In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Andrew Carnegie granted money to almost 2,000 communities across the United States to establish public libraries. Through his generosity, the first Columbus Metropolitan Library was built. Andrew Carnegie envisioned a system where communities would continue to support and maintain their libraries long after the original grant money was gone. It is in this spirit that the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation was established in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation relies on the contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations and has the authority to receive, hold, invest and administer property, and to make expenditures for the exclusive benefit of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation supports the library’s immediate needs and long-range goals through generous private donations, ensuring the library’s collection, programs and services will be available for generations of learners to come. To learn more about the programs and services we support, please see What We Support.

Leadership

The Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation Board of Trustees holds responsibility for the Foundation’s fundraising and investment activities. Meet our Board.

  • Rick Schwieterman
    President
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
    – OCLC
  • Jerre McCulley Wadsworth
    Vice President
    Community Volunteer
  • Lynne Redgrave
    Secretary
    Community Volunteer
  • Jonathan Ramsden
    Treasurer
    Executive Vice President and CFO
    – Abercrombie & Fitch
  • Elfi Di Bella,
    YWCA
  • Jim Foster,
    Community Volunteer
  • Russ Gertmenian,
    Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP
  • Mary Jo Green,
    Time Warner Cable
  • Cindy Hilsheimer,
    SC Search Consultants
  • Tom Katzenmeyer,
    The Ohio State University
  • Charlotte Kessler,
    Community Volunteer
  • Patrick Losinski,
    Columbus Metropolitan Library
  • Jeff Lyttle,
    JPMorgan Chase
  • Sam Porter,
    Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur
  • Corde Robinson,
    Westwater Company
  • Greg Short,
    Careworks
  • Barbara Siemer,
    Community Volunteer
  • Stephen Smith,
    NiSource Inc.
  • Roger Sugarman,
    Kegler, Brown, Hill and Ritter

Mission

"Building resources for the sole purpose of advancing the mission of Columbus Metropolitan Library for generations to come."

The Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation provides financial support for the Library’s greatest needs and highest priorities through generous gifts from customers like you. Every day Columbus Metropolitan Library provides vital services to the central Ohio community, like homework help for students, early literacy skill training for children and resume services for jobseekers. The need for the Library has never been greater and gifts to the Foundation ensure that our programs and services will continue to be available for free to all who walk into each of our 21 locations.

Learn more about the projects the Foundation supports and the many ways you can help the Library.

Events

Celebration of Learning

We’re thrilled to announce our 2013 Celebration of Learning author is prize-winning journalist Wil Haygood.