It won't be long until Old Glory will be flying proudly above the Fallbrook Library. It was announced September 18 that the funding goal had been met for the patriotic finishing touch that many members of the community put passionate support into after hearing the County of San Diego had not included a flagpole in the construction plan and budget.

"When the [lack of a flagpole] was first raised, the calls just kept multiplying and pretty soon it seemed as though the whole community was involved in making sure we got a flagpole," said Ceci Rincon, librarian. "Seeing a community so active in raising money for something important like this tells you where the residents' hearts are."

When the County said community members would have to raise the funds for a flagpole to be placed at the site, the non-profit Friends of the Fallbrook Library created a special fund that all donations could be channeled into so as not to intermingle them with their usual efforts.

Vincia Carlstrom, president of the Friends organization, said originally the County estimated that $10,000 to $12,000 would be needed for the project, but that eventually changed.

"The County reexamined the cost and said they could do it for $7,300," said Carlstrom. "The Friends collected and kept track of the funds and the donors. The goal was officially met on September 18."

The official coordinator for the fundraising project was Jason Springston, a local business owner and Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce member. Carlstrom kept Springston apprised of the fund progress as the effort continued and he was very pleased to hear the good news.

"I am thrilled that the community was able to raise the funds for the flagpole project," he said. "It is great to live in a community with so many generous friends and neighbors. I am excited about seeing the construction begin so we can have a dedication ceremony and celebrate our wonderful library."

Springston agreed that once the message got around that the library needed a flagpole, residents rolled into action.

"Word spreads fast in a small town and Fallbrook is no exception," said Springston. "Interest in the project was broad and consistent from residents throughout Fallbrook. Everyone wanted to chip in because they each felt a special community bond to a project that involved our amazing new library and our nation's flag."

Almost exactly half of the needed funds were raised by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1924 Ladies Auxiliary.

"The Old Glory project was important to the Ladies Auxiliary for personal reasons, as all of our VFW veterans have served in a foreign war and our families have served at home while their veterans were away," said organization president Anne Richter. "We are thankful to our veterans and active duty military that have made sacrifices for our country. The flag is a symbol of patriotism, unity, love of country, and most of all, freedom."

The Ladies Auxiliary raised over $3,600 through a variety of efforts, Richter said.

"[We] held two major fund raisers for this community project," she explained. "Midge Thomas hosted a pancake breakfast at our VFW in cooperation with the Class of 1971 Fallbrook High reunion, and the attendees of the reunion generously donated the proceeds to our flagpole project. In addition, Patricia Harrison prepared a delicious spaghetti bake dinner for 150 people, which also generated a substantial amount of donations. We had several private donors to whom we are very grateful as well."

"The VFW was the only organization that invited me to speak at one of their meetings and I was honored to do so," said Springston. "They had the most wonderful energy and so many good ideas and suggestions. The Ladies Auxiliary dinner was a huge success and we never would have raised the funds without them."

Now that the County has been alerted the funds are in place, the process will begin to secure the installation of a flagpole.

"The County's Department of General Services will be in charge of having the flagpole installed," said Donna Ohr, Deputy Director for the San Diego County Library.

"The County will be hiring the contractor, but the Friends will work with the County on the plan," said Carlstrom, who said she believes two options will be provided as to placement of the flagpole. Ohr confirmed that it will be a collaborative effort.

"It is important to us that community members have a voice in where the flag is placed," said Carlstrom. "[The County] has not worked out all the details yet, but we will most likely put a ballot box inside the library with the diagram of where the two installation options are located."

"I like the idea that there will be an opportunity to get opinions from residents," said Rincon.

Rincon, who said her third anniversary as Fallbrook's head librarian will be in December, is amazed at the increase in the library's usage at the new site.

"The number of people using the library has over doubled in the time I've been here," said Rincon. "When I first started, it was 22,000. At a high point this past summer, it was 52,000. We have been extremely impressed and satisfied with the response from the community since the new facility opened."

The number of programs offered at the library has skyrocketed as well.

"In two months during the summer, from June 7 to August 7, the library hosted 156 programs (which included the summer reading program)," said Rincon. "Our records show that 5,954 individuals attended programs here over the course of those seven weeks."

Rincon describes the new state-of-the-art library as 'a library without walls and without city boundaries,' because through an extensive network, the Fallbrook Library can obtain more material than most are aware of.

"We have access to 34 million items, from as far north as the Bay Area as well as in the other direction, as far away as Las Vegas," said Rincon.

"The Fallbrook Library is our definition of the 'library of the future' and we are delighted that the community has embraced the new library," said Ohr.

Rincon believes the design of the new library has directly contributed to the new usage numbers.

"It's much roomier; we have the community room; the old building wasn't as inviting; and the beauty, space, and architecture is so superior," she said. "We are the center for the community and we offer something pleasing for all ages. The new library is in greater tune with the electronic age."

"We are now checking out laptops for use and soon we will be checking out e-readers," said Rincon.

Fallbrook's library is currently known as the 'crown jewel' in the County library system, she confirmed.

"It is the crown jewel for many different people, in many different ways," she explained. "For me, the fact that my kids will see that I was the first librarian in this beautiful, new library is special to me."

Ohr said the new Fallbrook facility has already been recognized with distinct accolades and has been nominated for yet another award.

"As our flagship library, the San Diego County Library is delighted that the Fallbrook Library has been nominated for an 'Orchid' at the San Diego Architectural Foundation's annual 'Orchids and Onions' awards," said Ohr. "The library has also won other awards, most recently the Design Build Institute of America's 'Best Civic Project.'"

The flagpole is acknowledged by all to be the crowning touch to the new facility.

"I think it is something we are all very much looking forward to seeing, it really will be the finishing touch to the library," said Carlstrom.

"I am just hoping that when the flagpole is installed that it brings smiles to a lot of faces," said Rincon. "So many people and groups are looking forward to seeing this flag."

"When we display the American flag, we are saying, 'This place is special to us,'" said Springston. "It is a powerful symbol that acknowledges the residents of our community for their part in bringing our wonderful new library to life. It symbolizes our thanks for the funds to build the library, our thanks for the volunteers who championed it, our thanks for the people who work there each day, and our thanks for those who have fought and sacrificed so that we might have the freedom to create centers for arts, culture and learning like our new library. I hope that everyone who sees this flag is reminded that if we work together as a community, anything is possible."

While all those that helped make a flagpole for the library a reality, the members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary are especially jubilant.

"Are we proud of our efforts to be sure that our library is flying the American flag? You betcha!" said Richter.