Dear friends,
As summer begins, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of our new library. Because of your generosity, this beautiful space is already becoming the vibrant community gathering place we envisioned together.
It has been especially inspiring to see the library come alive with activity from patrons exploring expanded collections and the burgeoning programs, to students gathering to study, connect, and enjoy the welcoming environment. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the space have been truly wonderful to witness.
We are also excited to share that the gardens surrounding the library are growing, and the Refugia habitat garden planting is underway. As the seasons unfold, we look forward to watching the library grounds grow for everyone to enjoy.
On May 28, Damon Hill and TCF welcomed a group of Tamalpais Marin residents for a special tour of the library. They shared appreciation and thoughtful feedback about the vital Larkspur Library services they receive at The Tam, an ongoing relationship over many decades.
We were especially honored to recognize the generosity behind the two benches attributed to Residents of The Tamalpais in support of the new library. Our thanks to Stuart Silloway for organizing the tour for the residents.
Thank you again for helping create not just a library, but a welcoming community space filled with opportunity, learning, and connection.
The Commons Foundation remains deeply committed to helping sustain the library’s growing programs, expanded resources, and future needs. Your continued partnership allows us to build on this momentum and ensure the library remains an inspiring, accessible, and enriching place for our entire community.
Please feel free to reach out if you would like to arrange a tour or learn more about ways to support and strengthen this important community resource. A limited number of donor wall and room naming opportunities remain available, and we also welcome conversations about planned giving to help sustain the library and its programs for future generations.
We are deeply grateful to have you as part of this journey and look forward to all we will continue to accomplish together.
Happy reading!
Ann Morrison
President, The Commons Foundation
P.S.: Please take a moment to read the recent appreciation letter below from Damon Hill, Library Director. Following that is a list of all donors.
Grand Opening Celebration — Library Joy, Book Brigade, and More!
We are so grateful to everyone who turned out for our Grand Opening Celebration and book brigade! Even though we are librarians who love words, it is impossible to express how much it meant to our staff to have the community show up excited for us to finally open our doors.
This has been a long time coming for so many members of the community, and it has been a joy to witness children playing and reading on the new couches, teens studying and playing Dungeons and Dragons in the teen room, our study rooms full of people getting their work done, and everyone who comes in awe of the new space designed and built by Noll & Tam and Alten Construction.
We have so many people to thank:
Thank you to Ann Morrison, who has advocated for our new library for years as the President of The Commons Foundation. She has raised funds, collaborated with the city, and made this entire building possible. We are so grateful to you Ann.
A special thank you to Joe and Marisa Jennings for their work with The Commons Foundation.
Thank you to Lori Lerner and Terry Berkemeier. You have not met two kinder or more wonderful people until you have met Lori and Terry. Their generous contributions allowed us to have a spacious children’s area that we are so thankful for.
Thank you to The Rosenberger Family Fund honoring Diane Rosenberger for their generous contributions which have allowed the library to have a large meeting room with a small kitchen, and a lovely outdoor gathering area in front of the library.
Thank you to Tina McArthur and Richard Rubenstein Family for their generous contributions which have allowed the library to have a meeting space that additionally opens to our children’s room for expanded access to storytimes.
Thank you to the Winship Family for their generous support for the Teen Room. This space is a popular hangout after school.
Last, thank you to our staff. Thank you to our City Manager Dan Schwarz, our Public Works Director Julian Skinner, our Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare, our City Clerk Alison Foulis, our Administrative Analyst Kolby Gleeson, our City Recreation Director Nick Stone and our Fire and Police department who kept our Grand Opening safe and fun for everyone. Thank you all for supporting the library staff during this exciting time.
Damon Hill, Library Director
Thank you to all our generous donors. We invite you to view our gorgeous donor wall behind the new circulation desk, listing all donors who gave $5K or more.
Founder’s Circle: Lori Lerner & Terry Berkemeier*, Rosenberger Family Fund — In Memory of Diane C. Rosenberger.
Visionary Circle: Anonymous Family Foundation, Joanne Bethlahmy Trust, Cindy & Chris Winship, Christina (Tina) McArthur & Richard Rubenstein*, The Stadnick Family, Jean Gleason Stromberg & Kurt Stromberg.
Leadership Circle: Anonymous, Sally, Sammy and Rusty in Loving Memory of Elizabeth Bertuccelli, City of Larkspur*, County of Marin, Richard & Elda Phillips- Of Blessed Memory, Kristi & Jonathan Ellenzweig*, Barbara & Karl Friday*, Friends of the Larkspur Library*, Jeanette Giacomini*, Kathy & Christopher Hartzell*, Marian & Bill Howard*, Marisa & Joe Jennings*, Ramsey & Karen Jishi, Keenan C Kelsey, The Koeppel Family*, Larkspur Library Foundation*, William C Mentzer, Dyan & Peter Pike*, The Residents of The Tamalpais Marin, Catherine & Lawrence Way*, Robert & Donna Oliver.
