Other City Funds: The City Council on Jan. 16, 2007 approved a funding plan that calls for future City contributions for park and site improvements totaling $1.2 million through fiscal year 2008-10. Also, the City will pledge $4 million from its Parking Fund, $1.6 million from its In Lieu Parking Fees Fund, and $2.5 million from the General Fund for the parking garage. The $3.6 million balance for the garage construction will not be needed until the end of the project -- sometime in late 2009 or early 2010 -- and staff has proposed borrowing those funds from existing City reserves with the commitment to repay itself with interest based on the Local Agency Investment Fund's rate at the time. The City estimates that by doing so, it can pay off the entire debt in less than five years. The revenue from a scheduled increase in downtown parking meter rates from 50 cents to $1 an hour later this year will help fund the construction costs of the library garage.

Private Fundraising: The Walnut Creek Library Foundation has pledged to raise $5 million from the private sector to support the construction and establish an endowment fund for operating costs.

What Can You Do?

Donate to the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. The Walnut Creek Library Foundation is a public nonprofit organization that raises private funds for new and improved library facilities, collections, and programs and services for both the Walnut Creek Downtown Library and the Ygnacio Valley Library. All gifts to the Foundation are tax-exempt to the full extent of the law. To learn how you can support the Foundation, click here.

Volunteer as a member of the Friends of the Walnut Creek Library. The Friends of the Walnut Creek Library is an organization dedicated to improving library services in Walnut Creek. Through membership donations and book sale earnings, the Friends provide the library with books, tapes, magazines, and compact discs and provide children's and cultural programs for the community. To learn how to help the Friends, click here.