REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Recognize City Librarian Hilary Keith for her Service to the City of Santa Clara
Report
BACKGROUND
City Librarian Hilary Keith began her service to the City of Santa Clara (City) in April 2014 when she was hired as the City Librarian. In January, 2020, Ms. Keith notified City Manager Santana of her intent to retire in July 2020. Ms. Keith graciously agreed to extend her service to the City through September 2020 to help stabilize library operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. During her tenure with the City, Ms. Keith has positioned the Santa Clara Public Library as an innovative, award-winning organization. The purpose of this item is to acknowledge and thank Ms. Keith for her many contributions to the City of Santa Clara.
DISCUSSION
As the City Librarian, Ms. Keith has been responsible for the oversight of the main library at Central Park, the City's two branch facilities and the Bookmobile. Among Ms. Keith's major accomplishments include the opening and five-year celebration of the Northside Branch, the renovation of the Mission Branch Library and numerous innovative programs such as Karaoke Bookmobile, Comic Con, DMV kiosks, and the Mamava lactation pod that helped raise the profile of the Library as a major resource for the community.
Since the onset of COVID-19, Ms. Keith has worked tirelessly with staff to effectively pivot the Library to a new normal. The Library has been an integral component of the City's COVID-19 response system. From making staff available to support food distribution programs, to the development of curbside delivery services, to the shift to virtual library programming and for making the Library available to serve as a COVID-19 testing site and a voter center for the 2020 election, Ms. Keith has demonstrated a true commitment of service to the Santa Clara community.
After six years of distinguished service, Ms. Keith retired from the City of Santa Clara effective September 19, 2020.
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