Thursday's kick-off for the “Love your Library” fundraising drive raised an estimated $10,000 for the new Santa Maria Public Library, according to officials.

Organizers sold about 110 tickets to the event that featured radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger and was sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library.

The Friends and other community members are working to fill a $3 million funding gap in the new facility's cost. The additional money is needed for book and audiovisual collections, special programs and public art.

The 59,850-square-foot library is expected to be completed by mid-2008, according to city officials.

The next milestone for the library project is the cornerstone dedication slated for March 24 and the next fundraising event is that same evening.

The dedication ceremony is expected to take place on the upper level of the library parking structure at 11 a.m. and is slated to feature comments from Mayor Larry Lavagnino and City Librarian Francisco Pinneli.

The cornerstone-laying ceremony is expected to be conducted by the Grand Master of the California Masonic Lodge and is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the Board of Library Trustees and the Hesperian Masonic Lodge No. 264.

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A celebration dinner is scheduled that day as well from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hesperian Masonic Lodge No. 264, 700 Lakeview Road.

Tickets for the dinner cost $25. The menu includes barbecued New York steak and wine tasting. For ticket information call 925-0994, Ext. 321.

March 16, 2007