green typewriter on an orange background with hands on the keys. Text reads: Every Story Counts, Share Your Story!

QR code linking to the Every Story Counts
We Want to Hear From You!  
 
This week only, we are asking all library patrons to participate in Every Story Counts. It is a statewide initiative to capture survey responses, stories and photos about how and why Californians use their local public libraries.
 
Through January 31, we will be asking patrons to share their stories about visiting the library by taking a short survey. During that time, you may see information about the survey, posters in your library where you can add a note, our staff taking photos and videos of library programs and services and encouraging patrons to share their own library stories.
 
Whether you’re attending an event or bringing your child to explore the Storybook SCCLD play spaces, using the library computers or Wi-Fi, checking out items, asking a question, or many of the other things you can do at the library, we want to hear about it!
 
Please scan the QR code on the screen or click this link to take the short survey. Make your story count!

KIDS AND FAMILIES

Text: Year of the Horse: Family Storytime with Author Oliver Chin. Cover of the book, The Year of the Horse. Picture of the author, Oliver Chin.
Special Lunar New Year Storytime 
Author Oliver Chin will help us celebrate the Lunar New Year with a reading from his children's picture book, The Year of the Horse. This story is the latest adventure in the popular annual series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac.
 
Following the story, children will learn how to draw a horse and enjoy coloring animal-themed sheets.
 
See the schedule:
Los Altos Library: February 9 at 4 p.m.
Milpitas Library: February 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Cupertino Library: February 12 at 4 p.m.
Campbell Express Library: February 27 at 4 p.m.
 
In addition, our libraries are hosting Lunar New Year Lion Dances throughout the month. Check out our events page to see the schedule. 
StoryWalk featuring Thank You, Neighbor by Ruth Chan in a park.
New StoryWalk Book 
Children and their families are invited to check out our new StoryWalk® story at our local parks. Readers will enjoy the outdoors while reading the Silicon Valley Reads children’s picture book selection, Thank You, Neighbor by Ruth Chan.
 
Join our narrator and her dog on their daily walk as they greet the people in their neighborhood--from the mail carrier and bus driver to the sanitation workers,  grocery clerks, and more. 
 
StoryWalks® are pages taken directly from a children's book and installed along an outdoor path. As you walk down the path, you are encouraged to read and follow the story, which is a great way to develop early literacy skills and promote physical activity with our youngest readers.
 
Find these StoryWalks® at Jack Fischer Park in Campbell, Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, Murphy Park in Milpitas, Community Park in Morgan Hill and Kevin Moran Park in Saratoga.
 
StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Vermont.

TEENS AND ADULTS

Text Reads Black History Month with stripes of red, yellow and green paint on a black background.
A Century of Black History Commemorations 
This year marks the 100th observance of Black history. What started out as a week has grown into a full month, celebrated every February. This year’s theme for Black History Month is A Century of Black History Commemorations.
 
Our libraries are hosting several free programs throughout the month:
 
Book Clubs and Author Visits:
Mystery Book Club at Saratoga Library
Sci-Fi & Fantasty Book Club
Virtual Author Talk with Dr. Lindsey Stewart
 
Special Performances:
African Drumming
Mr. Boom Boom’s African Drum Circle
 
Cooking Classes:
Milpitas Library: February 15 at 3 p.m.
Los Altos Library: February 17 at 7 p.m.
Morgan Hill Library: Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
Gilroy Library: February 28 at 2 p.m. 
Text reads: Be-You-Tiful 2026 Multimedia Contest, Win a $300 cash prize and features a graphic of a puppy holding a notebook.
Popular Multimedia Contest is Back 
The 17th annual Be-You-Tiful multimedia contest is finally here.
Enter the contest to win a chance at a $300 cash prize when submitting your narrative essay, narrative poem, or traditional/digital art that follows one of these prompts:
  • What does beauty mean to you? When do you feel most beautiful?
  • How has embracing vulnerability redefined your personal definition of strength?
  • How has experiencing grief or hardship changed the way you are?
Submissions close on March 15. Learn more at edrcsv.org/contest/
 

