Our Priorities

A great public library is not possible through public funding alone.

The mission of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation is to raise private funds to supplement public funding for both the Walnut Creek Downtown and Ygnacio Valley libraries in order to achieve our vision that both libraries shall become indispensable information resources with free and convenient facilities and services.

Our current programs and initiatives include the following:

• Downtown Library Capital and Endowment Campaign
  
• Ygnacio Valley Library Improvements
• One City, One Book: Walnut Creek Reads
• Live! From The Library
• Children’s Summer Reading Program
  
• David N. Bortin Classical Music Collection
  
• Jerry Miller Opera Collection
  
• Women of California History Collection
  
• Ann Shelton Fund for the Celebration of Books and Reading

Downtown Library Capital and Endowment Campaign

The Library Foundation has begun a major capital and endowment campaign to support the library construction and expanded programming needs in the new Walnut Creek Downtown Library. We have already received donations from various members of the community including local school children who conducted penny drives. We are pleased that the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation awarded the Library Foundation with a $1 million grant for the new Walnut Creek Library. Read more . . .

The new library will replace the existing library, which was built in 1961 when Walnut Creek had fewer than 10,000 residents. Learn about our vision for the new library.

Gifts both large and small will be needed to make the new library a reality. Learn more about ways to donate to the Downtown Library fund . . .

You can read the latest about the City’s plans for the new Downtown Library on the City’s Library Update web pages.

One City, One Book: Walnut Creek Reads

The One City, One Book program encourages community members to read the same book at the same time – thereby creating a citywide book club – and then to participate in a series of community-wide events that celebrate the book. The 2008 selection will be announced in early summer.

Live! From The Library

The Library Foundation launched Live! From The Library in November 2006, a program that features three free public lectures each year. In September a panel will discuss "Beyond Gridlock: Urban Design and Sustainable Growth." Past programs included a lecture and discussion with economist Tapan Munroe, a panel of media celebrities discussed the changing face of Bay Area media, and two local political writers discussed Politics In The Age of You Tube. Read more about the fall events.

Children’s Summer Reading Program

Now entering its sixth year, the Children’s Summer Reading Program offers reading fun for children and provides incentives to encourage students to continue their reading during the summer.

The Library Foundation co-sponsors the Children’s Summer Reading Program with the Diablo Valley Lions Club and both the Walnut Creek and Ygnacio Valley Friends of the Library groups. Each year, the groups hold the annual Walk the Library Walk to raise funds for the program. The groups have raised more than $19,000 for the program over the 5 years.

David N. Bortin Classical Music Collection

The David N. Bortin Classical Music Collection, which concentrates on symphonic and choral music, will be the largest CD collection of classical music in Contra Costa County. The collection is available at the Ygnacio Valley Library.

Beverly Bortin created the fund for this special collection in memory of her husband, an attorney in his professional life who had a deep and enduring love for both classical music and libraries.

Learn more about ways to give . . .

Jerry Miller Opera Collection

The Jerry Miller Opera Collection, available at the Ygnacio Valley Library, is being developed as a basic collection of opera CDs and DVDs. It will be enhanced and enlarged as additional funds become available.

Jerry Miller is a founding member of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and an ardent opera lover. The collection was established in his honor by Beth and Keith Bornemann, his daughter and son-in-law.

Learn more about ways to give . . .

Ann Shelton Fund for the Celebration of Books and Reading

Established by the foundation to honor former Walnut Creek librarian Ann Shelton, the Ann Shelton Fund for the Celebration of Books and Reading will be used to encourage and celebrate reading at both the Walnut Creek Downtown and Ygnacio Valley libraries, including author visits, the purchase of new books, and other programming.

Learn more about ways to give . . .