Friends launch fundraising campaign for new library

FALLBROOK — The Friends of the Fallbrook Library and its Library Building Fund Task Force launched their campaign to raise $1 million in funds for a new library at their annual luncheon April 27 at Pala Mesa Resort.

This effort is a result of the failure of Proposition 81, which would have provided for a $600 million statewide library bond, $3.9 million of which would have virtually ensured state funding for construction of the library planned for Fallbrook.

Honorary Chairperson Arlyne Ingold was present to place a movable “arrow” next to a $100,000 benchmark painting on a banner that will hang on the east side of the library, with a duplicate in a window at Major Market.

With the encouragement and support of Supervisor Bill Horn, his staff and County Library Director Jose Aponte, the Friends developed a concept plan for the library that will reflect Fallbrook community character elements in its design. Over 100 new items for the new library have also been identified.

Ultimately, the new building will be at least twice the size of the existing structure and will span the entire ridge along Mission from Fig to Alvarado. It will have an enlarged Bottom Shelf bookstore and a community meeting room. The state of the art facility will serve all segments of Fallbrook’s population, from toddlers to teens to “Boomers” to seniors. The new library will be the most important building downtown, the anchor for the Town Center plan, and act as a cultural center for musical performances, readings and gatherings.

Members of the Library Building Task Force are Bob Jacobson, Don Bain, Jane McKee, Jennifer Jeffries, John Crawford, Roberta Kuse, Ron Miller and Jerri Patchett, president of the Friends of the Fallbrook Library.

The present Fallbrook Library is one of the busiest in the county system and serves a population of approximately 48,000, which is expected to grow to over 60,990 by the year 2020, according to SANDAG. About 500 people use Fallbrook Library each day.