• March 18 – film screening of “Allah Made Me Funny“; three acclaimed comedians are followed on and off stage as they talk about what it’s really like to be Muslim in America. (84 attended)
• March 22 – Sheba Karim, talked about her book for teens, “Skunk Girl.”
• April 22 – children’s author Todd Parr drew and talked about his book, “It’s OK to be Different.” (around 90 attended)
• April 29 – A conversation with Sumbul Ali-Karamali, author of “The Muslim Next Door”, and Willow Wilson, author of “The Butterfly Mosque”; they were interviewed by Sal Pizarro, San Jose Mercury News columnist. This was the final event of the Silicon Valley Reads season. (108 attended)
  

  Sumbul Ali-Karamali and Willow Wilson.

On Saturday, April 28th, the Santa Clara Library held a ceremony to honor all of the volunteers who work in the library, providing valuable services from the children’s department through adult literacy.  Among those honored were many of the volunteers who raise money for the Library Foundation and Friends in the bookstore, at the Saturday sales, and sorting and shipping books that are sold over the internet.

Joy Hansen, Santa Clara Library Foundation President, welcomes volunteers and donors to the grant presentations.

At our March, 2012 Chocolate Party, over $25,000 earned from book sales in the store in the lobby of Central library and from the monthly  Saturday book sales was granted out for Library projects.  Patrons will benefit from an expanded Large Print and Non-Fiction collections, portable scanners at the Tech Center and Heritage Pavilion, the Discover-and-Go Network, the Healthy New You series, and many more.

Imagine if you couldn’t read and write. How would you fill out a job application? How would you read the instructions on your medicine? What if you couldn’t read a bed time story to your child? Over 20,000 literacy learners in California annually receive literacy training from public libraries. Without state funding these adult learners will go without critical services. A literate population stimulates economic growth. Literacy fosters learning and education within families and our society.

Help us fight to reinstate state funding for adult literacy programs. Write to these legislators TODAY. Tell them how important it is to you that state funding for literacy programs at public libraries continues.

These two Budget subcommittees have jurisdiction over library funding issues at the State Capitol. You may contact these members via email, mail or fax.

1. Senator Carol Liu, Chair
   Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 5061
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone (916) 651-4021
   Fax: (916) 324-7543
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=SD21
2. Senator Ted Gaines (*)
   Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 3060
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 651-4001
   Fax: (916) 324-2680
   Email: *protected email*
3. Senator Rod Wright
   Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 5064
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 651-4025
   Fax: (916) 445-3712
   Email: http://sd25.senate.ca.gov/contact

CONTACT BEFORE May 2nd when the State Assembly’s Education Finance subcommittee meets:

1. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Chair
   Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 2188
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2011
   Fax: (916) 319-2111
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD11;
2. Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 3141
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916)319-2026
   Fax: (916) 319-2126
   Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/26/?p=email
3. Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 2163
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2041
   Fax: (916) 319-2141
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD41&
4. Assemblyman Brian Nestande
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 4139
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: 916-319-2064
   Fax: (916) 319-2164
   Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/64/?p=email
5. Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 6012
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2016
   Fax: (916) 319-2116
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD16&

With the loss of California State Library Services Act funding, public libraries will no longer be able to provide free universal access to information through the sharing of books and other materials. Free public libraries level the playing field by providing information to everyone regardless of economic status. They support democracy by keeping citizens informed. They provide resources for those looking for work, attending school, or learning to read. And library attendance is at an all time high. Let’s keep our libraries free and open to all. Write to these legislators TODAY. Tell them how important it is to you to ensure that equal access continues and ask them to reinstate funding for the California Library Services Act.

These two Budget subcommittees have jurisdiction over library funding issues at the State Capitol. You may contact these members via email, mail or fax.

CONTACT BEFORE APRIL 19th when the CA State Senate’s Education Finance subcommittee meets:

1. Senator Carol Liu, Chair
   Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 5061
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone (916) 651-4021
   Fax: (916) 324-7543
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=SD21
2. Senator Ted Gaines (*)
   Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 3060
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 651-4001
   Fax: (916) 324-2680
   Email: *protected email*
3. Senator Rod Wright
   Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 5064
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 651-4025
   Fax: (916) 445-3712
   Email: http://sd25.senate.ca.gov/contact

CONTACT BEFORE May 2nd when the State Assembly’s Education Finance subcommittee meets:

1. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Chair
   Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 2188
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2011
   Fax: (916) 319-2111
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD11;
2. Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 3141
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916)319-2026
   Fax: (916) 319-2126
   Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/26/?p=email
3. Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 2163
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2041
   Fax: (916) 319-2141
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD41&
4. Assemblyman Brian Nestande
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 4139
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: 916-319-2064
   Fax: (916) 319-2164
   Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/64/?p=email
5. Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
   Member, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
   State Capitol, Room 6012
   Sacramento, CA. 95814
   Phone: (916) 319-2016
   Fax: (916) 319-2116
   Email: http://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD16&

The Library is holding the closing event for the Silicon Valley Reads 2012 program: “Muslim and American: Two Perspectives.” For the third time, Sumbul and Willow will continue the conversation about their respective books, The Muslim Next Door and The Butterfly Mosque, in an interview with Sal Pizarro, San Jose Mercury News columnist and member of the Silicon Valley Reads Community Advisory Board. The authors will compare notes on their experiences during Silicon Valley Reads. This free program is co-sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Call Reference at (408) 615-2900 to reserve a space at this final Silicon Valley Reads 2012 event.

The Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends is a sponsor of Silicon Valley Reads.

The Silicon Valley Reads program is offering the award-winning film, Allah Made Me Funny – Live in Concert, produced by Unity Productions Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing understanding between people of different faiths and cultures. “This 82-minute film follows acclaimed comedians Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, and Preacher Moss on stage and off as they lift the veil to reveal the humorous truth of what it’s really like to be Muslim in America.” This program is co-sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. To reserve a space for this enjoyable and enlightening Silicon Valley Reads film, call Reference at (408) 615-2900.

The Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends is a sponsor of Silicon Valley Reads.

The Read Santa Clara Family Literacy staff are very excited about the programs being planned for the teen parents at the Young Parents Center using the funding from the Margaret Edwards Foundation grant that the Library Foundation procured for us. There are several foci for our programs under the umbrella of reading for pleasure:

• In order to introduce the parents to popular teen reading materials, Teen Librarian Nan Choi visited the teen parents classroom and presented books in a variety of genres. The class was engrossed in Nan’s presentation, and it was clear that her suggestions resonated with them. She also devised a “scavenger hunt” that encouraged the students to look at the books and give us suggestions for books to purchase for their classroom. We hope to create a small library of books in the classroom that these and future teen parents can borrow and return at their leisure.
• Our second focus is on the writings of local author Francisco Jimenez. We have purchased copies of his novels, in both English & Spanish, for the classroom. The teachers are going to read his first novel, The Circuit, aloud to the class, and girls who are interested will be able to read the others independently. Copies of La Mariposa, his picture book , will be given to each parent to share with their child. On April 3, Professor Jimenez will visit the YPC classroom to meet the teens and talk about his life and writing with them.
• To make a connection between Professor Jimenez’s books and their own life experiences, during our March YPC visit the parents will make simple autobiographical picture books. They will use prompts to create books that can be used interactively with their children. They will also share their handmade books with him in April.

These programs for the YPC parents are generally focused on parenting and early literacy, and our Santa Clara Family Literacy staff expresses that it has been their pleasure to have the opportunity to broaden the knowledge of the students at the Young Parents Center of the resources that the library can offer to enrich their lives.

I have to say – I’ve always thought Project BEST was a great idea but I have a new appreciation for it after seeing it in action. It was kind of thrilling to watch people actually complete the food handler’s test and get the certification. You could tell they were relieved and proud. I was particularly moved by one participant. It was the first time she had ever touched a computer. I mean EVER. She thought the screen was a touch screen and had never used a mouse in her life. She wasn’t a senior citizen, either. Daniel (a tutor from Mission College) and I worked with her. By the end of the workshop, she had basic mouse skills (she could scroll!) and with guidance was able to log-in to the course. I’m telling you – it was a HUGE moment.

Thanks to all those involved in Project Best for your hard work. What you are doing impacts lives in a profound way.

Project Best is partially sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends. Your donations at work!

In celebration of Black History Month, Adult Services has invited Ralph Richard Banks, the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, to discuss his new book, Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone. The book, described by the New York Times as “important,” by Publisher’s Weekly as “captivating,” and by Kirkus Review as “triumphant,” offers an informative yet engaging examination of the decline in marriage in American society, and especially among African Americans. Professor Banks will highlight the implication of the African American experience for people of all races, and also will talk about the extraordinary media attention the book has attracted.

To reserve a space at this free Black History Month book talk, stop by the Reference Desk or call 615-2900.