Year 2007 Grants

During the year, FOPL's Board of Directors approved grants totalling $76,500 to the Oakland Public Library for fiscal year 2007-2008 as follows:

  • East Oakland Community Library: $53,000
  • National Library Week: $5,000
  • Library Staff Scholarships: $2,500
  • Director's Discretionary Fund: $2,000
  • Children's Programs: $10,000, made possible by a donation from the Herman Auerbach Memorial Fund Trust II.
  • After school homework program: $2,000
  • Second Start Adult Literacy: $2,000

The Library's request this year emphasized capital project support for the new East Oakland Community Library. In addition, there is support for programs traditionally supported by FOPL.

East Oakland Community Library

The Library's priority for private fundraising this year is support for the East Oakland Community Library.

For this new library, at 81st Avenue and Rusdale, the Library has already recieved substantial funding of $6.5 million from the State of California Public Library Construction Bond Act of 2000 (Prop. 14). The City of Oakland has committed $3.5 million in redevelopment funds.

The Libary's fundraising goal for the East Oakland Community Library is $3.5 million for general capital support for construction, furnishings, and fixtures including technology, collections, and Green Building components. A private foundation has made a commitment to contribute $1 million if the Oakland Public Library can raise $2 million from other private sources by 2009. Thus, for each dollar contributed by FOPL, another 50 cents will be contributed through this matching grant. To learn more about this project, visit the Library's website at www.oaklandlibrary.org and click on "New East Oakland Library."

National Library Week 2008

FOPL will be a co-sponsor of this well-attended annual author event offered free to the public. This year's featured speaker is Nikki Giovanni. The 2007 event featured Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma; prior author appearances include Isabel Allende, David Eggers, Alice Walker, and Terry McMillan.

Library Staff Scholarships

The Library may use these funds as needed to meet the current needs of OPL employees who are enrolled in an accredited Master of Library Science degree program.

Measure N

In addition to grants to the Library, in October 2007, FOPL contributed $10,000 to support the bond measure campaign to improve the Oakland Public Library's branch and main libraries.

Thank you to our members, Bookmark volunteers and customers, and other friends and supporters who make it possible for FOPL to provide this special support to the Oakland Public Library

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