About the Foundation
The mission of the Johnston Public Library Foundation is "to enhance and improve the Johnston Public Library." Board members–our neighbors, business and community leaders–work to generate community support for collection development, programs, and technology initiatives that are beyond the means of the library's operating budget.
The Foundation's Recent Projects
Lynda.com
Thanks to the Johnston Public Library Foundation, your Johnston Public Library card now gets you access to thousands of professionally produced tutorial videos from Lynda.com for learning business, software, technology, and creative skills. Lynda.com includes complete courses for all skill levels on topics like game design, podcast production, app building, animation, photo editing, and web development. Check it out at www.johnstonlibrary.com/lynda/
Hot Picks
Copies of the latest title by James Patterson and other popular books and movies may not reach the Library's shelves for months because of the number of holds. The Foundation supports the Library's "Hot Picks" collection where copies of popular books and movies are shelved each time they're returned and made available for checkout on a first-come, first-served basis.
Adventure Passes
The Foundation helped the Library get started with the Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass program in 2018. Patrons can now check out passes to Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, Living History Farms, and Brenton Skating Plaza. Each pass works for a family of four and can be printed from home or at the Library.
1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten
The Library is helping preschoolers sing, talk, read, write, and play their way to kindergarten with the new 1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten program. The program encourages parents and caregivers to complete 1,000 early literacy activities with their child before he or she reaches kindergarten.
Participants start by picking up a kit with their first activity log and a free book. For every 200 activities, kids receive a sticker, a prize, and a new activity log.
The Foundation is proud to support the development of literacy in our community's preschoolers by funding the program's starter-kits and prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Foundation
Don't my taxes pay for the Johnston Public Library?
While public funds make libraries possible, donations and community support allow libraries to flourish. Contributions, large and small, go to support technologies, programs, and community needs that are beyond the library's operating budget.
Is the Foundation a city entity?
No. The Johnston Public Library Foundation is an independent 501c(3) organization led and funded by community members like you.
How is the Foundation organized?
The Foundation has a Board made up of of local volunteers. Elected positions on the board include a President, Vice president, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Library Director, the Library Board President, a member of the Friends of the Library and nine to eleven additional members make up the rest of the Foundation Board. Interested in getting involved? Contact us
What is the difference between the Library Board and the Library Foundation?
Library Board members are appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. The Board makes administrative decisions for the library such as adopting policies and setting the budget. The Library Foundation works to raise private funds for library services and decides how those funds will be used.
How will my donation be used?
100% of your donation will be used to support collection development, programs, technology initiatives, and other library services. Contact us if you're interested in your donation being used for a specific project or need.