When Durham Library Foundation (DLF) leaders, Karen Wells and Arthur Rogers, were asked to summarize the impact of their work on Durham’s libraries, Rogers, the Board President, immediately responded: “We are making world class facilities and resources available to everyone in Durham County. We provide a little extra money to help Durham County Library do extraordinary things.”

While both Rogers and Wells, DLF’s Executive Director, are clear about their mission to help cultivate library resources for the free use and enrichment of all community members, the value of the Library is defined by its users more broadly. Wells observed, “People care about the library for so many reasons.” Wells chuckled at the memory of a group of young teens who learned from the librarian that there was a room nearby that featured an impressive collection of video game hardware and software. The kids were incredulous: “They danced out of the lobby and into the game room!”

Rogers recalled a gentleman he met at a local church soup kitchen — older and perhaps a little lonely. Rogers reflected that this man relies on the library and takes full advantage of all the humanities offerings — the lectures and the special programs DLF helps fund. “It brings the world to him, it really does.” Rogers continued, “The Library is a community hub — a kind of living room for the community.”

This is no accident. DLF’s tagline is “better libraries, stronger communities”. Wells elaborates: “The regional branches are made to have the unique features that are most important to the neighborhoods that surround those libraries.” Each regional branch is unique. And these individualities make the system stronger and more relevant by the influence of the community in determining its needs and wants in the way of both arts and programming.

DLF, organized in 2000, supports this community hub by providing grants to the Library, approximately three or four per year. The grant applications — submitted to DLF by the Library’s professional staff — are based on the staff’s own assessment of programmatic needs. This grant process is an important aspect of DLF’s successful relationship with the Library, as it allows staff to envision and develop program ideas beyond the day-to-day function of the Library. For example, Bragtown Family Literacy Center, located in the heart of the most economically distressed area in Durham County, launched an innovative project in the height of the pandemic to assemble technology kits that included a backpack, computer, and “hot spot” to ensure kids had access to online learning. DLF has also supported a variety of undertakings from community lectures to the Library’s now-annual and hugely popular Library Fest.

Since 2006, Fox Family Foundation has awarded a total of $236,750 to DLF. The majority of funds have supported DLF’s annual grantmaking and its ability to grow resources in alignment with community priorities. Combined with funding from other Library supporters, DLF has contributed just under $350,000 to 33 Library projects in the past three years alone. DLF also led the successful fundraising campaign for support of the Library’s Main Branch, garnering $1.2 million in donations. DLF expects to grant an additional $180,000 this year.

Wells concluded, “The heart of Durham County Library is the community. We are working to build deeper relationships between residents and the Library. We are cultivating community champions.” Rogers added, “DLF enables our community library to reach for exceptional things.”