On Oct. 4, Patricia “Patty” Wong will begin her first day of work for the Santa Clara City Library as the City Librarian. Right now, Wong is wrapping up her time as the City Librarian for the Santa Monica Public Library.
As the current President of the American Library Association (ALA), Wong aims to spotlight digital equity and promote services and programs that highlight the diversity of the communities where residents live.
“What I would do is bring resources from the ALA to support the goals I set with the City of Santa Clara and the community for the Santa Clara City Library,” Wong said.
Wong was born and raised in San Francisco. She attended U.C. Berkeley for her B.A. in Women’s Studies and her M.A. in Library Science. Wong has been working in the library system for 37 years.
“When I was a young child, my mom would take us to story time at the Glen Park Branch Library in San Francisco,” Wong said. “I have always had strong relationships with library staff.”
In high school, Wong connected with a mentor who was a high school librarian.
“Sister Margaret Therese was a leader ahead of her time,” Wong said. “She mentored and coached me, as the oldest of a single parent and the only Asian American student, to find my own voice and develop a sense of appreciative inquiry.”
When Wong was in college, she volunteered in the Women’s Studies Library, part of the U.C. Berkeley library system.
“I’ve always wanted to help people and to make a difference in getting the right books and the right reading materials into the hands of people who want to learn more about anything.” Wong said. “I’ve always wanted to be a librarian or a teacher.”
Wong pointed out that a good program that works well in one agency is not always applicable to another community. She described a program that she oversaw with the City of Berkeley.
“We used to operate a tool lending library at the City of Berkeley where I worked,” Wong said. “The tools we lent out went from cement mixers and ladders all the way to gardening tools. In Berkeley, some people have small yards and sometimes they don’t have a lot of tools. When people who live in homes spend more time fixing up their place, it is a source of pride for the resident and it increases the property value.”
Wong commended the Santa Clara City Library for remaining a useful resource for the community during the pandemic.
“The Santa Clara City Library has done a great job with offering curbside pickup services and virtual programs,” Wong said. “Computers have been available for patrons to use at all three Santa Clara City library sites during curbside hours since April 2021.”
According to Lon Peterson, Director of Communications for the City of Santa Clara, the City’s library staff has stayed busy during the pandemic by performing a number of duties within and outside of library services, including managing the City’s phone correspondences with the public, supporting weekly food distribution programs, hosting COVID-19 testing at library sites and partnering with Stanford Blood Mobile to collect blood donations.
Wow! Tenure of the helm reduction of expenditure to city budget whom? Lisa Gillmore and Jovan Gorgan audacity say, residents elated with Patty” horrible service seldom books. Shelved along decreasing space for expansion books allowing the homeless. Lingering Patty have observe the exclusive niche there created guy. Sitting corner 7 days week refusing find job or housing recommend. Librarians need assure the patrons assurance policies allowing. Homeless sleep inside outside building we saw man, shaving his chest in sink. 2nd floor mention to staff your ignored forgotten. Patty how is there difference gap is budget “Central location” obsolete usage small gather. Patty advocating neighborhood branches since Santa Clara is large city. Forgotten administration Lisa Gillmore Jovan leadership run Santa Clara as town wow! Wi Fi and Application has been interrupted for 3yrs. Patty mention library services communications always evasion! Allowing the homeless sleep front building urine City Librarian, promote assurance of influence. Not typical bureaucrate only title and paycheck giving you grade D! Patty your just a facade!
