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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2018 Library Commission Agenda PacketSaratoga Library Commission Agenda - Page 1 of 2 SARATOGA LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING August 28, 2018 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING Saratoga Library, Community Room | 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 ROLL CALL ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS Any member of the public may address the Library Commission for up to three (3) minutes on matters not on the Agenda. The law generally prohibits the Library Commission from discussing or taking action on such items. The Library Commission may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Draft minutes for the June 26, 2018 meeting AGENDA ITEMS 1. Commissioner-Led Events: Junior Achievement Summary: The Library Commission work plan includes providing support for Library events and program. The Library Commission has been working to support the Library through coordination of events, such as Junior Achievement. 2. Community Outreach at Movie Nights and Farmers Market Summary: Discuss Library Commission outreach activity at the Movie Night events and Farmers Market. 3. West Valley College Collaboration Summary: One of the Library Commission’s work plan items includes identifying opportunities to partner with West Valley College, including the 2019 Coral Reef Crochet Project. 4. Monte Sereno Outreach and Engagement Summary: Discuss efforts to reach out and engage residents of Monte Sereno. 5. Community News & Trends Summary: Share news and trends within the community. Saratoga Library Commission Agenda - Page 2 of 2 REPORTS 1. Nancy Howe, Santa Clara County Librarian 2. Michael Eitner, Saratoga Community Librarian 3. Alice Patrick, Friends of the Saratoga Libraries 4. Saratoga Library Teen Advisory Board 5. Karen Burley, Library Commission Chair 6. Crystal Bothelio, Saratoga Deputy City Manager SUMMARIZE ACTION ITEMS AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING – OCTOBER 23, 2018 ADJOURNMENT CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF THE AGENDA, DISTRIBUTION OF AGENDA PACKET, & COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT I, Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Library Commission was posted and available for review on August 23, 2018 at the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 and on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us. Signed this 23rd day of August 2018 at Saratoga, California. Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to the Library Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the City Clerk at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made available for public review at the office of the City Clerk at the time they are distributed to the Library Commission. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 408.868.1294 or npimentel@saratoga.ca.us. Notification 24 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 5.102-35.104 ADA title II] LIBRARY COMMISSION AGENDA PLANNER MEETING AGENDA ITEMS REPORTS February 27, 2018  Community News & Trends  2018 Commission Work Plan  Library District Year End Service Report  Summarize Action Items  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Karen Burley, Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison March 5, 2018 5:00 p.m. Commission Work Plan Study Session April 24, 2018  Community News & Trends  West Valley College Collaboration  Commissioner-Led Events: Junior Achievement  Library Card Promotion: Commissioner Engagement  Library Space Utilization  Summarize Action Items  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Karen Burley, Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison June 26, 2018  Community News & Trends  Summarize Action Items  West Valley College Collaboration  Commissioner Led Events: Junior Achievement  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Karen Burley, Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison August 28, 2018  Community News & Trends  Commissioner Led Events: Junior Achievement  Community Outreach at Movie Nights & Farmers Markets  West Valley College Collaboration  Monte Sereno Outreach & Engagement  Summarize Action Itemss  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Karen Burley, Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison October 23, 2018  Community News & Trends  Summarize Action Items  Selection of Chair and Vice Chair  Review 2018 Work Plan, Consider 2019 Work Plan  Rescheduling December Meeting Date  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison December 25, 2018*  Community News & Trends  Finalize 2019 Work Plan  Summarize Action Items  Nancy Howe, County Librarian  Michael Eitner, Community Librarian  Alice Patrick, Friends  Teen Advisory Board  Chair  Crystal Bothelio, Liaison Unscheduled Future Items  Interior Space Review Recommendations  West Valley College Collaboration & Next Steps * Meeting will be canceled or rescheduled LIBRARY COMMISSION DUTIES/PURPOSE, WORK PLAN, & MEMBERSHIP COMMISSION DUTIES/PURPOSE: Resolution No. 16-043: The Library Commission shall serve as a senior advisory and liaison body. Its basic responsibilities shall include the following: 1. Provide counsel and recommendations on Library policies, budgets, plans and procedures to the Saratoga City Council, the City staff, and the Santa Clara County Library staff and Saratoga Library Supervisor. 2. Identify and bring to the attention of the Ci ty Council , the City staff, and the Santa Clara County Library staff (as appropriate) present and prospective issues and questions relating to Library operation. 