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Halfway Point of Summer Reading Dive into the pages of thrilling tales, explore far-off lands, and meet fascinating characters along the way. Join us for events including special performances, book clubs, and more. Check our calendar here. It’s free and fun for all ages! Start your adventure and log in or register on Beanstack. Earn a prize for reading five books and completing an activity. Adventure Begins at Your Library runs through July 31. Completion prizes are available starting Thursday, August 1, while supplies last. Register now and check out our free programs and recommended reading at sccld.org/summer. |
Independence Day is on Thursday Happy Birthday, United States! Thursday marks 248 years since the Second Continental Congress officially passed the Declaration of Independence, declaring the American colonies free and independent states.
It is a time to celebrate our freedoms, including the right to read what we want. Our forefathers wished to control their own destinies, which included a desire for self-governance and greater religious freedom. Libraries are an extension of this independent tradition. You can learn more about the history and battles fought by brave men and women to gain and protect our independence using the free library resources and on a staff blog on our website. Search U.S. Military Records: Fold3 is an online resource containing U.S. military records from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including stories, photos and personal documents from the men and women who served. Explore the History of Independence Day: Dive into the rich history behind the holiday with biographies of Founding Fathers that brings the era to life. Find children’s books explaining the importance of the 4th of July. |
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Book Club Announced This year's books were hand-picked by the First Partner and California librarians with diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind. Each book highlights important lessons and themes for young readers, including family bonds, racial identity, and self acceptance. For example, this week’s theme is "History & Belonging," with a special focus on Independence Day. We have the recommended titles in our libraries. Check out the books for kids and tweens/teens. |
Check out the Morgan Hill StoryWalk! We invite patrons to check out the StoryWalk® at Morgan Hill’s Community Park! StoryWalk® includes pages from a children’s book mounted and installed along an outdoor path. Each page also includes a fun activity for young readers to encourage reading and movement. As you walk the path, families can read the story together exercising children's developing brains and bodies. Santa Clara County Library District is partnering with each of our cities to bring early literacy to a city park. Patrons will be delighted to see the book, Cat's Colors by Airlie Anderson. The StoryWalk® begins at the Magical Bridge playground at Community Park, runs along the path through the park and ends near the gazebo. StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Vermont. |
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Two Teen Contests Underway Photographers ages 12-18 are invited to capture their adventures and show off their photography skills by entering our Teen Photo Contest. All original photography is welcome. Winners will be displayed on SCCLD’s website, displayed at our libraries, and may be reproduced for public distribution. The contest runs through July 31. Submit an entry here. We are also offering our Teen Bookmark Art Contest, where artists ages 12 to 18 are invited to submit original bookmark designs centered on the theme, "Adventure Begins at Your Library." This also runs through July 31, with winning designs printed and given out at our libraries. Find details and prior examples on our website. |
Movies at the Library Beat the heat by visiting our libraries for a free movie! On Sundays in July, Milpitas Library will be hosting Bay Area Adventures Film Festival. Enjoy a double feature of adventure films, including classic and contemporary movies all set in the Bay Area. No registration required. Also on Sundays in July, Cupertino Library is holding Family Movie Time at 4 p.m. Enjoy films such as “Ella Enchanted,” “Tarzan,” “Willy Wonka” and “Alice in Wonderland.” No registration is necessary, just stop by! |
The Legion of Honor Turns 100 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. It is home to one of the world’s outstanding collections of Rodin sculpture and European art. Join us on Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. to hear the fascinating story of how the museum was modeled after the Legion of Honor in Paris. Featuring a treasure trove of historic images, the talk highlights some of the building’s beautiful original architectural features as well as renovations of the past 100 years. Please register for this free online program. |
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Register Now for FREE Virtual Author TalksThere’s still time to register and hear from some of your favorite children’s, teen and YA authors. Newbery Medal winning author Kate DiCamillo will be sharing the stories behind the creation of her early chapter book series, the original Mercy Watson on Tuesday, July 9 at 11 a.m. While all are welcome, this program is great for PreK -- 2nd graders. Please register. Join us on Tuesday, July 16 at 11 a.m. to talk with New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier about The Last Kids on Earth, both the book series and the animated series on Netflix. This program is great for students in grades 3 – 6 but all are welcome. Register now! Dan Santat will discuss A First Time for Everything, a graphic memoir based on his own awkward middle school years and the European trip that changed his life. This program is on Tuesday, July 30 at 11 a.m. and will resonate with students in grades 5 – 8. Register here. High school students are invited to hear from Elizabeth Acevedo on Tuesday, July 23 at 11 a.m.! Acevedo will give a short reading from her National Book Award winning novel-in-verse, The Poet X, which will serve as the backdrop to an amazing chat! Please register.
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Lunch at the Library Meals are available Monday -- Friday between 12 – 1 p.m. (excluding holidays and while supplies last). No registration necessary. Following lunch, patrons are invited to stay for enrichment programming, such as storytime, arts & crafts, games, and special presentations. Morgan Hill Library’s Lunch at the Library program runs through Friday, August 9, and Gilroy Library’s program runs through Friday, August 16. |
Celebrating the Santa Clara County Library District! July 1 is SCCLD’s birthday! It was 110 years ago when the Santa Clara County Library was created at the Hall of Justice in downtown San José. Led by our first County Librarian Stella Huntington, the first library had 6,127 books and a circulation of 49,048. From that humble beginning we have grown to seven community libraries, a branch library, an administrative support building, and two Bookmobiles. As SCCLD embarks on a new decade of service, we are guided by our 2023-28 Strategic Plan. We continue to find new ways to meet the needs of our communities, from providing libraries to youth in County correctional facilities, to offering home delivery to those in need through BookDash, and providing convenience to our residents by offering Passport services. |
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Join the Library with an Instant Free eCard
If you live in Santa Clara County and do not have a library card with the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD), or would like additional household members to have their own library accounts, the instant free eCard is for you. eCards are available to all residents who live within Santa Clara County Library District with a valid residential mailing address (P.O. Box not accepted). You can also visit any of our libraries during open hours to convert your eCard, or apply for a full use card to check out any of our physical and digital materials and resources. Renew your library card online! If you have a library card and would like to keep it current, now you can renew your library card online! SCCLD makes it easy to keep your account current and active. No visit to the library needed if your account is in good standing and you live within the Greater Bay Area. For more information or to renew online, visit sccld.org/cardrenewal. |
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We're here for you Staff is available to answer your questions Monday - Sunday (excluding holidays). Or text us at (833) 209-6600.
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