St. Louis County Library Foundation

Who We Are:

SLCL is more than a library district- we go beyond the page in many ways. Our 20 branches serve as community hubs that provide free books to children for literacy support, access to an accredited adult high school education program, technology to bridge the digital divide, fresh produce and meals to aid in hunger relief, tutoring services for students, rental assistance for families in need, and so much more! The Foundation empowers SLCL to continue to provide these vital resources and services, which are not funded by library tax dollars but instead through community support by donors like you. 

What We Do:

The SLCL Foundation focuses on five key areas of work:

• Child Literacy and Development - One way we do this through our new 2025 program, Gateway to Reading! Aimed at elementary age readers who are new to reading or struggling, these kits and workshops use a phonics-based approach to give children the tools they need to be confident lifelong readers. The 390 kits of various levels have already been checked out over 305 times since launching mid February of this year. This is in addition to other programs you may be more familiar with, like our Born to Read program or Read & Play kits!
• Youth Literacy and Career Exploration - Youth ages 10-14 can participate in our popular Coding 101 classes, where students get the chance to learn basic coding skills and take home a free Chromebook. The Sidney Johnson Internship Program for high school students exists to inspire a new generation of library leaders by teaching students the structure and services of a public library, and lets them explore how their personal interests and skills align. 
• Food Initiatives - We know that food insecurity is a serious issue for many in the St. Louis region, regardless of age. We have provided over 1.2 million meals in partnership with Operation Food Search since 2021. Our MetroMarket mobile farmers market supports food-insecure individuals and families, as does the produce boxes distributed at many local branches. Food is also provided directly to school-age children through the After School Meals program during the school year, and the Summer Lunch Program during the summer months when kids cannot access food through school. 
• Community Support & Services - Several branches provide drop-in access to social work services, with all branches providing services by appointment. This service can be used to connect community members with vital resources and referrals to service providers in the area. Some examples of case manager referrals include housing and food assistance, support with domestic violence situations, and connecting senior adults with services. Another support service we provide is the Excel Adult High School program, which has served over 143 adult graduates since 2017. 
• Literary Engagement - The SLCL Foundation supports the largest and most attended author events series in the country, which brought over 100 authors to various events in 2024 alone. We also sponsor three amazing book festivals, the Little Readers Festival, the St. Louis Teen Book Festival, and the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. 

Check out our media gallery below to see examples of some of these great programs!