3. Participate, along with other appropriate governmental units, in explaining and interpreting matters pertaining to Library operation to Library users, Library support groups, and the general public. 4. Perform such other activities as may be directed by the Saratoga City Council. In carrying out its basic responsibilities, the Library Commission shall perform the following duties: 1. Hold formal meetings as required (see preceding Section on "Administration”). 2. Maintain communications with the City Council, the City staff, the Santa Clara County Library staff, and the Saratoga Library Supervisor on matters that have a significant impact on the Library's budget and operation. 3. Outreach to different community groups to inform them of library services and to receive suggestions on improving Library operation. 4. Maintain within the Commission a continuity of knowledge of the Library, its operation and its problems. 5. Keep generally informed on technical developments that could have a bearing on the Library's operation. 6. Participate in the general planning of the library's operation and in the planning of events related to the Library. 7. Work with "Friends of the Saratoga Libraries" and other support groups as may be desirable in the planning of their activities. 8. Promote optimal utilization of the library space, and encourage service mindedness on the part of all having to do with providing Library service to the public. 9. Engage the Saratoga Library Youth Advisory group in matters concerning use of the Library and programs. 2018 LIBRARY COMMISSION WORK PLAN KEY POINTS OF WORK PLAN 1. Support library events and programs 2. Promote library events and programs; engage in information sharing with library and public 3. Identify continuing opportunities to partner with West Valley College 4. Help increase the number of residents with library cards TOPICS IN DETAIL  Support Library Events and Programs I. Attend library events as Commissioners and/or participants (eg, Silicon Valley Reads programs, trivia events, etc.) II. Volunteer to assist library staff at library events (for example, Junior Achievement) III. Volunteer at outreach programs (eg, Saturday Farmers Market, Movie Nights, Blossom Festival) to increase number of card holders to 85% of Saratoga and Monte Sereno residents  Promote library events and programs; engage in Information sharing with the library and the public I. Brainstorm with Diane Roche (County marketing person) on ways to promote Library events and programs II. Spread awareness via our networks of library events and offerings and encourage attendance (for example, post in Nextdoor Saratoga, post on Facebook page, tell our Book Clubs, etc.) III. Update Saratoga News of upcoming library events IV. Write an article for Saratoga Source (monthly e-newsletter) or Saratoga Newspaper to feature library program(s) V. Provide recommendations to library staff at Commission meetings. This would include ideas for programs that our community is interested in (eg, 3D printing); new trends, and upcoming community events where outreach might occur VI. Attend annual Friends and Commissioner forum VII. Visit other County Library Commission and JPA meetings  Identify continuing opportunities to partner with West Valley College I. Work on 2018 – 2019 Coral Reef Crochet Project (schedule viewing of Chasing Coral at Library, encourage crochet circles, attend seminars, help with displays), with West Valley College taking the lead on this effort  Help increase the number of residents with library cards I. Volunteer at outreach programs II. Target Monte Sereno residents CURRENT MEMBERSHIP Name Term End City Email Anandi Krishnamurthy 9/30/2018 akrishnamurthy@saratoga.ca.us Flora Hoffman 9/30/2019 fhoffman@saratoga.ca.us Karen Burley 9/30/2020 kburley@saratoga.ca.us Steven White, Monte Sereno Representative 9/30/2021 swhite@saratoga.ca.us Robert Gulino 9/30/2021 rgulino@saratoga.ca.us Saratoga Library Commission Minutes - Page 1 of 3 MINUTES SARATOGA LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JUNE 26, 2018 CALL TO ORDER Chair Burley called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Saratoga Library at 13650 Saratoga Avenue. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Karen Burley, Vice Chair Flora Hoffman, Commissioner Robert Gulino , Anandi Krishnamurthy Absent: Steven White (excused) Also Present: Gail Mason, Michael Eitner, Alice Patrick, Crystal Bothelio ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS None APPROVAL OF MINUTES GULINO/ KRISHNAMURTHY MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT MINUTES FOR THE APRIL 24, 2018 MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BURLEY, GULINO, HOFFMAN, KRISHNAMURTHY. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: WHITE. AGENDA ITEMS 1. West Valley College Collaboration Summary: One of the Library Commission’s work plan items includes identifying opportunities to partner with West Valley College, including the 2019 Coral Reef Crochet Project. Chair Burley provided an update on the efforts to collaborate with West Valley College on the 2019 Coral Reef Crochet Project. She noted that the subcommittee met with Community Librarian Michael Eitner to identify display space in Saratoga Library for an exhibit on the Coral Reef Crochet Project, opportunities to showcase related books, and inform patrons about how they can get involved. Vice Chair Hoffman suggested a screening of Chasing Coral as part of the effort and engaging the Saratoga High School Environmental Studies instructors. 