The San José Public Library (SJPL) is one of only eleven public libraries nationwide to receive a $500,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to launch a transformative two-year programming initiative that expands SJPL’s English as a Second Language (ESL), college, and career readiness programs.

“This grant reinforces the vital role our library plays in opening doors to education, job opportunities, and lifelong learning,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “It’s an honor to be the only library in the San Francisco Bay Area to be recognized across the country and we take pride in knowing that this funding will help San José lead the way in building a more inclusive and empowered community.”

This grant, part of the “Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy” initiative, will allow SJPL to enhance and expand existing programming, which currently serves 13,000 individuals annually, launch new workforce development, college readiness, and financial literacy services, and support an additional 2,000 San José residents as they pursue their educational and career goals.

“San José is a city full of innovators — and now, 2,000 more people, mostly our teens and English language learners, will be able to access the skills and training to succeed,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “We’re proud that the San José Public Library has received this national recognition — and with it, an investment that will strengthen our city’s workforce and boost educational attainment across our community.”

With the support of the Carnegie Corporation, SJPL will:
• Expand ESL programming with a new workforce-focused curriculum designed to help adult learners improve their English skills, job readiness, and confidence.
• Launch a college and career readiness pipeline for teens, offering post-secondary education workshops, college affordability and financial literacy training, and near-peer mentorships.
• Distribute 100 computing devices to low-income participants and integrate digital skills training for ESL learners and young adults.
• Engage education and workforce stakeholders to strengthen cross-sector partnerships and better align services.

“Libraries offer open doors to knowledge and self-empowerment,” said Jill Bourne, City Librarian. “With support from the Carnegie Corporation, San José libraries will expand and deepen the city’s educational and career opportunities for youth and adults – opportunities that give our residents the transformational power to chart a new future for themselves and their families.”

The grant comes at a pivotal time for San José. Despite Silicon Valley’s economic success, many residents face significant challenges. Over 65,000 residents speak English less than “very well,” and more than 54,000 young adults in the city have no education beyond high school. A recent San José Youth Commission survey also found that only 15% of teens were aware of the available college and career resources. Additionally, the high cost of living, limited access to
affordable educational resources, and gaps in broadband and technology access continue to disproportionately affect families, especially in underserved neighborhoods.

About the San José Public Library
San José Public Library (SJPL) is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and in the nation’s 12th largest city. SJPL serves a culturally diverse population of nearly one million and has nearly 750,000 library members. In addition to providing award-winning library services, SJPL proudly leads the City’s Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the City’s SJ Access digital empowerment initiative. For more information, please visit sjpl.org.

About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation’s most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world’s greatest concentration of technology talent and development.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.

About San José Public Library Foundation
The San José Public Library Foundation supports educational programs and resources through the public library, schools, and community-based organizations, to create an educated, equitable, empowered and engaged community.

Estate planning empowers individuals with financial security and control over their assets and how they are transferred to loved ones. Learn about the various estate planning methods, including wills and trusts, and understand the costs associated with each decision. Your estate encompasses everything you own – from real estate and investments to vehicles and personal property. Implementing an estate plan is crucial for proactively deciding asset distribution and ensuring your wishes are followed, providing peace of mind in the face of unexpected events. SJPLF moves proactively within the City of San José through the twenty-five San José Public Library locations to bring philanthropic power to their communities, which includes ensuring that community members are given proper resources and knowledge to create an estate plan that protects their possessions and their loved ones.  

What most people might not realize is that without an estate plan, the state has the power to assign someone to handle your business if you are suddenly incapable of doing so. If there is no estate plan to specify an individual’s wishes, then the state will decide what happens with your belongings. This often might not align with what one intended, so specifying how your assets should be distributed among your heirs or beneficiaries to align with your intentions is why estate planning matters immensely.  

On June 3rd, we are hosting a FREE workshop, Estate Planning for Everyone, from 3 PM to 4 PM at the Cambrian Branch Library (1780 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose, CA 95124). This event is perfect for individuals and families seeking peace of mind and financial security. Featuring guest speakers

• Maris Martinson (Estate Planning Attorney at Berliner Cohen)
• Xiomara Vielman (Financial Advisor, Clarity Financial Management)
• Rosie Cofre (SJPLF Epilogue Society Member)

These industry experts will provide invaluable tips, advice, insights, and resources.

Whether you’re starting your estate planning journey or looking to refine your existing plan, join us for light refreshments as our expert speakers provide invaluable insights.

Regardless of your net worth or age, estate planning offers significant benefits for everyone. It saves time, reduces stress, and conserves financial resources for both you and your loved ones, while ensuring the legacy you envision is preserved. Understanding the importance and process of estate planning provides peace of mind, greater control over your assets, and empowers you to support cherished causes like the San José Public Library Foundation through charitable bequests and trusts. Competent and confident estate planning allows you to move beyond basic planning to create a lasting legacy that you and your family can be proud of. We invite you to learn more at our Estate Planning for Everyone workshop and thank you for considering the San José Public Library Foundation in your estate planning.

In a partnership between the San José Public Library Foundation and San José Public Library, we are excited to announce our new College and Career Pathways Fellow, Daniel Lockett. The position, generously funded through Comcast, will help graduates of Library programs such as Career Online High School as they transition from academic programs into higher education and meaningful careers. A first-generation college student and graduate himself, Daniel will work to connect graduates with critical resources such as college counselors, career mentors, and professional development opportunities, to help them achieve their post-graduation goals. This important work will ensure San José residents have the support they need to take the next step in their education and careers.

What do you hope to achieve in this role? 

I hope I’m able to give clarity to Career Online High School students and graduates, during their decision to pursue further education or a career. I also want to build a support network for students and alumni, allowing them to have confidence in their abilities to succeed during and after the program.    

