San Mateo Main Library to Stay Open on Sundays

The San Mateo Public Library Foundation's 2nd Annual Author Gala, featuring Julie Powell, the best-selling author of Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously, surpassed its fundraising goal and is keeping the San Mateo Main Library open on Sundays for the next year.

A capacity crowd of 200 guests at the recent gala helped to exceed fundraising efforts and enable this year’s Fund A Need to become a reality: keeping the Main Library Open on Sundays through June 30, 2014.

The annual Author’s Gala was held at the San Mateo Public Library, located at 55 W. 3rd Ave., San Mateo. 

“Sundays represent a day for students of all ages to complete school assignments or prepare for exams, for families to find time to visit the Library together, for literacy students to meet with their literacy tutors, for individuals who are unemployed to use the Library’s employment resources, or for individuals with very busy schedules to find time to browse the collection or attend a library program,” City Librarian Ben Ocón said.

The San Mateo Public Library Foundation raised funds to keep the Main Library open during the 2013 summer and on all Sundays that precede a Monday holiday throughout the year.

The affected Sundays would have otherwise been designated as closures as part of the budget reduction measures that have been in effect since 2009-10.

To provide the community with greater access to the Library services, programs and resources were mutually identified as the highest priority goal for the Library and the Library Foundation. 

“We are so pleased to have been able to not only accomplish, but surpass our monetary goal to keep the library open on Sundays! The rest of the money will be used for ongoing programming and special events during the year,” said Linda Fitzpatrick, President of the San Mateo Public Library Foundation.

Featured speaker was Julie Powell, best-selling author of Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously (2005), a warm, witty account of one woman’s attempt to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's voluminous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in one year and Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession (2009).

Ms. Powell shared with guests her insights on cooking, writing and finding a sense of direction in her life.

Dinner was served in the Library’s sweeping atrium, which with the leadership of the Foundation’s auxiliary was transformed into an elegant French themed setting for friends, guests and corporate sponsors.

“It was especially meaningful to be able to hold the event at our amazing Library,” said Event Co-Chair, Pam Casey.

“It really helps to highlight how important this resource is to our community,” said Michele Freed who, with Casey, spearheaded the successful event. “We have just been overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters and gala attendees.”

About the San Mateo Public Library Foundation

The San Mateo Public Library Foundation seeks private financial support from the community to ensure high-quality library services will always be available now and for future generations.

Its objectives are:

• Raise funds for the purchase of library materials and expanded collections. Support the library’s services to children and teens, literacy services, the biotech program and improved facilities.
• Support educational and promotional activities developed by the San Mateo Public Library.
• Support special projects at the request of the City Librarian including cultural events for the community.
• For more information about the San Mateo Public Library Foundation, visitwww.smlibraryfoundation.org.

Sponsors and Special Contributors of the Gala: 

Barulich Dugoni  Law Group, Debbie Sharp – Keller Williams Peninsula Estates, Ernst & Young, LLP, Fox Marble, Franklin Templeton Investments, Linda Fitzpatrick, Lynn Song and Rafe Brown, Max Lo – Green Banker Realty, Michele Freed and Gary Sprague, Nasi and Lily Jazayeri, Pam and Bill Casey, Putnam Subaru Burlingame, Salesforce.com Foundation, S.E.A. Construction, Inc., Stephanie and Phil Gatto and Family, Tiffany & Co., Wells Fargo Foundation