Success of library campaign a sign of a smart city

The new Camarillo Library's "Next Chapter" fundraising campaign has raised more than $1 million.

A grant of $375,000 recently donated by the Esper A. Petersen Foundation is slated for the homework study center, and individual cash contributions continue to climb at a staggering rate.

The total in the campaign's coffers jumped from about $600,000 to more than $800,000 during the holidays, city officials said during Wednesday's City Council meeting.

The large donation from the Chicago-based Petersen charity is very generous, but it's interesting to note that about 800 Ventura County residents dipped into their pockets and purses to help the campaign reach its goal of purchasing 40,000 new books.

Campaign organizers promote the 65,000-square-foot library on Las Posas Road as a gathering place for Pleasant Valley residents. From the long list of contributors, the library obviously already attracts and unifies supporters.

Yes, the bulk of the library's construction was funded by the state and city, but residents of Camarillo stepped up to ensure the new building is well supplied with what makes it valuable: books.

The donations reflect residents' strong sense of community, their belief in the importance of education and their understanding that the city's future depends on its present.

To learn more about the "Next Chapter" campaign or to make a donation, call (805) 388-5307.