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Represent Los Gatos Oral History Project |
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The Local History Collection of the Los Gatos Library holds historically valuable documents that help tell the story of the Town of Los Gatos. However, the stories of Black, Indigenous, people of color are underrepresented in this collection. The Library acknowledges that without the voices of the BIPOC community, it is not possible to paint a complete picture of the history of the Town. In 2020, the Los Gatos Library launched the Represent Los Gatos Oral History Project to fill these gaps in the collection and to allow members of the community to share their own stories. We invite you to visit the Represent Los Gatos Oral History Project collection online, |
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Aiko's Story
Watch this interview with Aiko Sato, who grew up in Los Gatos on the Yuki farm. Hear her experiences moving to Los Gatos after growing up in Salinas and then being relocated to a Japanese internment camp in Poston, Arizona. She details her experiences going to school in Los Gatos, playing with her family members on the farm and in the Los Gatos Creek, and her life beyond Los Gatos High School building a career and engaging in Town activities like jazzercise.
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Jun's StoryJun “JJ” Sasaki was born in Watsonville, where he and his family lived on the Martinelli Ranch until they were forcibly relocated to the Poston War Relocation Center in Poston, Arizona. His mother, Marion Chiyoe Sasaki was born in Wrights Station in the Santa Cruz mountains. Her father, Saburo Yoneji, sold his ranch to the Radonich family. You can see his name on the bottom side of the corrugated roofing on the western end of the shed he built on the current Radonich Ranch. After retiring and selling the ranch, they moved to Japan, where Marion was married to Jitsu Sasaki. Together, they later moved from Japan to Watsonville. After the family was released from internment, they returned to the Carmel Valley.
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Bob's Story Listen to Robert (Bob) Hideo Idemoto's story. Born in San Jose, Bob grew up in Los Gatos with his family. He attended school in Town, but during World War II, his family was relocated to an internment camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming - all because of their Japanese heritage. Hear Bob's stories from growing up in Los Gatos to living in the camp, and coming back to Los Gatos to settle back into schooling and later becoming the senior class president of Los Gatos High School in 1950. Enjoy listening to Bob's stories and memories.
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Janet's Story Janet Chang was born in San Francisco. In 1959, after the fifth grade, she moved to the Ming Quong Home in Los Gatos and remained there until 1961. Listen to Janet's story as she details the circumstances that brought her to Ming Quong, and her life beyond the two years she spent in Los Gatos. Janet's story paints an accurate picture of what life at Ming Quong was like, and how her time there shaped the rest of her life. After a successful career in public health, she finds herself volunteering at the Butter Paddle in Los Gatos, which benefits Uplift Family Services, the organization that took over Eastfield Ming Quong. Listen to her story and see some pictures from her life that are shared at the end. Janet also participated in the Los Gatos Library's Digital Storytelling program in 2018.
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Gilbert's Story Watch and listen to Gilbert Mesa's story of growing up and living in Los Gatos. Gil talks extensively of his family history, childhood, experiences with prejudice, graduating from Los Gatos High School in 1960, experiences conducting business, and the mark that his family has left on the Town of Los Gatos. Enjoy listening to Gil's story.
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Lynel's Story Lynel Gardner was born in San Francisco but was raised by his great aunt and uncle in East Palo Alto and then in the Mountain View and Santa Clara areas. He details his childhood and adolescence, his family life, his heritage, and growing up to become an artist in Los Angeles. He shares about his experiences in performance art with the Hittite Empire and the plays he has written and performed. Learn how he landed in Los Gatos in the 1980s, hear about his experiences working in Town in the Recreation Center, and more. Lynel's interview includes honest conversation on the diversity of the Town, as he recounts his encounters with other members of the community at local protests and rallies for racial justice and encounters with law enforcement as well.
