A community forum to discuss how to use a $2.8 million bequest to the Los Altos Library is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Los Altos main library, 13 S. San Antonio Road.

“It is not often that a library has the opportunity to hold this type of meeting,” said Santa Clara County Librarian Melinda Cervantes. “It will be a pleasure to focus on how we might want to expand services, facilities or the collection with this generous gift of funds.”

The bequest came from the estate of longtime Los Altos Hills resident Virginia Whipple who died in March 2004 at age 77. She was an enthusiastic library volunteer and a member of the Friends of the Los Altos Library.

The purpose of the Nov. 1 meeting is to receive ideas and comments from the members of the community who attend and actively participate.

Public input is viewed as particularly important, given the magnitude of the Whipple bequest.

The bequest totaled $2.8 million after estate expenses were paid and was divided between the Santa Clara County Joint Powers Authority, which received about $1.2 million, and the Los Altos Library Endowment ($1.6 million).

The Santa Clara County Library operates the community library in Los Altos and its Woodland Branch as well as libraries in a number of other communities in the county.

“Mrs. Whipple was a shining example of the people who make our library such a treasured asset in Los Altos,” said Graham Wallace of the Los Altos Library Endowment. “She gave us her time and expertise as a volunteer, and through her foresight and generosity she will continue, year after year, to give to the entire community.”

The Los Altos Library and the Woodland Branch Library have been part of the Los Altos community since 1914. More than 600,000 people use the two libraries each year and check out more than 1.8 million items including books, periodicals, videos and audio tapes.

“We feel we are the heart of the Los Altos community,” said Cheryl Houts, community librarian. “When you look around the library you see a cross section of people who live and work in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Everyone has a reason to come to the Los Altos Library, and they do.”

“A bequest such as the one from Mrs. Whipple is a wonderful way for an individual to leave a lasting legacy to the community,” Cervantes said. “We appreciate her gift and how it will help us to serve future generations.”

The Santa Clara County Library has received top ranking for four consecutive years among all libraries in the U.S. serving a similar size population.

It was the only library in California ranked among the 100 best in the nation for high quality, cost effective service.