Build Collections

Everyone should have access to books. Donations to the foundation help purchase books for a wide range of literacy programs that reach deep into our community. Private support also helps buy large-print books, bilingual books and books in languages other than English, board books for children to take home from storytimes, sheet music and much more. Last year, the foundation helped to purchase nearly 90,000 books for children and adults, and added more than 3,000 books and other materials to the permanent collections.

Books represent our cultural legacy. Foundation support has helped expand and promote the library’s special collections, one of the truly unique features of our library. The foundation also supports programming and exhibits based on the collections. At Central Library, the John Wilson Special Collections holds nearly 10,000 books, manuscripts, photographs and other rare and historic print materials—including an illuminated 13th-century Bible and a 2350 BC Babylonian tablet no bigger than a postage stamp. Few public libraries in the United States have such a collection. The extensive Children's Literature Collection captivates adults and children alike with signed first editions by Maurice Sendak, Tasha Tudor, Beverly Cleary and Beatrix Potter's first illustrated book, A Happy Pair, which is owned by just a few other institutions worldwide.