Overview
The West Palm Beach Library Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation and was formed in 2000. The tax identification number is 65-1068311.
The mission of the Foundation is to enhance and support the building and ongoing operation of a new public library in the City of West Palm Beach.
The City and CRA funded and built City Center. The City Center complex includes a new city hall and new modern library. The new library building represents a major step forward in a world class facility our community deserves. However, like most municipalities, the budget allocated for the library’s basic needs are not sufficient to provide full access to the information, technology, programs and services the community needs. As such, the Library Foundation exists to expand programs, enhance services and strengthen the collections of the library.
History
When the Foundation was originally formed in 2000, included in its mission was to join the City of West Palm Beach in a private-public partnership to build a new library. The City was committed to contributing $15 million and the Foundation was committed to raising $15 million from the private sector for a $30 million facility.
A new library was needed because our community outgrew its 1960s era structure. The facility did not have space for an adequate book collection, computers, meeting rooms, and other amenities offered by modern libraries.
In 2003, a new mayor was elected who had a different vision for a new library. The vision included creating City Center. The City Center complex included a new city hall and a new library. The new direction included CRA funding, and as such, funding for a new library building was not needed from the Library Foundation.
The board members of the Library Foundation decided to focus their efforts on raising funds from the private sector to enhance the features, collections, furnishings, equipment and ongoing programming of the new library. They started out with a fundraising goal of $15million for this purpose.
Shortly after the recently elected mayor and commission began to move forward with the City Center project, a grassroots citizens group filed a lawsuit to stop its construction. As a result, the Library Foundation lost its fundraising momentum. Potential donors were not amenable to making gifts to the Foundation on behalf of a library with an unknown future.
A few years later the court dismissed the lawsuit and the construction of a “controversial” project commenced. In April of 2009, the City Center complex was open to the public. The project was well received by the community and any leftover controversy that existed due to the lawsuit evaporated.
From 2003-2008, the Foundation relied upon start-up contributions dating from its formation. More recently, the Foundation received a moderate donation ($100K), from a community based partner, to be applied toward collateral materials and organizational/staffing costs. The Foundation neither received nor allocated significant funding toward its core mission objectives during this extended period of uncertainty. The climate for fundraising improved once the public experienced the new library building, and, in 2009 the Foundation revitalized its efforts to raise funds to support its operation and the new library.
Present
In addition to funds needed to accomplish its mission, the Foundation needs funding for basic operations – salary, collateral materials, website, phone, indemnity insurance, accounting services, and other miscellaneous items. The City provides an office, computer, copier, fax, and utilities at no charge to the Foundation.
The opportunities are limitless for the Foundation. In addition to enhancing current library programs, services and technology, and collections, it foresees creating additional programs and services beyond the library’s current scope.