About the San Ramon Library Foundation

 

Mission and History

The Foundation was founded and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1985 first to spearhead funding and design for the current library building, opened in 1989, and then to help fund materials and programs for adults and children within the community. The Foundation works closely with San Ramon business leaders, community leaders and the City government to achieve its goal of maintaining quality library services for an ever-growing population in an ever-changing environment.

 

By 1987 the Foundation had raised $300,000 to purchase the opening day collection for the current building.

 

Since then, the Foundation has regularly donated thousands of dollars each year for story times, the jazz concerts and lectures beginning with the Duke Ellington exhibit in 1995; after school programs – just about anything special that happens in the Library is funded, at least partially, by the Foundation.

 

Recent Accomplishments:

• Spearheaded and assisted in writing the Prop 14 grant that could save the City approximately 65% of the cost to build the City Center Library
• Pledged $100,000 to the funding of the new City Center Library
• Funded 50% of Sunday hour salaries at the current Library when the City didn’t have it in their budget to keep the Library open
• Spearheaded the fundraising to complete the furnishing and equipping of the small (1/3 the size of the current Library), neighborhood Dougherty Valley Library
• Funded Thriving in Middle School – a program to serve middle-school parents, many of whose children are in the library every day after school
• Funded adult program from the Asian Art Museum, Writers Wednesday, Business Book Club (with the Chamber of Commerce)
• Funded After School Programs for Grades K-6: Criters and Continents, Halloween Folk Music and Dmitri Mattheny Winterfest (with Target and the San Ramon Arts Foundation)

 

Benefits of Membership

• Access to Member-Only Nights such as the Members' Preview of the Book Sale
• The satisfaction of working together for the good of yourself, your children and your neighbors
• Receive the quarterly newsletter to keep up-to-date on Library and Foundation events