New library gets cash, largest gift in FS history

Staff Reports
The Collegian

The largest single cash gift in Fresno State history was granted to the Henry Madden Library in mid-December.

Table Mountain Rancheria donated $10 million to the new library. The Rancheria is located north of Fresno in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

“The Rancheria is making the gift to help improve educational opportunities for all students in Central California,” Leanne Walker Grant, the tribe’s chairperson, said in a press release. She added that Table Mountain Rancheria sees the multi-million dollar gift as the best way to assist the educational needs of the region.

Fresno State President John Welty added in the same press release that the community should recognize the Native American community’s contribution to the San Joaquin Valley.

Both the interior and exterior designs of the library will reflect the Valley’s natural surroundings and its American-Indian heritage, with the library and Peace Garden including native plants and benches that will include the plant names in native languages.

Construction and renovation of the library is still in progress. When construction is completed, it will be the largest academic building on campus and the largest library in the California State University system. The $95-million project will be completed in fall 2008.

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