2. Commissioner-Led Events: Junior Achievement Summary: The Library Commission work plan includes providing support for Library events and program. The Library Commission has been working to support the Library through coordination of events, such as Junior Achievement. Saratoga Library Commission Minutes - Page 2 of 3 Chair Burley provided an update on Junior Achievement, including some of the lessons learned from program. This included challenges resulting from holding a series of classes and including a mix of ages. 3. Community News & Trends Summary: Share news and trends within the community. Chair Burley spoke about the Movie Night in El Quito Park in June. The Commission discussed attendance at the July movie night, as well as other upcoming events. Community Librarian Michael Eitner provided an update on the Go Go Biblio vehicle. Commissioner Gulino recommended programing on technology trends, such as cryptocurrency, self-driving vehicles, and artificial intelligence. He also suggested programing on immigration. Commissioner Krishnamurthy also proposed programming on privacy concerns and living skills for teens (managing college loans, bank accounts, etc.). Vice Chair Hoffman offered to consider helping with a program on immigration. She also recommended programing that encourages voters ages 18 to 45 to vote, bird watching, financial planning for your children, and estate planning. The Commission discussed programming that encourages polite discourse and the City’s Living Room Conversation events. A public speaker suggested programming on the importance of sleep. Another public speaker recommended a programing on transitioning from the workforce to the next stage, whether that is retirement or something else, and the impacts it has on your family and personal life. REPORTS 1. Nancy Howe, Santa Clara County Librarian Gail Mason reported on behalf of Nancy Howe. She shared information on the Summer Reading Program, Lunch at the Library, the District’s budget and financial audit, and net neutrality. 2. Michael Eitner, Saratoga Community Librarian Michael Eitner shared information about the Summer Reading Program and Monte Sereno Library Outpost. Saratoga Library Commission Minutes - Page 3 of 3 3. Alice Patrick, Friends of the Saratoga Libraries Alice Patrick reported on the Friends grant to the Library, an Author Event, the Spring Wine Stroll, Go Go Biblio, the selection of Debbie Jensen for the Membership Correspondence position, the Blossom Festival, and the General Membership meeting in June. 4. Saratoga Library Teen Advisory Board No report 5. Karen Burley, Library Commission Chair No report 6. Crystal Bothelio, Saratoga Deputy City Manager Crystal Bothelio reported on the Independence Day Celebration, Saratoga Movie Nights, Community Emergency Response Team, the City Council Election, and RYDE. SUMMARIZE ACTION ITEMS None AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING – AUGUST 28, 2018 None ADJOURNMENT Chair Burley adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager City of Saratoga Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga July 2018 Commission Report Nancy Howe, County Librarian Say Hello to Go Go Biblio Take a bookmobile, make it electric, then shrink it down to adorable size and you have the new Go Go Biblio. Santa Clara County Library District will have four Go Go Biblio mini mobile libraries arriving in late July. They are ‘fun sized’ electric vehicles designed to bring the library out to farmer’s markets, events, schools, senior centers, recreation centers and so much more. Because they are electric vehicles filled with books, movies, music and more, we like to say they’re Powered by Imagination. Cupertino, Los Altos/Woodland and Saratoga will have their own Go Go Biblios thanks to funding provided by the Friends of the Cupertino Library, Los Altos Library Endowment and Friends of the Saratoga Libraries respectively. A fourth vehicle will be available to rotate between the other libraries. This is a great opportunity for SCCLD to take advantage of outreach opportunities within the community. When you see one in your neighborhood, at the library or at a local event, be sure to come by and say “Hello Go Go Biblio!” Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Summer Reading - Mid Point Check in We’re halfway through Summer Reading with almost 20,000 enrolled (3/4 of our goal) and over 33,000 books logged to date (1/3 of our community reading goal of 100,000 books). With one more month to go, and most patrons logging their books toward the end of the program, we’re confident we’re on track to meet our Summer Reading goals. There’s still time to participate if you haven’t yet registered or logged your books. Register, read at least 5 books and log them for a chance to win prizes from the SF 49ers, Tech Museum, Gilroy Gardens, Happy Hollow & Zoo, Monster Jam, Bounce-a-Rama and more. Remember, all reading is good reading! Library Ballot Measures Under Discussion Campbell Library and Los Altos Library could be in for a renovation and/or new library if their City Councils vote to put a measure on the November ballot. Campbell City Manager, working with Godbe Research, conducted a survey in March 2018 gauging resident support to update the Campbell Library and Police Department. Based on the survey results, City Council is discussing a $50 million bond measure for this purpose. The details are still under discussion as to what would be included and the split between the two facilities. The next City Council meeting where it will be discussed will be held Tue, July 17. The North County Library Association has established a Library Renovation Task Force with representatives from NCLA, LALE, Friends of the Los Altos Library and the Los Altos City Manager in support of a new Los Altos Library. They have updated the 2008 needs assessment report, as well as worked with Group 4 to identify the space requireme nts and estimated cost. A survey was developed in cooperation with Godbe research and the Los Altos City Manager to test resident support for a 40,000 sq ft new Los Altos Library. The survey, which went into the market the week of June 25, will test multiple funding levels including $35 million, $45 million and $55 million as well as support for a parcel tax or a bond measure. The results will be shared with the Library Renovation Task Force on July 11 and based on the results, a measure could be proposed to the Los Altos City Council to go onto the November 2018 ballot. Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga ESL Classes Coming in August Did you know that 37% of Santa Clara County’s population are foreign born? We live in a diverse county, rich in various cultures. In support of our community, starting in August, we will offer free adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Milpitas and Gilroy Libraries on weeknights. Classes will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, from August 6 to December 19. The Milpitas Library class will start at 6pm and end at 8pm, while the Gilroy Library will take place from 6:30 until 8:30 pm. ESL instruction can help patrons improve their listening, speaking, pronunciation, reading, and writing skills at home and at work. The ESL classes are designed to help patrons increase their vocabulary, learn common English phrases, learn about American culture, and meet new people. Sign ups will be taken at the Milpitas and Gilroy reference desks. Library Trends: San Diego Public Library is the first California library system to eliminate overdue library fees. It has been an ongoing discussion amongst many library systems nationwide with more and more libraries interested in doing away with overdue fees. The big questions include: Are overdue fines necessary? Do they modify behavior to encourage patrons to return their materials on time? Do the benefits of having overdue fees outweigh the drawbacks? San Diego Public Library and the San Diego City Council made the decision to eliminate overdue library fees for all ages with the change effective as of July 1, 2018. Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Wave goodbye to overdue fees at the San Diego Public Library Posted: Jun 29, 2018 9:35 AM PDTUpdated: Jun 29, 2018 11:50 AM PDT SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - Good news for people who constantly return library books late. Beginning July 1st, the San Diego Public Library will no longer charge a daily fee for items returned past their due date. The new policy will allow staff to use its t ime and resources much more efficiently. The library collects $675,000 in fees each year, but spends over $1 million to collect them. The library expects the new policy to improve access to low-income communities where, according to an analysis by the City of San Diego, over 40% of library cardholders can’t check out materials because of late fees. The new Library Fine Policy is as follows: - 1 day after the item is due, materials are considered late. If you have an overdue item, your library card will be blocked and you will not be able to check-out any additional items. You are still able to use the library and renew other materials you have checked out. - 7 days after the item is due, the library will send you an email alerting you that your library materials are overdue and must be returned or renewed. - 14 days after the item is due, the library will email you a second reminder to return or renew your items. - 30 days after the item is due, the library will consider the items lost and email you an invo ice for the cost of the overdue item, applicable service fees, and your library card will be barred, preventing you from renewing or checking out items. - 60 days after the item is due, the debt will be transferred to the City Treasurer. Your library card will be barred until the library is notified by the City Treasurer that the fine has been paid. Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Aug 2018 Commission Report Nancy Howe, County Librarian SCCLD and First 5 Team up for School Readiness Young children need to build early literacy skills so that they will be kindergarten ready. The library offers the tools families need including opportunities to talk, sing, read, write, and play with your child to promote language and literacy development. SCCLD is the perfect place to start the journey to school readiness with great programs, free resources and tips for families to help their little ones learn. This month, in collaboration with First 5 and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Potter the Otter visits SCCLD libraries to talk about the NEW book - Potter the Otter Gets Ready for Kindergarten. Hear this new story, receive a free copy of the book and have your picture taken with Potter. SCCLD STORYTIME VISITS WITH POTTER THE OTTER Campbell Library 77 Harrison Ave., Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 866-1991 Tue 8/21 at 7pm Cupertino Library NONE Gilroy Library 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 842-8207 Tue 8/28 at 4pm Spanish Bilingual Los Altos Library 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 948-7683 Wed 8/29 at 11:00am Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Milpitas Library 160 North Main Street, Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 262-1171 Mon 8/27 at 11:00am Mandarin Bilingual Morgan Hill Library 660 West Main Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (408) 779-3196 Thu 8/23 at 11:00am Saratoga Library 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 867-6126 Thu 8/30 at 10:30am Adobe Creative Classes Coming to SCCLD Learn