Foundation Highlights

With the support of our generous donors, the Foundation has been a key funding partner for library programs and services. Some recent highlights:

• $250,000+ raised for the new Burleigh County Bookmobile
• $430,000+ raised for the new Teen Center
• $643,000+ raised for the children's library renovation, completed in 2009
• Raised the funds to construct library coffee shop in 2007
• Established Endowment Fund, which has grown to $2 million since 2001
• $300,000+ to complete the new library building in the late 1980s
• Makes annual contributions for library programming, expanded collections, technology upgrades, and much more

History

Bismarck Public Library was established in 1917 in a building funded by Andrew Carnegie at 6th Street and Thayer Avenue. In 1963, a modern building was erected at 6th Street and Avenue A to provide more space. The new Veterans Memorial Public Library honored World War II and Korean War veterans. It was about 17,000 square feet.

A major library expansion was completed in 1989, giving the library 70,000 square feet of space and a new name: Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library. The facility occupies the block between 5th and 6th streets north of Avenue A. Today the library welcomes more than 7,000 visitors each week, with digital resource checkouts also growing. More than 46,000 people have library cards.