What's Next
Each month, we will update this page to provide additional chapters of this exciting storybook, so keep checking back! Over time we’ll reveal the themes for each location, introduce you to more of the characters, give you a sneak peek of what to expect, and of course invite our families with kids 0-10 to the grand opening event at every location!
Chapter One: The Power of Play
Play is a critical ingredient to every child’s early development. According to an article published by EdSource, opens a new window, “Children who dress up and tell stories are learning how to shape a narrative, a precursor to learning to read and write, experts say. Children playing a board game where they have to count the spaces are learning about numbers and values, laying a foundation for math” and according to Play expert, Dr. Stuart Brown, “The drive to play is as fundamental as our drives for food and sleep.”
We will introduce you to a magical environment at each of our community libraries, reflecting something special about each community. You are invited to a world that is the intersection of Tech and Nature.
Storybook SCCLD creates inclusive and joyful environments where children are motivated and enthusiastic about learning through play. These spaces foster a passion for books and reading while providing valuable early literacy experiences that support grade level reading proficiency. This project is being designed and developed with experts in museum quality interactive spaces Luci Creative, Ravenswood Studio, and Group 4 Architecture.
Chapter Two: Meet the Robots
A friendly team of robots will be your guide through Storybook SCCLD!
Saratoga Library: Meet TreeBot. Nobody is quite sure about its original purpose. TreeBot can be found walking through the Redwood trees around Saratoga Library, typically surrounded by animals and assisting others with a friendly helping hand.
Morgan Hill Library: Originally built to document the natural world, HikerBot evolved to become quite the artist as well! HikerBot can be found walking the trails throughout Morgan Hill measuring and recording the wildflowers and animals.
Cupertino Library: When the first SwimmerBot was developed, its task was to care for the coral reef and creatures in a small aquarium. Today, SwimmerBots care for reefs all over the world but they still call Cupertino Library, home. Their favorite pasttime is playing hide and seek with the sea creatures.
Gilroy Library: Introducing MoleBot. MoleBot's creator was a bit of a tinkerer and built MoleBot to assist in geological surveys. You can find MoleBot burrowing throughout Gilroy, discovering magnificent crystals, geodes and inviting friends to explore and discover hidden treasures below the Gilroy Library.
Los Altos Library: When the SpriteBots were first created, they were designed to help farmers take care of their crops. Los Altos, which has historically been filled with orchards, is still home to the Spritebots. Despite being busy with tending to the orchards and farms, they always seem to find time for play too.
Milpitas Library: Meet WhistleBot. Originally, WhistleBot was designed as an icon for the train line that traveled through the mountains surrounding Milpitas. When WhistleBot isn’t racing the trains and animals along the hills, you may catch WhistleBot flying, literally flying, across the valley with jumps, flips and twists.
Campbell Library: TowerBot is hard to miss. Originally designed to provide water to Campbell, TowerBot has served an important purpose from the start. Replaced with a functional, yet non-intelligent water tower, TowerBot is now free to visit the farmer's market and hang out at the library while working on an autobiography.
BookMobile Services: Full of personality and well, books, BookMoBot's origin is all about personal service. Rockin’ a style all its own, while some of the bots have evolved over time, BookMoBot's purpose remains true—provide the very best personalized Library Service to its BookMobile patrons. Why mess with perfection?
Chapter Three: Spark Your Imagination
Children are encouraged to use their imagination where our enchanted play spaces come to life. By meeting children in their imaginative worlds, we provide spaces where active play and quiet play work in tandem around early literacy.
Every location will include the following:
- Themed interactives for little hands to practice motor skills
- Themed reading nooks for quiet play
- Playhouse for imaginative play
- Toddler slide for active play
- Welcome marquee with child sized entrance
- Interactive learning area for babies and pre-walking children
- Themed seating areas for children and families
- Balance element for all abilities
Chapter Four: Timeline
Everything worth doing, takes time. From January through Summer 2025, SCCLD will be working location by location to prepare, install, and launch our play spaces. The following completion dates are tentative.
