Scotts Valley Branch: Santa Cruz Public Library

Welcome to the Scotts Valley Library Project Site

What You'll Find Here

• A walk-through analysis of the library's building and design

• An exploration of Scotts Valley's community demographics and needs

• Highlights of the library's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives

• A look at important vocabulary and library-related terms from V. Gross and Garmer reports

Why Scotts Valley?

Scotts Valley is a small but vibrant city of about 12,000 people, located near both Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz. The population includes a mix of tech-savvy adults, a large group of residents aged 45–64, and a youth population under 18 that makes up around 20% of the community. We chose this library because its size, location, and audience make it an interesting example of how a smaller library is responding to current trends and community needs.

The population of Scotts Valley is around 12,000 as of 2023. The community is primarily White at 70%, with a growing Hispanic demographic at 15%.

The age distribution of Scotts Valley shows a large concentration of residents in the 45–64 age bracket. This suggests that the library could capitalize on promoting lifelong literacy and learning. There is also a relatively large youth population under the age of 18 (around 20%), which suggests that there should be a focus on youth programming and engagement.

Education levels in Scotts Valley show that about 57% or more of adults hold a bachelor's degree. This suggests that there is a strong baseline for the library to promote services that enrich research.

Income distribution in Scotts Valley shows that the average household income is around $130,000, meaning that the population is relatively affluent.

The digital divide in Scotts Valley shows that the surrounding Santa Cruz County is dealing with digital equity gaps and housing instability, which spill into Scotts Valley.