West Valley libraries have seen a surge in attendance this month as temperatures have reached the 90s and 100s.
The Los Gatos, Saratoga and Cupertino libraries all serve as official cooling centers in Santa Clara County, where members of the public can take advantage of the air conditioning and avoid the sun.
Los Gatos Library Director Ryan Baker said the library typically sees a bump in patronage during extremely hot weather. The library, which is normally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed early on July 3 because of a broken pipe in its air conditioning system.
Assistant town manager Katy Nomura said in an email that the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center provided a cooling center on that day. ”Information regarding alternative cooling center locations was provided to the public,” she added.
Lisa Duff, supervising librarian for the county’s library district, said the Saratoga Library has also been busier during the recent heatwave. The Saratoga Library is open Monday-Tuesday ,10 a.m.- 9 p.m., and closes at 6 p.m. the rest of the week. The Cupertino Library is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and closes at 6:30 p.m. on the weekends.
The libraries have previously adjusted their hours in the event of an excessive heat, as the Cupertino Library did on the Fourth of July despite previous plans to be closed that day. The libraries all typically offer access to power, water fountains, restrooms and free internet access during their regular hours.
Visit the county’s website at emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/hot-weather-safety to find a full list of cooling centers.
