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Adopt a resolution recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the Benicia Public Library building
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Monica Brown requests that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the Benicia Public Library building.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Benicia Public Library requests the Board of Supervisors adopt a Resolution to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of their building.
The Benicia Public Library dates back to 1910 when a two-room library in the old Capitol (then City Hall) was finally established. In 1948 the first Library Board of Trustees in 42 years was appointed to begin planning a way to fund a new library and find a suitable site. On April 9th, 1956 the new library opened its doors with 7,000 volumes. The Benicia Public Library was built on land donated by Edna Clyne who agreed to donate the garden next to her house for a public library. In 1984, plans begun for a new library. In 1987, architect Franz Albert was selected to do a site study and the Eunice Jensen Park was selected as the site for the new library. On June 19th, 1993 the new library opened. It was funded by the State Library Bond Construction Act, with $4.7 million from the State of California and a City of Benicia match of $2 million. A fundraising campaign, "Books for Benicia," contributed over $292,000 in corporate and individual donations for books and other materials.
The Benicia Public Library currently attracts over 4,000 people each week and has over 18,000 card holders in Benicia, who checked out over 312,000 items in FY 2016/17 resulting in a per capita circulation of more than 11 items per person.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of preparing the staff report and resolution is nominal and is absorbed in the Board of Supervisors FY2017/18 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve th...
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