Library Champions Circle: Cheryl & Rand Alexander, The Buechert Family, David & Rebecca Conant, Scott & Laurie Phillips Dubin, Education and Opportunity Fund, Scott & Laurie Dubin, Leigh Estes & Jeff Schlichting, Wendy Evje*, Paul B. Feasby Charitable Fund*, Gabriel Gesmer*, David L & Betty Hood Gibson Charity Fund, Robert & Judith Greber, Katherine & Brendhan Green*, Tim and Emily Howard, Martha A Langston, Larkspur Community Foundation*, Stephen & Patricia McMahon, Anonymous – JP Morgan Charitable Giving Fund, The Mullin Family, N.E.W. Fund, Andy & Alison Revell and Family*, Salesforce Foundation, Nancy Schlegel, John & Carol Schrumpf, Rosine Reynolds & Steve Stein*, Turner Varady, Anne M Zucchi.
Library Lovers Circle: The Alexander Family Fund, Anonymous, Ted & Kristen Breck, Doug & Sharon Bowers and Family, Dulcy & Spencer Brainard*, Susan Bryson, Carrie & James Burroughs*, John & Patricia Cahill, Sheri & Dayton Coles, Lincoln & Laura Collins, Carey Hagglund Condy, Gail Connolly, Stephanie Douglass & Gary Goerss, Education and Opportunity Fund, Laurie Phillips Dubin & Scott Dubin, Leland & Susan Faust, Jeanne Friedel*, Bret & Jessica Forster, Armelle & Michael Futterman*, Lynn & John Gerson, Robert & Jan Ginsburg*, George Gregory, Will Kaefer & Mary Hearn, Joan Lundstrom, The Peter and Jackie Henning Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Humankind Humankindness Foundation, David & Megan Ingraham, Tyler & Stephanie Jackson, Erin Kahn, The Kirsner Family, Sue Missimer, Ann & Chris Morrison, Jordan & Jennifer Moss, Doug & Sheri Mowbray, Mark & Marysue Murray, Barbara Otto (Otto Family Foundation), Brian Powell & Family, Jonathan Shambroom, Rachel & Jeremy Schneider, Sellers Family Charitable Fund, Elise Simonian, Diana St. James, Carol A Svetcov*, Jeanine & Karl Tede, Maryann & Don Thompson, Linda & Bill Tichy, Mary Van Dyke, Harris F (Hank) Simmonds, The Wagstaff Family, Ann Wakeley.
Book Lovers Circle: Ryan Abbe, Gail Bloom, Patricia Chiota & Richard Payne, Leslie Colcord, Gary Haber & Barbara Luttig-Haber, David & Tricia Lacy, Lillian Lessler, Victoria Love*, Jeannie & Ken Perry, Cheryl & Sven Pole, George Possin, AJ Rea & Family*, Stuart & Molly Silloway, Natalie & Paul Straub*
Community Support Circle: Wendy Aitken, Julie Allecta*, Arthur Allen, James C Allen*, Genevieve Ames, Laura Anderson, Anonymous (4), Linda D Armstrong, Jeanne Azen, Bank of the West, Lorraine A Barry, Matt Bearson, Shirley A Beers, Benevity, Betsy Bennett & Oliver Weir, Lorin & Jeremy Bentley, GA Blauvelt, Candice Boaz, Layla Bockhorst, Holly Bogin, Patricia & Thomas Borden, The Boren Swisher Charitable Fund, The Bosley-Richards Family, Sherrie Brand, Helen Breck, Brenda & Donal Brown, The Brown Family, Donna Cameron, Dipa S Cappelen, Ingrid Carbone, Bergliot Carlsen, Kevin Carroll, Gillian Cassel & David Ripperton, Anne Cecchettini, Patricia Cefalu, David Chavez, Marie Chrisman, Larry Chu & Tasmin Pesso, Monica & Peter Clark, William Clarke, Gregory Cleary, Carol Carter Colbert, Colletti Family, Lincoln and Laura Collins, Patricia Compton, Loring Conant, Jr., Kathryn J Conway, James and Jo Anne Costello, Elizabeth Crawford, Creekside Neighbors, Ann E Crump, Serena D’Arcy-Fisher, Paul da Silva, Rosemary De Sanna, Michael Dean, The Deutsch Family, Disney, Dodge & Cox, Patricia Doherty, Patrick Dotterweich, Andrew Dubin, Mark Dubin, Sharon Dubin, Karen & Dan Dunn, Mary Eisinger, Lindy Emrich, Elizabeth A Enemark, Sharon Faccinto*, Loretta Farley, Anne & Mark Gustafson, Dr. Mitchell Feldman & Dr. Jane Kramer, Janette & Walter Ferris, Janette Ferris, Cynthia Volkmann, Mei-Ling Fong, Barbara Fopp-Paullin, Cynthia Foster, Evelyn Fox, Dee Fratus, Fremont Group Foundation, Bruce & Joanne Friedman, Howard Friesen, Rebecca