Inspired by a commitment to invest in initiatives that strengthen families and the communities in which they live, work, and play, the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation has been honored to provide significant financial support to small, public libraries in low-income, rural communities across the United States. These grants have been instrumental in enabling libraries to enhance children’s collections, expand digital resources, aid in capital expenditures, and provide vital community programs. Since our founding in 2012, our reach has extended to libraries across 29 states and the total amount of funding we have disbursed, including the most recent grant cycle in 2024, has reached $1,759,100. We continue to be dedicated to investing in libraries.

In the fall of 2024, the Foundation provided meaningful assistance to libraries that serve as vital centers of learning in the Northeast United States, aligning our regional efforts with the annual conference of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL). Each library was experiencing unique challenges that required grant support. For example, the Salamanca Public Library located in Salamanca, New York, had their budget cut by 50% in the last year and sought funds to purchase new children’s books, including titles written by Indigenous authors as well as to sustain monthly programming for kids.

With the goal of bridging the digital literacy gap in their community, the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello, New York, installed new and updated existing digital early literacy and bilingual stations. Challenges extended beyond needing new materials and into the need for physical enhancements and capital improvements. The William B. Ogden Free Library in Walton, New York, was undertaking a large project to make their entrance doors and circulation desk accessible and safe for all library patrons. Grants across New York, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut totaled $336,000.

Working alongside ARSL in fall 2024, the Foundation was able to identify 10 libraries in Georgia and North Carolina in need of funds to aid in recovery efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricane’s Milton and Helene. An additional $130,000 in funds went to libraries that were either severely damaged by the storms or were playing a vital role in their community’s recovery efforts.

After receiving the award notification, Marcie Dowling, Director of Polk County Public LIbraries in North Carolina expressed her appreciation for the unrestricted grant, “I am truly stunned by the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation’s generosity in helping us step toward reopening the Saluda Library.” Despite the many challenges, Dowling noted, “We continue to serve the community as best we can from our other location and through deliveries, but we know it’s just not the same. So many residents have expressed a similar feeling - the library is the heart of the community and downtown just doesn’t feel right without it.” Dowling was not alone in that experience, in many cases, the libraries were facing not only loss of materials but also damage to buildings. Admirably, many of the libraries deployed their teams to support the residents in recovery efforts while the libraries remained closed for safety. From distributing books through home deliveries to assisting with FEMA applications, the libraries remained as vital resources for their communities.

2024 Grantee: Salamanca Public Library

2024 Grantee: The William B. Ogden Free Library