Be A Library Advocate
Your actions and support make a difference.
Become a library advocate today!
All the neighborhoods in Santa Clara deserve access to adequately funded libraries. Santa Clarans deserve open libraries filled with resources and staff to provide quality educational support, cultural programming, and job development programs. In short, a place where all Santa Clarans can fulfill their potential!
Libraries are essential. Libraries are not niceties. They are as integral to our quality of life and well-being as public safety, waste collection, water, and electricity. Libraries build community and make our city and neighborhoods safer and more equal.
Attend Board of Library Trustees meetings, usually held on the first Monday of the month at 6:00pm.
Attend City Council meetings, generally every other Tuesday evening starting at 7:00pm.
About 54% of our annual revenue comes from donors like you. Every donation, small or large, is needed to enable us to support the programs of the Santa Clara Library. Tax dollars enable the very existence of the library, but philanthropic support from donors allows the library to take its services further – to explore, change, and innovate to best meet the needs of our community.
Over 60,000 used and new books are donated to the foundation each year from our local community. Our volunteers sort and price these books to be sold on our Amazon store, Saturday and Patio Sales and in our bookstore at the Central Park Branch. About 46% of our annual revenue is from book sales. Come take a look!
Trump’s Trying to Gut Libraries: Fight Back with ALA
On Friday, March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order attempting to dismantle the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Millions of people rely every day on library services and programs supported by IMLS. Now we need YOU to show up for our libraries.
IMLS benefits our communities every day by supporting students, families, veterans, businesses, job seekers, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. With just 0.003% of the federal budget, libraries provide free, non-partisan services that are essential to millions. Eliminating IMLS would severely impact communities across the country.
In 2018, Congress passed IMLS reauthorization with strong bipartisan support, and it was signed into law by President Trump. The March 14 order disregards that Congressional decision and undermines access to vital information services.
We strongly oppose this attempt to defund IMLS and urge Congress to overturn the executive order and maintain funding for IMLS in fiscal year 2026.
The ALA website has a list of ways you can help, including contacting your Senators and Representatives and sharing your love of libraries with them.