Building Better Libraries Every Day

YOU CAN HELP

What We Do

Madison Public Library Foundation mobilizes the Madison community to continuously improve, promote, and support Madison Public Library. Your gifts allow us to take the library beyond city funding to a new level of excellence designed to reach the whole community. A Madison, Wisconsin nonprofit organization, the foundation fuels literacy, opportunity, and lifelong learning through equal access to free resources. Our work relies on charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, fundraising event support, and other generous investments that help us Build Better Libraries Every Day.

Monroe Street Library staff member handing library card to young patron

2025 Library Budget

Learn about the City of Madison’s upcoming referendum and how you can advocate for the library in the coming months.

Ex Libris guest's hands holding a taster glass of beer and plate of food

Ex Libris XIV: Local Flavor

Get ready for our favorite fall tradition in support of Madison Public Library! Tickets and sponsorships are available now.

Bilingual storytime at Pinney Library in Madison, Wis.

Fall Newsletter

Read about our Research Fellow preparing for the library’s 150th, early literacy funding, the Book Festival fall schedule, and more!

Woman registering two other women to vote at Alicia Ashman Library

Leaning on the Library

Read how the library provides solutions and connections to tools that lead Madisonians to success, self-reliance, and confidence.

State of the Library 2024 with Madison Public Library Director Tana Elias and Madison Public Library Foundation Executive Director Conor Moran

State of the Library

Watch a recent conversation about current library issues with new Library Director Tana Elias and Foundation Director Conor Moran.

2022 annual report illustration with characters

2023 Annual Report

Read our annual report to learn how the foundation invested donor dollars in library materials, technology, programs and other efforts.

“The library works at all sorts of levels to make the community more knowledgeable and just a better place to be.”

– Diane Grypp, patron

“Madison Public Library cares about the atmosphere, and allowing the library to be a free community space, where no one is discriminated against. … It’s a safe place.”

– Hasan Kaya, patron