SUTTER HEALTH INVESTMENT CAPS MODESTO LIBRARY FUNDRAISING EFFORT
Community Health Award will support shared mission of increasing digital access; job readiness; and healing through art.
Friends of the Modesto Library has received notice of a $100,000 investment from Sutter Health that puts a crown on the Lifelong Legacy campaign to raise funds for the Modesto Library renovation.
The Community Health Investment Award will enhance the Library’s abilities to support job readiness, increase digital access to the community, and promote mental wellness through art, according to Sarah Dentan, County Librarian.
“Because a person’s health is affected by many factors outside the walls of our hospital and care centers, such as access to employment or mental health support, we invest in organizations and projects that help close these gaps,” said Gino Patrizio, president of Sutter Health’s Greater Central Valley Division. “Individuals, families and communities can flourish when we address these factors together.”
Friends of the Modesto Library had previously announced the success of the Lifelong Legacy campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the Modesto Library. The ambitious, $3 million goal was met through the generosity of more than 30 major donors as well as hundreds of donations from individual library supporters.
The library renovation, which is currently underway, is primarily funded by $18 million in public funds from Stanislaus County, state library grants, and library reserves. The Lifelong Legacy effort will provide important enhancements such as a reimagined Early Childhood space; comfortable, durable furnishings, tech upgrades for public meeting rooms, quiet reading rooms and more.
The library is expected to reopen in Summer 2026. During the closure, customers may visit the Express Library, located at Tenth Street Plaza.
Donations to the Lifelong Legacy are still being accepted. For more information and a complete list of donors, visit modestolibraryfriends.org/legacy.
(The following article appears in our February newsletter.)
You’d Be Surprised at All the Library Offers
Books, lots of books. That’s what people expect to find at the library. Visitors to the Modesto Library also know they have access to magazines, movies on DVDs, computers with internet access and more.
Most people don’t know that at our Modesto library, you can also borrow:
A free pass to state parks.
A blood pressure kit.
A chance to check out a high-demand book, even if the hold list is long.
Even a ukelele!
Many of these items have become available in recent years through partnerships with other government entities and local nonprofits. Modesto Library director Chris Moreno explains that the state parks passes have been available for almost four years through the state parks system and the state library.
There are 192 parks passes and they have been checked out 3,820 times. A more elaborate Park Pass Backpack kit includes binoculars, walking sticks, a pocket microscope, emergency horn, flashlight and plant and wildlife field guides. The library has 36 of those kits. If all the kits or passes are out then cardholders can place a hold, just like they can do for a regular book or ebook.
The ukelele kits, an idea borrowed from the Los Angeles library, Chris said, were funded through a state library grant. They’ve been checked out 260 times since 2021.
The library also offers Story into Song kids (through a partnership with Opera Modesto), Reading Pathways kids and board games. The heart monitoring kits are available three weeks at a time through a partnership with the American Heart Association.
A program called Discover and Go offers free or discounted admissions to museums and other cultural venues around the state. Chris suggested that many people also may not know about the library of auto manuals for those who want to do car repair.
Another recent addition – mobile printing. A person can send the page or pages they want printed to the library branch of their choice and pick copies up there. The price is only 10 cents for black & white and 25 cents for color.
Home delivery of books also is available and now has three dedicated staff members, who can offer book suggestions.
How to learn about what’s available? Spend some time exploring the Stanislaus County Library website, or ask a staff member when you visit the library. You can also call the reference desk: 209-558-7814.
Our library is not just a library of books but of many things. Check it out.
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Friends of the Modesto Library promotes community goodwill and support for the Modesto Library; stimulates public awareness of the library and its needs; encourages gifts of money and time that are used to provide materials and services to the library; and seeks sources of cultural and educational programs for the library.
Friends of the Modesto Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in California. All contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. (ID#77-0038333).
Support Youth Programs
Friends of the Modesto Library raises money to support youth outreach programs like Summer Reading, Día de los Niños/Libros and Kids Craft Fairs. We volunteer at these and other Library events throughout the year.
Support the Modesto Library
Each year, we provide money for materials and important programs that the Modesto Library might not otherwise be able to afford. Look around the library and you'll see everything from a new giant aquarium to colorful furnishings in the Children's Library. We also help fund both adult and children's programs, and we purchase books to give free at community events such as the the Stanislaus County Fair and Día de los niños/Día de los libros.
Serve the community
Modesto Friends reach out with programs like supporting the Book Club at Juvenile Hall and Free Books at the Stanislaus County Fair. Our efforts raise awareness of the importance of the Library and of reading. Join us today!
Mission Partners
Many local businesses support Friends of the Modesto Library. We encourage you to support them, as they are supporting us.
Epic level ($1000 and above)
- Beard Land & Investment Co.
- McHenry Bowl
Classic level ($500-$999)
Other business partners:
- Dittos
Companies that matched employee donations:
- Costco
- Gallo
- Clorox
Many employers will match your donations. Ask about matching gifts at work.