Past Accomplishments
Donors Supply Library Publicity Campaign Items
The staff at the Santa Clara City Library wanted to reach out to more people in the community and share library information with them, but the Library lacked the tools needed to attend public venues such as the farmers markets and the art and wine festival. Thanks to a gift from the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation and an anonymous donor, the Library now will be able to take a laptop with battery backup to various events to sign people up for library cards and to the Library's electronic resources (such as databases and catalog searches). In addition, banners will be purchased and the Library's van will be given new attention-grabbing signage.
The staff at the Santa Clara City Library wanted to reach out to more people in the community and share library information with them, but the Library lacked the tools needed to attend public venues such as the farmers markets and the art and wine festival. Thanks to a gift from the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation and an anonymous donor, the Library now will be able to take a laptop with battery backup to various events to sign people up for library cards and to the Library's electronic resources (such as databases and catalog searches). In addition, banners will be purchased and the Library's van will be given new attention-grabbing signage.
Thanks to Donors, Six Laptops Arrive At Read Santa Clara
Six laptops, fully loaded with literacy software, have arrived in Santa Clara and will soon be available to Read Santa Clara adult literacy students. Funds for this project were provided by the Mission City Community Fund, the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends book sales, and gifts from individuals. The laptops will enable Read Santa Clara students to do literacy exercises, study for their GED exams, do digital story boards, and develop on-line literacy skills.
We are pleased to announce that Kaiser of Santa Clara has again invested $25,000 in the Library to add to the excellent Kaiser Permanente Health and Wellness Collection and programming at the Library. Kaiser has partnered with the Central Park Library since 2004 on this program. This gift adds items to both the adult Health and Wellness collection at Central Park Library, and will enable the creation of a Kaiser Permanente Health and Wellness collection at the Mission Library.
Annual Chocolate Party Draws A Crowd!
Maria Daane, Executive Director of the Foundation & Friends,
prepares to welcome guests to the
3rd annual Chocolate Party and Grant Event
On the evening of Monday, March 22, 2010, the Foundation & Friends held their third annual Chocolate Party and Grant Event. During the event, over 100 invitees were treated to a variety of goodies—chocolate and non-chocolate alike.
After fortifying themselves, all of the guests assembled in the Library's largest meeting room to hear presentations from Library staff on they programs they wanted the Foundation & Friends to fund from a pool of $30,000 that had been set aside from used book sales.
After hearing the presentations, the guests selected eight programs to receive funding.
During the intermission between voting and hearing the final results, three generous, anonymous donors stepped forward and selected five Library requests to fund personally.
Between the grants selected by the guests and those funded by donors, only a few worthy projects were not funded.
All of the projects are listed at the right.
If you are interested in donating the funds for any of the unfunded projects, please contact Maria Daane at (408) 615-2987 to discuss your interest.
The Library staff and the Board of the Foundation & Friends wish to thank all those who attended the event and made it such a success, and especially those individual donors who stepped forward to help make the Library's program requests be fulfilled. And a special "THANK YOU" goes out to all of the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to prepare for this event, including those who helped set up and decorate the rooms, and all of those who prepared and contributed the tasty treats.
We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next annual Chocolate Party in 2011!
After fortifying themselves, all of the guests assembled in the Library's largest meeting room to hear presentations from Library staff on they programs they wanted the Foundation & Friends to fund from a pool of $30,000 that had been set aside from used book sales.
After hearing the presentations, the guests selected eight programs to receive funding.
During the intermission between voting and hearing the final results, three generous, anonymous donors stepped forward and selected five Library requests to fund personally.
Between the grants selected by the guests and those funded by donors, only a few worthy projects were not funded.
All of the projects are listed at the right.
If you are interested in donating the funds for any of the unfunded projects, please contact Maria Daane at (408) 615-2987 to discuss your interest.
The Library staff and the Board of the Foundation & Friends wish to thank all those who attended the event and made it such a success, and especially those individual donors who stepped forward to help make the Library's program requests be fulfilled. And a special "THANK YOU" goes out to all of the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to prepare for this event, including those who helped set up and decorate the rooms, and all of those who prepared and contributed the tasty treats.
We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next annual Chocolate Party in 2011!
