The fundraiser to provide what will go inside the building currently under construction at the corner of Saratoga and Fruitvale avenues is hitting its halfway mark, having raised just more than half of its needed individual contributions. Jim Givens, spokesman for the campaign, said that since the campaign kicked off this spring, the Friends have raised $168,764 from more than 330 individual contributions, leaving them with about $150,000 left to be raised.

The campaign seeks to raise a total of $1.1 million, which will go toward the library's furniture and collection. The Friends have raised more than $950,000 so far, with almost $400,000 of that coming from the library's joint powers authority appropriation and another almost $420,000 coming from the Friends' Book-Go-Round bookstore.

The bookstore, Givens said, is bringing in thousands of dollars a month and will continue to do so through the end of its current fiscal year next June 30. Even by shopping at the used-book store, at the corner of Oak Street and Saratoga­Los Gatos Road, he said, people can help support the campaign.

But individuals are also encouraged to give directly to the fund. To sweeten the deal, the Friends are offering different acknowledgements for donors at different levels. Contributions of $150 can earn donors personalized ceramic tile "book spines" to decorate the children's section. Individual gifts of $250 or business gifts of $375 will earn personalized 4-inch-by-8-inch bricks for the outdoor cafe patio area.

Donors giving $500 receive personalized wooden "book spines" for the adult section. Individual gifts of $1,000 or business gifts of $1,500 earn personalized 12-inch-by-12-inch bricks for the community room patio. Those contributing $5,000 or more will be acknowledged on a bronze plaque in the library's lobby.

However, Givens said, people are encouraged to contribute at whatever level they can—every $5, $10, $20 and $50 helps.

Givens attributed part of the Friends' fundraising success in these difficult economic times to the participation of their core member group of about 1,250 people. But as the Friends embark on their annual membership drive to expand the number of those willing to join their efforts, the organization is concerned that some may choose to respond to one request over another.

"Effectively, we're competing with ourselves," he said.

The membership drive is important because the Friends rely on their active members to help them successfully apply for grants—the more community buy-in they can show for their efforts, the more likely grantors will be willing to give, Givens said. Thus the Friends are hopeful that the number of individuals who sign up to become members remains high.

"It's really important for this membership drive to succeed," he said. "We're interested in the number of members and really interested in the money for Furnishing the Future."

In fact, the Friends have received $35,000 in grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation in the past four years, and the most recent grant went directly to the Furnishing the Future campaign.

The campaign ends about two months after the opening of the new library, scheduled for the coming spring. Givens is confident that the campaign will be a success, acknowledging that some might give as the library nears completion and they can see exactly what kind of benefits they'll be getting from their donation.

"By the time that library opens, we're going to have done an awfully good job of getting $1.1 million," he said.

To contribute to the campaign, call Givens at 408.378.5644 or visit www.fslonline.org.