Ames Public Library Friends Foundation

April 2025 Change for Community Recipient

The Ames Public Library Friends Foundation (APLFF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that supports Ames Public Library through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy.

Funds raised by APLFF helps support programs for children, youth and adults throughout the year, including book clubs, speakers, and cultural and educational events. APLFF also provides support for all the library’s digital and print collections. Outreach is another important area of support, particularly Project Smyles, which provides library services to children from birth to age six. Each month library staff visit in-home daycares, childcare centers, and area preschools to present a variety of story times specially designed to help build early literacy skills. Literary Grounds, the library’s bookstore, and the twice-annual book sales are also a valuable part of APLFF’s regular fundraising activities.

The library has a large cadre of volunteers who help staff in a variety of ways, such as processing book donations, re-shelving books, pulling books for delivery to our homebound patrons and helping with events.