Items Funded by the Foundation & Friends:
Items funded by anonymous donors:
Items that were not funded:
- Youth services events: performances at Mission Library, $800; concerts at Central Park, $2,500; and movie licenses, $1200
- Summer reading award books for kids, $3000
- Brainfuse online homework help, $8589
- Summer reading for adults, $2100
- Summer reading for teens, $4500
- Computers and software for adult literacy, $3000
- Adult programming, $2000; and "The Big Read" matching funds, $596
- Project SHARE—programming for children in transitional housing shelters, $990
Items funded by anonymous donors:
- Volunteer Recognition Event, $575
- Digital Archiving of Chamber of Commerce Scrapbooks, $515
- Stools (for parents/friends to sit on while assisting someone at the computer, $800
- Toys for children, $500
- PA system for Central Park Library Tech Center, $265
Items that were not funded:
- Electronic Subscription to NewspaperDirect Press Display
- Technology and Circulation Support (Publicity Materials)
Santa Clara Historical Homes Tour grants $980 to the Library
Many thanks to all who participated in the Santa Clara Historical Homes Tour. Their gift will be used to digitize and index historic Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce scrapbooks in the City Library's collection.
Many thanks to all who participated in the Santa Clara Historical Homes Tour. Their gift will be used to digitize and index historic Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce scrapbooks in the City Library's collection.
Michael J. Kirsch Foundation funds FREE e-readers to teens participating in Santa Clara City Library programs
Thanks to the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation, at least six teens will win e-readers during 2010 by participating in library programs. Funds donated will be used to purchase e-readers and gift cards for teen readers. Gift cards will be provided because many teens don’t have their own source of income, and will need a way to start their e-book collections. The e-readers will be awarded during certain times in 2010: Teen Tech Week in March (2 readers), the TeenRead summer program (3 readers) and Teen Read Week (1 reader) in October. Teens: stay tuned for details on how to compete to win an e-reader!
Thanks to the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation, at least six teens will win e-readers during 2010 by participating in library programs. Funds donated will be used to purchase e-readers and gift cards for teen readers. Gift cards will be provided because many teens don’t have their own source of income, and will need a way to start their e-book collections. The e-readers will be awarded during certain times in 2010: Teen Tech Week in March (2 readers), the TeenRead summer program (3 readers) and Teen Read Week (1 reader) in October. Teens: stay tuned for details on how to compete to win an e-reader!
Santa Clara Lions makes a gift to visually impaired summer readers
The Santa Clara Lions club has made a gift to assure that all visually impaired children who participate in the Santa Clara City Library Summer Reading Program will receive their own gifts for completing the program: Playaway® books or books on CD. The Santa Clara City Library is proud to have grown the juvenile braille collection from 1 to 262 books over the past seven years, making it the largest juvenile braille collection in any library in Santa Clara County.
The Santa Clara Lions club has made a gift to assure that all visually impaired children who participate in the Santa Clara City Library Summer Reading Program will receive their own gifts for completing the program: Playaway® books or books on CD. The Santa Clara City Library is proud to have grown the juvenile braille collection from 1 to 262 books over the past seven years, making it the largest juvenile braille collection in any library in Santa Clara County.
The Library Foundation is pleased to announce a grant received from the Lois Lensky Covey Foundation
Lois Lensky, writer of "Strawberry Girl" and many other beloved children's books during the 1920s through 1960s, established a Foundation to assist organizations in their efforts to provide books to children who might otherwise lack access to children's literature. The Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends was one of three grant recipients in California to receive a grant this year. Funds will be used to purchase children's books for a revolving book bag collection at the Sobrato Transition Housing Shelter and HomeSafe (domestic violence shelter); making sure that even the children living in shelters in Santa Clara will have access to high quality children's literature. Literacy outreach staff currently teach several story times a year at each shelter.
Lois Lensky, writer of "Strawberry Girl" and many other beloved children's books during the 1920s through 1960s, established a Foundation to assist organizations in their efforts to provide books to children who might otherwise lack access to children's literature. The Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends was one of three grant recipients in California to receive a grant this year. Funds will be used to purchase children's books for a revolving book bag collection at the Sobrato Transition Housing Shelter and HomeSafe (domestic violence shelter); making sure that even the children living in shelters in Santa Clara will have access to high quality children's literature. Literacy outreach staff currently teach several story times a year at each shelter.
Mission City Community Funds supporting Read Santa Clara adult literacy students
Thanks to a generous $5,000 grant from the Mission City Community Fund, literacy students at Read Santa Clara will receive new workbooks, manipulative learning tools, and software specially designed for adult literacy services. The Mission City Community Fund supports nonprofits that serve Santa Clara residents, and in the past has funded the Library for the Summer Reading program as well as for the publication of Learner Writings written by Read Santa Clara. THANK YOU Mission City Community Fund!