- Saratoga Library: NOW OPEN
- Morgan Hill Library: Install Mar 17 - End Apr
- Gilroy Library: Install Mar 24 - Mid May
- Milpitas Library: Install Apr 7 - Mid Jun
- Cupertino Library: Install Early Fall - Mid Fall
- Los Altos Library: Install Early Fall - Mid Fall
- Campbell Library: Install Early Fall - Mid Fall
Read about the latest construction updates.
What to Expect During Installation
To keep patrons safe during construction, all or most of the children’s rooms will be closed to the public during installation. Access to children’s materials will be made available in other parts of the library and you can always visit another one of our libraries that is not under construction to explore their programs and collection. Each one of our libraries is special in different ways and you may discover something you’ve been missing out on! You can also place a hold on any item and have it delivered to your local library.
Chapter Five: Travel Through Storybook SCCLD
Storybook SCCLD introduces you to a magical environment at each of our Community Libraries, reflecting something special about each community. Join us on a quick tour as we travel to each destination.
Saratoga Library Redwood Romp: When you enter Redwood Romp at the Saratoga Library you instantly experience the magic of the redwood forests that are a special part of Saratoga. TreeBot will be there to greet the little ones as they explore the treehouse, sit around the campfire, find a comfy reading nook in the forest, and more! Babies and toddlers will enjoy their special bird’s nest. There is also seating for caregivers as their little ones explore, discover, and learn in the Redwood Romp.
Morgan Hill Library Trusty Trails: Just outside the Morgan Hill Library, visitors can view El Toro hill and enjoy the many hiking trails that surround the City of Morgan Hill. When families enter Morgan Hill Library Trusty Trails, HikerBot will introduce them to local plants and animals through fun, interactive early learning activities. Children can enter through the marquee with a child-sized doorway, there are cozy reading nooks, an observatory for little ones to discover something new, and a dedicated special space for our littlest stars to explore!
Gilroy Library Earthen Excursion: The City of Gilroy offers residents the perfect blend of small-town charm and natural open spaces. The Gilroy Library also holds a secret world, an Earthen Excursion, that exists underground. MoleBot will lead families to discover hidden gems, as well as colors, letters, numbers and words in both English and Spanish, while children use their imaginations to burrow underground in the drill car for hidden treasures below the Gilroy Library, and practice fine motor skills moving the gem conveyor belt.
Cupertino Library Aquarium Adventure: The unique salt-water aquarium welcomes patrons into the Cupertino Library Children’s Room. In the Storybook Aquarium Adventure, the SwimmerBots are your guide to explore this undersea world. Throughout this space, little learners will be introduced to words, colors, and sea creatures of every shape and size. No underwater adventure is complete without a submarine for imaginative play, to take them to a world under the sea.
Milpitas Library Railway Rollick: The City of Milpitas was once home to a 300-acre Western Pacific Railroad industrial park and is still known as the Crossroads of Silicon Valley. Storybook SCCLD’s Milpitas Library Railway Rollick is filled with fun activities for children 0-10 years old. Find a quiet reading nook on the train, or test out your balance skills on the railroad ties as WhistleBot leads you through this playful, early learning adventure. All aboard!
Los Altos Library Orchard Outing: Just outside of the Los Altos Library, you’ll discover the historic apricot orchards. Through Storybook SCCLD, families will be able to enjoy an Orchard Outing INSIDE the children’s room! Take an imaginary drive in the farm truck. Babies can explore the Apri-Tot area and the SpriteBots are full of fun and games to introduce little ones to letters, numbers, rhyming words, and much more!
Campbell Library Dreamy Downtown: The City of Campbell is well known for its farmers market, famous water tower, and welcoming downtown area. TowerBot is your guide to the Campbell Library Dreamy Downtown. Children will love using their imagination in the Ainsley Theater, strolling past restaurants, a movie theater, shops and more in this downtown environment, designed and built exclusively for our littlest learners.