Summit County Library Foundation

Mission

Established April 17, 1990, the Summit County Library Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided funds to the Library for needs where County funding was unavailable. The Foundation's mission is to serve as an advocate for the Summit County Library System and provide financial support beyond the Library's normal operating expenditures, when unanticipated needs arise, and for capital projects.

Supporting Lifelong Learning in the Digital Age

Colorado Gives Day, Colorado’s largest 24-hour giving event, is December 8, 2026. This Colorado Gives Day, please consider supporting the Summit County Library Foundation and helping us write the next chapter of the Summit County Library story.

One of the Foundation’s highest priorities is funding the library’s growing digital collection, which has experienced a 55% increase in circulation among library cardholders.

But providing digital books and audiobooks comes at a significantly higher cost than purchasing print materials:

• E-books: Summit County Library pays approximately $50–$100 for a one-year license for a single e-book title that might cost $15–$25 in print.
• Limited access: An average single-user e-book license may reach only 17 patrons before the library must purchase the title again because of demand and waitlists.
• Audiobooks: Digital audiobooks can cost even more—$65–$120 for a two-year, one-user-at-a-time license.
• Longer waits: The current average wait for a Libby title in Summit County is 37 days.

Your Colorado Gives Day gift can make a real difference. More funding for digital materials means more copies, shorter wait times, and greater access for every patron who wants to read or listen digitally.

Your support also helps fund the Student One Card program, which allows every Summit School District student to use their school ID as a library card. Students gain direct access to digital books, audiobooks, homework resources, and educational materials—both at school and at home.

Libraries are changing, and your support helps ensure Summit County Libraries can change with them. Together, we can provide the resources our community needs today while helping our libraries remain a vital part of Summit County for generations to come.

You can make your gift online by scanning the QR code below, which will take you directly to the Summit County Library Foundation’s Colorado Gives page, or you can mail your contribution using the enclosed envelope.

Starting in 2026, taxpayers who take the standard deduction may be able to deduct up to $1,000 in qualifying charitable cash contributions ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly) on their federal tax return—without itemizing deductions.

Your gift to the Summit County Library Foundation can make a difference for our community while potentially providing a federal tax benefit. Please consult your tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.

Thank you for your continued commitment to enriching lives through access to knowledge, technology, and the many opportunities our libraries provide.

Comment from a Summit School District Educator:

"I want to thank you so much for the YEARS you put into making the One Card a reality. As the elementary curriculum has moved away from classroom libraries and is now simply canned phonics lessons, I fear an entire generation will not have the chance to develop a love of reading, and that breaks my heart. I have been using the Libby app for years in my personal life, and the library resources have saved me SO much money and helped me keep sane during some crazy times. Please don't ever underestimate the impact your work has on our community!"