Achievements - How We Help the Library

children seated listening to a presenterFriends’ contributions have helped make the Main Library and Woodland Branch truly special places, funding new books and media as well as live programs and equipment.

  • Programs - We fund most children’s programs, all teen programs and many adult programs.
  • Materials – We provide the money for many new books for the Los Altos community, including the popular bestseller collection.
  • We contribute to the purchase of equipment and furnishings.
  • We spun off the Los Altos Library Endowment as an Endowment branch for fundraising.

Some specifics of our past and ongoing contributions are:

person looking at books on a shelfBooks and media

  • 7-day loan collection of important new fiction and non-fiction.
  • $300,000 to the Vision 21 campaign – funding the science and technology collection
  • Expansion of the collections of DVDs, CDs and recorded books.
  • Starting and ongoing funding of the Friends Best Seller Collection

Programs

  • Art docent lectures
  • World Affairs Council
  • Master Gardeners and California Native Plant Society programs
  • Craft programs
  • Halloween Mystery Event
  • Summer Reading: performers, prizes, awards
  • Teen Poetry Competition prizes
  • Children’s Book Club books and supplies
  • Children’s Storytimes

Children seated on step benches reading booksEquipment and Furnishings

  • Program room chairs
  • Teen room tables and chairs
  • Computers and printers
  • Bike racks
  • Electronic bulletin board
  • Wireless sound system
  • Staff area space dividers
  • Woodland Branch bookcases
  • 3D printer and supplies

Library Facilities

  • $100,000 for 1992 Library Expansion
  • 2006 feasibility study and preliminary plans for expansion of Main Library
  • Remodeling of Woodland Branch