Frye & Daniel Hillmer, Barbara & Tom Gaffney, Gala Boutique, Patrick & Diane Gallagher, Lynn Garay, Linda Garrett, James L Gault, Patricia Gibbons, Jack Giessler, Sam & Pat Gillespie, Jacqueline Gilman, Marcia Ginsburg, Kymus Ginwala, Girl Scout Troop 10506, John J Girton, Jennifer Golbus, Frank Gold & Alice Kaufman, Marilyn & Joseph Goldman, Peter Goldstein, Michael R Gordon, Shirley C Gottesman, Regan Gough, Jayne Greenberg, Lynda & Richard Greene*, Ellen Greenwald, Judy A Gries, Jakob Gron, Jeffery Gunderson, Carolann & William Haggerty, Arlene Hansen, Michele Hansen, Kevin Haroff*, Karen Haydock, Thomas & Kathryn Hecht, Jo Anne Heidrick, Paul Alfred Heineken, Mark Henderson & Laura Tauber, Jennifer & Eric Henerlau, Jane Herman, Sheila Hershon, Stephen Hettleman, John & Lynne Hoffman, Helyse Hollander*, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC, Richard & Katie Horan, Gretchen Hoskins, Daggett H Howard, Kip & Sara Howard, Doris N. Hunker*, Jim Hunnewell*, Bobbie Hunt, Herbert & Donna Husen, Betty A Hutson, Laurie Hyman, Steve Isaacs, Alyssa Jaffee, Patricia Medina, Michelle Melka McVeigh, Richard Mellott Antiques, Peter & Gisela Mellini, Clarke & Katy Miller*, Hank Miller, Anna Minton, Vida Moattar, Robin & David Moller, Richard Morrison, Aileen Murphy, Ted & Carol Murphy, Ron & Chris Murphy, Gabor Nagy, Sondra M Napell, Network for Good*, In Memory of Steve Nicol (Anonymous), Dorothy & Allen Nirenstein, Richard S Norman, Linnea O’Brien, Patricia O’Brien, Lori Ocheltree & Ray Johnson, Karena O’Riordan, Rozell Overmire, Susan Painter, Christine Palmer*, William Palmer, Mark Palmer*, Angeline Papastefan, Lois & Warren Patton*, Gabriel Paulson, Joyce Pavolvsky, Sandra Ruliffson & Dwight Pedersen*, Patricia L Peeples, Derek Perner, Robert & Hannah Perutz, PG&E Employee Giving, Lynn & Dan Pfeifer, Barry Phegan, Marc & Mandy Pierpoint, Caitlin Pike, Zdenka Pisarev, Cathy & Eugene Plocki, Claud Dwayne Price & Nancy Weninger, Lorraine I Prinzing, Catherine Pyke*, Marianne Rafter and Peter Elliott Martin, Lynne Redding, Diana Richmond, Kristin D Rivera, Lynne Redding Robinson, Sue & Bill Rochester*, Tara Rooney, Sylvia Ross, Mark Rushford, Julie Ryan, Bill Ryan, Sally Ryan, Donald Sadowski, Gretchen Saeger, Judith Saffran*, Sares Regis Education and Community Foundation, Mark Scafidi, Jim & Mary Dale Scheller*, Hans Schmid, Andrea Schultz, Gillian Schultz, Susan Schwartz, Daniel Schwarz, Martha Schwarz, Bruce Seidel, Suzanne C. Shelhart*, Robert Shores, Joe N Short & Ann K Ludwig, Randal Short, Katherine Shotwell, Michael Sillman, Barbara Singleton, Kathleen & Norman Slaught, Carol Slocum, Judy Klayman Smith, Shelagh Smith, Benjamin Soccorsy, Joe & Sara Spero, Karl Spurzem, Carol A Staiger, Kristina Staley, Robert Staley, Judith Frost Stark, Robert & Barbara Stenson, Stephanie4Larkspur Campaign, Stern Family Fund, Allison Stone, Laura Streeter, Peter & Marie Sullivan, Susan Sun, Lisbet & Stuart Sunshine*, Timothy Sweeney, The Boren Swisher Charitable Fund, Paul & Lana Tietjen, Jennifer & Phil Tippett, Gwen Davis Toso, The Tripp Family, Turn To The Wonderful Fund–Rabbi Jeff & Midy Glickman, Alan & Joanne Vidinsky, Margaret Wagner, Jesse Wagstaff, Barbara M Ward, Nancy & Steven Wasserman*, Joan Alice Weinberg, Dr. Richard Welch, Nancy Weninger, The Kenny and Erin Werner Family Charitable Fund, Steven Wertheimer, Jim Whelpley & Karen Yu, Myralin G Whitaker, Paul Whiteley, Michelle & Jeff Wilcox*, Chris C Wilhite, Claudia Wilson, Sallyanne & John Wilson*, Kristina & Ryan Wilson*, Barbara & Elliot Wolfe*, Carolyn & Fred Wood, Ann H Woodward, Susan S Woodward, Renee Yang, Eugenie Yaryan & Shirley Marn, Bryant & Betsy Young, Lenora Young, Michael Bloom & Audrey Zavell*, Todd Zeiesing.
*Seedling Donor