REPORT TO BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of April 7-13, 2024 as National Library Week
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
National Library Week (April 7-13, 2024) is a time to celebrate our nation’s libraries and their contributions to the intellectual, educational, cultural, and civic life of their communities. The theme for National Library Week 2024 is “Ready, Set, Library! Race to discover the possibilities at your 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 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 by City residents have grown exponentially. With a current collection of approximately 398,500 items, circulating over 2.15 million times in Calendar Year (CY) 2023, the Library now offers more resources and opportunities than ever for our residents to benefit from. With dedicated funding, the Library was able to meet community demand for expanded hours in CY 2023, increasing systemwide public open hours to 144 hours per week, up from 88 hours per week, marking a significant recovery from the impacts of COVID on public services.
With welcoming technology centers sharing free public access to computers, e-resources and technology classes and support, the library provides the tools and training to help the public connect with critical, current online resources. Additionally, popular new classes help the community learn how to use and leverage emerging Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technologies. Technology services also allow community members to digitize and archive historic and family photos and collections.
Beyond the typical lending and technology resources, the library also acts as a hub for a broad range of offerings for all. Patrons today use the library as a voting center and a place to learn about a wide diversity of perspectives on politics, society and culture. They also connect with services to support citizenship pursuits, receive help on tax concerns and can even borrow tools, cameras, hiking supplies and State Park passes. Children and families benefit from homework help, safe after-school spaces, story times, books, and storytelling, all of which support and sustain child literacy, family connection and opportunities to find shared community and build understanding about others from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. Read Santa Clara serves adults and families with limited English language and literacy skills through adult literacy, family literacy, and ESL services as well as Career Online High School. Residents of all ages benefit from book clubs connecting them to other community members with shared interests and provides cultural and language resources, including books and materials in over 10 languages with regional interest and demand, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Korean and Spanish.
DISCUSSION
On April 9, 2024, the City of Santa Clara will officially proclaim April 7-13, 2024 as National Library week to raise awareness of the Santa Clara City Library’s role in supporting the cultural, educational, technological, and informational needs of Santa Clara residents of all economic and cultural backgrounds. The proclamation raises awareness of the positive impact of the efforts made by the City of Santa Clara to improve the quality of life for its residents through its support of the Santa Clara City Library.
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 of Library Trustees 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
Recommendation
Recommend that the City Council proclaim April 7-13, 2024 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 2024