). Free! Please RSVP by e-mail scchgs@hotmail.com or leave your name and phone number on the Society’s answer machine at 615-2986, or sign up in the Central Park Library Heritage Pavilion.

Wednesday—May 7 The Curse of the Spellmans Book Talk

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. West coast author Lisa Lutz’s new novel, The Curse of the Spellmans, follows her funny irreverent 2007 debut, The Spellman Files. Both books are about Izzy, a zany licensed private investigator who works for the Spellman family’s detective business in San Francisco.

Monday—May 12 “Mom, I’m Bored!” How to Really Play with Your Kids

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 7:00 PM. Presented by the Santa Clara Adult Education Center. Please register for this free event at the Youth Services Desk or call 615-2916.

Saturday—May 17 Emergent Literacy

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Presented by Jean Wilson of the Santa Clara Adult Education Center. Register for this free event at the Youth Services Desk or call 615-2916.

Foundation & Friends Book Sale

Tuesday—May 20 Portuguese Heritage in Santa Clara County

Central Park Library—7:00 to 9:00 PM. Al Dutra, President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Historical Museum, located in San Jose’s Kelley Park, will discuss the heritage of the Portuguese in Santa Clara County. Come learn about the artifacts at the Portuguese Imperio at History San Jose and discover more about the availability of books and other resources on the history of the Portuguese in California and the Santa Clara Valley. Free and open to the public—no reservations required. For more information, contact our Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel, at 615-2909 or e-mail: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.

Saturday—May 24 Kaiser Permanente Health and Wellness Lecture: What are Asthma and Other Allergies and How to Deal with These Conditions

Central Park Library—Cedar Room at 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Presented by Dr. Sulochina Lulla, M.D., Kaiser Permanente/Allergy Department, and Past Chair for “Breathe California.”

Wednesday—May 28 Estate Planning Workshop

Central Park Library—Cedar Room from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Presented by attorney Hollis Logue and sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Come learn how to build a more secure financial future.

JUNE

Saturday—June 7 Summer Reading Kick Off!

Central Park Library. Infants through high school seniors can register for this year’s summer reading program and pick up the calendar that lists all of the library’s great summer events.

Saturday—June 14 Kaiser Permanente’s “Live Theatre Live”

Central Park Library—Redwood Room from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Families are invited to this award-winning performance of Kaiser’s Educational Theatre program on health information. Kids will love the show!

Saturday—June 21 Foundation & Friends Book Sale

Saturday—June 28 Healthy Cooking with Kids

Central Park Library—outside the main entrance from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Pacific Coast Farmers Market chef presents new ways to cook quick and healthy summer meals. Free event for the entire family!

2635 Homestead Road
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Phone: (408) 615-2987
www.lovethelibrary.org

Santa Clara City LibraryFoundation and Friends

Table of Contents

Upcoming Library Events—April through June

April

MAY

JUNE

Santa Clara City Library
Foundation and Friends