Friends of the Library are members of the community just like you––individuals who value the Library and its role in the community. The Friends advocates for the Library and supports collections, services, programs, and staff development, including:

• Supporting award-winning programming for all ages
• Building the collection––books, movies, music, and digital creativity tools
• Preparing children and teens for success with early literacy initiatives, summer reading games, homework help, and access to technology
• Strengthening the community and enriching lives by providing free access to information and opportunities to read, learn, connect, and create

The Monroe County Public Library Foundation (Friends) collects and administers the grants, gifts, bequests, and other funds (outside of local tax receipts) that help make the Library such an integral part of this community. The Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

How to Donate

Donate online with your credit card
Donate by mailing in a check
Donate through a tax-deductible membership

Donate to the New Southwest Branch

Fill the new Southwest Branch with books and library resources for all to use!

Opportunities to Give

You may donate to address the Library's immediate needs or designate your donation to one of the Friends endowments to provide perpetual support.

• Where the Need is Greatest: Contribute to the Friends efforts to support and supplement the Library's books, music, movies, programs, and services. 90% of your donation will help the Friends respond in a timely manner and address the library's immediate needs, while 10% will be invested in the general endowment.

• Guest Author: The Power of Words: Changing Our World One Author at a Time is a biennial community event featuring guest authors whose literary talent, imagery, and eloquence provide an insight into local issues and concerns - authors whose writing and speaking styles capture the hearts and minds of our community.

• General Endowment: Guarantees perpetual funds for an annual grant to the Library for programs, special needs, and staff development.

• Diane Breeden Lee Children's Endowment: Ensures support for the Library's innovative and outstanding children's services.

• Ruthmarion Becker Endowment for VITAL: Supports reading and literacy for adults through the library's Volunteers In Tutoring Adult Learners (VITAL) programs.

• Build the Collection Endowment: Assures that the Library's book, media, and research collections remain current and dynamic, enriching lives and meeting the evolving needs of the community.

• Judith Serebnik Endowment for Adult Services: Funds programs and services at the Library for adults.

• Paula B. Anderson Endowment for the Power of Words: Provides perpetual support to bring a nationally-known author to Bloomington as a gift to the community for The Power of Words: Changing Our World One Author at a Time.

• Sara Laughlin Endowment for Library Staff Development: Provides funds to inspire and support Library information specialists to be trusted resources for information.

• Marian Armstrong Fund for Special Exhibits: Funds special exhibits in the Library for all in the community to enjoy.

• Sue Shelden Teaching Kitchen Endowment: Ensures programming and upkeep and support for the teaching kitchen at the Southwest Branch—promoting food literacy, healthy eating, sustainability, innovative teaching, and culture.

Estate and Investment Gifts

Planned giving can be a legacy of enduring support. The Friends can work with you to create a planned gift agreement to provide for the future of Library resources of importance to you. Call the Friends office at 812-349-3050, ext. 1080.

Dine Out for the Library

Thanks to the generosity of participating local restaurants, you can enjoy a meal, show your flyer when you dine, and the Friends of the Library will receive a portion of your purchase. View upcoming Dine Out opportunities.

AmazonSmile

You shop, Amazon gives! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your public library every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you start your shopping at smile.amazon.com, you will use your same Amazon login, have your Amazon Prime benefits, and the same shopping experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Friends of the Library! Bookmark the link and start your shopping there, to support the Friends every time you shop Amazon.

On your first visit to AmazonSmile, select “Monroe County Public Library Foundation” to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. You can also activate Amazon Smile within the Amazon shopping app on your phone.

To change your charity, sign in to smile.amazon.com and simply select “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.” To support your public library, choose “Monroe County Public Library Foundation” as your charity of choice. 0.5% may not sound like much, but it costs you nothing, and it adds up to meaningful dollars for your library. Thank you for making life-enriching reading programs possible through your shopping!