Horn announces major funding for new library

SAN DIEGO — On September 18, $350,000 was committed by the County of San Diego toward construction of a new library for Fallbrook. Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn’s Community Projects grant of $250,000 made up the lion’s share of the funding.

“We are getting closer to building a new library for Fallbrook,” said Horn. “The people of Fallbrook have been tremendous community partners and deserve to have their current library replaced with a first-class facility.”

Two recommendations from Supervisor Horn were unanimously supported by the full board. They include: • Allocating $250,000 from Community Projects Budget to the Friends of the Fallbrook Library to be used to raise additional funds for construction and furnishing of a new Fallbrook Library and to return all of the funds to the County in two years for a new Fallbrook Library

• Directing the Chief Administrative Officer to use $100,000 in capital project funds for development of design-build documents, including community and Friends of the Fallbrook Library coordination

Jerri Patchett and a contingent of Friends of the Fallbrook Library were at the September 18 board meeting.

Patchett said, “The Friends of the Fallbrook Library greatly appreciates the great working relationship we have had with Supervisor Horn and the County of San Diego. We have accepted the challenge and are raising matching dollars toward making our dream library come true.”

Fallbrook Library was reconstructed 20 years ago after it was destroyed by fire and now, despite outdated equipment and cramped space, is one of the busiest in the county system. Nearly two-thirds of Fallbrook’s 44,405 residents are library cardholders. By 2020, the population of Fallbrook is expected to reach 60,000.

To date, $2 million has been raised by the community, with another $1 million from the county, including Supervisor Horn’s Community Projects fund.

Projected cost for the new library is $9.54 million.