The Friends of the Morgan Hill Library and their Beyond Books
Campaign are to be commended for raising funds to bring public art
to the facility and making sure the project is a success when it
opens in July
As the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library near the end of their fundraising efforts and as National Library Week approaches, there’s no better time to laud the work of the Beyond Books Campaign and to remind the community that there’s still time to support the cause.
These volunteers, through the Beyond Books Campaign, are raising money for art and equipment for the new library, under construction at Civic Center Plaza behind the current facility. The group set an ambitious goal of raising $180,000. It’s raised $152,000.
The new Morgan Hill library is a wonderful project all the way around. First, it’s wonderful because it’s a library, a community asset that promotes literacy and learning and offers access to information and information technology to everyone. All it takes is a library card, and that’s free.
It’s a wonderful project because at 28,000 square feet, it nearly doubles the current library’s size. The library was designed with expansion in mind, as needs warrant and budgets allow.
It’s a wonderful project because while the city pays for the building’s construction, the Joint Powers Authority that runs the Santa Clara County Library System pays to staff and operate it. That means the new library will not impact the city’s general fund, unlike many other big-ticket projects the city has built in the last few years.
It’s a wonderful project because the city owns the current library building, meaning it can be turned into much-needed city office space after the new library opens on July 21.
Congratulations to the folks, led by Carol O’Hare, who’ve worked so hard over the last year on the Beyond Books Campaign. Because the city’s policy is to not pay for public art, this group’s efforts are even more important.
Because of their efforts and the community’s support, the new Morgan Hill Library will be the first new library in Santa Clara County Library System to open with both indoor and outdoor public art. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Their efforts are all the more impressive because many of the volunteers and campaign supporters wanted the new library to be built at a different location. The question of where to put the new library – at the Civic Center, on Edmundson Avenue, or downtown – was a long-running, passionate and contentious debate. We’re especially proud of library lovers who put aside their disappointment when their preferred spots weren’t chosen and volunteered and donated to the Beyond Books Campaign anyway.
If you haven’t helped yet, it’s not too late. The campaign hasn’t quite reached its $180,000 goal. To help, visit www.friendsmhlibrary.org and click the Beyond Books Campaign logo. The campaign ends on May 1.
It’s a wonderful project and a wonderful cause.
