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Who are Friends of the Delta Public Library?
We are an organization dedicated to focusing public attention on library services, facilities and needs for the new joint use community library scheduled to open in November 2009. In addition, we want to stimulate cash donations, gifts of books, magazines, desirable collections, endowments and bequests for the benefit of the new library and the citizens of Byron, Discovery Bay and other far east Contra Costa County communities.
Knowledge is free at the library and with our new joint use library scheduled to open on the grounds of Excelsior Middle School in Byron, going to the library just got closer and easier. As part of the Measure C school bond program, the Byron Union School District has entered into a partnership with the Contra Costa County Library System to build a new joint use public branch library. Because it will be a joint use facility on a secondary campus, the construction of the new library qualifies for up to $1.5 million more in construction funds from the State of California. The projections for the library include a building of approximately 10,000 square feet, which will likely include 1,000 square feet for a community meeting room that will also serve as the school board meeting room, and an additional 1,200-1,400 square feet that will be designated as a general use computer lab. In addition, the new library will boast a children’s reading and storytime area, plus extensive adult and young adult reading sections. There is even talk of a Starbucks-like coffee bar.
But, by law, no bond money or state joint use funds may be used to purchase the holdings for the library including books, periodicals, reference materials, multimedia materials, internet subscriptions and so on, that are needed for the students, families and community members who will be using the library. And, that is where the community is needed. We hope that individuals, groups and businesses will want to partner with the Friends of the Delta Public Library to raise the estimated $582,000 needed to purchase the above materials for opening day. Then, after securing our opening day holdings, approximately $688,000 in additional funds will be needed to finish purchasing the collections after county and school library staffs determine the needs of users at our branch library.
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