The theme for National Library Week (April 4-10, 2021), “Welcome to Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – and that everyone is welcome to use their services. During the pandemic libraries have been going above and beyond to adapt to our changing world by expanding their resources and continuing to meet the needs of their users. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new worlds and become their best selves through access to technology, multimedia content, and educational programs.
Actress, author, and activist Natalie Portman is lending her star power to shine a spotlight on our nation’s libraries as the honorary chair of National Library Week 2021. She will help highlight the essential role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in serving their communities, especially during challenging times.
We're Celebrating with a Special Drawing
You could win a $25 gift card for the Penny Ice Creamery!
Take a photo of your favorite Santa Cruz Public Libraries moment. This includes books and other materials you are checking out, yourself or your family picking up holds from the library, yourself or your loved ones in front of your favorite SCPL branch or anything else that you can think of that reminds you of a library moment.
In the description let us know why you love the library!
Tag @santacruzpl so we can share your Library Story on our IG stories. Use the hashtags #MYLIBRARYIS and #Santacruzpl
We will enter you in a drawing for a $25.00 Penny Ice Creamy gift card!!
Don't have social media...don't worry!
Email us your favorite library story along with a photo that reminds you of a great time you had at the library! You can email us at pro@santacruzpl.org. We will enter you in the drawing for the Ice Cream Gift Card!
We love library stories so make sure to send us them year round if you have one but all entries need to be submitted by April 10th to be entered into the drawing.
Community Connections
As a public library working towards equity in our community, it's important that we participate in education, safety, and inclusion. As we learn together, we'd like to share some resources selected and curated by our knowledgeable staff members and our Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) colleagues. These resources provide information, offer free bystander intervention training, support AAPI community members, and include content designed for parents and educators addressing these issues with young people.
We are all united by living in the climate of Earth, so how can we help make a positive impact?
In this conversation for change we will explore climate change and personal actions that can have a positive impact. We will hear from Dr. Dione Lee Rossiter, the Executive Director of Science at Cal, UC Berkeley about the inner workings of climate change. Dr. Costanza Rampini, Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies at San Jose State University, will share about the ways that humans impact the environment and what we can do to collectively (re)create our everyday choices towards sustaining this beautiful planet. We will hear from our guest speakers and engage in community discussions to brainstorm ideas and talk about steps we can all take. Together let’s learn, engage, and discuss climate change solutions.
Conversations for Change are designed to foster greater understanding among individuals who may have different viewpoints. Participants in these small group conversations, guided by a trained host, practice being open and curious about all perspectives, with a focus on learning from one another.
Space is limited. Registration is required. Instructions for joining the online discussion will be emailed prior to the event.
Project Connect is a group of actively engaged citizens who care about bridging divides in our community as a means of preserving our democratic republic and the flourishing of our country. It is a Finding Common Ground team associated with Santa Cruz Indivisible.
Kids and Parents
NEW! Book Bundles for Elementary School Kids
Missing the ability to browse our shelves with your children?
You can request a maximum of one (1) bundle per child at a time. Please fill out a separate form for each book bundle.
Customized bundles will be available within 7 business days. You will be contacted by staff when your order is ready for pickup. Your book bundle will be pre-packaged and pre-checked out to your account. Sorry, we cannot substitute individual titles in your book bundles.
We are currently only offering book bundles at the Downtown Santa Cruz Branch.
Book Bundles are available in the following categories:
beginning readers
beginning chapter books
juvenile fiction
If you're looking for picture books, we already have a collection of kits! Please use a keyword search in our catalog for "read to me kit" to see a list of our ready-made picture-book kits which can be requested just like a regular book.
For questions about the Book Bundles service, please: CALL: 831-427-7713 or EMAIL:K12@santacruzpl.org.
Magical Moonshine Presents Puppylocks: A Bilingual Event
Magical Moonshine Presents Puppylocks
WHAT IF? What if the Three Bears were really Teddy Bears! And What if Goldilocks was not a little girl at all, but a golden, mischievous little dog? That is exactly the case is this very funny retelling of the traditional fairytale. Watch this impish little dog do everything wrong in the Bear's house while the bears are off to the TEDDYBEAR CIRCUS! Puppylocks is presented with traditional Bohemian style marionettes on a tabletop stage. This is a bilingual show featuring Live music and singing, and will be held via Zoom.