{"id":2807,"date":"2025-06-27T13:58:07","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T20:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/?p=2807"},"modified":"2025-08-13T09:47:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T16:47:12","slug":"5-questions-nancy-schram-director-ventura-county-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/5-questions-nancy-schram-director-ventura-county-library\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Questions: Nancy Schram, Director, Ventura County Library"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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1. Summer reading is in full swing across the County, what can families expect from this year\u2019s Summer Reading Challenge, and how can they get involved?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Ventura County Library\u2019s \u201cLevel Up at Your Library\u201d summer reading program launched on Monday, June 9. During the summer, the library will host a range of free activities for children, teens, and adults to encourage and support a love of reading. Participants can win prizes for reaching their reading goals.<\/p>

Registration began on Monday, June 2, and continues through the end of the program on August 3. To learn more about the summer reading adventure, visit library.venturacounty.gov<\/a> . Themed events, including a special Family Game Day celebration with the Gamez on Wheelz game truck and Kona Ice, will take place at every library branch during the month of July.<\/p>

Children up to age 18 will be eligible to win books for registering and meeting reading goals; they will also qualify for entries into a Grand Prize Drawing for two California Neighbor Annual Passes to Universal Studios. Readers over the age of 18 will be eligible to win their own set of prizes for tracking books they\u2019ve read and completing library challenges.<\/p>

The summer reading program at the library is so much more than just a seasonal activity – it’s an opportunity to cultivate a lifelong love of reading and for families to come together and explore the library.<\/p>

For reluctant readers, the program offers a variety of engaging activities that can help draw them in and ignite their enthusiasm for books. From engaging performances and activities to captivating Storytime sessions, librarians have curated a diverse range of experiences to cater to every reader’s interests.<\/p>

Keeping children\u2019s reading skills sharp over the summer is essential for maintaining and improving literacy. Research conducted over the past 100 years consistently shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than at the beginning\u2014a phenomenon known as the \u201csummer slide.\u201d In fact, children who don\u2019t read during the summer can lose up to two months of academic progress by the time they return to school. When parents encourage their children to participate in the Summer Reading Program, they play a vital role in preventing learning loss and helping to strengthen their child\u2019s reading proficiency\u2014even during the break from school.<\/p>

Beyond the educational benefits, the summer reading program is designed to be a source of pure enjoyment. It\u2019s an opportunity to bond with family and friends, discover new favorite authors, and explore hands-on STEM activities together. It represents how the library is more than just a place for books and serves as a vibrant hub of community, creativity, and lifelong learning.<\/p>

2. Ventura County Library locations offer more than just books, what kinds of programs or resources are available this summer for families looking for free, fun activities?<\/strong><\/p>

In addition to the summer reading program, a wide array of events for all ages will be offered at the Ventura County Libraries this summer.\u00a0 For children and families these events include STEM programs, movie matinees, Kids\u2019 Farmers\u2019 Markets, Storytimes, Paws for Reading, Family Game Days, Toddler Play, Art Lab, Coding Clubs, and more.<\/p>

Adults can participate in various activities and programs across the library system, such as knitting and fiber art clubs, English and Spanish conversation groups, ukulele jams, book clubs, lectures, poetry groups, and more.\u00a0 And be on the look out for the 2025 One County One Book countywide reading program title selection to be announced soon.\u00a0 We are busy planning for a very exciting author presentation as part of this annual literary event.<\/p>

To view the Ventura County Library\u2019s calendar of events, visit www.library.venturacounty.gov\/events\/<\/a> .<\/p>

The library also loans out unique items for free through our Library of Things, including State Parks Passes, Knitting Needle Kits, Fossil Kits, Book Club Kits for local book clubs, and Home Energy Savings Kits and induction stovetops through a partnership with 3C-REN.<\/p>

So yes, the library has more than just books \u2013 but we have those too!\u00a0 With a collection of over a half a million print and electronic books, there is something for everyone. And people can get a temporary library card and download thousands of e-books for free without ever stepping into a physical library building.

3. What is the Summer Lunch Program and how is the library is helping fight food insecurity for kids and teens during the break?<\/strong><\/p>

This summer the Ventura County Library will provide free lunches for children 18 and under.\u00a0 The Lunch at the Library program will be offered from July 7 through July 31 at three library locations, including the Avenue Library in Ventura, the Oak View Library, and the Albert H. Soliz Library in El Rio.\u00a0 These locations were selected specifically because there are fewer options for children\u2019s summer lunch programs in these areas.<\/p>

Studies have shown that many children experience barriers to receiving lunch when they aren\u2019t in school.\u00a0 When they come to the library to get lunch during the summer, children can also participate in fun and educational activities to feed both minds and bodies.\u00a0 The Lunch at the Library program is a project of the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California and the Ventura County Library Foundation.<\/p>

4. Are there any current or upcoming projects focused on improving library spaces or expanding access for the community?<\/strong><\/p>

A primary goal and focus for the library system over the past ten years has been to upgrade the library facilities to be better equipped to deliver modern library services.\u00a0 Significant progress has been made with major library openings, renovations, and construction projects.\u00a0 In 2017, the Ventura County Library opened the brand-new Hill Road Library on the east side of Ventura.\u00a0 Funding for the Hill Road Library was made possible by multiple entities including both the county and city, and the Ventura Friends of the Library.<\/p>

