Friends of the Library Named Organization of the Year

The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce has named the Scotts Valley Friends of the Library the Organization of the Year. The distinction couldn’t have come at a more timely moment, as the organization is just $20,000 away from reaching the goal it set three and a half years ago to raise $250,000 for the new Scotts Valley Library that opened in June.

The $230,000 that has been raised so far by the Friends has been with the help of community members, community service groups like the Lion's Club, and Rotary International, and countless book sales, auctions and other fundraising events.

“We started out with a couple fundraisers before the library got going, and those were auction barbecues ... that was kind of our kick-off to the project,” said Elizabeth Walch, president of the SV Friends of the Library. 

Those first fundraisers, which brought in around $17,000 and $13,000 respectively, kicked off an excellent fundraising project, and also spurred the Friends of the Library into a visionary campaign to help the new library join the libraries of the future. 

Among the features at the new library are a nine-screen media wall, a fireplace and fireside room complete with a kitchen for meetings and events to be held, and a teen and children’s area. The Friends are also currently working on raising funds to complete an outside reading patio. 

"We wanted to make the library welcoming and usable to the general public and all of the facets of our community. It accommodates across the board," Walch said.

Study rooms and a quiet adult reading area complete with periodicals are some of the library's other features, which Walch says accommodate the multi-faceted community of library users that includes everyone from children and teens to adults and seniors. The Friends even helped get a grant for a Special Needs Resource center, something that the county schools don't even have. 

“It’s a super library. Our circulation has tripled since we opened it. It's just been a wonderful place that’s great for all ages. We have seniors who come in and use the Internet, teenagers come in to do their homework,” Walch said. 

The children area, sponsored by Terry and Laura LaPorte, features a state-of-the-art early literacy computer software program, as well as interactive wooden structures that help kids put words together with sound and touch.

The library also features 30 solar tubes, sponsored by Mark and Bonnie Overgaard, a green component that helps save electricity. 

"The original plans had skylights, but the solar tubes are different. They actually capture light and bring it into the space, the active light that comes through the tubes is really bright," Walch said.

Walch thanks Teresa Landers, library director for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, for working with the Friends of the Library to envision a library for the future. She also thanks the Scotts Valley City Council and all of the community members on the Friends of the Library mailing list who jump in to help when they can. 

"It's just wonderful that they are being recognized for the hard work of so many people who have been part of our organization, and it's also what our goal was–to bring this to the community. We’re just really grateful for the recognition that this brings to our cause," Walch said.

To become involved with the Scotts Valley Friends of the Library, drop by the library on the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. for their meeting, or come to their book sale on Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Scotts Valley Chamber’s Community Service Awards Gala takes place Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased through the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce by calling 831-438-1010 or online at the Chamber website, www.scottsvalleychamber.com.