Past Projects

The Palo Alto Library Foundation has successfully completed three fundraising campaigns in five years. The first provided the resources to complement the city's funds and rebuild Children's Library. The second provided the funding to create Teen Zones at Mitchell Park and Main libraries. The third and most recent filled the new Children's Library with kid-sized furniture and whimsical signs.

Rebuilding Children's Library, 2003-07

In early 2003, an anonymous donor gave the Friends of the Palo Alto Library $150,000 for renovating and expanding Children's Library. The donor pledged an additional $200,000 if that amount could be matched by private fundraising before the end of the year.

The FOPAL president, Ellen Wyman, asked the City to make a $1.2 million commitment for this project if non-City funds in the same amount could be raised by year end. The city agreed to the challenge.

Then the Palo Alto Library Foundation teamed up with FOPAL and the Library Advisory Commission to raise the necessary funds. By the end of the year, success was ours. Approximately $1.1 million in private funds was raised for the construction effort by January 2004. Adding on federal grant funding, the goal was met.

In 2006, there was still work to do to finish the project. The Foundation took responsibility for raising an additional $400,000 to provide necessary furniture, fixtures and equipment. Thanks to our donors we filled the new Children's Library with kid-sized furniture and whimsical signs by the end of 2006.

Creating "Teen Zones" at Our Libraries, 2004-06

In 2005, the foundation raised $38,000 to provide new teen zone furnishings for the Main Library and the Mitchell Park Library.