to use five major Adobe products programs including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro and Animate at a series of free classes, to be held at SCCLD libraries beginning in September. Enhance and repair your family photos with Photoshop. Take drawings to new heights and learn to create your own logo with Illustrator. Use InDesign to create print projects like stationary, printed books, brochures and games. Learn how to create animated cartoons, advertisements and games with Animate. Finally, enhance your videos with audio and graphics using effects, filters and titles through Premiere Pro. 9/8 Milpitas Photoshop and Illustrator 9/15 Milpitas InDesign and Premiere Pro 9/22 Campbell Photoshop and Illustrator 9/29 Campbell Animate and Premiere Pro 10/6 Gilroy Photoshop and Illustrator 10/13 Gilroy InDesign and Premiere Pro Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga 10/20 Morgan Hill* Photoshop and Illustrator 10/27 Saratoga Photoshop and Illustrator 11/3 Morgan Hill* Animate and Premiere Pro 11/10 Los Altos Photoshop and Illustrator 11/17 Los Altos Animate and Premiere Pro 12/1 Saratoga InDesign and Premiere Pro 12/8 Cupertino Photoshop and Illustrator 12/15 Cupertino InDesign and Premiere Pro *Dates for Morgan Hill are tentative depending on construction. For class times and to register please go to: www.sccl.org/events, Computers will be provided. Pre-registration is required due to limited class size. Classes are free and open to the public. SCCLD Introduces SimplyE If you are looking for a better solution to manage your eBooks from the library, SCCLD has a solution. SimplyE simplifies the eBook catalog and download experience. View, browse, check out, download, read and return eBooks from our OverDrive and CloudLibrary catalogs, and Spanish eBooks in Odilo using the SimplyE app. You can access SimplyE from our Mobile Apps page, as well as the eBooks & Audiobooks pages in the Online Library 24/7, Teens’ Online Library, and Kids’ Online Library. Download the app to your electronic device, select Santa Clara County Library District as your library, and enter your library card and PIN. No extra account, and no further sign-ins; SimplyE will remember your card! Browse, borrow, and reserve eBooks from our all -in-one catalog, as well as public domain eBooks added by SimplyE. The public domain books have no waitlist or tim e limit – you can keep those and read them as often as you like! Happy reading! Library Trends: On July 21, a contributing editor to Forbes wrote an article about why Amazon should replace local libraries to save taxpayers money. The article met with a storm of angry responses on social media. The discussion was all over the internet with a heated discussion why libraries are a valued part of a community. Days later, Forbes retracted the story. Below is an article from July 23 that ran on Fast Company. Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Forbes suggested Amazon should replace libraries, and people aren’t having it BY MICHAEL GROTHAUS FAST COMPANY Update: Monday, July 23, 1:23 p.m.: The Forbes article appears to have been deleted, as the link now leads to an error message. Original post: A Forbes contributor wrote a short piece titled “Amazon Should Replace Local Libraries to Save Taxpayers Money,” arguing that libraries should be shuttered in return for Amazon opening bookstores in local communities. At the gist of the writer’s argument is that Starbucks has replaced libraries as a friendly place to go and read and streaming services like Amazon Prime Video have replaced video rentals, which many local libraries had provided. And then: “Of course, there’s Amazon Books to consider. Amazon have created their own online library that has made it easy for the masses to access both physical and digital copies of books. Amazon Books is a chain of bookstores that does what Amazon originally intended to do; replace the local bookstore. It improves on the bookstore model by adding online searches and coffee shops. Amazon Go basically combines a library with a Starbucks.” Taken together, why should taxpayers keep paying money to fund local libraries, the writer argues: “At the core, Amazon has provided something better than a local library without the tax fees. This is why Amazon should replace local libraries. The move would save taxpayers money and enhance the stockholder value of Amazon all in one fell swoop.” And then Twitter came to the rescue: (abbreviated version of the twitter feeds listed below) Panos Mourdoukoutas@PMourdoukoutas Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga · 22 Jul Let me clarify something. Local libraries aren't free. Home owners must pay a local library tax. My bill is $495/year. DamagedNotion@Damagednotion Seniors pay 200 or more to have someone do taxes, but the library does it for free. Free movies during the summer for kids. They make ice cream and crafts. During storms and emergencies they function as shelters. It’s almost like my tax dollars bring safety and joy to people. 5:32 PM - Jul 22, 2018 Ella Disenchanted@McTestaInc We provide computer and software training. We assist in job searches and all of the resources needed to do so. And in many rural communities, we are often the only source of inte rnet access. In urban areas as well sometimes. Plus thousands of other services we offer. 2:04 AM - Jul 23, 2018 · Lakewood, WA Her Pegship@HerPegship Libraries with trained staff are worth any tax required; even non -users profit from their community's quality of life. What would an Amazon storefront provide? A place to buy or read only books that are currently in print, free wifi & electricity. The end. 5:56 PM - Jul 22, 2018 Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga Marziah@marziah Let me clarify something. If the *only* thing my local library did was help a domestic violence victim find information on the nearest shelter, I'd gladly pay double what you in taxes a year. And yeah, libraries do that sort of thing. 