Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Increasing Revenue Appropriations in Grants Fund (Fund 222) by $10,000 for a Grant Received for the Library and Increasing Expenditure Appropriations in the Library Fund by $10,000. (Library 21052300)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Carnegie Corporation of New York (Carnegie Corporation) recently awarded the Alameda Free Library (Library) a $10,000 grant as part of its Carnegie Libraries 250 special initiative.
Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution amending the budget to increase revenue in Grant Funds by $10,000 to accept the award and increase appropriations in the Library Fund by $10,000.
BACKGROUND
The Alameda Free Library will receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation, the foundation established by Andrew Carnegie. The gift is part of Carnegie Libraries 250, a special initiative celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honoring the approximately 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving their communities across the United States.
In 1899, Carnegie Corporation provided a gift of $35,000 to fund construction of the library located at the corner of Oak Street and Santa Clara Avenue. Opening in 1903, Alameda's Carnegie Library served generations of Alamedans until it closed in 1998. It is one of 126 Carnegie Libraries built in California.
DISCUSSION
On October 22, 2025, the Library received notice from Carnegie Corporation that it had been awarded a $10,000 gift in commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 1,681 public libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie between 1886 and 1917.
Carnegie was driven by his belief that public libraries are "cradles of democracy." A sentiment that was true in 1899 and remains true today.
There are no restrictions on how the funds may be...
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