Patty” greeting is deceitful placid smile social neglect regarding. Demise of shelving in library lack of appropriate hours, forgotten inept policies. Family hierarchy Gillmor dynasty Lisa same lame excuses mention,disparities. Patty your bureaucratic your aloof sitting around chair just getting a pay check. Admit this libraries no longer welcoming lack proper literature mention. Acquisition you continue to ignore the request ” central location” could increase density of shelving. Condense the quite space room on 2nd. floor with propose of shelving California room could have PC’s for essentials of research. Patty have address the homeless whom continue to affix themselves withing library especially public PC’s. Homeless man whom continues to linger outside whom? Marc whom shown his penis in public how many times Patty! Haven’t been arrested you continue ignored the social disparities I’m paying my taxes! Expect myself others to remain meek not speak forgotten, Mayor Gillmor doesn’t care! Patty shall increase longer hours plenty of expenditure to devise new budget! Jovan Grogan and Beth Klotz sitting around allowing social decay, Patty bringing attention. City Council need for larger budget success of library system especially northside and mission branch? Disappointed upon helm of leadership Patty” typical getting title refusing to bring social success to propose of library system! Continued to neglect your duties, Patty” mention improving principles of management you haven’t bought. New concepts to library system horrible have schedule meetings with Jovan,Lisa and Beth? Regarding hours redeveloping facilities new buildings opposite aloof Patty grade D! Santa Clara residents divided expecting new locations in neighborhoods oppose rebuilding central location. Patty your inept you need either, comply upon addressing the disparities effecting library service or simply resign! We refuse pay for uncommitted staff city librarian?
“…Patty regarding the comment upon, behavior of homeless it holds merit. There a guy whom continues to disparage negative comments, throwing trash food crumbs on carpet. He always sitting on corner “public PC’s” usually quite study area. In the back He is overweight homeless male always throwing his back pack on the floor. Cause disruption among patrons using walkers, informed you numerous times eating food! You need to enforce behavior policies in library. Regarding guy just sitting in corner in (quite study) facing the golf course simply. Patty” suggestion use the space for additional shelving PC’s. Area before enter the “Quite Study” room in same area only 2 units. Remove it place circular table for those eager to study. We need to address attitude of some of homeless I saw many drinking booze. In this area Quite study area, annoyed bought to police attention. Man sleeping garden area before, the entrance off of Homestead Patty” you scene him. Why haven’t you removed him allowing homeless to sleep front of library? Patty are you a jenny or something typical bureaucrat your ignoring residents. guard not aware of this I’m paying my taxes do you job Patty! Homeless guy outside the entrance smell feces and urine dirty undergarments! Remove him now!
True code of conduct in Libraries of Santa Clara are time low? Patty your smiling for what? Deficit books no on the shelves disparities why haven’t you advocated. City Council reading comment, guy trashing the area, absolutely. Scum bag back pack on floor (Quite Study) floor prior remember there “Public PC station near. Magazine area during remolding taken away due, problems with disorderly patrons. Hall area near California room formerly 4 PC stations before taken away. Due problems highly, recommend remove 2 stations in (Quite Study) room replace them with table for studying. Man whom remains “affixed in the corner enlarge the shelves for additional books. Just sits affixed entire week on 2nd floor annoying Patty! Take this space for book shelving, guy outside I saw him urinating night time even changing his briefs! This needs to stop Mayor Gillmor and Kelly I have children! Patty get Hot!
“…simply needs compensation reduction were paying bureaucrats excellent salaries. Santa Clara continues face deficits: comparing neglect former city manager Santana” Patty desire. Perks allowing jerks whom running Santa Clara running city into debt! Besides your management staff library enjoying social disparity while books and safety. Neglected smile of deceit typical dishonest politician, Patty give lecture with Jovan Grogan,Aracely Azevedo and Paulina Morales. Paid staff are taxes refuse create efficient debt free, Santa Clara Patty” have as Mayor for increase budget for services? New locations equipment oppose your salary time for change!
I wasn’t aware I care that Patty making high salary? Regarding services were city commitment to provide improved services this beyond Patty’s authority! Jovan and City council failed to achieve community respect upon public policies! Neighborhood where Central Library located, not the most desirable speaking about behavior. Conduct of some patrons it’s true Patty your not enforcing city code I saw the guy whom dirty the carpets with food! Man whom sits with luggage public PC terminals lower level blocks other stations! Basically is there any library policy to regulated principles, I saw man sitting outside. Law urine refuse seek help also, why tax payers force to remain impartial! Why haven’t been replacement for cafe it’s been vacant for awhile? Jovan and Patty your guilty enriching your salaries ineptitude of conduct to resolve issues! Shuffle are qualified officials concur Patty I’m disappointed in you!