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Nona's Story Nona Mock Wyman, author of “Chopstick Childhood,” “Bamboo Women,” and “Ten Thousand Flowers,” was born in San Francisco. By the time she was two years old, she was transferred to the Ming Quong Home in Los Gatos, an orphanage for Chinese girls led by the Presbyterian Mission. Nona lived in the MQ Home until she was about 13, when she was then transferred to the Oakland home for girls. Hear her stories from the Los Gatos home, and the “radiant light” she was shared with many others beyond her time in Los Gatos. Included is also a short reading from her book, “Chopstick Childhood.”
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Elena's Story
Elena Lim was born in Marysville, California, and was orphaned when she was only a year old. As a young child she lived with a few different families in San Francisco Chinatown, and then lived in the Ming Quong Home from 1953 to 1958 when the Los Gatos home closed. Hear about her inspiring journey, as she details accounts of her school days, her times at the Ming Quong Home, working in the education field, and making a difference in many students' lives.
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Emie's Story
Emiko (Emie) Yuki Yamate spent the first several years of her life on a farm in Salinas, but after her family was forced to relocate to Poston, Arizona at an internment camp during World War II, they were not welcomed back to Salinas. Instead, her family settled in Los Gatos. Hear her story, and what a mark her family has made on the Town of Los Gatos.
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Dale's Story Dale Wong was born in San Mateo and spent her early years in San Francisco. Her father passed away when she was 5 years old, and because her mother was older and had little means of support, Dale was sent to live in the Ming Quong Home in Los Gatos until she was 10 years old. While at Ming Quong, her to-be foster parents, the Schmidts, would visit and take the girls, including Dale, on outings. When the Ming Quong Home was closing, the Schmidts welcomed Dale into their home and became her foster parents. Listen to her story, and see some wonderful photos at the end, which show Dale and many others who resided in the Ming Quong home.
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Friends of the Library Author Talk: Duffy Jennings Wednesday, May 5th 5 PM Zoom Duffy Jennings has compiled a distinguished and nationally-recognized career in journalism and communications over five decades as a reporter, publicist, corporate communications executive, public relations consultant, magazine publisher and freelance writer. This is his first book. As a prize-winning writer for the San Francisco Chronicle in the tumultuous 1970s, Jennings’ coverage included the City Hall assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and the Zodiac and Zebra serial murders. Veteran actor Adam Goldberg portrayed Duffy in the 2007 film, “Zodiac.” After his journalism career, Jennings served as vice president of public relations for the San Francisco Giants, online sporting goods retailer Fogdog.com, and two Silicon Valley public policy organizations. He also operated his own PR business for twenty years and was the co-founder of Los Gatos Magazine. Duffy earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Francisco State University. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife, Bonnie Becker. He has two grown children, a step-daughter and two grandsons. Thank you to the Friends of the Los Gatos Library for hosting this program. To learn more about the Friends and how to join, visit their website: https://friendsoflglibrary.org/ Join us on Zoom herePasscode: 170474
Or Telephone:
USA 215 861 0674 US Toll
USA 888 398 2342 US Toll-free
Conference code: 589749
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"Basket Of Roses" Cake Decorating With Maria Tuesday, May 11, 5 PM Zoom (Registration Required) Maria Cusella, local baker, is partnering with the Library to offer a wonderful, spring-themed class in which a limited number of participants will learn to use piping tools to cover a plain cake with roses and a basket weave made of delicious frosting. This class will take place over Zoom, and participants will pick up a cake, frosting bags, and tools at the library a few hours before the event. Registration begins on May 1 at 12:30 PM. Registrants will be emailed several days before with a basic supply list that they'll need to prepare for the event, as well as the Zoom link. Register on our website here |
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Our Nature Stories --Small Moments Join Rachael as she explores the area near Los Gatos Library and Los Gatos High School looking for small, unexpected moments of nature in our busy town. Study a bee busy pollinating, find moss growing on a rock wall, and hunt for flowers growing out of the sidewalk. Your nature journal will be filled with entries about the beauty of the world around you that you might not have seen before. Subscribe to the Los Gatos Library YouTube Channel here. |
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Poetry Exchange
Sunday, May 16, 1 PM Zoom Please join us at the Poetry Exchange: Zoom Edition! Each month, we invite a featured poet to share their work, followed by an Open Mic. Bring a poem or two to share or just enjoy some poetry in the comfort of your own home! Hosted by Lesa Medley. Email lcmedley016@gmail.com to receive the Zoom invitation. |
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Chinese Painting With May SheiWednesday, May 19, 5 PM Learn how to create a traditional Chinese painting (Sie-Yi; free-hand style) of a peony using watercolor and ink on paper. Find out more about May Shei on her website: https://www.mayshei.com/ Register on our website here |
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A Night of Poetry with Town Poet Laureate
Jen Siraganian
Tuesday, May 25, 5 PM
Zoom
Watch our website and social media for more details! This event will feature readings from the Town Poet Laureate, Jen Siraganian, as well as readings from several other poets.
