World Book Encyclopedia Online

Is your child working on a school report and the Library is closed? You can now view the World Book Encyclopedia from your home computer via the Library's website. World Book Online Reference Center is now available at all Santa Clara City Library locations and from home with a current SCCL library card.

Use this resource to search and view the World Book Encyclopedia online. The World Book Encyclopedia is a good starting point for learning about a new subject such as a country, state, or famous person. It also contains maps of many geographic areas.

World Book Online Reference Center also includes a Spanish-language encyclopedia for students and World Book Kids. World Book Kids is a simple to use online resource for younger students.

A 24 Hour Library in Your Computer

“E-books? No one wants to read books on their computer.”

Not so fast Nancy Negative! Many people have found our selection of eBooks to have some major benefits. For instance, say you can’t sleep and find yourself desperate for a book at three in the morning. The library may be closed for another six long hours, but our eBooks are always available. And you don’t have to worry about late fees because the books are automatically “returned” for you when they become due.

Or perhaps you need a particular book but our copy is checked out. Don't give up hope. A digital copy may be available.

And it’s not just eBooks. There is also a wide variety of digital audiobooks and music you can download as well.

Visit our digital books page to find out more.

On this day in 1907

Alice Hare, a Santa Clara Valley photographer, deeded a number of her historical photographs to the Board of Library Trustees of the Santa Clara Library. An image of her letter is at left. Pictured on the right is earthquake damage at Agnews Asylum in April 1906. It is one of the photographs she deeded to the library.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1859, Alice Iola Schnatterly married James W. Hare in 1877. They raised four sons moving from Pennsylvania to Illinois then to Santa Clara in 1895. Her photography studio was located at 1075 Madison St. in Santa Clara from the late 1890s until the early 1900s. She was a 1904 charter member of the Santa Clara Woman's Club, taking photos of the town's historical landmarks for the club.

Her photographs were displayed in the California Building at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. She won prizes and had photographs in Sunset Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle and promotional brochures. To see more Alice Hare photographs visit Silicon Valley History Online or the Online Archive of California.

February free computer classes for adults

In addition to our monthly computer classes, Internet Basics and Internet Search Strategies, in February you can take Internet Basics in Chinese, Health Resources, and Reference USA. Reference USA is a database of business, healthcare and residential information the library subscribes to for your use. This class will be taught by a Reference USA company representative and it will be held in the evening. Health Resources will be taught by Doris Hayashikawa, Medical Librarian from Kaiser Hospital.

Classes are held in the Technology Center on the 1st floor of the library. See the complete list and more information by opening this link to our web site. Find the class schedule by scrolling down past the descriptions.

Sign up for classes and get more information by calling (408) 615-2900 or by asking when you are in the library.

Learn about the new citizenship test

Citizenship Test Changes

The questions for the U.S. Naturalization test are changing. On October 1, 2008, naturalization applicants will begin taking the revised test. See the new 100 questions. Visit the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services web site for printable tests, a brochure and Frequently Asked Questions about the new test.

The library has books and videos for preparing for citizenship. These materials are for both the current test and the new October 2008 tests. Borrow brand new study flash cards from the Reference desk for use in the library.

American Heart Month especially for Women

Did you know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women? A national campaign to raise awareness of heart disease kicks off in February, American Heart Month. Visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's site, The Heart Truth.

Symptoms for women's heart disease are different from men's. Read more, Warning signs.

Check out books, DVDs and information found on the 2nd floor display at the top of the stairs near the Information Desk. Join us for a class on Health Resources on February 21 from 12-1 p.m. in the Technology Center taught by Kaiser Medical Librarian Doris Hayashikawa. Sign up in person or by calling (408) 615-2900.

New in Technology Center

We have 2 new systems being tested in the Technology Center that include newer versions of Microsoft Office (2003), Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Picture Manager, Power DVD Player and Windows Media Player. These computers also have a floppy drive and a CD/DVD drive. Want to hear some music from the Library's music collection? Just bring a pair of headphones and you are all set to go!

During this trial period, we request that you fill out a small survey to give us your feedback.