Santa Cruz’s new downtown library and affordable housing project has hardly been without controversy — but after years of debate, the building is rising, writes affordable housing advocate and former mayor Don Lane. Now the question is less about who supported the project and more about what we want this new civic space to become. With its expanded Life Literacies Center, free resources and room for people to gather, Lane believes the library could become downtown’s living room – and a place to bring a divided community together.
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Dungeons & Dragons group thrives in an unlikely place – local libraries – thanks to a volunteer at the helm
A Dungeons & Dragons program offered by Santa Cruz Public Libraries provides a welcoming and fun environment for people interested in the game thanks to an enthusiastic volunteer, who’ll be leaving the program to embark on a new chapter living in Europe.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Public Libraries receives $20,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie foundation
The Carnegie Corporation of New York recently gifted $20,000 to the Santa Cruz Public Libraries to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Public Libraries add Sunday hours at two branches, opening later on Fridays at all branches
The Capitola and Felton branches of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries are adding Sunday hours, part of systemwide schedule changes coming Feb. 1.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola Library is going solar
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries is installing rooftop solar panels on the Capitola Branch Library. When the system is operational, the library will become energy self-sufficient and the SCPL will save more than $30,000 annually.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Author, motivational speaker Terry Healey to deliver talk Nov. 6 at Capitola library
Terry Healey – whom the Santa Cruz Public Libraries describe as an author, keynote speaker and business strategist who encourages audiences to build resilience and overcome adversity – will deliver a talk next month at the Capitola Branch Library.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Human Library lets you read people instead of books
In an Oct. 25 event called the Human Library, participants can engage in conversation with living “books” — people who have been discriminated against in their daily lives because of their identity, lifestyle, occupation, social status, religious belief, sexuality or ethnic origin.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz Public Libraries to feature documentary, Orwell’s ‘1984’ in Banned Books Week events Oct. 5-11
Santa Cruz Public Libraries is recognizing Banned Books Week in October with a documentary screening and a focus on “1984,” George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel of government censorship.
Posted inLatest News
Downtown Santa Cruz library to break ground Aug. 20
The downtown library mixed-use project will officially start construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 20. Shovels were expected to hit the ground in June, but a series of delays pushed the timeline into August.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County libraries tackle bystander intervention, banned books
Santa Cruz Public Libraries will observe the overlapping United Against Hate Week from Sept. 21-27 and Banned Books Week from Sept. 22-28 with bystander intervention training and a panel discussion.
