Santa Clara County Library

Santa Clara County Library. The library system serves the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga, with a collection of over 1.6 million items, including books, DVDs, CDs, and eBooks from OverDrive and Project Gutenberg. The library is a member of the Peninsula Library System and Silicon Valley Library Consortium, which also includes the San Jose Public Library and Mountain View Public Library. The library's mission is to provide free and equal access to information, and to promote literacy and lifelong learning in the community, in partnership with organizations like the California State Library and Library of Congress.

● History

The library system was established in 1914, with the first library opening in San Jose in 1901, and has since grown to include eight community libraries and a bookmobile that serves rural areas and senior centers, such as the AARP-affiliated Senior Center in Cupertino. The library has a long history of innovation, including the introduction of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in 2005, and the launch of a mobile app in 2011, developed in partnership with OCLC and SirsiDynix. The library has also partnered with organizations like the Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Endowment for the Arts to provide programs and services to the community. Notable events in the library's history include the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which damaged several library buildings, and the Great Recession, which led to budget cuts and reduced hours, but also prompted partnerships with organizations like the United Way and American Library Association.

● Services

The library offers a wide range of services, including interlibrary loan through OCLC and Link+, reference services provided by librarians with expertise in areas like genealogy and career development, and programming for children and adults, such as author readings and book clubs, in partnership with organizations like the National Book Foundation and PEN America. The library also provides access to databases like JSTOR and EBSCO, and offers technology training and computer classes through partnerships with organizations like Microsoft and Google. The library's website provides access to the online catalog, as well as eResources like Lynda.com and Rosetta Stone, and is also a member of the Digital Public Library of America and Internet Archive.

● Locations

The library system includes eight community libraries, located in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga, as well as a bookmobile that serves rural areas and senior centers, such as the AARP-affiliated Senior Center in Cupertino. The libraries are located near other community facilities, such as the Campbell Community Center and Cupertino Community Hall, and are also close to local schools, like Cupertino High School and Los Altos High School, which are part of the Cupertino Union School District and Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District. The libraries are also accessible by public transportation, including the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and Caltrain.

● Collections

The library's collection includes over 1.6 million items, including books, DVDs, CDs, and eBooks from OverDrive and Project Gutenberg, as well as audiobooks and eAudiobooks from Audible and Hoopla Digital. The library also has a large collection of periodicals, including newspapers like the San Jose Mercury News and The New York Times, and magazines like The New Yorker and National Geographic. The library's collection is developed in partnership with organizations like the American Library Association and Publishers Weekly, and is also informed by the library's collection development policy, which is guided by the principles of intellectual freedom and diversity.

● Programs

The library offers a wide range of programs for children and adults, including storytime and book clubs, as well as author readings and workshops on topics like writing and art, in partnership with organizations like the National Book Foundation and PEN America. The library also offers summer reading programs for children and teens, and literacy programs for adults, in partnership with organizations like the National Literacy Directory and ProLiteracy. The library's programs are designed to promote literacy and lifelong learning in the community, and are often developed in partnership with local organizations, such as the United Way and Rotary Club, and are also supported by grants from organizations like the Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Endowment for the Arts. Category:Libraries in California