Supporting your library

Donors have many options for giving ....here are just a few

1. General Donations over $ 1,000.00. Donations of $ 1,000.00 or more may be honored by a leaf on our Donor Wall. The Donor Wall consists of antique card catalog drawer fronts and accompanying bronze leaves with the donor name. The display is a permanent one in our main library. Funds for this donation can go to any of the many Foundation programs.
2. General Donations to the Foundation in your Children’s/Grandchildren’s Name. General donations may be earmarked for specific programs such as those for children. In the past, families have opted to sponsor a children’s program such as a summer “Family Fun Night.” The children’s or family name may appear on program posters, flyers, etc. indicating the family’s sponsorship of the event, for example: “Magic Dan Family Fun Night Sponsored by the London family.” Such recognition is possible for donations between $ 350.00 and $ 500.00.
3. Book Spines at the Easton Branch Library. After remodeling the Easton Branch Library in 2004, two pillars were created as an entrance to the children’s area. Each pillar has faux shelves and faux book spines. The spines are hand painted by a well-known San Francisco artist. Families may put whatever they wish on the spine. Some examples are: My Hometown, by Christine Atwater; Toby and Sam Dickson; The Robert Jones Family; Diane, David and John Smith, etc. The spines are $ 500.00 per spine and funds go toward Branch library programming and services. This is a permanent installation and children really enjoy seeing their names on the spine!
4. General donations for a Specific Item. Donors sometimes would like to give a larger sum to provide a permanent recognition for a family member. One family gave $ 2,500 for special gondola shelving, which is housed in our Popular Materials Room. The piece is solid oak and finished to match the other furnishings in the library. A bronze plaque was placed on the piece with the wording the family chose to honor their father. This is a welcome permanent gift to the library, and a meaningful way to honor a loved one.
5. On-Going Donations. One type of ongoing donation would be an endowment situation in which the interest is given to the library or to the Foundation. One of these programs generates funds for the library twice a year to purchase materials for the collection. A book plate is placed in each book donated by the fund. The Library Foundation is capable of implementing a similar endowment program per the donor’s instructions.
6. Gifts of Stock. Gifts of stock have been given to the Foundation. The Foundation makes the decision to keep or sell the stock. The Foundation has done both, depending on the value of the stock and the donor’s instructions. We currently receive several gifts of stock per year.
7. Gifts of Real Estate. Two of our largest bequests received have been donations of real estate through a living trust. One donation was a building and lot to the south of the main library in the mid-1980’s. The city was able to use this gift of property to expand the main library in 1997. This was a gift of Roger and Jean Hunt Duncan. We named the Children’s Room in honor of the donors. In another case, a bequest from James Z. Marshall gave the library ¼ of a parcel of local real estate and we were able to use the $ 600,000 that was generated by the sale as the lead gift to remodel the Easton Branch Library in 2004.
8. Gifts of Books, Media. Books and media in good condition (not stored in basements or garages, please!) may be donated for the Library Foundation’s book sales. The Foundation sponsors two major used book sales per year, in addition to the on-going sales at the main library. Such donations add thousands of dollars to the Foundation revenues per year. More valuable books which the library cannot use for the collection may be offered for sale on eBay.
9. In-Kind Donations: Volunteer! The Foundation needs volunteers for a variety of duties, from helping set up book sales, to working on Foundation events. You may volunteer for the Foundation by calling the Foundation Office at 650-344-5954.
10. Corporate Matching Donations. Individuals who work for a corporation that offers a matching-donor program may give a gift to the library and have it doubled in many cases. This is a great way to make your donation work harder for the life of the library.
11. Unique Donations. The library has received many unique donations over the years including:
    1. a statue “Boy Reading” honoring a beloved former mayor;
    2. a gift of $ 30,000.00 for one year to keep the library open an additional evening per week;
    3. a gift of $ 100,000.00 earmarked to provide media equipment and furnishings of the library community room;
    4. personal gifts by members of the Foundation Board to re-upholster the antique conference room chairs;
    5. a donation to allow the library to purchase a unique database and newsletter program;
    6. a donation by a resident to set up a staff recognition program for the library pages.