7:21 PM - Jul 22, 2018 Katie@kejtia Libraries are the last public spaces in society where there’s no pay to play. They are the peoples’ universities. Equalizers. Small business and nonprofits launch from there. And no one is required to bring money to participate. Libraries make our communities stronger. Shoo. 7:34 PM - Jul 22, 2018 Karen McPherson @MLA_Karen Libraries offer so much more than books. I haven't seen any resume workshops in book stores, or kids story time, or meetings of local clubs. Libraries aren't driven by best seller lists, they're driven by providing information to people, in many formats. 7:41 PM - Jul 22, 2018 Melissa Baker@bakerpartyofsix Serving the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County and the cities of Campbell | Cupertino | Gilroy | Los Altos | Los Altos Hills | Milpitas | Monte Sereno | Morgan Hill | Saratoga I have 4 kids. We visit the library about once a month and each kid gets to pick out 5 -6 books, plus we check out audio books, not to mention what I read. At $10 -$15 each, that’s over $3000 a year we save using the library. I’m ok with those taxes. 8:08 PM - Jul 22, 2018 pammoran@pammoran Public libraries are this thing called the common good - we all share in paying for them so that others with less means benefit. It’s what humanity does to advance civilization. Go support your public library; shelve books, read to a child, help a senior citizen find a book. 2:11 AM - Jul 23, 2018 1 SARATOGA LIBRARY REPORT July 2018 Mike Eitner, Community Librarian SARAOTGA LIBRARY PARTNERS WITH MONTALVO FOR ART INSTALLATION On July 16, Brazilian artist Marila Dardot visited the Saratoga Library. Ms. Dardot was in Saratoga to premier a large-scale installation on the Great Lawn of Montalvo titled “Saudade.” Although nearly impossible to translate, saudade has been described by Aubrey Bell as “a vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, for something other than the present.” The installation’s purpose was to amplify the voices of immigrants to the United States, and consisted of flags painted by first-generation immigrants of their home countries as well as words or symbols of what they miss from these countries. Saratoga library patrons contributed 12 flags to the exhibit, and the above photo shows their creations. Ms. Dardot’s installation was on display from Sunday, July 16, through Friday, July 20. After the installation, the flags were given to their creators. STATISTICS May 2017 May 2018 June 2017 June 2018 Total Circulation 85,554 94,094 96,600 102,591 Adult/Teen Circulation 45,411 49,311 49,510 52,557 Children’s Circulation 40,143 44,783 46,790 50,034 Use of E-Book Collection (OverDrive Vendor) 2,394 3,362 2,656 3,601 Use of Downloadable Audio Books (OverDrive Vendor) 1,181 1,859 1,228 1,876 Total Number of Programs 75 85 45 52 Programs Total Attendance 2,514 2,916 1,693 2,192 Unique WiFi Users 5,561 5,476 New Library Cards Issued 178 211 311 358 Gate Count: Library Use 34,546 33,574 34,775 32,485 Outreach Events 7 10 7 9 Outreach Total Attendance 1,676 1,831 1,573 1,030 Volunteer Hours 1,530 1,263 1,384 1,240 OUTREACH Saratoga Library staff attended the Summer Movie Night, Blossom Festival, West Valley College Farmer’s Market, and Lexington Elementary End of School Fair. 2 SPOTLIGHT ON AUGUST PROGRAMS Children Sterling the Bubblesmith, Wednesday, August 1, 3:00 p.m. Be amazed as Sterling the Bubblesmith works magic with bubbles. See him form bubbles inside of bubbles, enormous bubbles and fill the sky with bubbles. Dot and Dash, Thursday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. Spark creativity and be inspired to have fun with our Dot & Dash robotics! With Dot & Dash, learn to code at any skill level! Online registration required--space is limited. This program is for children in Grades 1-6. Circus of Smiles, Saturday, August 4, 11:00 a.m. Join us for an action-packed spectacle of silliness and wonder that will leave you in stitches. They juggle, they joke, they do incredible feats of strength, they are the Circus of Smiles. Golden Acorn Music, Wednesday, August 8, 3:00 p.m. Close out summer with an afternoon of music, movement, instruments, and stories — all in one warm, inviting children's concert. You'll dance, you'll learn, and you'll leave with a smile. Paws to Read, Tuesday, August 14, 7:00 p.m., and Tuesday, August 28, 4:00 p.m. K-5th graders improve your pronunciation skills while gaining self-confidence. Join us for the Paws to Read program at the Saratoga Library and read to a patient and quiet therapy animal from Growing Guides. Register in person at the Children's Desk. Teen College Essay Workshop with UC Focus, Saturday, August 11, 10:00 a.m. A great college essay communicates all the necessary information about you as a person. Learn what colleges seek and get help writing the essays that best showcase you. Under the supervision of an essay specialist, students will learn what should and should not go in the essay, study a sample essay, brainstorm potential topics and find their unique writing voice for their UC application. Because seating is limited, class of 2019 students please register for this workshop. Introduction to Java, Friday, August 17 and August 24, 4:00 p.m. In this two-week workshop, learn the basics of Java programming: develop, compile, and run simple programs. This workshop is taught by DeAnza College Faculty Member Lalitha Krishnamurthy. Space is limited, teens age 14 through 18 sign up online. PSAT Practice Test, Saturday, August 25, 1:00 p.m. Get experience with the PSAT without pressure. Take a practice test at the library! Online registration required. This program is open to Grades 8 through 12 only. Please bring a pencil and calculator. Test results will be available at the results seminar on Tuesday, September 4. 