Library Foundation Commits $105k for Children's Space
Escondido, CA – At its November 12, 2025 meeting, the Escondido City Council voted to accept a donation of up to $105,000 from the Escondido Library Foundation to fund furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the renovated Children’s Library on the second floor of the downtown Main Library.
This philanthropic gift will outfit the reimagined Children’s Library with child-friendly furnishings, flexible seating, and staff workspaces that support early learning, family engagement, and collaborative programming. The contribution complements the $10 million Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant from the California State Library, which is funding major building improvements such as lighting, roofing, windows, and HVAC systems, but does not cover FF&E purchases.
“Thanks to the Escondido Library Foundation, our new Children’s Library will not only be structurally renewed, but also warm, welcoming, and designed around the needs of children and families,” said Rino Landa, Library Director. “This donation turns critical infrastructure work into a vibrant space where young readers can discover a lifelong love of learning.”
Because state infrastructure funds are restricted to permanently affixed building elements, the City and Library identified a separate funding strategy for furnishings and equipment on both floors of the Library. The Library Board of Trustees hosted a series of community workshops in 2024 and 2025 to review options and share cost estimates for FF&E items. In response, the Escondido Library Foundation stepped forward to cover the public and staff areas of the Children’s Library, while Library Trust Funds are being used to support other unfunded FF&E needs in the building.
Under the terms of the City Council resolution, the Foundation’s donation is restricted to the specific FF&E items identified for the Children’s Library. If the final cost is less than $105,000, the Foundation will pay only the actual expenses; if costs exceed that amount, the Foundation has indicated it would consider an additional contribution. Together with the previously authorized Library Trust Funds, this commitment ensures that all Children’s Library FF&E needs will be met without any impact to the City’s General Fund.
The newly furnished Children’s Library is anticipated to feature:
- New and updated tables, chairs, and booth-style seating throughout the space
- Welcoming staff areas that improve service to families and school-age visitors
- Activity zones that can adapt to storytimes, STEAM programs, and small-group learning
These enhancements directly support the Library’s ongoing goal of creating a “people first” facility that offers dynamic spaces for children, teens, and adults throughout the building.
Learn More About the Escondido Library Foundation and Planned Giving
The Escondido Library Foundation is the Library’s philanthropic partner, raising private support to enhance collections, programs, technology, and facilities for the benefit of the entire community. Support from the Foundation helps transform public investment—such as the Building Forward state grant—into exceptional spaces and services that residents enjoy every day.
Community members who wish to help sustain projects like the Children’s Library renovation are encouraged to:
- Learn more about the Foundation’s work and impact via the Library’s website; and
- Consider making a Planned Gift to the Escondido Library Foundation.
Planned Giving options can include bequests in a will or living trust, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance, and other legacy gifts arranged in consultation with one’s financial or legal advisor. These future-focused contributions help ensure that the Library continues to grow, innovate, and respond to community needs for generations to come.
To explore Planned Giving opportunities and additional ways to support the Escondido Library Foundation, please visit the Library’s Planned Giving page at:
https://www.escondido.gov/1125/Planned-Giving
For more information about the Escondido Public Library, its services, and renovation updates, please visit www.escondidolibrary.org or call 760-839-4683.