Thanks to the generosity of its funders, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation has donated $50,000 over the last two years to support the rapidly growing e-book and audiobook collections at the Contra Costa County Libraries.
The Foundation’s annual Authors Gala has long featured a “bookmark raise” to support Library projects. For the last two years, Gala guests raised their “bookmarks” to donate to the County e-collection, and their contributions were augmented by a matching grant from the Foundation’s general fund. This year, guests also had the opportunity to “purchase” banned book titles to contribute to the cause. The money will enable the Contra Costa County Library to purchase more than 3,000 copies of books from a list of approximately 600 titles. Some are new titles and some are additional copies of books the library already owns. The wait times for borrowers to receive in-demand titles can be several months long, and the Foundation’s donation will reduce those delays.
The public demand for electronic books is growing faster than the library’s ability to acquire them. Patrons of Walnut Creek’s two public libraries currently check out more than 300,000 e-books a year, representing about 16 percent of the Contra Costa County total, according to county library officials.
“The popularity of this program is astounding,” said Lauren McCormick, Executive Director of the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. “The ‘bookmarks’ to fund library needs have been a fun part of the Authors Gala for years, but when we decided to dedicate the proceeds to purchasing titles for the e-collection, our donors’ interest exploded.”
Founded in 1998 to raise funds from the community to enhance the city’s two libraries and help make them vital and attractive social and cultural resources for the whole community, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation has purchased books, periodicals, furniture, equipment and supplies; sponsored hundreds of programs for adults, teens and children; and funded a broad range of special events and activities. Apply for a library card and check out e-books and other items at www.ccclib.org.