Madison Public Library Foundation has an endowment fund for each Madison Public Library location, as well as several other special purposes. The funds, which maintain robust library services, programs, and materials for years into the future, were established to meet the financial needs of the libraries as they age and the city grows.
In 2023, the Print Book Purchase and Judy Olson Book Club endowment funds supported the growth of library collections across a variety of reading levels and genres.
“Madison Public Library Foundation endowment funds help library collections grow and flourish,” Library Collection Manager Molly Warren said. “The 2023 endowment was used to add 10 new kits to the popular book club kit collection, increase the Art of the Picture Book collection, and provide brand-new sets of books on U.S. States and world countries with current, up-to-date information. In addition, endowment funds were used to replace lost copies and update various Adult Nonfiction titles and subjects, keeping the collection fresh and current.”
The Central Library endowment fund was recently used to purchase plants — an investment that, literally, brought life into the building. The additions bring enthusiastic responses for library patrons who use the plants to teach their children or ask questions about their own gardening.
Finally, 2023 general endowment funds supported professional development, including the YWCA Racial Justice Summit for one staff member and SafeServ training for four staff members to hold food programming in the Meadowridge Library kitchen.
Central Library endowment dollars also paid for a replacement microfilm reader for library users, as well as updated signage and wayfinding materials throughout the library, in 2023.
Sequoya’s endowment fund supported a variety of programs last year, including those related to literacy, cooking, sewing, and more. The endowment also supported hotspots for outreach programs, newspaper subscriptions, a seed library, and various facility improvements. The Mohaupt Fund, a special endowment also for Sequoya Library, helped the library purchase new picture books, audio-enabled picture books, and juvenile nonfiction books.
Endowment funds ensure a perpetual stream of income to support the libraries and other efforts into the future. To learn more about endowment funds and how your dollars can make a difference in your libraries, visit our Endowment Funds page.