A Place to Connect
Books , Music and Videos for Everyone
It ’ s a Family Affair
People tend to think of libraries as stuffy buildings stacked with ancient books , uncomfortable chairs and spinsterish librarians who take pleasure in shushing the patrons . The Gilroy Library defies this funny old stereotype in every way . It ’ s a remarkably welcoming place offering a wealth of resources and programs . There is literally something for everyone at the Gilroy Library . Community Librarian Lani Yoshimura has been managing Gilroy Library ’ s day-to-day operations since 1984 . She is not only charming , but a passionate advocate of the library and the value of its role in the community . Her enthusiasm for the library is downright contagious and her knowledge of its offerings is impressive .
Every day , Yoshimura makes a point of connecting with patrons , and she encourages her staff to do the same .
A Place to Connect
“ People come in looking for information but often they are hoping to connect with others who have similar interests too . Many of our members have been coming to the library for years , and now their children are coming too .”
“ Offering programs that really suit the interests and needs of the Gilroy community is equally important as the contents of the library .”
“ We sometimes run up to 90 programs a month ,” Yoshimura said . “ Often we co-sponsor programs with other organizations .”
The library has hosted voter registration drives and even a program offered through Saint Louise Hospital to help people enroll in the Covered California program .
There are programs for new readers , expectant moms , adoptive parents , people seeking legal advice , Zumba enthusiasts , computer novices , book clubs , poetry enthusiasts , and the list goes on . These programs are typically offered free of charge to library members .
Books , Music and Videos for Everyone
For people who enjoy the tactile experience of a real paperback or hard cover book , the library has about 185,000 volumes to choose from . Those who prefer electronic media can borrow e-readers , audio book players and download or stream books , music and videos – all year long – for free .
“ Not everyone has a computer at home ,” Yoshimura said . “ On Tuesday mornings when we open for the week , we usually have a line of people at the door who may have been waiting since Saturday to check their email .”
During a soup-to-nuts tour of the library , she provides a helpful rundown of the many resources , and points out the variety of well-lit and comfortable spaces that can be used by individuals or groups for quiet study or even for professional business meetings . She also describes the many merits of the Library ’ s certification as a LEED ( Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design ) facility , which means that it meets strict environmental standards for sustainable “ green building ” design , construction , operation and maintenance .
While the Library was established in Gilroy decades ago , the current building is just two years old , designed to let in natural light , maintain ambient temperature , conserve energy , and make computer technology readily available to patrons . And it is technology that enables the Library to make its resources available to the public on a 24x7x365 basis through its website .
In early May , a group of Google employees toured the library in person while their counterparts back at the office enjoy a virtual tour from the convenience of their smartphones , tablets or laptop computers .
Magazine aficionados will find Gilroy Library a treasure trove with 400 different titles to choose from . “ It ’ s a very large collection for a library of our size ,” Yoshimura said , noting that this includes scientific magazines read by physicians and other professionals that would otherwise be very expensive to purchase .
The library system shares a single bookmobile that rotates to the county ’ s various library neighborhoods . According to Yoshimura , the Gilroy Library has had occasion to deliver books to local library members who are home-bound .
It ’ s a Family Affair
Gilroy Library has a spacious multi-purpose room dedicated to its extensive Children ’ s Program .
“ We introduce the whole family to our resources , and many of them visit us every week ,” Yoshimura said .
During pre-school story-time activities , librarians guide children through a physical activity before they sit down to read . One program that always draws a crowd is called “ Rhythm , Rattle and Roll ” and it makes use of music and movement . These and other early childhood learning programs are designed to promote reading readiness .
“ Reading stories aloud is such a universal thing that we get a very diverse audience including many families with parents with little to no English-speaking skills . We ’ ll probably expand our story-time to two classes soon to meet demand .”
The library has special computers with ageappropriate software geared to help children through game-play . Software is available for English and Spanish speakers . Yoshimura has found that the computers are very popular with dads who often bring
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