Your support makes a difference. Join Friends of the Arlington Public Library and know that your tax-deductible contribution will be used to provide programming in all branches. Friends supports storytimes, maker events, author events, the Arlington Reads program, lectures, summer and winter reading programs, board games, and special programs for children, middle and high school students.
By Mail
If you prefer to become a member of FOAL or wish to make a donation by mail, checks may be sent to:
Friends of the Arlington Public Library
1015 N Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Please include on your check your email address and if the check is for a donation or membership. Or simply include this information in a note enclosed with your check.
Become a Lifetime Member
Join Friends of the Arlington Public Library as a lifetime member and enjoy the unique privileges that come with being a member for years to come. Join today – $500 for an individual lifetime membership or $1,000 for a household lifetime membership.
Lydia K Feidler Charitable Trust
Celebrating the Lydia K. Feidler Fine Arts Collection
Since 1996, the Arlington Public Library has been honored to receive annual funding through the Feidler Trust, established in memory of Lydia K. Feidler. This generous endowment supports the ongoing acquisition of books in the fields of art and sewing, enriching our collection and inspiring creativity in our community.
Mrs. Feidler was a passionate advocate for the arts and a dynamic educator. She founded the Dernier Cri style school—named for the French phrase meaning “the latest fashion or last cry”—and taught in Arlington Public Schools. Her influence extended beyond the classroom, with special courses offered through major downtown department stores and a weekly sewing group held at the YMCA.
A world traveler and lifelong learner, Mrs. Feidler visited many of the world’s great galleries and cultural centers, cultivating a deep appreciation for artistic expression. Her legacy is further reflected in the career of her husband, Ernest Feidler, who served as Secretary of the National Gallery of Art—a role shaped in part by Lydia’s cultural insight and artistic sensibility.
The Feidler Endowment continues to honor Mrs. Feidler’s vision, ensuring that future generations have access to resources that celebrate the beauty and craft of the fine arts. Gifts like this bequest, allow the library to deepen and broaden our collection for everyone’s benefit.
Library Fund
The Friends began a Fund in 1995 to support the Library materials collection – its currency, its depth, its future. The Arlington Community Foundation, founded in 1991 to offer organizations a low-cost stewardship of philanthropic funds, manages the Fund. The Friends intent is to grow the Fund and then to use the annual interest to purchase materials in areas not adequately supported by the county’s operating budget. Cash donations, bequests, securities, all are welcome.
Corporate Giving and Partnerships
Does your company benefit from the engaged and educated population in Arlington County? Contact the Friends to learn how you can help fund programs and collections for the community.
Opportunities for corporate placement are available at a number of FOAL-sponsored programs and products.
Planned Giving
Did you know that there is a way to support your public library system in Arlington while meeting your own financial and charitable goals? A planned gift to Friends of Arlington Library (FOAL) supports the community resource you value and can provide you with tax, income and other benefits. The most common way to support FOAL is through a named bequest in your will or beneficiary designation on your IRA account, but those are not the only ways to give. You can also consider other types of planned gift donations. Let us help you explore the many advantageous ways to give and create a customized plan to make a lasting contribution to support your library.
If you have questions or would like more information about supporting Friends of Arlington Library through your estate, please contact our planned giving partner, Jennifer Owens, at the Arlington Community Foundation at 703.243.4785 or jowens@arlcf.org.
Memorial Fund Opportunities
If you’d like to set up a memorial fund honoring someone who loved books or the library, you may be interested in a memorial fund such as the one set up for Martha Koleda and used to support music programs in the libraries.
If you have questions about giving opportunities, please contact the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.