Wow! We’ve had an active week reviewing the initial draft of the Needs Assessment portion of the report on the Sunnyvale Library of the Future. It’s always challenging and exciting to wade through the decision-making process of what information is most important in this sort of document, and what format would be best received by the audience. There are still so many decision points looming that eventually will help the City Council determine what path to take. We will keep doing our best. We have a great group of people working on the project, diversely talented and professional. We all stand ready to do our part!

One of the biggest questions/challenges about the Library of the Future project relates to funding. If the concepts and recommendations for a new library are approved by Council, where will the funding come from? While there is no definitive answer to that yet, a small, influencial group is making a headstart.

Two members of the Homestead High School Future Business Leaders of America club have come forward with an offer to help. Rohit Ramchandani (left) and Max Babicz (right) met with me several months ago to offer assistance to the Library. They see the library as a source of support for the community’s students, and they wanted to lend a helping hand as part of the public service component of their Future Business Leaders of America program.

Among the considerable assistance they have already given, is an offer to raise funds for the Library of the Future by organizing a dodge ball tournament featuring the teachers of Homestead High School on November 2, 2006. The funds raised will be the first official offer of a contribution toward the Library of the Future. How fitting to have that first offer of a contribution come from our future leaders! And just as fittingly, we anticipate that the funds raised will be used toward furnishings and materials for the Teen section of the new library!

Thank you Rohit, Max, and Homestead High School Future Business Leaders of America! Many thanks to the students and teachers who will attend and/or participate in the dodge ball tournament You are so awesome! Because of you, I am all the more encouraged and energized over our preparations to serve the next generation at the Sunnyvale Public Library.