Released Thursday, March 5, 2026
The Ventura County Library Foundation has received a major donation of over $2.6 million from the Susan A. Knight Trust to benefit the Fillmore Library.
According to her Estate Attorney, Laura V. Bartels, Esq., with the firm Taylor, Scoles & Bartels, Ms. Knight believed that libraries saved her life, and she wanted a safe place for children to go and learn. She specifically wanted to give back to the Fillmore Library because it was a place where she found refuge and respite as a child.
Mary Rees, Chair, Ventura County Library Foundation says, “A transformative gift from a private individual is more than a donation—it’s an investment in shared knowledge, equal access, and the lifelong curiosity of our community. This generous support empowers the public library to expand opportunities, strengthen programs, and ensure that learning remains free and accessible to all.”
The Library Foundation will be working with the Ventura County Library System and the Fillmore community to honor the donor’s wishes.
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Ventura County Library Foundation: Growing Minds Countywide
www.vclibraryfoundation.org.