Nashville Says THANKS for NPL!

This spring, the Nashville Public Library Foundation hosted its second Thank-a-Thon, encouraging the community to express gratitude to local elected officials for their support of the library, especially as more than 90% of Nashville Public Library’s budget is funded by public dollars for “books, buildings, and bodies.”

With discussions about the new operating budget just getting started, there’s no better time to say “thank you.” More than 3,900 postcards were written by library lovers, sharing their library stories with elected officials to convey the critical role libraries play in the lives of our neighbors. Library Ambassadors then delivered envelopes filled with these heartfelt notes and messages directly to each Metro Council member.

Impacts

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Give Thanks for Our Library

Why is saying thank you important?

More than 90% of Nashville Public Library’s budget comes from public funding. In 2024, Metro Council invested $46.4 million to keep our Main Library and 20 branches well-staffed, well-stocked, and well-maintained.

In the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Budget, Metro Council committed an unprecedented $30 million for major maintenance projects across the library system, along with $15 million for essential preventative maintenance, renovations at two branches, and initial design work for two new branches.

Thank You, Nashville!

During the 2025 Thank-a-thon, we delivered 3,945 messages from NPL patrons, each one expressing gratitude to Metro Council for their continued support in funding our beloved Nashville Public Library.

Thank you for taking the time to share your library stories with our elected officials. Your voices help demonstrate the many ways NPL makes our city a better place to live, learn, and grow. Below is just a small sample of the messages shared by Nashvillians this year.

A Collection of Postcards from 2025

See What Our Neighbors Are Saying About Nashville Public Library

"Thank you for the incredible story times and puppet shows! My children have grown up loving to read because of NPL!"

" Thank you for giving me access to the internet and free printing. Without the library, I couldn’t have found a job."

“Thank you for giving me a safe, fun place to hang out after school. I love seeing books with people who look like me. The library is place for everyone!.”