1. We are accepting recipes, artwork and writing that celebrate the themes of food and/or nature. Recipes may include an accompanying photograph.
2. Contributors should live, work or play Santa Clara community. (Yes, using the Santa Clara City Library counts as play!)
3. Contributors must be at least 18 years old as of April 1, 2026.
4. Submissions should be original works created without the use of generative AI.
5. Writing submissions may not exceed 3,000 words. There is no minimum word count.
6. Each contributor may submit a maximum of three (3) pieces.
7. All submissions due March 31, 2026. The Library will reach out to contributors whose works have been accepted for publication in April 2026 with more details, including copyright permissions.
8. Submissions can be made in person at any Santa Clara City Library location (Central Park, Mission, Northside or Bookmobile) or you can email your submissions to librarians@santaclaraca.gov. For email submissions:

• Use the subject line "NEA Big Read Submission."
• Send writing pieces and recipes in an editable text format (e.g. Microsoft Word, Google Doc).
• Send artwork in PDF, JPG or PNG formats.
• Please include your name, age, city of residence and contact information in the email body.

By submitting content via email or directly to library staff, you hereby grant Santa Clara City Library, Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts, the non-exclusive, unlimited right, permission and license to use these materials. You understand and agree that your documentation may be used, reproduced, distributed, and broadcast worldwide, in full or in an edited version, in all mediums, including, without limitation, the following: Electronic media (such as library website and electronic mailings), print media, and successor technologies (any other media, method, system, form or manner now or hereafter known, invented or used). All works submitted should be the submitter’s own work and not substantially edited by any other person or entity. In submitting content, you expressly confirm that you own any and all relevant intellectual property rights to the submission and that said submission was created through your own efforts without reliance on generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney.

Food, Culture & You Series

This three-part program series with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley explores the deep connection between food, culture and personal memory. Each session features a cooking demo and creative writing prompts to help participants explore their own food stories. Participants are welcome to attend any of the sessions or all three. Please visit the event listings below for more details:

• The Flavor of Home: Saturday, Nov. 1, at Northside Branch Library
• The Taste of Travel: Saturday, Dec. 6, at Mission Branch Library
• Food as a Legacy: Saturday, Jan. 17, at Central Park Library

Nature Journaling

Join us on Saturday, March 21, at Ulistac Natural Area for a nature journaling workshop with local artist Frances Marin. More details to come. Save the date!

Garden Storytime & Spinach Planting

This special storytime will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Eddie Souza Community Garden in Santa Clara, followed by a casual garden tour and a spinach planting. Each family will receive a free copy of our NEA Big Read youth companion title, Sylvia’s Spinach, in English or Spanish as supplies last. See complete details on our calendar.