LibraryAware May 1, 2025 Newsletter

Watsonville Public Libraries will be closed for a staff training on Monday, May 12, 2025.

This photo collage is borrowed from the Smithsonian online photo archive.

Affordable Housing Month

This month, a number or organizations are hosting discussions, presentations, forums, events and grand openings surrounding

affordable housing. Here are just a few:

Green Valley Cinema is hosting a free screening and discussion of

Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness on Wednesday, May 7.

The doors open at 5:30 PM and the film starts at 6:00 PM. This screening

is supported by Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, Inc., the County

of Santa Cruz, City of Watsonville, and Pajaro Valley Shelter Services.

On Thursday, May 8 at 6:00 PM, a free First Time Home Buyer's Forum

is being held at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Watsonville. Information presented will include home buying and escrow process, financing

options for home buyers, property tax overview, and Hillcrest

Development and available opportunities. This event is sponsored by

City of Watsonville, Aldina Real Estate Inc, Comerica Bank, Bay Federal Credit Union, Mayor Maria Orozco and Councilmember Felipe Hernandez.

Nowhere to Go, But Still Here: A Data-Driven Look at Displacement and Homelessness in Santa Cruz County is a free presentation exploring the experiences of unhoused individuals in Santa Cruz County. This

discussion includes both providers and unhoused individuals. Join

UCSC's Center for Critical Urban & Environmental Studies at

Watsonville Public Library on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00 PM.

Many more events can be found at Housing Santa Cruz County.

FEATURED PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Coffee with a Professional

Our monthly Coffee with a Professional program for the month of May will feature Rebecca King of Garden Variety Cheese. This program will take place on Tuesday, May 6 at 10:30am at the Main Library, Meeting Room. Stop by to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastries! ☕

The audience for this program is adults and will be presented in English.

KSQD Training Program for New Broadcasters and Podcasters

Are you interested in being a broadcaster or podcaster? Join us for a training program where you will learn the techniques of modern journalism at a workshop led by local journalists, radio hosts and podcasters at

K-Squid Community radio. Starting with interviewing techniques and best practices, you'll move onto picking and using the right equipment for optimal sound, editing for radio and podcasts, and how to list your podcast on streaming networks, or even get it on the radio.

This program will take place on Tuesday, May 6 from 6-8pm at the Main Library, Meeting Room. All experience levels are welcome.

Registration is required. To register call (831) 768-3404.

Audience: Adults & Teens

For Goodness Snakes

For Goodness Snakes! Join us for an educational reptile event featuring lizards and snakes on Wednesday, May 14 from 5:30-6:30pm. This program will consist of an informational portion, Q&A and an opportunity to interact with reptiles.

All ages are welcome to attend this event.

A list of all upcoming programs is available on our website.

All events are free with thanks to the Friends of the Watsonville Library.

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICES

Virtual Author Talks

Enjoy a range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders with this virtual event series.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Sign up here

Upcoming Author Talks:

How To Use Anxiety to Thrive

What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? Join Harvard Psychologist, Author, and Keynote Speaker Dr David H. Rosmarin.

Wednesday, May 7 at 11:00 AM

On Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller

Liann Zhang, author of Jule Chan is Dead.

Wednesday, May 14 at 4:00 PM

How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us

Rachelle Bergstein: Lifestyle Writer, Editor, and bestselling Author of The Genius of Judy.

Wednesday, May 21 at 11:00 AM

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Questions? Call us at (831) 768-3404

or Ask a Librarian online.

Watsonville Public Library