Lexington Public Library Foundation

All the Library Can Be

The library is essential to a thriving community, ensuring equitable access to information, education, and technology for all. We raise funds to support Lexington Public Library programs, services, and special projects that go beyond what public dollars alone can support.

The Power of Partnership
Donations do not fund day-to-day library operations, meaning that every dollar donated directly supports the library’s programs and initiatives. Because the library serves all people, businesses, and organizations, your charitable donation to the Library Foundation is quite literally a gift to our entire community.
The Lexington Public Library Foundation is also the voice of the library, advocating for the importance of the institution at the local and statewide level.

Recent Foundation Supported Projects

Kloiber Foundation STEAM Lab

Through a generous investment from the Kloiber Foundation, this space invites children and students to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) through hands-on experiences. Programming events targeted toward upper elementary and middle-school aged students include circuits, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, coding, 3D printing, recording in the audio booth, and so much more.

A New Village Branch

Village Branch, our beloved library and community center in the Cardinal Valley neighborhood, is growing! Since 2004, this space has served its internationally diverse neighbors, providing access to books, education, entertainment, social service, resources, and opportunity for community. Although the location is staying put, the new facility will triple the amount of space with a total of 30,000 square feet — plenty of room for more activities, more services, and more room to grow. Learn more and join us on this transformational project.

How to Give

Your gift to the Lexington Public Library Foundation impacts our entire community today and for generations to come, sustaining and growing the library as a place of possibility and opportunity, free and accessible to all.

Make a One-time Gift

Every dollar donated directly supports the library’s programs and initiatives. You can also donate via PayPal, Venmo, or by sending a check to LPL Foundation 140 East Main St. Lexington, KY 40507

Donate

Make a Recurring Gift

Recurring donations are an easy and convenient way to give, and they help us make long-term commitments for Library projects by securing sustainable support over time. The Library Foundation will send you an email confirmation and a year-end summary and tax receipt. If you ever choose to change or stop your recurring contribution, simply call us at (859) 231-5557 or email foundation@lexpublib.org.

Make A Recurring Donation

Gifts in Honor / Memory

Make a gift in honor or memory of someone. We'll send you an acknowledgment letter for your gift, and we'll notify your honoree or designated family member of your thoughtfulness. Please indicate the name of the person the tribute is in honor or memory of, as well as the name and address of the person that should be notified.

Gift in Honor or Memory

Stock

If you have long-held investments, you may be an ideal candidate to make your next donation by gifting shares of appreciated securities directly to the Library Foundation. By gifting your shares directly, both you and the Foundation receive the full benefit of your donation making stock gifts a tax-savvy strategy for charitable giving. The Library Foundation receives the full value of your donation, and your gift may be deductible as a charitable donation and avoid capital gains tax. Gifts of securities may be wire transferred from your bank or brokerage account to the Lexington Public Library Foundation account. Please ask your broker to provide the transfer agents with your name so we can identify and acknowledge your gift. To donate stock, please contact your stockbroker and Foundation staff. For more information, contact us at foundation@lexpublib.org.

Estate Planning

Leave a lasting legacy as a member of the 1795 Society. When you remember the Library Foundation in your estate plans, you can rest assured that the Library will continue to be a vital part of our community for future generations. We welcome the opportunity to work with you to create a meaningful legacy that suits your passions and works within your overall estate plans including making provisions through:

Bequests
IRA / Retirement Assets
Life Insurance
Charitable Trust

To learn more about planned giving, please contact Anne Donworth (859) 231-5557 or adonworth@lexpublib.org Download a Letter of Intent to get started.

Impact

Capital Investment

We are raising $5.3 million to fully fund the Marksbury Family Branch construction. With generous support from the Kloiber Foundation, we also opened the Kloiber Foundation STEAM Lab at Central Library in March 2022.

Programmatic Support

We proudly support library programs like Summer at the Library, the Google Android Developer Program, and, through PNC Grow Up Great Initiative, Destination Kindergarten.

Partnerships

The Library Foundation helps establish partnerships on behalf of the library system. Recent partnerships have led to the opening of a God’s Pantry Food Bank inside the Northside Branch and the redesign of Phoenix Park in collaboration with the City of Lexington and Parks & Recreation.

Legacy

Bettie Jane Tuttle Children’s Wing at Eastside Branch continues her life-long commitment to early childhood education. Bonnie Jean Cox and Guy Davenport Wing at Eastside honors their love of the written word.

Our Mission

Lexington Public Library Foundation funds innovation within our public library system. The Library’s vision is for a community engaged in a lifetime of discovery, and private donations help Lexingtonians learn and play in dynamic new ways. Support from donors like you makes the Library even more vibrant through dynamic and fun programming for all ages, job-training opportunities, and space to rest, learn, and connect with others. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps to keep essential resources flowing into our community.

Our History

A group of committed library customers formed the Lexington Public Library Foundation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1997 with the goal to give Lexington Public Library the additional funding it needed to expand and improve services, programs, and facilities.

We invest in our library to help all of Lexington thrive. Since its founding, the Library Foundation has invested in special and capital projects that improve our Library through private philanthropy. Donors like you transform our institution while public investment maintains its daily operations to best meet the needs of our customers

Thank you for your dedicated support. Together, we will continue to invest in our public library system and leave a legacy for generations to come.