Thanks to a generous $5,000 grant from the Mission City Community Fund, literacy students at Read Santa Clara will receive new workbooks, manipulative learning tools, and software specially designed for adult literacy services. The Mission City Community Fund supports nonprofits that serve Santa Clara residents, and in the past has funded the Library for the Summer Reading program as well as for the publication of Learner Writings written by Read Santa Clara. THANK YOU Mission City Community Fund!
National Semiconductor provides $3,000 support for the Brainfuse program
National Semiconductor granted the SCCLFF $3,000 to help pay for Brainfuse Online Homework Help. Brainfuse is utilized heavily by Santa Clara students for math and science at the middle school and high school levels. Last year over 3,500 sessions were held—typically lasting around a half hour. Brainfuse has been available to Santa Clara City Library users since Fall 2007 thanks to matching funds provided through the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends.
National Semiconductor granted the SCCLFF $3,000 to help pay for Brainfuse Online Homework Help. Brainfuse is utilized heavily by Santa Clara students for math and science at the middle school and high school levels. Last year over 3,500 sessions were held—typically lasting around a half hour. Brainfuse has been available to Santa Clara City Library users since Fall 2007 thanks to matching funds provided through the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends.
Library's Teen Writing Contest Inspires Teens
On October 19th the winners of the Santa Clara City Library's Teen Writing Contest, Read Beyond Reality…Step Into Your Future, were announced. Teens were asked to imagine their lives at age 30 and explain how they got there. Our congratulations to Justine Tran, the grand prize winner, for her entry, “ The Importance of Roots.” You can read her essay by clicking here. In the middle school category, Margarita Patio won for her essay, “Spilt Coffee.” Sandeep Chanamolu won for “A Day in a Life” in the high school category. All winning submissions can be found on TeenNet, the Library’s website for teens. Contest prizes were supplied by a donation from a local individual through the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends.
On October 19th the winners of the Santa Clara City Library's Teen Writing Contest, Read Beyond Reality…Step Into Your Future, were announced. Teens were asked to imagine their lives at age 30 and explain how they got there. Our congratulations to Justine Tran, the grand prize winner, for her entry, “ The Importance of Roots.” You can read her essay by clicking here. In the middle school category, Margarita Patio won for her essay, “Spilt Coffee.” Sandeep Chanamolu won for “A Day in a Life” in the high school category. All winning submissions can be found on TeenNet, the Library’s website for teens. Contest prizes were supplied by a donation from a local individual through the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends.
Left to right: Margarita Patio, Sandeep Chanamolu,
Amanda Cobb, Rachel Kiefer, Justine Tran (winner),
Angelee Winn, Brandon Taylor, Noama Iftekhar
$10,000 Gift Received from Fairfield Residential LLC for Summer Reading
We are pleased to announce that Fairfield Residential is partnering with the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends to support summer reading in Santa Clara for the 2010 and 2011 summers. The gift will be used to pay for events, materials, and prizes for program finishers. Santa Clara's highly successful summer reading program typically involves over 4000 participants and generally results in around 60,000 books read! We are dependent on private sponsorship to pay for all the expenses of the summer reading program except for staff salary. Our many thanks to Fairfield.
We are pleased to announce that Fairfield Residential is partnering with the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends to support summer reading in Santa Clara for the 2010 and 2011 summers. The gift will be used to pay for events, materials, and prizes for program finishers. Santa Clara's highly successful summer reading program typically involves over 4000 participants and generally results in around 60,000 books read! We are dependent on private sponsorship to pay for all the expenses of the summer reading program except for staff salary. Our many thanks to Fairfield.
Foundation & Friends grants out $14,780 to the Santa Clara City Library
At our fall grant event Foundation & Friends volunteers awarded $14,780 in grants to the Library. The items funded were:
At our fall grant event Foundation & Friends volunteers awarded $14,780 in grants to the Library. The items funded were:
- FLIP Ultra HD Camcorder ($200): Will be used to make videos to share on the website, social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, and the library blog.
- Publication of In Our Own Words ($4,425): Print the book of learner writing for Read Santa Clara.
- Slatted Display Kiosk ($1,000): This display unit would be placed on the Library's second floor to efficiently market Library services, programs and events.
- Project Share (Shelters and Readers program) ($1,155): Read Santa Clara will host seven family literacy in the coming year at the Sobrato Family Living Center, a transitional housing facility for homeless families in Santa Clara.
- Endowment Funds ($8,000): $8,000 was added to the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends endowment funds to support future children's programs, literacy and technology.