Register on our website here |
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Meditation for Stress Reduction Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 PM Zoom (Registration Required) The scientific community has recently been exploring the use of meditation as a healing modality. Join Dr. Matthew Raider as he discusses the extraordinary effect of meditation to reduce stress-related responses, improve concentration, enhance clarity of thought and mental equilibrium. He will also present a simple, yet powerful meditation technique that can enrich your life personally, professionally and spiritually Dr. Raider has been meditating for over 30 years. Join him for an engaging and informative presentation.
Dr. Raider graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School with honors in 1979. He maintains a clinical practice in geriatric medicine. He held a faculty position at the University of Connecticut Medical School and has coordinated the geriatrics curriculum for the Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program for over 30 years. He is currently medical director of four Connecticut health care facilities. As a physician and long-time meditator, Dr. Raider has a strong interest in meditation and its relationship to health and disease prevention/treatment. He has lectured extensively on the subject in hospitals and other venues in the United States and Canada and most recently spoke at the United Nations. Dr. Raider is also a contributing author to the popular book “Meditation as Medication for the Soul” by Rajinder Singh. Register on our website here |
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ESL Conversation Club Wednesdays at 11 AM Looking to improve your English language skills? Join our ESL Conversation Club for adults on Wednesdays at 11 AM over the Zoom platform! Click here for the link to join. Password: 033836 or Call in 1 (215) 861-0674 1 (888) 398-2342 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 589749 |
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 Monday Morning Virtual Book Club Monday, May 5th 11 AM Join in on the morning virtual book club discussion! We'll be discussing The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal over Zoom. Find the book on CloudLibrary or place it on hold today! Click here for the Zoom link Password: 833651 Or Call In 1 (215) 861-0674 1 (888) 398-2342 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 589749 |
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Tuesday Evening Virtual Book Club Tuesday, May 18th 6:30 pm Zoom Join us for a book discussion of "The Trouble with Goats and Sheep" by Joanna Cannon. Place a copy on hold today here Join via Zoom:
Password: LGLbc |
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Facebook Live Storytimes! Tuesday and Friday at 11AM Calling all babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Join us for some books and songs every Tuesday and Friday at 11AM. At storytime we build community and early literacy skills through play, singing, and reading together. Go to the Los Gatos Library's Facebook page here to access our library of Storytime videos. |
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Los Gatos Library StoryWalk® Looking for something to do outside with the family? Make sure to go on a story book walk through Oak Meadow Park. A new book will be coming in May so keep an eye out for the next story in our storytime walk series. Join in on our interactive story book walk and tag any photos you want to share @los_gatos_library |
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Step Into Spanish! / ¡Salta al Español! Wednesday, May 12th 11 AM Wednesday, May 26th 11 AM Build your child’s Spanish vocabulary through songs and stories with Librarian Daniel. Each episode, we will learn new words, sing new songs, and read new stories to help build vocabulary while having fun! Watch previous episodes here |
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Bridge Building Tuesday, May 18th 4 PM Zoom Join the Bay Area Discovery Museum for a Zoom STEAM workshop. Children will take the role of architects, designers, and artists as they explore the impact of bridges in our lives. They will design, build, and share their bridges in a fun and supportive environment. For ages 6-9. Register on our website here |
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Asian Americans inhabit a purgatorial status: neither white enough nor black enough, unmentioned in most conversations about racial identity. In the popular imagination, Asian Americans are all high-achieving professionals. But in reality, this is the most economically divided group in the country, a tenuous alliance of people with roots from South Asia to East Asia to the Pacific Islands, from tech millionaires to service industry laborers. How do we speak honestly about the Asian American condition--if such a thing exists? Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong fearlessly and provocatively confronts this thorny subject, blending memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose the truth of racialized consciousness in America. |