3 Adults Grand Tour Great Britain: English Country Dancing, Monday, August 6, 7:00 p.m. Channel your inner Jane Austen! What was the social role of dancing in the English Regency period? Alan Winston will give a brief overview of English country dance and teach traditional dances. He will be accompanied by a live trio playing traditional instruments. Grand Tour Great Britain: The Not-So Secret Life of Charles Dickens, Friday, August 17, 10:30 a.m. Charles Dickens' adoring public was unaware of two dark secrets in his personal life--one of which, if revealed, would have ruined his career. Ironically, both secrets are in pretty plain view in his novels. A talk by English professor Tim Farrell. Grand Tour Great Britain: Rambling the English Countryside and Exploring Rare Bits of Wales, Monday, August 20, 7:00 p.m. Join photographer and musician David Couzens in an eclectic cherry-picked solo trip across the pond. Starting in London, we'll daytrip to Greenwich to tell the time, stay in an Oxford University dorm, seek out Harry Potter in Gloucester, search for Brother Cadfael in Shrewsbury, and explore the villages and pathways of the Cotswolds. In Wales, we'll take an old rail line to a spa town, meet Charles Dickens' great-great grandson, visit the smallest city in the UK with its magnificent cathedral, and hike along the rugged Pembrokeshire coast, dodging raindrops and deciphering the local accents along the way. Pain Relief without Medications Friday, August 24, 10:30 a.m. (English) and 12:30 p.m. (Mandarin) Li Yang will show participants how to relieve pain with their own hands using the simple techniques she has developed in her practice. Li is a licensed acupuncturist who has worked with patients in the Bay Area and in remote regions of Asia and India. For additional details about events, click on “Events” at www.sccl.org. 4 5 RECENT PROGRAMS Korean Dance For Goodness Snakes National Summer Reading Day Musical Parade Thank you Friends of the Saratoga Libraries for generously funding library programs and events! 1 SARATOGA LIBRARY REPORT August 2018 Mike Eitner, Community Librarian SUMMER READING CHALLENGE A GREAT SUCCESS More than 2500 children, teens, and adults from the Saratoga Library — a 65% increase from last year — participated in the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge. This year, the Summer Reading Challenge also included a community-wide goal of reading more than 100,000 books. As of August 15, participants logged more than 140,000 books. Thank you for enthusiastically embracing the Summer Reading Challenge and for coming together as a community to demonstrate the importance of reading! With generous support from the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries, the library offered fun and educational programs during the Summer Reading Challenge such as For Goodness Snakes, Circus of Smiles, and Sterling the Bubblesmith. There were screams of delight (and a few screams of fright) during these family programs. The Friends of the Saratoga Libraries also provided coupons for the Book-Go-Round. Thank you to the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries! The Summer Reading Challenge would not be the same without your support. STATISTICS June 2017 June 2018 July 2017 July 2018 Total Circulation 96,600 102,591 100,119 107,528 Adult/Teen Circulation 49,510 52,557 53,534 56,708 Children’s Circulation 46,790 50,034 46,585 50,820 Use of E-Book Collection (OverDrive Vendor) 2,656 3,601 2,831 3,994 Use of Downloadable Audio Books (OverDrive Vendor) 1,228 1,876 1,261 1,981 Total Number of Programs 45 52 32 31 Programs Total Attendance 1,693 2,192 1,872 1,541 Unique WiFi Users 5,476 5,438 New Library Cards Issued 311 358 266 311 Gate Count: Library Use 34,775 32,485 35,114 32,584 Outreach Events 7 9 2 2 Outreach Total Attendance 1,573 1,030 193 179 Volunteer Hours 1,384 1,240 1,385 1,286 OUTREACH Saratoga Library staff attended the Summer Movie Night and West Valley College Farmer’s Market. 2 SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS Children Play with Clay, Saturday, September 15, 22, and 29, 2:00 p.m. Are you a budding artist? Are you willing to get your hands dirty in the name of art? Learn how to mold and shape clay, and then paint and glaze your masterpiece in this 3-part ceramics workshop, on Saturday September 15, 22, and 29. Must be able to come ALL 3 Saturdays. For grades 4-8. Limited to 20 participants. Registration Required. Lego Club, Tuesday, September 17, 4:00 p.m. Love LEGOs? Kids of all ages are invited to drop in and create all sorts of fun. The library provides the LEGOs, you provide the creativity! Fall Family Concert with Jose-Luis Orozco, Tuesday, September 18, 10:30 a.m. Join us for a vibrant and joyful morning concert with bilingual educator and children's author Jose-Luis Orozco. You'll sing, you'll dance, you may even learn a few new words. This family concert is for all ages. Teen PSAT Strategies and Test Results Seminar, Tuesday, September 4, 7:00 p.m. Are you planning on taking the PSAT? Not sure if you should? Come to this seminar to learn test taking strategies and find out why you should take this test. If you participated in the 8/25 practice test, you will receive your test results. Saturday Screenings, Saturday, September 8, 2:00 p.m. Join us with your friends to watch a movie on the big screen. Snacks provided. Adults A