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Silicon Valley Reads 2026 graphic featuring a logo, the text Bridges to Belonging and showing people holding hands over a bridge.
Silicon Valley Reads is Up and Running!
Silicon Valley Reads 2026 is up and running and our libraries are providing opportunities for people to build Bridges to Belonging. Take a look at some of the free programs we have in store:
 
Book Clubs:
SVR Book Discussion at Gilroy Library
Cupertino Book Discussion
Los Altos Book Discussion
Milpitas Book Discussion
 
Arts & Crafts:
Art with Drawn2Art
Crafts with Gigi
Watercolor Programs
Crafts with Leila
 
Just for Kids:
Dancheong Sun-Catcher Craft
 
Just for Teens:
Friendship Bracelet Pop-Up
Watercolor Programs
 
Find our full calendar at sccld.org/events/
 
Pictured Vanessa Riley and the book Fire Sword and Sea; Dr. Lindsey Stewart and the book The Conjuring of America; Tom Crouch and the book, Smithson's Gamble.
Virtual Author Series Schedule
The schedule for the February Virtual Author Talks is out. Take a look:
 
Vanessa Riley: February 5 at 4 p.m.
Vanessa Riley delves into Fire Sword and Sea, her newest novel inspired by the legendary pirate Jacquotte Delahaye.
 
Dr. Lindsey Stewart: February 12 at 11 a.m.
Dr. Lindsey Stewart’s The Conjuring of America traces 400 years of Black women’s magic through the lives of enslaved Mammies, Voodoo Queens, Blues Women, Granny Midwives, and textile weavers who preserved their spiritual practices in secrecy across generations.
 
Tom Crouch: February 24 at 11 a.m.
Join Smithsonian Curator Emeritus Tom Crouch for an engaging discussion of his book Smithson’s Gamble, a revealing look at the bold decisions, controversies, and visionary leadership that shaped the early years of the Smithsonian Institution.
 
Find other virtual author events here.
 
MORE FROM THE LIBRARY
Two women reading from the same magazine.
Covers of the Never King, the North Water, various comics.
Help an Adult Learn to Read
Give back to your community by becoming an adult literacy tutor for the Reading Program to support an adult learner improve their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to achieve their lifelong goals.
 
Join us at the Gilroy Library on February 4 at 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. We are also hosting a virtual orientation on March 17.
 
Register now to attend the orientation to learn more about the Reading Program and how you can become a volunteer adult literacy tutor. No teaching experience required.
 
Register for the orientation that is best for you and learn more about the Reading Program at https://sccld.org/reading-program/.
Bonus Borrows from Hoopla
 
We invite patrons to try Bonus Borrows from Hoopla. This selection of audiobooks, eBooks, comics and manga, TV shows, movies, and a BingePass is available to patrons without using their Instant borrows.

Available the last seven days of each month, Bonus Borrows are the perfect opportunity for patrons to explore new authors, genres, series, and formats. Even if they've used all their borrows, they can still enjoy great content on Hoopla.

January Bonus Borrows will be available January 25-31. Check it out!
Graphic of a man using his phone with the text: SMS/Text Services Now Available. Click for More Information.
Text: Find mindfulness for your every day life. Enrollment is free at sccld.org/about-headspace/ with a headspace logo.
GET A LIBRARY CARD OR RENEW YOUR CARD ONLINE
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). 
 
An eCard gives you full access to our Online Library
services, including eBooks, streaming movies, and more.
 
REGISTER HERE
 
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.
 
Visit us at sccld.org
Icons - Laptop with Talk Bubbles - Purple Blue
We're here for you
 
Staff is available to answer your questions Monday - Sunday (excluding holidays). 
 
You can also call your local library directly during open hours, connect with us via chat or email Monday-Friday to Ask a Librarian, or if you have an Account Question.
 
Or text us at (833) 209-6600.