NEWPORT BEACH : $1.7 Million Raised for New Library

The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation has been awarded $10,000 by the BankAmerica Foundation of Los Angeles, bringing money raised for the under-construction Central Library to $1.7 million.

The sum marks the 1,500th donation received by the nonprofit organization in the two years it has worked to raise money for the $14-million library, said co-chairman Elizabeth Stahr.

The 52,000-square-foot Central Library on Avocado Avenue will replace a nearby structure on San Clemente Road which is overflowing with materials.

“We have books up to the ceiling and under shelves plus a whole storage facility in West Newport just loaded with books,” said Stahr. “It’s bulging at the seams.”

The four-library Newport Beach system is the second-busiest municipal public library in California, Stahr said. Last year, circulation topped 1 million items, about 17 per capita, and visits exceeded 690,000, she said.

The fund-raising campaign began with an effort to raise $1.5 million, with the rest of the construction costs to be footed by city funds and bonds. But because of higher-than-anticipated construction costs, more money is needed. Money also is needed to buy furniture and computer and telephone systems.

The fund-raising drive has been unusual, Stahr said, because unlike most such efforts where “big money comes in first,” this one has been built on smaller donations.

“Only 20 people donated $10,000 or more,” said Stahr. “That’s because people believe it’s a public library and therefore everyone should participate. And it’s also because of the recession. . . . Developers, the people who traditionally support these things, are hurting.”

To gain popular support, the foundation used innovative methods such as placing appeals in city water bills.

“The response was amazing,” said Stahr. “We pulled in people who had never before donated to anything. Unknown people sent $1,000 donations.”

The library, which is expected to be completed next fall, will have a donor wall to display names of individuals and businesses that have given $1,000 or more. The list for the donor wall, which to date has 350 names, will be closed on Dec. 31.

“We have to get these names to the designers to get the etching done,” said Stahr. “So we’d like more participation as soon as possible.”

For more information or to make donations, call (714) 548-3131.