Fontana seeks donations for new library

Article Launch Date: 6/13/2006 12:00 AM

Leonor Vivanco, Staff Writer, San Bernardino County Sun

FONTANA - They’re being asked to give so others can receive.

The city recently launched the “Give Today to Enrich Tomorrow” fundraising campaign for which donations have been collected to go toward the new regional Fontana Library and Resource Technology Center under construction downtown.

The City Council today will be asked to give that effort a boost by hiring up to two more staffers, interns and consultants for a total of $1 million over two years.

The capital campaign’s goal is to raise $20 million to help offset construction costs and provide materials and programs to what will become San Bernardino County’s largest library branch.

“You’re not going to be able to go off and raise $20 million without spending some resources and marketing the benefits,” Mayor Mark Nuaimi said.

For such a campaign, it typically takes five to seven full-time employees to work on it and costs about $2 million, but the city would use interns and consultants for marketing, graphic design, public relations and grant writing to keep costs low, said Kathleen Fariss, library director of development.

“The more money you spend on staffing and resources and marketing and printing, that deters from capability to enhance the building,” she said.

About $1.25 million has been raised, she said.

The two-story, 93,000-square-foot library will feature a children’s library, storytelling center, homework center, literacy center, 330-seat auditorium, a rotunda, clock tower, cybercafe, fountains and a coffee bar.

“This is going to be a destination place for families to come,” Fariss said.

The $45 million library at Spring and Sierra avenues is on schedule to open in 2008. When the architect and construction-management contracts, land acquisition and demolition of buildings, computers and artwork is taken into account, the total cost of the project will be $60 million.

It is being paid with state and county funds, money from the north Fontana bond issue and developer fees.

The mayor hopes residents partner with the city, and businesses give back to Fontana by donating.

“Every dollar we put in that library is an investment to the community,” Nuaimi said.

Volunteers have been organized into committees and have a list of potential donors of individuals, foundations and corporations.

“Giving money is a wonderful thing, but the emotional tie to the project is what you want to look at from the donors' perspective,” Fariss said.

Donors have options ranging from giving $25 to adopt a book to buying the library’s naming rights.

People are expected to be able to donate money online by the end of the month, Fariss said.