Library reports semiannual donations; foundation and friends groups provided major support

At the Aug. 26 Carlsbad Library Board meeting, management analyst Debbie Jo McCool presented the department's semiannual donations report for Jan. 1–June 30, 2026.

McCool said the department recorded 14 individual contributors and ‘‘nearly $104,000’’ in donations during the reporting period. She highlighted that some donors specify how gifts may be used while others leave funds undesignated; identified uses included print and digital materials, genealogical and local-history subscriptions and a pop-up art program. McCool also described a contribution from the Joyce Gammon Trust that supports homebound services and noted that several larger, one-time gifts over recent years accounted for a substantial portion of donations.

Support organizations provided recurring funds: McCool said the Friends of the Carlsbad Library contributed $100,000, the Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation contributed roughly $220,377, and the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts contributed $25,000 for the fiscal-year 2026–27 budget period. She explained the library's recognition tiers (bronze, silver, gold) and said donations greater than $5,000 require city council acceptance under the Carlsbad Municipal Code; funds under $5,000 are accepted by the city manager per the department's delegation of authority.

McCool closed by thanking donors and noting staff will continue tracking and reporting donations.