"A City's real quality of life often hinges on an invisible characteristic: an informed citizenry with educational and cultural resources at its fingertips. A good library system helps to foster literacy, self-sufficiency, innovation, good research skills among students, and even free but solid entertainment for senior citizens and others."
- The Tucson Daily Citizen
Providing additional resources is critical to the present and future quality of the library service in Tucson and PimaCounty.
The operating budget for the Library system is provided through a secondary property tax set by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the City of Tucson has agreed to provide partial funding until the year 2010 when the County takes over full funding for library operations.
The Library Foundation is not designed to replace any existing or future government funding. The proceeds from the Permanent Endowment Trust will be used to fund programs, services, and media collections that would not be otherwise funded.
The Foundation is an independent 501.C.3 charitable entity and is not part of the Library system, and is also independent from the Friends of the Library organization.
The Foundation works closely with Library personnel to determine areas where Foundation resources can be most effectively used. The Foundation also maintains close relationships with the Friends organization and coordinates efforts in the community.
