The Society is named for Andrew Carnegie whose incredible legacy of libraries included the Carnegie Library in San Diego, the first west of the Mississippi.

The Foundation's participation in Endow San Diego opens up planned giving options to donors.

Carnegie Society members Alberta and Dick Waggoner.

The Carnegie Planned Giving Society honors those who have provided a lasting legacy for tomorrow’s generations by including the San Diego Public Library Foundation in their estate plans. The Society is named for Andrew Carnegie who underwrote more than 2,000 libraries worldwide, including the San Diego Free Public Library, one of the first west of the Mississippi.

Please consider including the San Diego Public Library in your will, trust or other planned giving vehicle. The San Diego Public Library Foundation participates in the San Diego Foundation’s Endow San Diego Nonprofit Partnership Program. This allows the Library and Foundation to offer donors planned giving resources such as charitable gift annuities and pooled income funds.

For more information, call 619-239-6638 or e-mail office@supportmylibrary.org.

From a charter membership of 13 in 2005, there are now 52 Carnegie Society families.  It is important for Library staff to know the donor’s intent for three reasons. First, staff can ensure a donor’s giving intentions are fulfilled. Second, the Library can recognize and honor the donor during his or her lifetime. Third, their action provides inspiration to other library supporters.

Planned Giving Information

For more information on supporting your library through planned gifts and to sign up for a weekly ENewsletter with helpful planned giving information, visit here.

A Closer Look...

Alberta and Dick Waggoner: Teachers, Volunteers and Carnegie Members

Dick Waggoner fondly remembers visiting the library as a child in Arizona. “Air Force brat” Alberta moved around a lot and didn’t have access to libraries very often, but always had books at home.

They met in college, married and moved to El Cajon, where both had elementary school teaching jobs, and Dick also served as a church organist. After raising a family, they moved to the North Park area in 1989, and retired in 1990. One day while visiting her local library, Alberta saw a notice seeking help reorganizing the Friends of the North Park Library. She signed up and soon became president of the North Park Friends. She branched out and became vice president and then president of the Friends of the San Diego Public Library. She was active in Citizens in Action for Local Libraries, whose activities included seeking ballot initiatives for the New Central Library and for increased city support for the entire library system.

Alberta and Dick believe strongly that a New Central Library is essential. They see the Central Library as the system’s core, with capabilities not available in smaller facilities, e.g., the extensive children’s collection, the rare book room, the historical collections in the California Room. They assert that San Diego needs to move forward with a larger vision for a strong Central Library.

For the past several years, Alberta has volunteered with the Foundation, helping with administrative jobs. In addition to their support of the New Central Library, Alberta and Dick have supported the Foundation’s capacity building efforts and let the Foundation know they included the San Diego Public Library Foundation in their estate plans and became members of the Carnegie Planned Giving Society.

Carnegie Society Members