More than books: Folsom City Library builds community

The Folsom City Library is always buzzing with activity. Toddlers and young children dance and sing while listening to Storytime. Teens hang out playing games, volunteering or attending workshops. The library supports a lifetime of learning, so on any given day, people of all ages are busy working on computers, reading and attending programs, such as the "Conversation Club." Once a week, English language learners come to practice English, learn about American culture and make friends. The days of libraries being a quiet place where people are "shushed" are long gone, as is the notion that libraries are just buildings filled with books. While the Folsom Library does have a fantastic book collection, you can also check out California State Park Passes, 3D printers, mobile hotspots and eBooks. In addition to providing access to education, information and resources, the Folsom Library is a community space where residents come together to learn, grow and connect. This wasn't always the case, though. Until 1992, Folsom was a branch of the Sacramento County library system. When the library was closed due to budget cuts, residents and city leaders rallied to save it. This led to the establishment of the Folsom City Library in 1993. While having a library was a top priority for residents, the City Council didn't know how they would fund it. Fortunately, Sacramento County was one of 23 counties that placed a library tax on property taxes before the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. Georgia Murray, for whom the Folsom library building is named, realized Sacramento County was still including library taxes on her property tax bill, even though the county no longer provided library service to Folsom residents. City officials negotiated a reallocation of these property tax revenues. This additional revenue source was a game-changer for the city's library. Folsom city leaders proved to be good stewards of this additional revenue. The reallocated property taxes were earmarked and placed in a special revenue library fund to build capacity and plan for the future. As demand for library services grew, residents prioritized building a new library. After putting money into reserves and operating out of a small, temporary building for more than a decade, the new library was constructed and opened in 2007. Georgia Murray was now in her 90s. Not only was she able to attend and cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, they also named the new library building after her in recognition of her hard work and dedication. I've spoken with people who were instrumental in getting the Folsom City Library up and running. Several remarked that this was an accomplishment they're most proud of. The leadership they provided with vision, planning, fiscal stewardship and hard work helped Folsom have one of the best-performing libraries in the region. By most performance metrics, Folsom leads the way in the region for materials circulated (items checked out), visits to the library and the number of programs and program attendance. The one area we fall short in is per-capita funding. Since the Folsom Library was established in 1993, the city population has more than doubled. While several city departments reflect the increased service demands with budgets that increased accordingly, the library's budget in 2004 is roughly the same as in 2024 – 20 years later. Yet library programs and services have continued to grow and expand. During extreme weather, the library serves as a cooling or warming center. Every year, AARP partners with the library to assist Folsom residents with their tax returns. Last year, they helped more than 250 residents. This resulted in more than $150,000 being returned to Folsom taxpayers. As the city seeks to tighten its budget, so too do many Folsom residents. During economic downturns, people turn to libraries to save money and stretch their budgets. The people of Folsom united to save their library. City officials dutifully responded to ensure the library reflected the needs of the community. Under local control, the Folsom City Library has been a valuable resource that has served residents exceptionally well. Most importantly, it's a place where our community can come together to learn, grow and connect. Please consider joining and donating to the Friends of the Folsom Library. The library would not be able to provide all the programs and materials without their support. Also, shop local when possible. This keeps sales tax dollars in our community, which is needed to fund local services like the library. Bonnie London is a Folsom resident and serves on the Folsom Library Commission. You can reach her at teamlondon2113@gmail.com.