Library Partners

We are an all-volunteer group that provides financial and volunteer support to our library so that it may fulfill its literary, educational, technological, community, and cultural purposes.

Fundraising

We work directly with library staff to fulfill day-to-day operating needs by supplying funding for programs, materials, and equipment.

The Friends of the San Diego Public Library is a California Tax Exempt Non-Profit Corporation under IRS 501(c)(3). FEIN: 95-3313747. Tax deductible membership dues and donations may be matched by the City of San Diego.

Advocacy

As a member of the LibrariesTransformSD coalition (San Diego Public Library, Library Foundation SD, the Friends of the San Diego Public Library, and the City of San Diego Board of Library Commissioners), we engage in advocacy at the City level.

President:  Bren Breithaupt

Bren Breithaupt (she/her) has been a resident of University Heights for 19 years. She has an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Grand Canyon University, and 22 years of local experience as a life agent, securities broker, and financial advisor. She has previously served as treasurer and board member of 3 non-profit organizations, worked in the Americas Marketing Center for Hewlett-Packard, and as a small business consultant for Michael Gerber (author of "The E-Myth).

Vice-President:  Pam Isaacs

Pam (she/her) has an AB from UCD in Psychology and Spanish and a Master’s in Education from SDSU.  She taught elementary school for close to 40 years in various states, in two foreign countries and for decades in San Diego. Positions she filled included Immersion Teacher, Bilingual Teacher and Resource Teacher. She also trained for and worked as a volunteer facilitator for Alternatives to Violence in various state and Federal prisons, for 4 years.  She has been retired completely since 2017.

Secretary:  Hannah Ells

Hannah (she/her) moved from Boston to University Heights in 2023 and brings with her a passion for books and learning. She has a BA in English, an MEd in Instructional Design, and has her Secondary Education Certification. She has 6 years of experience as a Learning Designer at a digital textbook publishing company, where she currently works. She also volunteers for The Animal Pad in La Mesa.

Treasurer:  Vivenne Esrig

Vivienne (she/her) has been a non-profit leader for the past 35 years at C-levels in finance, administration and operations. She has served on multiple boards.  In San Diego she is the Treasurer of Moxie Theater (since 2013) and Alliance San Diego (since2017).  Her education includes Continuing Education in nonprofit management, federal and state compliance, and personnel regulations; an MBA from Golden Gate University, San Francisco; and a BS in Management and Finance from San Jose State University.