Community briefs

Winter Wonderland

After bad weather cancelled the annual Carol of Lights in December in downtown Campbell, organizers moved the event to Feb. 23. Santa can’t make the rescheduled festival, dubbed Winter Wonderland, but there will still be a snow play area, music, a community stage and many other features of the Carol of Lights.

The free festival runs 4-7 p.m. in downtown Campbell.

Nancy Howe, executive director of the Santa Clara County Library District and county librarian, is retiring after a tenure that saw the district ranked the no. 7 library system in the country by the Library Journal. Howe’s last day on the job is Friday, March 27.

Howe has served as county librarian since 2012 and began her career in the library district in 1995 as a substitute librarian. Prior to becoming county librarian, she worked at each of the district’s seven community libraries.

Under her leadership, the library district removed all fees to use the library or open an account; expanded hours and added service seven days a week at each library; initiated passport services at three libraries; and overseen the renewal of a 20-year special tax for funding through 2033.

Howe was recognized in 2018 with the Zoia Horn Award for Intellectual Freedom from the California Library Association for her advocacy around patron privacy.

“Nancy’s departure is a great loss to the residents of Santa Clara County, who have benefited from her visionary leadership,” said County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, president of the Library Joint Powers Authority Board.