Just a few years later in 2022, a newly renovated and expanded Fillmore Library was reopened thanks to a state appropriation of $1.5 million secured by Senator Monique Limon and former Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson.<\/p>

And in 2022, the California State Library began accepting applications for grant funding through the Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program that enabled libraries to pay for capital projects for public library buildings.\u00a0 Over the next two years the Ventura County Library applied for and received Building Forward grant funds in support of three library facilities in Meiners Oaks, Port Hueneme, and Ventura.<\/p>

The new Meiners Oaks Library opened in 2024 thanks to a partnership between the Ventura County Library and the Ojai Unified School District.\u00a0 And the Ray D. Prueter Library in Port Hueneme reopened in 2025 with major renovations and refurbished spaces.\u00a0 This project was supplemented by both county and city funds.<\/p>

Work on the Building Forward grant project in downtown Ventura is underway at the E.P. Foster Library. This project will address critical maintenance in the facility that was built in 1959, and will enable the library to install air-conditioning, a new roof, and a new elevator for enhanced access. The newly air-conditioned space will enable the library to function as a cooling center during heat emergencies and protect collections from damage due to the environmental conditions.<\/p>

Other broadband grant funding from the State of California enabled the library to recently upgrade the E.P. Foster Library\u2019s technology infrastructure, resulting in greatly improved Internet connection speeds and capacity.<\/p>

Another project to upgrade the Prueter Library HVAC system is also underway so that it can serve as a designated clean air facility.\u00a0 Grant funding secured through a collaborative effort between the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District and the Ventura County Library made this project possible.<\/p>

And a project is also just getting underway at the Ojai Library to refurbish the space thanks to two large bequests received by the Ventura County Library for this purpose.<\/p>

To expand access to library services, three Ventura County Libraries – the Fillmore, Hill Road, and Meiners Oaks Libraries – offer Express Hours that enable adults to use the library during certain hours even when staff are not present. The Express Hours program expands library hours of service and increases access to basic library self-services.<\/p>

Lastly, the Ventura County Library launched two new bookmobiles since 2019 with support from the Ventura County Library Foundation.\u00a0 The Mobile Library visits locations all over the county, removing barriers to library services for people who often have no other way to get to the library.\u00a0 And the School Mobile Library, a partnership with the Ventura County Office of Education, visits schools around the county delivering library services to students who don\u2019t have access to school libraries or credentialed teacher-librarians.<\/p>

5. Looking ahead, what\u2019s your vision for the future of Ventura County Libraries, and are there any special events coming up that residents should mark their calendars for?<\/strong><\/p>

The vision for the future of the Ventura County Library aligns with the needs of our community, and as a core county service library services will continue to reflect County of Ventura goals and priorities.\u00a0\u00a0 We will continue to determine library services and programs within this framework and by listening to the diverse communities we serve while striving to meet their needs.<\/p>

We won\u2019t rely on past practices just because things have always been done that way or get bogged down in unnecessary policy and procedures. We will remove barriers to services and constantly strive to create efficiencies and improve despite limited resources. We will seek additional funding to enhance our impact, while also leveraging partnerships and using innovation and creativity to do more with the resources we have.\u00a0 We will invest in our team of dedicated employees who remain our most valuable asset and support them in their work as civil servants.<\/p>

Our public libraries will remain free and open to all, unique and welcoming places where everyone has access to information for lifelong learning and civic participation.\u00a0 Our library spaces will allow people to connect to information and to each other.\u00a0 Not only will library visitors discover commonalities with others and be comforted that they are not alone, but they will also explore and discover new stories and diverse points of view.\u00a0 As technology evolves, we will leverage it to deliver improved and more efficient services.\u00a0 And our libraries will continue to serve as a digital equalizer by providing access to technology itself, along with the training to use it, for so many who have no other place to go to connect, learn and grow, and ultimately be successful in society.<\/p>

For those interested in supporting the Ventura County Library in this effort, please consider supporting the Ventura County Library Foundation.\u00a0 The Library Foundation enhances access to quality Ventura County Library System services, materials, and programming for children and adults across the county by securing supplemental funding and other resources from private and public donors through strategic partnerships & alliances.<\/p>

The Library Foundation will present the \u201cBooks, Butterflies and the Botanical Gardens\u201d fundraiser on Sunday, October 19 that will feature debuting novelist and long-time columnist Woody Woodburn at the Ventura Botanical Gardens.\u00a0 Also on the program will be Dr. Jana Johnson, Lead Biologist of The Endangered Butterfly Project, who is largely responsible for saving the Palos Verdes Blue butterfly from extinction. Short programs are scheduled at 1 and 3 p.m. from the author and biologist, as well as Gardens\u2019 CEO Joe Cahill, followed by Q&A. The noon to 4 p.m. event includes self-guided tours of the five distinct Mediterranean climate zones of the world, raffles, desserts and book signing of Woodburn\u2019s The Butterfly Tree<\/em> as well as daughter Dallas Woodburn\u2019s young adult fiction novels. Admission is $40 online at www.vclibraryfoundation.org<\/a> and benefits the ongoing programs supported by the Ventura County Library Foundation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1. Summer reading is in full swing across the County, what can families expect from this year\u2019s Summer Reading Challenge, and how can they get involved?\u00a0 Ventura County Library\u2019s \u201cLevel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-county-close-up"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2807\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}