Donated Materials Top $69,000!
The Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends is pleased to announce that, during our last fiscal year, donations of gently used DVDs, books and CDs added $69,380 worth of materials to the collection. All donated materials are considered by the Library for addition to the collection, and the remainder of donated items are sold via the Internet, our lobby bookstore, or our monthly Saturday Book Sale. So thanks to the many of you who donated over 100,000 movies, mysteries, romances, classics, foreign language, children's books and other treasures you passed along to us last year!
According to Julie Passalacqua, Acting City Librarian, "Individual donations have helped the Santa Clara Library meet the ever increasing demand for circulating materials. Over 2.5 million items were borrowed last year. Acquiring these new and gently used items has been critical in making our materials budget go even further, allowing the library to enhance its electronic resources as well as the downloadable book collection. It is a win-win for the library and the community. As a consequence, the library has been placed in a better position to serve its patrons. "
Summer Reading Program is in full swing!
Over 4000 people have enrolled this year in the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Many thanks to our long-time sponsors Applied Materials, Mission City Community Fund, the used book sales and individual donors for their generous support. We are pleased to announce that Fairfield Properties LLC became a new sponsor this year, donating $5000 to support summer reading. Over $25,000 has been allocated to pay for 96 summer reading events and giving away thousands of award books to children who complete the summer reading program. THANKS FOR MAKING IT A READING SUMMER for so many Santa Clara families!
$19,405 Granted to the Library During Our Community Grant Event and Chocolate Party
Twice a year we give away monies raised from our booksale. On April 13th volunteers, donors and Friends' members joined together to vote how the money should be spent. After careful deliberations, the following programs were funded. Many thanks to all those who donated books or money, bought books or volunteered—you made this possible.
Funded programs:
$9,825 for Summer Reading Programs for Children, Teens & Adults
$3,310 for Children's Programs Including Books With CDs, Audio Book Players and Performances
$3,100 for Adult Programs to Assist Unemployed Patrons In Preparing for New Jobs
$1,100 for Materials to Help Disabled Patrons
$570 to Recognize Volunteers Who Work Over 8,000 Hours A Year for Free!
$1,500 Added to Long-Term Endowment Funds for the Library's Future Needs
In addition, generous supporters donated $2,100 to fund even more programs!
Birthday Party A Great Success
The Central Park Library celebrated its 5th anniversary of the opening of the new building in April. A week-long celebration was held with many events and activities for patrons of all ages.
The party ended with a full-day celebration on Saturday. Click here to view some photos.
Birthday Party; Birthday Cake!
The Central Park Library is celebrating a birthday…the 5th anniversary since the doors opened to the public.
A week of events are planned in celebration, starting on April 13th.
In honor of this important milestone, The Foundation & Friends have placed a special birthday cake inside the lobby of the Central Park Library. The purpose of the cake is to collect donations to support the Library through the Foundation & Friends.
Please stop by the Library, check out the birthday cake, and drop some coins (or bills!) in the donation slot.
Granting Event and Chocolate Party
Two exciting events are coming on April 13th at the Central Park Library!
A Granting Event will be held from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Friends members, donors and volunteers are invited to decide which Library-requested grants will be funded from approximately $22,000 in available funds.
Our second annual Chocolate Party will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. This event is open to everybody and will feature a variety of chocolate goodies. Come on down and say "Hi!"
$2,000 Grant Received from Rotary for Early Learning with Families Program
Santa Clara Rotary President Bill Carver presents Karen Saunders, City Librarian, with a $2,000 check for the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends to pay for at-home libraries for forty low-income Santa Clara families with young children.
These children are part of the state preschool and visit the library each month, with their parents, who learn about reading to their children.
Over the next year, each family will receive ten brand-new books for their children. The Foundation & Friends extends many thanks to the Santa Clara Rotarians.
These children are part of the state preschool and visit the library each month, with their parents, who learn about reading to their children.
Over the next year, each family will receive ten brand-new books for their children. The Foundation & Friends extends many thanks to the Santa Clara Rotarians.
Top Right: Karen Saunders, City Librarian, with Santa Clara Rotary representatives and Foundation & Friends Executive Director Maria Daane.
Bottom Right: Children and parents having a story read to them.
Bookstore News
Be sure to stop by the Library Foundation and Friends Bookstore every time that you are in the Central Park Library. It is a treasure trove for all readers. It is stocked with "gently" read books in both fiction and non-fiction categories. The books have been donated by book lovers. There are also discards from the Library collection. Whatever your reading preference, the bookstore has something for you. In addition there are video cassettes, DVD's, books on tape, music CD's and large print editions.
