by Elpidio Estioko
With virtual platforms, internet search engines, media streaming platforms and digital/audible books, one may ask: What is the current-day significance of a public library?
As I see it, the public library is still vitally important and significant in serving the community despite living in the digital world of the 21st century.
It’s important that we need to continue patronizing our public library by promoting it and emphasizing the benefits library users can utilize.
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is proud to announce that two librarians have been recognized with the Movers & Shakers Award by the literary publication Library Journal (LJ).
This honor highlights 50 individuals who are advocates, community builders, change agents, innovators, educators, and “ban battlers” who help move library work forward.
“Our 2024 Movers represent a range of innovative, proactive, and supportive work; they are imaginative and kind and brave in a world that needs those qualities—and the results they produce—very much,” said LJ Executive Editor Lisa Peet, according to Mariana Walker, Associate Communications Officer for the Santa Clara County Library District.
Library Services Manager Clare Varesio, the first recipient, served as the point person on two major health-related initiatives in 2023.
One of these projects was to partner with the County Behavioral Health Services Department and bring Mental Health Access programs to our libraries, empowering the public to access mental health services.
In addition, Varesio also helped to organize community workshops regarding naloxone (also called Narcan), the anti-opioid overdose drug that can save lives if given to someone experiencing an overdose. Nearly 400 community members learned how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to safely administer the life-saving nasal spray.
Varesio has been with SCCLD since 2007, first as a Children’s Librarian, next as a Supervising Librarian, and then as the Community Librarian responsible for Cupertino Library, which is one of the largest and busiest in the SCCLD system.
She currently works out of the Services & Support Center as a Library Services Manager over Organizational Development and Partnerships.
Elizabeth Muñoz-Rosas, the second recipient, is one of the most popular librarians at Gilroy Library, where she serves as the Children’s Supervising Librarian.
Muñoz-Rosas has advocated effectively to bring materials, services and programs to her community that reflect the interests of all residents. Her advocacy for Spanish language materials ensures that library patrons see their lives and stories reflected in the collection.
She has also spearheaded programs of great relevance to the community of Gilroy. This includes working with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service to bring the bilingual exhibit Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields to the Gilroy Library.
More than 1,300 total visitors were able to enjoy this free exhibit. To coincide with the opening of the exhibit, Muñoz-Rosas organized a panel of distinguished speakers, including Dolores Huerta, to discuss the plight of the farmworker and Huerta’s legacy. More than 600 community members attended the program.
Muñoz-Rosas first began her career with SCCLD in 2007 as a part-time librarian at the Campbell Library.
County Librarian Jennifer Weeks said: “Clare and Elizabeth are truly talented and dedicated library staff who have worked tirelessly to improve their communities’ quality of life. While this is something we have always known, we are thrilled that they are both getting nationwide recognition. We hope their groundbreaking and inspiring work and advocacy encourage other library systems across the country to campaign for their patrons’ well-being, just as Clare and Elizabeth have done.”
Consequently, I would say, let’s continue patronizing the public library. They are there to serve us!
That’s perhaps the reason why I served the Milpitas Public Library as a Library Education and Advisory Commissioner for 15 years as a member and eventually as chair for most of the years.
ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the Chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream, which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris Publishing. For feedback, comments, please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.
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