The Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave., celebrates its one-year anniversary Monday, Feb. 11 and town officials are planning daily festivities beginning this Sunday and continuing until Feb. 16 to mark the special occasion.
The birthday program features a special event each day (see attached program PDF) to commemorate the $18.4 million, 30,000-square-foot, two-story building's official opening on a drizzly and cold Saturday morning last year.
Highlights include children’s author Brenda Ehrmantraut, presented in partnership with Silicon Valley Reads; an evening reception to thank the community for its contributions to the new library; and an afternoon of poetry with the town’s new poet laureate Erica Goss.
In its first year, the new library has drawn significant numbers of patrons: new library cards have increased 170 percent; reference questions are up 77 percent; material circulation is up 70 percent and 51 percent more visitors have come through the doors, town officials said in a press release.
Most afternoons, dozens of teens are studying and socializing in the library's teen room, and children and their parents occupy every space on the floor for story time.
Adults have found their favorite spots to read, relax, or take advantage of the many computers.
"The new Los Gatos library has fulfilled expectations of being a center for life-long learning and a community gathering place," the release stated.
Last year, former Los Gatos Mayor Steve Rice called the opening of the new library a day of firsts: The first public facility built from the ground up in Los Gatos in 40 years, the community's first visit to the dazzling building and the first library in Santa Clara County to achieve Gold LEED status for features that conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
Carol Hamilton, president of the Friends of the Los Gatos Public Library, helped raise $2.1 million to pay for the library's furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Rice said supporters' generosity was impressive with some residents donating more than $10,000 and The Valley Foundation giving $500,000.
Here's the complete list of events, which are free:
- Silicon Valley Reads presents author Brenda Ehrmantraut and her book, Night Catch at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 in the Los Gatos Library's children's room.
- Join town officials for a "Thank You Community Reception," featuring music and treats to celebrate the library's first year at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11 in the facility's lobby.
- The View From 16: Teens from Los Gatos High School and other high schools perform reader’s theater pieces from a variety of literature at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 in the library's teen room.
- Library Grand Tour: Meet your town librarian for a walking tour of the
library one year later at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the facility's lobby. - Uncle Jer’s Bee Show: This honey of a show will teach you all about bees!
Honey samples will be provided at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 in the facility's children's room. - Piper Richard Katz: Listen to and learn about Highland and Uillean pipes
and bagpipes with local piper Richard Katz at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 in the facility's reading room. - Come listen to poetry and meet Los Gatos' new poet laureate Erica Goss in a casual, warm environment at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 in the facility's fireplace room.
