About the Foundation
Our mission is to enhance early literacy programs and inspire community engagement so that all children can discover the wonder of books through Noyes Children’s Library.
The Foundation is a grassroots non-profit founded in 1991 to raise funds for the historic Noyes Children’s Library, a specialized branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries in Kensington, MD. The all-volunteer Foundation has grown to support the Library's mission in many ways, and now, in cooperation with Montgomery County, the Foundation has completed the Make MORE Noyes Renovation Campaign to make Noyes universally accessible, while expanding its space and early literacy mission.
Who We Are and What We Do
There is no limit to what the little Library with the BIG mission can accomplish! Here's how we put our four cornerstones into action:
Promoting Literacy: |
A Unique Partnership For a Unique Library
In 1990, the Montgomery County (MD) Council planned to close the historic Noyes Children's Library to reduce the Library Department's costs during a major budget shortfall. Community outcry against the closure, coupled with Council members' high regard for the unique little library, led the Council to go "outside the box" for a solution.
The Council approached members of the Noyes Library Advisory Committee (LAC) about creating a separate fundraising group. Noyes supporters rallied and established the Foundation as a registered 501(c)(3) organization in 1991, agreeing to fund a major portion of the Library’s operating costs for as long as needed.
The Foundation immediately got to work planning “The Stars Come Out for Noyes,” a gala where Noyes enthusiasts from throughout the D.C. region were able to bid on Hollywood stars’ favorite picture books, complete with autographs. This successful event was followed by a series of creative auctions, alternating each year with smaller events and annual membership mailings.
Community support for Noyes and the Foundation grew throughout the 1990's, enabling the Foundation to commit to both ensuring the continuation of Noyes and to providing enhanced library and literacy services to the children of Montgomery County and the Washington, D.C. region.
Since 1991, NCLF has raised over $800,000 while also creating nationwide awareness of Noyes; conducting special events for children such as storybook parades, readings by children’s authors, and book illustration workshops; and providing Penny Theater performances to thousands of children throughout the Washington DC area.
In 2012, NCLF was awarded a grant by the American Physical Society for a program to promote young children’s learning about space and time through a Penny Theater program featuring Mary Chapin Carpenter's book, When Halley Came to Jackson. Other honors include recognition as a Point of Light by the national Points of Light Foundation for extraordinary service to the community, and Proclamations from the State of Maryland and Montgomery County. In March of 2016, Foundation Co-President Jan Jablonski received Montgomery County's "Montgomery Serves" Award for her extraordinary service to the public on behalf of Noyes.
With no paid employees, low overhead and the pro-bono support of professional service providers, the Foundation utilizes virtually every dollar it receives to benefit the Library.
Read more HERE about the history of the Foundation and the Library during the past 30 years.
