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Sunnyvale trustees hear Silicon Valley Reads 2025 plans focused on AI and intergenerational programming
Summary
Library staff told the Board of Library Trustees on Feb. 3 that Silicon Valley Reads 2025 will use the theme “Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World,” with author events, teen and children’s workshops, 13 local programs in Sunnyvale and countywide coordination by the Santa Clara County Department of Education.
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees heard a presentation from Sunnyvale library staff about Silicon Valley Reads 2025, a countywide community-reading program whose theme this year is “Empowering Humanity, technology for a better world.” Julie Moore, an adult services librarian, said the library is planning 13 local programs and will participate in countywide events tied to eight selected books.
The countywide initiative, organized by the Santa Clara County Department of Education, runs in February and March and includes author talks, book groups, art and music events and programs for all ages. "This year, our theme is empowering humanity, technology for a better world," Julie Moore said during her presentation.
Moore outlined adult offerings that include a Zen coloring program, a NOVA screening on AI, a talk titled “Chinese in the Digital Age” by Stanford professor Thomas Mullaney, and an "Introduction to AI" session led by the Sunnyvale School District technology specialist. Moore said the library’s monthly adult book group will discuss the nonfiction title The Worlds I See by Dr. Fei-Fei Li.
Lynette Yorkes, the library’s youth services librarian, described teen and children’s programming tied to the theme. Teen events include an interactive session called “Unpacking Artificial Intelligence for Beginners” led by Kaspi Mittal of the nonprofit Together We AI, a graphic-novel workshop and author visit from Wendy Xu, and a teen program led by youth poet laureate Sierra Elleman exploring AI and poetry. Children’s activities include Dash robot coding, an LED robot craft with local middle school teachers, a family screening of The Wild Robot and a “build-a-robot” creative craft session.
Moore and Yorkes credited the Friends of the Sunnyvale Library for funding supplies and event costs. The presentation noted 416 attendees at the library’s 2024 environmentally themed programs; staff said they order extra regular-print copies and, where available, large-print and downloadable ebook and audiobook versions to improve access. The county aggregates and publicizes all participating libraries’ events on the Silicon Valley Reads calendar.
Board members asked about donations of household craft materials for children’s programs; Yorkes said the library accepts some donations but is cautious about broad public drives to avoid excess stock. Staff also confirmed that individual libraries choose which of the county’s selected titles they will highlight locally.
Programs tied to Silicon Valley Reads are scheduled through February and March at Sunnyvale locations and at partner libraries and schools across Santa Clara County. The county calendar lists full program dates and locations.