Maxine Hong Kingston A first-generation Chinese-American woman recounts growing up in America within a tradition-bound Chinese family, and confronted with Chinese ghosts from the past and non-Chinese ghosts of the present. |
Tung Nguyen In 1975, Tung Nguyen fled Vietnam as a pregnant refugee and landed in Miami, where she met Kathy Manning, an American grad student who opened her doors to eleven immigrants. The two women grew close, raising Tung's daughter, Lyn, together and opening a tiny restaurant. Hy Vong, meaning Hope in Vietnamese, quickly became famous in the local community for its delicious, authentic Vietnamese flavors. The restaurant continued to gain in popularity, until it reached national and critical acclaim. This book is their intertwining narratives, punctuated by recipes from Tung and Kathy's upbringings, and the Hy Vong restaurant. |
The astonishing sequel to The Sympathizer, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, The Committed follows the "man of two minds" as he comes to Paris as a refugee. There he and his blood brother Bon try to escape their pasts and prepare for their futures by turning their hands to capitalism in one of its purest forms: drug dealing. No longer in physical danger, but still inwardly tortured by his reeducation at the hands of his former best friend, and struggling to assimilate into a dominant culture, the Sympathizer is both charmed and disturbed by Paris. As he falls in with a group of left-wing intellectuals and politicians who frequent dinner parties given by his French Vietnamese "aunt," he finds not just stimulation for his mind but also customers for his merchandise-but the new life he is making has dangers he has not foreseen. Both literary thriller and brilliant novel of ideas, The Committed is a blistering portrayal of commitment and betrayal that will cement Viet Thanh Nguyen's position in the firmament of American letters. |
Ken Liu From award-winning author Ken Liu comes his much anticipated second volume of short stories. Ken Liu is one of the most lauded short story writers of our time. This collection includes a selection of his science fiction and fantasy stories from the last five years-sixteen of his best-plus a new novelette. In addition to these seventeen selections, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories also features an excerpt from book three in the Dandelion Dynasty series, The Veiled Throne. |
 After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji's parents return to Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in the family's new California home. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself in a world made strange in her mother's absence. Her mother writes letters over the years seeking forgiveness and love-letters Eun Ji cannot understand until she finds them years later hidden in a box. The letters lay bare the impact of her mother's departure, as Eun Ji gets to know the woman who raised her and left her behind. Eun Ji is a student, a traveler, a dancer, a poet, and a daughter coming to terms not only with her parents' prolonged absence, but her family's history: her grandmother Jun's years as a lovesick wife in Daejeon, the horrors her grandmother Kumiko witnessed during the Jeju Island Massacre. Where, Koh asks, do the stories of our mothers and grandmothers end and ours begin? How do we find words-in Korean, Japanese, English, or any language-to articulate the profound ways that distance can shape love? |
Each believing that their hue is the best, the three primary colors live in separate parts of the city until Yellow and Blue meet, fall in love, and decide to mix. |
Lin, Grace Reimagines the cycles of the moon as a mother bakes a Big Moon Cookie and, despite Mama's request to wait, Little Star begins nibbling at it every night |
 Crafting Table  |
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Thanks to the California State Library and the Friends of the Los Gatos Library, you can now check out Art Kits, which come with a variety of supplies that can be borrowed and used to make your own art projects. All you will need to do is return the supplies, but keep your own project. Kits will include: Mini Canvas Kits, Papermaking Kits, Canvas Board Kits, and Watercolor Kits for painting activities, as well as EZ-Cut Stamp Kits (ages 18+) for another medium that you may want to try. This initiative supports reusing, recycling, and sharing resources, to promote a greener community. It also encourages our community to keep on expressing creativity through the visual arts. |
