Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas semper diam a luctus consequat.
NPL works with the Foundation to ensure that the Library is a welcoming and valuable space for every member of our community, no matter “the age or stage.”
As a department of Metro Nashville, Nashville Public Library receives the majority of its funding directly from the city. The Nashville Public Library Foundation was created in 1997 to enhance the Library’s programs, facilities, and collections beyond the city’s budget. We are pleased to share our joint fiscal story and showcase how a thriving partnership between local government and private philanthropy makes a difference for library patrons and the city of Nashville.
Donors to NPLF power programs and initiatives in three areas:
Literacy, Life Skills, and Connection.
Click on a box for a glimpse of your gifts in action.
NPLF is breaking new ground with its most ambitious fundraising campaign. This fiscal year, we received record gifts in support of NPL’s new initiative to transform the early literacy landscape for Nashville’s children.
Kindergarten reading-readiness is a foundational skill that determines success throughout a child’s school career and life. Begin Bright is Nashville Public Library’s early literacy plan aimed at addressing kindergarten reading-readiness. The new initiative will deliver a Little Library filled with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Books and a host of NPL resources to every childcare center in the county. A new app will provide on-demand digital early literacy training for parents and teachers using the NPL’s award-winning content. Vanderbilt University’s Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center will study the results, creating an actionable, measurable, replicable model. The Foundation has set an initial goal of $20 million for the campaign. The funds will be used to implement the program and build an endowment to sustain it for the future.
Metro Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing National Library Week and honoring the volunteers and staff of Nashville Public Library. The resolution expresses appreciation for the dedication of Nashville Public Library staff who work tirelessly to serve the community and promote literacy, lifelong learning and community connection across Metro Nashville.
In honor of Take Action for Libraries Day, NPLF hosted a system-wide Thank-a-Thon to gather messages of library love from the community. It was a tremendous success! Together, we gathered an impressive 750 heartfelt messages, all aimed at expressing gratitude to Mayor O’Connell and Metro Council. Visit our Thank-a-Thon page to view some of these touching messages firsthand.
This year has also been exceptional for our advocacy efforts. We now have 181 NPL Ambassadors, and our passion for NPL is clearly visible to Metro Council. Our relationships have strengthened, interactions have increased, and the budget funding and advocacy highlights below showcase your impact. In a flat budget year, NPL secured significant investment from the city
With 21 locations across the city, Nashville Public Library (NPL) serves as a hub for community engagement, offering a wide range of resources and programs tailored to local needs. While NPL’s core mission to inspire reading, advance learning, and connect our community is reflected at every location, each branch has something unique to offer. Explore fun facts and highlights from each NPL location below!
On June 24, the city celebrated the opening of the new Donelson Branch Library. Donelson staff recorded 2,276 visitors, processed 2,126 checkouts by 471 patrons, and signed 62 people up for their library card. Mayor O’Connell even worked the check-out desk!
