Library renovations may finish early: Fundraising for Burlingame project is close to $1 million goal

“It’s moving pretty quickly,” said City Librarian Patricia Harding. “We’re going to be able to open up the upper level the week of Oct. 2.”

The City Council awarded a $1.74 million construction contract to Zolman Construction and Development to create the new tech and media lab with updated computers and LCD screens, video conferencing capabilities, four group study rooms, a new conference room that fits 20 people, an expanded teen area, a Burlingame Library Foundation bookstore and cafe, along with new carpeting.

Financing is also happening quickly, Harding said. The City Council agreed to pledge $2.5 million, while the library foundation is charged with raising the remaining $1 million through donations and public fundraising. So far, the library’s capital campaign committee has raised $672,000 of the $1 million pledged or donated since it began fundraising in November 2013, Harding said. The library has a personal goal of raising $750,000 by December 2014.

“With the rapid rate of the capital campaign, we hope to finish (financing) by December 2015,” she said.

So far, 192 people have donated. Melanie and Kurt Hoefer would like to give $100,000 and name the teen room the Hoefer Teen Room. The family lives in Hillsborough, but is well established in the Burlingame community. The family donated to the original campaign 20 years ago, Harding said.

“The Burlingame library has been an important resource to several generations of the Hoefer family. We’re delighted with the efforts of Burlingame Library Foundation to maintain and adapt this beautiful and vital institution to a new era for many more generations to come. We are pleased to help renew this vital institution by adapting to changing technology and responding to the numerous 21st century needs of its patrons,” said Melanie Hoefer.

Patty Anixter, the Burlingame Library Foundation’s capital campaign chair, noted rooms will only be named with more than $100,000 donations and there won’t be any corporate logos. The library will need approval from the capital campaign committee, the City Council and the library’s Board of Trustees before a room naming can be approved.

“The library serves 11,000 households, so we should get more (donations),” Anixter said.

Two rooms in the library currently honor major donors. The Duncan Children’s Room and the Lane Community Room were both named during the “Something New is Building” campaign in 1995. The library was built at its current downtown location in 1930. The last time it was reconstructed was in 1995.

“This campaign is reaching a broader base,” Harding said. “The foundation was just starting in the 1990s. We have a long history now, so we have a lot of support.”

Although the majority of the outside of the building won’t be modified, the library’s ramp on the east side of the building, off of the parking lot, will be reconfigured to accommodate the new automated materials check-in system.

The library is staying open during renovations by doing the updates floor by floor, starting with the upper level and closing off one space at a time, Harding said. Each floor will take about three months, she said.

For those interested in giving contributions, gifts of $1,000 or more will be listed on the Burlingame Library Wall of Honor. Gifts of $5,000 or more include prominent recognition and special tours. Gifts above $10,000 include Honorary Membership in the Escoffier Society. Gifts more than $25,000 include for a donor plaque, while gifts more than $50,000 include dignified donor plaque. Contributions of $100,000 or more may qualify for the naming opportunity. Go to burlingamelibraryfoundation.org/frontpage-featured to donate.

A mailer will go out the week of Sept. 29 asking residents of Hillsborough and Burlingame to donate.

angela@smdailyjournal.com

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