Beginning today, Arlington residents have the unique opportunity to help shape a major piece of the community landscape that will be at the heart of the American Dream City for generations to come: the new George W. Hawkes Central Library.

DREAM: CENTRAL is the public phase of the Arlington Public Library's capital campaign, and the library is working to raise $4 million of the $30 million budget needed to secure the furniture, fixtures, and equipment that will be installed in the new downtown building. A generous grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation kicked off the private funding prior to the launch of the public campaign.

"This is a unique opportunity for Arlington,"director of libraries Yoko Matsumoto said. "We have the chance to make a gift to our community that will impact generations of residents for years to come.

" The new Central Library will be located north of City Hall, and the 80,000 square feet of space will include such features as:

• Digital printing and recording technologies
• Public computing including desktops, tablets, and wireless technologies
• Zoned areas for children's and teens services, with customized collections, play areas, and technologies
• Meeting spaces, including 10 small group study rooms, six classrooms, two conference rooms, a dividable multi-purpose room, and a quiet reading room
• Genealogy and Local History space with materials, displays, computers, and study areas
• Literacy and Workforce Development space for tutoring and study
• Funding Information Center for small businesses and non-profits
• Outdoor gathering spaces
• Friends of the Library bookstore
• Vending café area

Matsumoto said that support from community donors will help make the features of the new Central Library a reality. She noted the long history of public and private partnerships that have developed and supported public libraries across the country, beginning with philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

"By raising funds from within the community to support this project, we will be able to offer more than just the basic library services that would come with a budget comprised only of public funding,"Matsumoto said. "Private support from within the community reflects the value citizens' place on their public library."

Many opportunities to support the library's campaign are available, and details can be found on the DREAM: CENTRAL donation page. For more information about giving opportunities or about making a capital campaign gift, contact development coordinator Andi Davis at [email protected].