History

Click here to learn more about this mural and its artist, Don Miller

The DC Public Library Foundation was founded in 1985 to coordinate funding for a mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. This mural now hangs in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.

Since its founding, the DC Public Library Foundation has secured and administered over $4M in funding through bequests, trusts, and donations from individuals, corporations, local government, and foundations.

The Foundation identified literacy and children’s programs as key focus areas, providing substantial funds to support the library’s Summer Reading Programs, the Mike Fox GED Fund, and citywide initiatives to support reading and early literacy.

In addition, it supported access to libraries and information by funding programs serving the Spanish-speaking population and those in need of adaptive services such as the deaf or visually impaired.

In 2003 the Foundation initiated a grant program to provide awards to librarians, divisions and branches to support innovative programming or a key operational need. Out of the grant program emerged the Poet Laureate Program, a citywide chess league, enhancements in audiovisual and media collections, Teen Read Week, and a project to initiate wireless internet access.

In 2005 the Foundation obtained funding to pioneer innovative programs through the library. These included the Emergent Literacy Program for children under 5, the Washington Post Speaker Series, and a Children’s Author and Illustrator Series.

Now, the Foundation is poised for an even greater role in supporting the library system. In addition to its continuing work, it has mounted 3 new campaigns:

Supporting the Library Revitalization Effort: with 6 new libraries opening in the next 16 months, the Foundation will be there: raising funds for progamming and enhancements
The Georgetown Library Recovery and Restoration Fund to help bring back a neighborhood gem from a devastating fire
The Library Wish List: providing donors the opportunity to purchase small or large items to support our library system