What is your favorite book? 

The Harry Potter series will always be my favorite, due to the amount of world building, twists, and interesting characters. Looking back, I wish Harry would’ve chosen Slytherin! A bonus series would be the Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima, a great series with a theme around a lowly thief turning into a powerful and respected wizard with royal blood.   

Do you have a favorite library memory/ Did you enjoy going to the library as a kid? 

I loved libraries as a kid. I used to spend my free time as kid going to the main library when I lived in San Francisco. My favorite memory is my high school librarians knowing me by name because I would check out a new book almost every day.  

Thanks for sharing a little about yourself, Daniel! We look forward to seeing the impact you will have!

Estate planning is designed to give individuals security and control of their finances and the transferring of their finances while informing the community of the different methods and costs that each decision entails. An estate includes anything you own, such as automobiles, real estate, investment, and personal possessions. It is important to have an estate plan in place because it will give you the ability to decide how your belongings will be distributed ahead of time when unexpected circumstances occur. SJPLF moves proactively within the City of San José through the twenty-five San José Public Library locations to bring philanthropic power to their communities, which includes ensuring that community members are given proper resources and knowledge to create an estate plan that protects their possessions and their loved ones.  

What most people might not realize is that without an estate plan, the state has the power to assign someone to handle your business if you are suddenly incapable of doing so. If there is no estate plan to specify an individual’s wishes, then the state will decide what happens with your belongings. This often might not align with what one intended, so specifying how your assets should be distributed among your heirs or beneficiaries to align with your intentions is why estate planning matters immensely.  

On October 21st, we are hosting a FREE workshop, Estate Planning for Everyone, from 3 PM to 4 PM at the Bascom Branch Library (1000 S. Bascom Ave San Jose, CA 95128). This event is perfect for individuals and families seeking peace of mind and financial security. Featuring guest speakers

• Maris Martinson (Estate Planning Attorney at Berliner Cohen)
• Todd P. Langton, CLF (Financial Services Professional, NYLIFE Securities LLC)
• Pat Wolfe (SJPLF Board Member & Epilogue Society Member)

These industry experts will provide invaluable tips, advice, insights, and resources. Whether you’re starting your estate planning journey or looking to refine your existing plan, we encourage you and your loved ones to join us.  

No matter the size of your assets, no matter your age or how wealthy you are, estate planning is beneficial for everyone. It saves time, energy, and resources for you and your loved ones while preserving the legacy you decide to leave behind. Understanding the importance of estate planning and its process will not only give you more peace and control over your possessions, but also empowers you to support causes and organizations you care about through charitable bequests and trusts. When estate planning is executed with competence and confidence, individuals are able to push past just planning, and also leave a legacy that they and their family can be proud of. Thank you for considering the San José Public Library Foundation in your estate planning, and we hope to see you at our Estate Planning for Everyone workshop. 

On Saturday, September 21st, the San José Public Library Foundation hosted its first ever Signature Author Event featuring the renowned celebrity from hit show Yan Can Cook, Chef Martin Yan. This inaugural event raised significant funds and awareness for the San José Public Library while providing guests with a truly memorable culinary experience. 

Want to see the event in action and learn more about its impact? Check out our official recap video and curated collection of media coverage to see how our first ever Signature Author Event made headlines! 

About Chef Yan

“If Yan Can Cook, So Can You!” has always been the motto of Chef Martin Yan! With his extraordinaire, popular television host of more than 3,500 culinary and travel TV shows and author of 34 cookbooks including his brand-new cookbooks – “Martin Yan’s Best of Yan Can Cook” and “MY Asian Kitchen”. He is one of the most recognizable Chinese Chef in the culinary world, from Shanghai to San Francisco, with a career spanning over four decades. Promoting Chinese and Asian cuisines, making the food easy for the cook has been his life-long mission. 

His award-winning public television series, Yan Can Cook, airing since 1978, has introduced generations of audiences to Chinese and Asian cuisines.  Chef Yan has received numerous awards and recognitions including the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, and the lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Cooking Professionals. He was also honored with the 2023 Culinary Excellence Award at the Sonoma International Film Festival. 

Never the one to rest on his laurels, Chef Yan has remained an active international food and cultural ambassador. He roams the world working with home chefs and top chefs to entertain and educate the public, sharing his unique humor and strong passion for cooking. 

Originally Published: August 25, 2024 at 7:14 am

Born in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1927, my father Hijinio Reynoso, Sr was born with a passion for learning. Unfortunately, he was told by my grandmother that learning and any form of education was a thing of the devil…so… he was not allowed to go to school. But that didn’t stop him. He took it upon himself to acquire items like eggs from the neighbors’ chickens and other knickknacks he could sell so he could get the money to purchase school materials. He proudly walked into the first day of school only to have his mother storm in and pull him out after only one hour. That was the extent of my father’s formal education. 

Now, imagine my shock when I went off to college and I was told to mark the “important points” in my textbook by highlighting the section or underlining it with a pencil (and maybe even a pen). That was culture shock! 

Education, learning, and books were always important to my father. When I lost him at the ripe age of 94 in 2021, I wanted to honor his memory and his influence on me and his influence on others by doing more than just a yearly donation to the San José Library Foundation. I wanted to find a way to honor him and the public libraries that have always been at the center of my life as a child, a young adult and now with my own children. That is why my husband and I decided to include the San José Public Library Foundation in our Family Trust.

By adding us to her Family Trust, Rosie joined SJPLF’s Epilogue Society, what we call our community of legacy givers. We are so grateful for Rosie’s passionate support and openness to share her library story.

Please join Rosie in sharing your library story with us at development@sjplf.org.