400 Willow ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
United States
The Foundation’s mission is to provide support to the Council Bluffs Public Library so it can enhance and enrich library facilities, services, and programs for the citizens it serves. The Foundation compliments but does not supplant the cities responsibility for funding library services.
In 2023, the Foundation funded over $297,000 for projects, programs, and equipment. Projects include:
- One Community Reads (now OUR Community Reads) Along with supporting programs and everyone joining in to read together, this community reading program, now in its second year, is poised to return in 2024 with exciting new developments!
-Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, also in its second year, is a book gifting program supported by the Foundation. This year, over 1,783 children in Council Bluffs were registered to receive a book each month from the program backed by donors just like you. We also had 559 children graduate from the program in 2023.
-The Library’s old materials sorter (nicknamed “Arnie”) is being replaced by a state-of-the-art book sorter that the Library team calls Arnold! While the Arnold switch is happening behind the scenes, this incredible piece of machinery helps our Library staff do their work even more efficiently and effectively!
-The Summer Reading Challenge, held in June and July had 997 registered readers. Over 9,000 people attended one or more summer library programs. Supported by the Foundation, it enables the Library to encourage reading during busy summer months and supports literacy across our community.
-In November, the Foundation hosted the first in the 2023-2024 Council Bluffs Public Library Speaker Series, featuring author Kate Quinn at The Arts Center @ IWCC. We hope you plan to join us for the following two speakers in the series: author Mitch Albom (appearing in December) and author Wil Haygood (appearing in February). Learn more about each event at our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cblibraryfoundation!
