DATE: March 12, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Library Department
TITLE: ACCEPTANCE OF 2025 DONATIONS FROM FRIENDS OF THE OCEANSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council accept and appropriate donations totaling $97,500, disbursed throughout 2025, from the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library, awarded to the City to support Library services.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Friends of the Oceanside Public Library (Friends) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that has supported the Library since 1971. The Friends is 100 percent volunteer driven and independently managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its primary source of income derives from the sale of used books and other items that have been donated to the Library, or removed from the Library collection. The Friends operate three bookstores including the Jane & Evie’s Used Books storefront at 323 North Coast Highway and two other bookstores located within the Civic Center and Mission Branch Libraries. The Friends also sell books every Thursday at the Farmers Market and on Amazon, and they raise funds through memberships and special event fundraisers.
The Friends give an average of $95,000 per year to the Library. This financial support funds Library events, services and special purchases, including the current amount of $40,000 per year in books and materials for the Library’s circulating collection, literacy materials, marketing expenses and makerspace support. The Friends support expenses related to presenting the many Library programs, special events, concerts and cultural celebrations, including supplies, refreshments, presenter fees and other related expenses. All Library programming is made possible by Friends or grant funding, and no regular City General funds are expended on these efforts.
For 2025, the Friends’ Board of Directors have approved disbursing a total of $97,500 to the Library. This amount will be disbursed as needed and will include $40,000 for books and materials; $16,500 for children’s programming and services; $10,000 for teen programming and services; $14,500 for adult programming and services; $1,000 for literacy materials; $6,000 for marketing expenses; $7,000 for cultural celebrations and concerts; $500 for Makerspace, and $2,000 for discretionary spending.
FISCAL IMPACT
Of the total $97,500 Friends support for 2025, $41,000 will be deposited and extended into retail checking accounts with Friends oversight for Library programming expenses, and $56,500 will be appropriated and expended follows:
Description |
Account |
Amount |
Revenue |
|
|
Contrib from NonGovt Source |
Reader Services-Youth 350358101.4393 |
$40,000 |
Contrib from NonGovt Source |
Library Admin 350010101.4393 |
16,500 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
$56,500 |
Expenditure |
|
|
Children’s Books |
350358101.5455.0003 |
$40,000 |
MS&S Friends of the Library |
350010101.5355.0007 |
16,500 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
$56,500 |
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Library Board of Trustees approved acceptance of the 2025 Friends Support funding at its regular February 25, 2024 meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
Does not apply.
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Prepared by: CJ Di Mento, Library Director
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Donation Acceptance Form