Libraries that
Build Lincoln.
Central Library Rooftop Auditorium
“Good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.”
Be more. Reach further.
The Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries was established in 1954 with a powerful purpose: to ensure our libraries could do more.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation has always served as a bridge between community, generosity, and library excellence. We raise funds, steward donor intent, and support the people and programs that keep Lincoln’s libraries thriving.
Today, as we help build a bold, new Central Library, we continue the work that began over 70 years ago. By partnering with donors through the city, we make sure Lincoln’s libraries remain the crown jewels of our community—now and for future generations.
Libraries
Library Visits
Physical Items
Registered Borrowers
Executive
Leadership
Tiffani Childress
Growing up visiting the South Branch Library, Tiffani’s childhood weekends were filled with exploring shelves and discovering stories. As a teenager, her parents nicknamed her “Mary Higgins Clark,” because she was always reading one of the mystery author’s books. While her reading tastes have expanded, her love for Lincoln City Libraries hasn’t changed. “Each branch is someone’s hub, and I’ve met so many individuals who have generational ties to a particular branch,” she reflects, highlighting how every part of the city connects through the library system.
As Executive Director, Tiffani sees the Foundation as the backbone for Lincoln’s libraries. She focuses on sustainability and impact: “Our partnership with Lincoln City Libraries is about increasing programs and services, really understanding what staff need and want to do.”
“Public libraries are free education for everyone, giving access to books so everyone starts on equal ground.”
– Tiffani Childress
From youth summer programs to adult services, she works closely with staff and board members to ensure resources reach every neighborhood and every generation. “It’s important we meet people where they’re at,” she says. “Whether they are donors, board members, or library staff, we hear them and stay transparent about what’s happening.”
Tiffani brings a unique mix of IT and business development experience, paired with a talent for building trust and collaboration. “Seeing gaps that might have been missed in the past can be a hard conversation, but those are the conversations worth having,” she explains. “The new Central Library will let us dream what’s possible and go further.”
Motivated by impact, her work is also inspired by her children: “My kids are why I do everything in this life. I want them to know that they can do anything they put their minds to.” Her leadership reflects the example she sets for her children, and Tiffani’s goal is to continue making our libraries vibrant and inclusive spaces where learning and community come together.
Jennifer Waye
Jennifer’s earliest connection to the library came from weekly trips with her mom to Lincoln’s South Branch Library. Surrounded by books, she developed a love for reading that she carried home, where she set up her own pretend library with a hot pink toy keyboard, hand-drawn barcodes, and playful “beep” sound effects. “I’d glue numbers onto the keyboard and scan books like I was running my own branch,” she laughs.
Today, she’s helping shape the real thing as Executive Assistant to the Foundation’s Executive Director. Jennifer brings fresh energy to the Foundation’s outreach, blending creativity, strategy, and a lifelong personal connection to Lincoln’s City Libraries.
“Libraries are one of the few places where everyone—no matter their background—can walk in and find opportunity. Whether it’s a child discovering books or someone printing a résumé to apply for a job, that kind of access is powerful.” – Jennifer Waye
Jennifer spent two decades working in California’s wine industry, where she built exclusive wine clubs, curated high-end events, and learned how to turn membership drives into unforgettable experiences. Those skills now fuel her work with the Foundation—designing materials, planning donor events, and helping modernize how the community connects with its libraries.
Her decision to return to Lincoln was both personal and purposeful. Jennifer moved back to give her son, Lachlan, a life rooted in community and care. Lachlan was born with a rare genetic disorder called SHINE syndrome, and books are his greatest joy. “He speed-reads cardboard books on the floor, bouncing with excitement,” Jennifer says. “Libraries are his happy place.”
For Jennifer, the Foundation is about bridging tradition and transformation. Whether she’s designing a bookmark, organizing a mixer, or brainstorming with Tiffani, her goal is the same: to elevate every branch, every program, and every person who walks through the library doors.
We’ve
Set
The scene
For over 70 years, we’ve been raising money to support programming at the Lincoln City Libraries.
Nebraska’s Literary Legacy
We supported the creation of the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, eventually helping launch the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association.
Revitalizing Our Branches
From furnishings to full renovations, we’ve played a crucial role in transforming buildings into vibrant, welcoming places.
Supporting the Next Generation
Through funds like the Dorothy Bridgmon Martin Gift Fund (benefiting the children’s room at the Bennett Martin library) and the Thompson Memorial Fund (providing annual support for children’s books), we’ve made sure that stories reach young readers across Lincoln.
