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UPDATE
(02/28/2007):
LIBRARY AD-HOC TASK FORCE REPORT
(.pdf)
In August 2006 the
Mayor and Council appointed a Citizens' Ad-hoc Task Force with the charge of
exploring options for construction of a new Main Library in Escondido.
Their report and recommendations were presented and discussed in a workshop
with the City Council.
The city of Escondido has doubled in population since 1980 when the main library was first built. Since then, the number of library card holders has quadrupled to over 100,000. Librarians answer 10 times as many questions. People check out 3 times as many books, videos and CDs.
With the growing population and the increasing demand for library materials and services, we are running out of room. New services such as literacy programs and Internet access were not planned in 1980, so space was never even considered for these popular library activities. Closets and public meeting rooms have become offices.
The age, design and limited space of the building can no longer sustain the needs, hopes and dreams of our growing community.
Movie: Why we need a new library
(You must have a viewer that can play .mpg video files.
It will take approximately 3 minute to download using high speed Internet
connection.)
A library is more than just books, magazines, videos and recordings. A library is the key to an educated and involved community and for successful families. In today's information age, we all need more resources to keep current and compete effectively. Our Escondido Public Library provides that competitive edge to all in our community - students, seniors, working adults and YOU!
The estimated cost of the new library building is $30.1 million. The library has submitted an application under the Library Bond Act of 2000 and will know whether we have been selected to receive the funding in the fall of 2003. The bond act would provide 65% of the total costs, with the remaining 35% being provided by the City of Escondido.
The Escondido Library Endowment Foundation has embarked on a capital campaign to supplement the state and local funding by at least $3 million. This money would go towards building the best children's section possible, adding books and media items to the collection, and providing additional computers and educational improvements for library users. Your help is needed to raise this money. The Mini Cooper raffle has already helped raise $40,000 with more fundraisers are planned for the future, but donations are always being accepted.
Tax dollars only go so far to provide the resources we need to excel. Your support of the Escondido Library Endowment Foundation bridges the funding gap and ensures that our library is on the cutting edge of a fast changing world.
To make a donation, please send checks payable to:
Escondido Library Endowment Foundation
230 South Kalmia Street
Escondido, CA 92025
Or call (760) 839-4834 for more details.
Movie: Why we need a new library
(You must have a viewer that can play .mpg video files)
Sketches of the new Escondido Public Library building
Site Plan
Aerial View
Selkirk Miller Hayashi Architects
http://www.smharchitects.com/projects/library/library.htm
Escondido Library Endowment Foundation
http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/library/about/foundation.htm
California State Library's Office of Library Construction
(for information on the Library Bond Act of 2000)
http://www.olc.library.ca.gov/
North County Times articles
State library funding in 2006 probable for Escondido (2/10/2005)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/02/11/news/inland/escondido/23_33_172_10_05.txt
North County libraries face final round for state
grant (6/5/2004)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/06/06/news/top_stories/22_40_066_5_04.txt
No construction grants for local libraries (10/29/2003)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2003/10/30/news/top_stories/10_29_0322_05_30.txt
Couple's new car will come in handy (4/15/2003)
http://www.nctimes.net/news/2003/20030415/63156.html
Council to decide fate of library expansion (3/4/2003)
http://www.nctimes.net/news/2003/20030304/55423.html
Council to consider final library plan Wednesday (12/17/2002)
http://www.nctimes.net/news/2002/20021217/55625.html
San Diego Union-Tribune articles
Measure offers shot at funding for library (2/11/2005)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20050211-9999-1mi11library.html
Library funding quest may be all of nothing (7/8/2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040708/news_1mi8library.html