A good day to visit is the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of the month when there is always a sale going on. It may be on hardcover fiction, all non-fiction, children's books or series romances. This is in addition to the always excellent prices.
The bookstore hours are from one hour after the library's opening to 30 minutes before closing. The volunteers are all book lovers and can help you with your selections.
$9,530 In Materials Added to Library's Collections
Thanks to all of our generous supporters who donate used books and DVDs. During the momth of December, the Library found donated materials that were needed by the Library and added them to the collections. The books and DVDs that were added in December were worth a total of $9,530. Every item that the Library adds to its collection stretches the budget so that other materials and online database services can be purchased.
If you have gently used books or DVDs to donation, you may bring them to the Foundation & Friends book store inside the lobby of the Central Park Library. For larger donations (over eight boxes), please contact us at (408) 615-2987 to make arrangements.
New Decorations Donated for the Library's Holiday Tree
Enjoying the lovely tree in the library's lobby? It was enhanced this year through a donation from the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation, which donated $500 to pay for additional ornaments and ribbons that have broken over the year and needed replacing. Looking for projects you can help with?
Three new services were added for you to enjoy!
All or part of these new services were funded by grants from the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends.
Mercury News Archive: 1886 to 1922
Anyone with a library card can now access the San Jose Mercury News Historical Archive database. This digitized database contains the San Jose Mercury newspapers from 1886 to 1922. It can be searched by word choice and is available online from home or at the library.To access the database from home, go to the library's Research Databases webpage at http://www.library.santaclaraca.gov/research.html. Besides news articles, the database also includes advertisements, real estate transactions, death and marriage notices, and society gossip columns. Search results appear on screen as reproductions of the actual newspaper pages and clippings, so you also see etchings and photographs that are in ads and articles.
Franck Building showing "Public Library"
on the upstairs windows
Local History Librarian, Mary Hanel, has used this resource to answer reference questions and to find information about photographs in the library's historical photographs collection.
For example, an East Coast scholar researching a woman named Lucy Rose Mallory knew that Lucy died in Santa Clara County in either 1919 or 1920. The researcher asked whether the library had a picture of Lucy or knew the exact date of her death. Checking the database, Mary found an article—with a photo of Lucy Mallory—titled: "Injuries Received in Auto Crash Hasten Death of Woman: The Late Mrs. Lucy A. Rose Mallory," San Jose Mercury Herald, September 4, 1920, page 2.
If you have questions about searching this database, please contact Mary Hanel, Local History Librarian, at 615-2909 or by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.
For example, an East Coast scholar researching a woman named Lucy Rose Mallory knew that Lucy died in Santa Clara County in either 1919 or 1920. The researcher asked whether the library had a picture of Lucy or knew the exact date of her death. Checking the database, Mary found an article—with a photo of Lucy Mallory—titled: "Injuries Received in Auto Crash Hasten Death of Woman: The Late Mrs. Lucy A. Rose Mallory," San Jose Mercury Herald, September 4, 1920, page 2.
If you have questions about searching this database, please contact Mary Hanel, Local History Librarian, at 615-2909 or by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov.
Kits for Developmentally Disabled Patrons
The Mission Library staff has created special activity kits for its developmentally disabled patrons. These ABLE (Activities for Basic Learning and Enjoyment) kits are available for borrowing in three subject areas: Language & Vocabulary, Health & Hygiene, and Reading. Each kit contains books and materials for activities related to its subject area.
Using an up-to-date library card, caregivers can check out one kit for three weeks, and each kit can be renewed for an additional three weeks. The program began in April and five ABLE Kits have been checked out so far. The library is currently contacting special education classes, group homes and special need centers in the community to make the kits available.
The Mission Library also needs volunteers to organize the returned ABLE Kits so that they are ready for borrowing again. If you would like to help, please contact the Mission Library at 615-2964.
Mission Librarian Hilda Lopez
displays the contents of an ABLE Reading Kit
Morningstar Online Investment Service Now Available from Home!
If you have Internet service at home, the library now offers remote access to the online Morningstar Investment Research Center. Morningstar provides investment reports to help you evaluate mutual funds, stocks, and other exchange-traded funds. These reports include a five–star guide that rates overall performance and risk, narrative evaluations, performance histories, and stewardship status. The next time you want to know how your investments are performing, use Morningstar—now accessible on the Research Databases page on the library's website.If you have questions about this new at-home online service, please visit the Adult Services Desk.