Kingston Community Library Foundation
The mission of the Kingston Community Library (KCL) Foundation is to support, enhance and expand the current programs, services, and facilities of the Kingston Community Library. The KCL Foundation provides capital funding for the development of future Library programs, services, and facilities. By so doing, the KCL Foundation positions the KCL to meet future community needs by supplementing other resources provided to the library by the community.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shannon Lavalley, Chair
Ed Scully, Treasurer
Byron Petrakis
Muriel Ingalls
Heidi Bunell
John Pramberg (Kingston Community Library Trustees’ Liaison)
Imagine the Future at KCL
Scan the QR code above to donate or follow this link to our donation page.
Donate
The Foundation is currently seeking funding for the Library’s Outdoor Community Center.
We are a 501(c)3 dedicated to support of the Kingston Community Library.
Contact the Library Director for more information.
Mail checks made out to the Kingston Community Library Foundation to:
2 Library Lane
Kingston, NH 03848
Girl in the Library woods doing a scavenger hunt
More Than Your Parents Library
Help us create an outdoor community space where children explore, neighbors gather, and older adults stay active, connected, and well.
Today's libraries are not quiet warehouses for books; They are engines for community health, learning and connection.
Across the Across the country, libraries are evolving to support the whole-person, helping people stay mentally engaged, physically active, and socially connected at every stage of life. From early childhood development to programs supporting older adults and those navigating health challenges, libraries are becoming vital community partners in lifelong wellbeing.
A rendering of the future accessible pavilion at the Kingston Community Library
A Model for the 21st Century
For generations, libraries have provided a haven for literacy and civic learning. That mission remains, but today it extends further.
Modern libraries expand horizons and strengthen communities. They bring people together across generations and backgrounds, encouraging us to explore our environment, appreciate our culture, deepen our knowledge, and support one another.
At the Kingston Community Library, we believe the library of the future reaches beyond its walls to meet people where they live, move, and gather.
Rendering of one of the planned gardens with seating area and accessible swing at the KCL trailhead
What We are Building
A welcoming outdoor space where people of all ages can learn, move, connect, and enjoy nature together.
Pavilion for community programs and events
Nature play and discovery space for children
Wellness and balance area for older adults
ADA-accessible walking paths and woodland trails with connection to larger SELT trail network
Pollinator, rain, meditation, and sensory gardens
The Outdoor Community Center will transform our 3.5-acre campus. Free and open, the Center will allow the library to expand programming outdoors.
The annual Imagination Festival Summer Reading wrap-up draws standing room only crowds from surrounding communities.
A Regional Community Asset
The Kingston Community Library already serves residents far beyond town lines. Families, students, older adults, and visitors from neighboring communities gather here for programs, events, and recreation - supporting local businesses and strengthening the regional sense of community.
Kingston Community Library
A jewel near the New Hampshire Seacoast
Giving Through Your Required Minimum Distribution
Many older adults are surprised to learn they can support their community in a tax-smart way simply by directing their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to the Library. If you’re 73 or older, federal law requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from your IRA each year. This withdrawal is normally taxed as income.
However, when you donate part or all of your RMD directly to a qualified nonprofit—such as the Library—through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), the amount you give is excluded from your taxable income. This can reduce your tax burden while supporting a cause you care about.
Why RMD Gifts Matter
Our Library is building and sustaining an Outdoor Community Center—a space designed for year-round connection, creativity, and wellness. RMD gifts provide a steady, reliable source of support to ensure we can:
Maintain and improve outdoor community gathering areas
Host free programs for older adults, families, and children
Offer educational, cultural, and wellness events in a welcoming environment
Expand green space that promotes social connection and healthy living
How to Make an RMD Gift
Contact your IRA administrator and request a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly to:
[Full Legal Library Name]
[Tax ID Number]
[Address]Ask your administrator to note your name on the check or electronic transfer so we can thank you properly.
Let us know your gift is on the way so we can acknowledge it and share the impact.
A Gift That Strengthens Your Community
Your RMD doesn’t have to be just a tax obligation. It can be a powerful investment in a vibrant outdoor space where people of all ages gather, learn, and belong.
For more information, contact us at melissa@kingston-library.org or 603-642-3521.