Supervisors commend Silicon Valley Reads for 20 years of engaging community through shared love of reading

• A longtime champion of the County Library District’s Silicon Valley Reads and Celebrity Storytime programs, Supervisor Joe Simitian recognized the Silicon Valley Reads program at the January 24, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting with a commendation from the entire Board
• Silicon Valley Reads is a community engagement program that annually features books tied to a theme and brings people together by providing free, public events
• The theme of this year’s Silicon Valley Reads program is “Journey to New Beginnings”

SAN JOSE – Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian recognized Silicon Valley Reads on Tuesday for 20 years of building community through the shared experience of reading. Silicon Valley Reads is a community engagement program that annually features books tied to a theme and brings people together by providing more than 150 free, public events each year in February and March.

“For 20 years now, Silicon Valley Reads has been bringing the entire County together to take part in the shared experience of reading,” said Simitian, who serves on the County Library Board and is an ardent supporter of the Silicon Valley Reads and Celebrity Storytime programs. “Silicon Valley Reads has built a reputation for excellence by bringing the community together to have interesting and thought-provoking conversations and first-hand experiences tied into the themes of the selected books.”

Over the past 20 years, Silicon Valley Reads has partnered with 37 libraries, 31 school districts, countless community organizations, and donors to bring together more than 10,000 annual participants (with 30% new participants each year) and put on more than 100 free events annually. The program was awarded a 2022 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association.

“The long-term success of Silicon Valley Reads is the result of schools, libraries, community partners, and so many more coming together to engage every resident,” said Reid Myers, Silicon Valley Reads Director. “Through engagement comes awareness, and through awareness comes stronger communities.”

Silicon Valley Reads launched in 2003 under the guidance of Colleen Wilcox, then-Superintendent of the Santa Clara County Office of Education, as an American Leadership Forum project that was inspired by a city-wide reading program Wilcox sought to scale-up to include the entire County. The program provided an opportunity to collaborate with superintendents, librarians, bookstores, and community members throughout the County.

“What started as a one-book, one-community program in 2003, has grown over the past two decades to a program that brings every community together throughout the Silicon Valley around a single theme,” said Jennifer Weeks, County Librarian for the Santa Clara County Library District. “We are very proud to be a part of this important reading engagement program.”

Comprised of both organizations and individuals, Silicon Valley Reads strives to promote open dialogue about ideas and interests that are relevant to Silicon Valley residents; to promote reading and literacy among all members of the community; and to support education and lifelong learning, critical for Silicon Valley to maintain its leadership in creativity and innovation.

“Congratulations and thank you for keeping the Silicon Valley Reads tradition going and growing,” said Simitian at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “I look forward to your next 20 years as we celebrate this past 20.”

This year’s theme is “Journey to New Beginnings.” More than 150 free events are slated for this February and March to engage readers of all ages and demographics, including author talks, book clubs, art/music events, community activities, arts and crafts, movies, and creative events or activities based on the theme. For a comprehensive list of events and activities associated with the 2023 Silicon Valley Reads program, visit https://siliconvalleyreads.org/events/Pages/default.aspx.

“Our area is full of readers,” said Simitian. “Silicon Valley Reads takes us to the next level, reading as a shared experience throughout our cities, our towns, our entire County.”