Funding Opportunities

To support the New Central Library, click the button below.  

The New Central Library will be downtown's community gathering place where San Diegans come to celebrate reading and culture, hear great music, appreciate art work and discuss critical issues. Inspired by the classic architecture of Balboa Park, this nine-story landmark building will not only serve the community's need for information, literacy and knowledge in the 21st century, but will be a new civic icon that embodies San Diego’s commitment to the future. San Diegans will be proud to show visitors this iconic structure, designed to foster social, cultural and educational exchange within its flexible spaces.

The San Diego Public Library welcomes gifts from individuals, corporations and charitable foundations to support the construction of the new Central Library. Naming opportunities exist for the building and for many key and visible areas of this new San Diego resource. For more information on these opportunities, contact Jay Hill at (619) 236-5861 or by e-mail.

Listed below are just a sample of these opportunities.

Auditorium. This striking, stand-alone auditorium is the first structure visitors see when they arrive at the New Central Library. The state-of-the-art theater, performance space and classroom seats 350 guests and provides an impressive public presentation space currently missing in San Diego. With a sloped floor, expansive stage and state-of-the-art technology, the auditorium is designed for author talks, music performances, film screenings, dance and theater performances, lectures, classes and special City meetings. As a celebration of San Diego’s mild weather, the entire back wall of the Auditorium opens to the beautiful Garden Courtyard, creating a seamless space for up to 1,000 people to gather.

Reading Room. The airy, three-story crystalline Reading Room is the heart of the New Central Library and serves as an inviting public penthouse for all San Diegans. Nestled in a three-story glass enclosure and covered by a sun-screening protective dome, this grand room provides a comfortable space for library guests to read, relax and enjoy panoramic views of the San Diego Bay and City skyline. Situated in close proximity to the popular Special Collections Wing and serving as the gateway to the ninth floor cultural penthouse, this will be a high-traffic area, spectacular for daily public use and enjoyment. The Reading Room is the Library’s most visible and iconic space, and will attract San Diego visitors and locals alike.

Garden Courtyard. This intimate, outdoor area lies between the Auditorium and the Library's Main Entrance. During mild weather, large glass doors open to the Library and Auditorium, connecting the three areas and creating a unique, fluid space for guests to enjoy. The shaded courtyard will serve as a much-needed town square in San Diego – a large, adaptable space to host brown-bag concerts, author talks, civic events or more intimate gatherings. Designed according to an innovative Sun Envelope Study, which ensures the optimal amount of sunlight each day, the garden is sure to be a favorite outdoor meeting and gathering place for all San Diegans.

Special Collections Wing. This area is a destination location and houses many of the Library’s most fascinating collections and some of San Diego’s most unique treasures, including the Rare Books Rooms, San Diego Area and Genealogy Center. Located adjacent to the Exhibit Gallery and Sculpture Courtyard, the vibrant space completes the ninth floor cultural penthouse, providing a special wing in which visitors can explore San Diego’s history, art and culture. Prized collections include the original plans of Balboa Park’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition and rare dime novels from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The inviting space is accessible off of the beautiful Dome Terrace, and will attract a steady flow of traffic from the Reading Room and Special Events Room.

Art Gallery & Sculpture Garden. Situated as part of a larger cultural penthouse on the ninth floor of the New Central Library, this stunning space was created for the Library’s award-winning Visual Arts Program. The Art Gallery will be a celebration of the region, providing visitors with unique access to a range of established and new local artists. The space is equipped with museum-quality lighting, climate control and flexible exhibit display panels to host both visiting and permanent exhibits. The gallery can be accessed from either the Sunset View Terrace or the sunlight-filled Sculpture Courtyard and Garden.

Inspired by the magnificent Roof Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Sculpture Courtyard is an ivy-covered open-air garden featuring a rotating display of museum-quality sculptures from renowned San Diego-area artists. Clusters of seating and soaring views of the downtown cityscape make it an ideal space for intimate events such as author receptions, or for individual contemplation, reading and enjoyment. Visit here for more information on these spaces.

Teen Library. The vibrant Teen Center provides young adults with a safe space to gather, learn and read after school and on weekends. The distinctive center was designed with teens in mind, and includes comfortable lounge chairs, group study rooms, 20 computers, a media-viewing room and zone sound to help acoustically seal the area. The Teen Center also offers educational support and supplemental programming to promote the academic success of students at the new charter school, as well as the more than 57 other schools located within two and a half miles of the New Central Library.  Prominently located on the second floor and overlooking the Lobby, it is anticipated to be one of the most utilized space in the New Central Library and a community gem for parents and students alike.