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Looking for something to do with your free time? Want to learn a new art technique, find crafting ideas, start a nature journal, enhance your gardening skills, or just listen to a jazz concert? We’ve got you covered! Check our YouTube playlist of on-demand library programs, providing fun for all ages and abilities. |
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Virtual Knitting Circle Are you interested in joining a monthly virtual knitting circle, where you can learn new knitting techniques, get help from other knitters, and carve out some time to make your own fiber art? We would love to have you join! Fill out this survey to let us know your interest level and availability here! |
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Printing at the Library
The library is providing free printing (10 pages maximum). All you need to do is email us the documents to library@losgatosca.gov with the subject line "Print Job-- Last name". As an alternative, you may also bring in your documents on a USB portable drive for added security and privacy. The service is available every-day 10-6PM at the Library. |
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Tech Assistance Are you having issues with your device or laptop? Tech Assistance is back (socially distanced) in the front patio of the Library. Make a 30-minute appointment online or by calling us at (408) 354-6891. Tech Help appointments Will be available every Tuesday and Thursday from 11-12 PM starting in May. Make sure to bring your face mask and your device fully charged. We look forward to assisting you. *Note: 1 appointment per month per person.
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Wifi Lending The Library is now loaning mobile hotspots for anyone with a library card. Limited to one hotspot per family unit for 21-days (no renewals allowed). The hotspots provide unlimited data and WiFi anywhere T-Mobile service is available. Hotspot service will be turned off after 21 days if not returned. For more information, please contact the Library. |
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K-12 Resource: ProQuest eBook Central |
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Here is our newest eBook platform for all your homework needs and all things research. We give a special thanks to the California State Library for generously funding K-12 resources. Just look under Ebooks on our website and scroll to ProQuest eBook Central. *No library card required. If you have any questions, please email or call us! |
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 Job & Career Resources The Los Gatos Library is here to help you with your job search. Browse a list of helpful books that can be reserved and picked up from the Library; look through unemployment resources; take advantage of free job search and training resources; and even find help for your small business. Visit our Job & Career Resources page and call, chat or email the library if you need help! |
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 Did you serve our country? Are you a veteran? We have a brand new resource just for you! VetNow is a live coaching tool to help you sign up for your eligible VABenefits. With a special thanks to the California State Library for generously funding these amazing electronic resources. Just look under "Electronic Resources" on our website and scroll to Job Now & Vet Now make sure you have your library card handy. |
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Los Gatos At Home
The Los Gatos Library invites Los Gatos residents to contribute pieces of their lives that document town life during the COVID-19 pandemic to tell the story of Los Gatos during this time of sheltering in place. We are interested in seeing your journeys in staying at home through all the various at-home projects, gardens, hobbies, homeschooling, community service, and now the holidays. What do holidays look like for you and your family this year? What are some other experiences that are different this year? Curated submissions will be made available in our digital collection on History Los Gatos. Click here to see other submissions. Submissions must be digital and may include: Photographs Letters, emails, postcards, and other correspondence Blog posts or social media posts Notices, posters, or signs Creative art such as drawings, paintings, chalk art, poetry, etc. Journal and diary entries
Any person who resides in Los Gatos is welcome to submit materials. We are all in this together, along with the whole world, and we are proud that Los Gatos remains a safe and healthy place for its community. To submit your materials, start here. |
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