In 1867, Darwin Jones led the founding of the Young Men’s Library Association as a subscription library for white men. The Carnegie Library of Atlanta, one of the first public libraries in the United States, opened in 1901. In 1935, it evolved and was expanded into the Fulton County Library System, which was established to provide library services across the county. This expansion represented a move towards a more comprehensive and accessible library network serving a broader population. To support the growing needs of the Fulton County Library System and to enhance library services, the Library Foundation was created in 1988. Its role is to raise additional funding through private donations, supplementing public funds and helping to ensure the library system’s continued development and success.
The Foundation has served as a steady partner through several bond referendums and major renovations of library facilities. In 2008, amid one of the greatest financial crises of modern times, Fulton County residents championed the value of their libraries and voted to invest $275 million toward the construction of eight new libraries, the expansion of two more, and the renovation of 23, which included the downtown Central Library. This construction and renovation initiative signaled a commitment from the Atlanta-Fulton County community to continue to support their libraries because of the value they bring to the daily lives of the residents they serve.
Over the last 35+ years, the Foundation has supported many programmatic initiatives at the Library. One of the most long-standing is Summer Reading – many Atlantans fondly remember participating in Summer Reading at their local library branch as children.
In 2019, Library Foundation leadership determined that we must dramatically increase fundraising to support library strategy and increased programming. After conducting research and engaging in community conversations, the Foundation formally launched a growth campaign. With renewed commitment, we added more community leaders to our Board, dramatically increased fundraising, and strengthened our connection with the library system and community organizations.
In 2020-2021, the Foundation funded Fulton County Library System’s strategic planning process to guide future growth and development. The Library affirmed its mission and created a vision for the future that focuses on impact. The plan with its core action components—literacy, partnerships, and digital inclusion – help guide the Foundation’s fundraising activities that supplement public funding for the benefit of all Fulton County residents.
Today, the Foundation works closely with the 34 library branches to fund childhood literacy, community and cultural engagement, technology access, and a wide range of programs that respond to patron needs.
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Want to learn more about the history of Atlanta’s libraries?
- Read about the historical Atlanta Carnegie Library through Georgia State University’s “The History of Our Streets Project.” Until recently, you could view former stonework on a Carnegie Library stone hike.
- Visit the extensive collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History which celebrates its 30th year this year.
- Ask your local librarian! Many Fulton County Library System staff members, including Gayle Hunter Holloman, the System’s Executive Director, have been with the System for over 30 years.