Hen’s Tale: From a Battery Cage to Playing Cards, Tuesday, September 11, 7:00 p.m. Come and listen to the story of Marjo, a laying hen rescued from a factory farm who learned to play cards. Learn how chickens make great pets and what is involved in keeping them in your backyard. Retirement Right Sizing – Age in Place or Downsize, Friday, September 21, 10:30 a.m. Joel Smith and Rob McCarthy, with more than 25 years of experience in Bay Area Real Estate and Senior Lifestyle Finance, will describe the options available to senior home owners. Dark Money Screening, Saturday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. Dark Money is a 2018 documentary directed by filmmaker Kimberly Reed about the effects of corporate money and influence in the American political system. The 90 minute film follows an intrepid Montana journalist as he works to expose the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision on elections. Dark Money premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and the Big Sky Film Festival in February 2018. 3 Ann Ravel, League of Women Voters member and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), will respond to audience questions at the end of the showing. One-on-One Appointments with a Nutritionist, Monday, September 24, 6:00 p.m. Make your free appointment now with a Public Health Registered Dietician Nutritionist! Only six 20- minute spots available. Get advice about your eating habits from a professional. Ask about carbs, calories, and cravings. Learn how to meal plan and find reliable nutrition information. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to take advantage of a personalized one-on-one appointment with an Registered Dietician Nutritionist for free! Registration required. Please call 408-293-2326 x 3048 to make your appointment. Edible Native Gardens, Tuesday, September 25, 7:00 p.m. Plants produce compounds called “phyto-nutrients” that help them combat germs, fungi, pests, too much sun, and other threats. Many of these plant-based chemicals are good for humans, too, and have been used for thousands of years as medicines. Native plants can provide more of these healthful nutrients than plants which have been bred for sweetness and commercial production. Find out more about this intriguing subject and which native species you can plant and eat. Help Your Kids Buy a Home in Today’s Market, Saturday, September 29, 10:30 a.m. Joel Smith and Rob McCarthy, with more than 25 years in Bay Area Real Estate and Home Financing, will discuss options to purchase in today’s challenging market that provide adult children a hand up — not a hand-out — including equity sharing, gifting, and co-signing. For additional details about events, click on “Events” at www.sccl.org. 4 5 RECENT PROGRAMS Asheba Sterling the Bubblesmith Coding with Dot and Dash Thank you Friends of the Saratoga Libraries for generously funding library programs and events! FSL President's Report for Library Commission August 2018 - In our June 2018 general meeting, we approved the board member slate for the 2018 -2019 fiscal year: President: Alice Patrick Vice-President: Liz Guy Secretary: Sue Carter Treasurer: Michelle Fan Assistant Treasurer: Christina Kuo Membership: Diane Douglass Publicity: David Guidry Programs: Woanyu Yu Community Events and Hospitality: Dory Albert Newsletter: open Kristin Gragnola continues as Manager of Retail Operations, an appointed position. Liz Guy will serve as the acting Newsletter chair. - In July, under the direction of Yi Chang, our webmaster, the fslonline.org platform was converted from Knivis to WIX. This will give us much more freedom to redesign and enhance the site. CITY OF SARATOGA Memorandum To: Library Commission From: Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager Date: August 28, 2018 Subject: Commission Report Bollywood in the Village this Sunday, August 26! The Saratoga Village Development Council is hosting the 10th Annual Bollywood in the Village this Sunday, August 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Bank of America Parking Lot, 14476 Big Basin Way, in downtown Saratoga. Dress up in Bollywood attire and dance the night away with friends and family at this free event! After the fun, enjoy dinner at one of downtown Saratoga’s wonderful restaurants. Superhero Dance for Individuals with Disabilities The Saratoga Recreation Department will host a Dance for Individuals with Disabilities (ages 14 and older) on Friday, September 21 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue. Parents and support staff are welcome to join, and attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite superheroes! Admission is $5 pre-registration or $7 at the door (cash or check only) and the registration form must be completed prior to entrance. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Recreation Department or by mail. For more information and to download the necessary registration form, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/herodance or call 408.868.1249. Volunteer Drivers Needed! The Saratoga Area Senior Center is seeking volunteer drivers for Reach Your Destination Easily (RYDE), a curb-to-curb transportation service for adults ages 55 and older living in the West Valley Cities. The majority of RYDEs are provided by volunteer drivers, and you can volunteer as little as 2 hours per week to help seniors age in their own homes and prevent social isolation. For more information about this rewarding volunteer opportunity, or to register for RYDE services, contact the Saratoga RYDE Coordinator at 408.892.9739. Commission Recognition Dinner Save the date for the Commission Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Saratoga Foothill Club.