About The Austin Public Library Foundation

Purpose And Mission

The mission of the Austin Public Library Foundation is to support and strengthen Austin's public libraries. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation works to raise funds through individual gifts, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. These funds are used to provide programs, equipment, and holdings in the Austin Public Library.

Vision

We envision a vibrant public library system that includes a new Central Library and dynamic branches. Austin's libraries will be a source of civic pride, a cultural destination and a community resource.

History

The Austin Public Library Foundation was founded in 1995 by a group of volunteers committed to building a broad base of support for Austin's libraries. For almost 80 years, the Austin Public Library has been known for its high usage, its innovative programs, and the staff's ability to provide considerable service with limited resources. The Library Foundation forms lasting and innovative partnerships across the community. Where city appropriations can provide basic services, public/private partnerships can create a great library system for our city.

Partners

The Austin Public Library Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation founded in 1995 to increase public awareness about the Library and its importance to the community, and to enhance Library collections, programs and services through financial support. The Foundation has received major gifts from The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the RGK Foundation, and from Advanced Micro Devices, the Austin Community Foundation, Bank of America, Bingo Books, the Dell Foundation, Harcourt Supplemental (Steck-Vaughn), H-E-B, The Junior League of Austin, the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation, the SBC Foundation, the Topfer Family Foundation, Tokyo Electron, the Still Water Foundation, and the Webber Family Foundation.