The Chesapeake Public Library Foundation (CPLF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, strengthens the Chesapeake Public Library System through philanthropy, advocacy, and outreach.
Founded in 1996 by local community leaders, CPLF raises private funds to support library programs, collections, and services. In 2020, it aligned with the library’s Strategic Plan by focusing on early childhood literacy, partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to reduce book deserts and promote school readiness across Chesapeake.
Copiers
Funded copiers and printers at all 7 branches.
Learning Centers
Helped convert children’s rooms into early learning centers.
Grants
Secured the first library workforce development grant in the U.S.
Smart Start & STEAM Programs
Established Smart Start Chesapeake & STEAM programs.
“Reading aloud at a young age positively impacts brain development.”
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Children registered in the first month
%
Increase in parent-child reading time
$
Annual cost to serve our community
