What APLF Accomplished: FY 2022-2023

The primary purpose of the Albany Public Library Foundation is to insure the viability of the Carnegie branch, the historic home of today’s active library system. APLF also contributes to other library efforts, for the Carnegie can only continue its contribution when the system as a whole is thriving.

When you know that APLF has assets of more than a million dollars, you may be surprised that our support of the Carnegie branch this past 2022-2023 fiscal year was a seemingly paltry $1,000 or so! What did we get for that? We paid for new plantings around the library, installed by Albany Parks & Recreation, which also fixed the irrigation system and mulched the plants. Come take a look!

But we did more. APLF also contributed $4,500 toward the library system’s summer story hour program. The Saturday story hour at the Carnegie was very popular this year, which boosted the branch’s activity. We also contributed to the library’s innovative Story Walk at Sunrise Park. Finally, APLF made a major contribution of $55,000 to the library system’s acquisition funds, which is used to purchase books, audio and video materials, and database access used by all patrons. While the city funds staff salaries and building maintenance, all the money for acquisitions comes from APLF, the Friends of the Albany Public Library, and other donations.