Success with City Council

The planets must have aligned last night. The Santa Clara City Council was very supportive of our efforts with the library in last night's council meeting. Ten speakers (5 Rivermark residents, the Don Callejon School librarian, and 4 community supporters) gave compelling perspectives of the issue. Even before we talked, it seemed that the buzz we made with Parks/Rec and the Library Board reached members of the Council. The City Manager pulled out archived details of the original plans and reviewed it at the beginning of the meeting. Councilmember Jamie McLeod made a motion to compare the original plans with our proposal to assess budgets. Councilmember Dominic Caserta seconded the motion, and the Council voted unanimously in favor. Majority of the councilmembers voiced their support to move forward with the plans, and Mayor Patricia Mahan openly commented that our community's needs will certainly be taken into consideration in the development.

Talk about a grassroots movement to help a City project move along! Democracy is a wonderful thing.

Don Callejon School Librarian Supports the Northside Branch Library

Mim Ostenso, Teacher Librarian at Don Callejon School in a letter to the Santa Clara City Council dated March 18, 2008:

Since Don Callejon School opened in September, 2007, there has been a steady increase in the use of our school library after hours. It is clear that members of the community need library materials for their families and a space for reading and studying. The parents encourage and support the reading habits of their children. I know that a public library in this community would be used and supported extensively.

The Don Callejon School Library is not open on weekdays after 4:00 PM, on weekends, or during school vacations. A local public library in Rivermark would give community members of all ages access to books and other information and entertainment media throughout the year at hours outside of the school library.

The main purpose of the Don Callejon library is to support the school curriculum and provide instruction in reading and other information literacy skills. The funding cannot provide an extensive recreational reading collection above and beyond what is needed for its primary purpose. Only a nearby public library can serve this need.

I would love to be able to tell parents, grandparents, and caretakers of preschool students who often stop by the library to check out materials that there is a public library within walking distance instead of just, I'm sorry, we don't have what you need.

Help Bring the Library to Rivermark!

Rivermark is a master planned community in Santa Clara, California containing over 1,000 homes, a public school, police substation, fire station, and 160,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The Rivermark Master Plan also included a library, but with city budget cuts and other capital projects (such as the proposed 49er Stadium), the project continues to be put on hold. The library will serve not only the Rivermark community, but also the entire Northside area of Santa Clara.

Help us keep the library project on track! Come and visit us to learn more details:

Saturday, March 15

10am - 12pm

Rivermark Plaza

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Sunday, March 16

2pm - 4pm

Santa Clara City Library