REPORT TO BOARD
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of April 6-12, 2025 as National Library Week
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
National Library Week (April 6-12, 2025) is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. The theme for National Library Week 2025 is “Drawn to the Library.”
The residents of the City of Santa Clara saw a need for a local library as far back as 1870, when the Santa Clara Library Association formed and collected over 300 volumes to share with residents at the Odd Fellows Hall on Washington and Franklin Streets. Since the construction of the first Santa Clara City Library (Library) in 1955, where the Mission Branch Library now stands, the possibilities and resources shared with City residents have grown exponentially.
With 600,258 visitors and a diverse collection of materials circulating 1,594,219 times in FY 2023-24, the Library continues to draw in community members eager for not only books but music and movies; technological equipment, help and resources; community rooms and spaces; and programs and services like bilingual story time, tax help, reference and information services, and literacy and ESL support. Well-known for its service to children and families, the Library provides endless reading for youth of all ages, homework help, board games, and programming from STEM activities to Lego Club. 2024 also saw the addition of a Ukrainian collection for children, helping families maintain cultural and linguistic traditions for the next generation. Library services are just as strong for Santa Clara residents of all ages. Adults from many backgrounds join book clubs, conversation clubs, and other programs connecting them to other community members with shared interests. Entertainment and informational, educational, cultural and language resources are available for all ages, including books and materials in over ten languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Korean and Spanish.
After successfully increasing systemwide public open hours from 88 to 144 hours per week in October 2023, marking a significant recovery from the impacts of COVID on public services, the community continued to ask for more time at the Library. During the winter closure from December 26 to December 31, Central Park Library remained open to serve the public, serving 6,483 community members eager for services. On January 26, 2025, thanks to Council responsiveness to the repeated requests from the community, Central Park Library restored Sunday hours from 1pm to 5pm.
DISCUSSION
The American Library Association’s (ALA) theme for National Library Week 2025 is “Drawn to the Library!”, to share the word that whatever draws you in, the Library has something for everyone. This year’s National Library Week occurs April 6-12, 2025, and is celebrated across the country.
The proclamation of April 6-12, 2025 as National Library Week raises awareness about the positive impact that the Santa Clara City Library has on improving the quality of life for Santa Clara. These efforts materialize every day in the free and welcoming spaces, collections, services and programs designed to nurture the intellectual freedom, cultural expression and social health and connection of the community. Santa Clara City Library concretely supports the intellectual freedom and freedom to read of its community by providing a diverse and balanced collection including challenged and banned books, accessible and shared through displays and book lists, so community members of all economic situations have the resources to read and think freely.
The Library invites the community to participate in National Library Week by visiting City libraries, and sharing what stories or services at the Library they valued most in the last year.
City Librarian, Patty Wong, and Chair of the Board of Library Trustees, Jonathon Evans, will receive the proclamation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than staff time.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Board agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend that the City Council proclaim April 6-12, 2025 as National Library Week in the City of Santa Clara.
Staff
Reviewed by: Sami James, Management Analyst
Approved by: Patty Wong, City Librarian
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Proclamation - National Library Week 2025
2. 2023-24 Infographic from State Library Report