Bill and Melinda Gates celebrated National Philanthropy Day November 24 by giving $20 million to Seattle Public Library Foundation's "Libraries for All" campaign to refurbish the city's 22-branch library system. The gift is believed to be the largest single donation ever received by a U.S. public library.
Bill Gates said he saw his donation as "more a celebration of the bond measure" November 3 that will infuse $196.4 million into library upgrades. Its passage with 72% of the vote "says a lot about this city and how we believe in creating equal opportunity," Gates told the Seattle Times.
"They are smart and savvy investors," Seattle City Librarian Deborah Jacobs remarked of the Gateses, noting that since "Seattle citizens have really supported [the campaign] it makes sense to enrich that."
Officials expect to allocate $15 million of the Gates gift into branch improvements, some $4 million into collection development, and some $1 million on programs.
Posted November 30, 1998.