Mayor and Foundation announce $40.8 million in private commitments for New Central
June 25
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today joined library donors to announce the donors of more than $30.8 million in private commitments for construction of a New Central Library and $10 million in private support to cover additional operating costs of the new facility when it opens.
- VISIT HERE for a news release on the announcement.
- VISIT HERE for a San Diego Union-Tribune article on the announcement.
- VISIT HERE for a Union-Tribune editorial lauding donor's contributions.
- VISIT HERE for a commentary piece by San Diego Foundation President and CEO Bob Kelly and Foundation Board of Governors member Ben Haddad encouraging additional philanthropic support for the New Central Library.
Mayor Sanders expressed San Diego’s gratitude to the project’s generous donors and committed to helping the effort to raise the final $32.5 million in private support required to complete phase II of Library construction.
“I am inspired by the generosity of these donors who have believed in this city’s greatness and this project through so many years,” said Mayor Sanders. “I am personally committed to helping raise the additional funds needed to complete the library and am confident in the Library Foundation’s ability to lead those efforts.”
Joan and Irwin Jacobs have committed $15 million to construction and an additional $5 million toward operations of the New Central Library. Mr. Jacobs described his support for the public library system as a way to strengthen the San Diego community and its members.
“Joan and I are pleased to join other donors in support of this wonderful project to further enrich the cultural, educational, and community activities in our city and region for many years,” he said. “One of my earliest memories growing up in New Bedford, Mass., was the weekly trolley ride to the library to select an armful of books. Later, Joan and I with our family lived a short walk from the Arlington, Mass., library, the site of the first public children's library in the country, and we visited often for books and records.
“Of course, in this age of the Internet and wireless downloads of books, periodicals, videos, and reference materials, we did debate whether a major new central library would be well-used,” Jacobs continued. “Our conclusion was a definite YES following repeated visits to new libraries in many major cities, all of which were invariably busy, supporting a broad cross-section of the community with a variety of well-used services. We now look forward to soon sharing with many in our community a beautiful new library complex complete with books, art, media, computers and software, with librarians to provide assistance, and with public spaces, an auditorium, and, uniquely, an active high school..”
Library Commissioner Matthew Hervey, whose family provided major financial support for construction of the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library, spoke of his family’s commitment to assist with the operating costs over the first five years of the New Central Library’s operation. He said this investment is key to the operations of the 35 branch libraries which rely on the Central Library.
“Branch libraries are the heart of each community, and the Central Library is the heart of the branch system.” Hervey said. “The Central Library provides resources, collections, expertise and reference support critical to branch operations. With each passing year, our current facility becomes less able to fulfill this role. A healthy new Central Library is essential to a healthy branch library system.”
Library Foundation Chair Judith C. Harris thanked the 67 families who have committed to the library and charter school project thus far and expressed confidence in the Foundation’s ability to raise the additional $32.5 million.
“We are grateful to the families who believe and have invested in this project,” Harris said. “The donors assembled here today inspire all of the project’s volunteer fundraisers to raise the additional contributions needed to deliver free literacy opportunities made possible by this Library. We are confident once we are able to put shovels in the ground, there will be additional donors providing support.”
Harris also noted that every member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and staff have made personal financial commitments to the project.
Library Director Deborah Barrow reinforced the need for the new Central Library. She said that the current 1950s building is too small and inadequate to serve the diverse needs of San Diego today, much less in the future. Barrow mentioned that according to San Diego School reports, more than 84 percent of students in the area qualify for free and reduced student lunches. She said that the new Central Library will be a center of knowledge, educational opportunity, and will provide access to art and culture for all San Diegans.
“The Library recently realized the highest circulation in our 128-year history,” said Barrow. “It is clear that San Diegans rely on their Library more than ever. The new library will be a gathering place for San Diegans and a source of pride for all. It is an essential resource for San Diegans and this library is essential to the entire library system.
The private commitments are paired with $80 million in funding from Centre City Development Corp., $20 million from a competitive State Library grant (the largest awarded from Prop 14 funds) and $20 million from the San Diego Unified School District to lease space for a charter school for a total of more than $150 million. More than 81 percent of the funding needed has been raised toward the project’s $184.9 million guaranteed maximum price.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on approval of the project on Monday, June 28.
The San Diego Public Library Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization comprised of mostly volunteer leaders who work with the Friends of the Library and other support groups to raise funds for an excellent free public library system. Since its formation in 2001, the Library Foundation has worked with the Friends and other partners to ensure the Library has met the City’s $1 million match each of the last seven fiscal years. This match program provides critical support for materials, programs and technology at the Central Library and the 35 branches. Since its inception, the Library Foundation has worked with the City to open six new branch libraries and expand two branches.
