The mission of the Carmel Public Library Foundation is to keep the library open, relevant, and thriving and to ensure free library service in perpetuity by providing funding for 100% of the books, materials, programs, equipment and services.
At the Carmel Public Library, we believe in the power of words to connect, inspire, and inform across time and place. Through every lecture program, book on our shelves, and digital archives we offer, people of all ages discover stories, histories, and ideas that enhance growth, curiosity, and connection. Whether it’s a child hearing their first story, a student diving into research, or a neighbor exploring a new idea—language lives here. And we’re proud to be a place where that connection is honored and shared, freely and openly with our whole community.
This year, the Carmel Public Library Foundation’s program series, “The Power of Language,” invites us to explore the many ways we connect through language. From literature and journalism to poetry as well as architecture and more, each program will highlight how language—in all its forms—shapes the way we see, understand, and interact with the world around us.
The Carmel Public Library Foundation ensures that the Carmel Public Library remains a vibrant, welcoming space where people from across Monterey County—and beyond—can learn, grow, and connect. Though Carmel-by-the-Sea is home to almost five thousand residents, the library welcomes over 120,000 visitors each year, including library cardholders from across the Central Coast and many curious travelers.
Our library is a cultural hub, a safe space, and a trusted source of knowledge. From babies learning to read at the Park Branch to adults exploring archives, book clubs, or job resources at Harrison Memorial Library, our programs serve people at every stage of life.
Because of this, our community members build essential skills, pursue education, access wellness resources, find creative inspiration, and form meaningful social connections. In a fast-changing world, we proudly offer a place that fosters lifelong learning, civic engagement, and a shared love of culture and ideas.
The Carmel Public Library has been a constant in my life—a place where I’ve come to find books, of course, but also to feel grounded, inspired, and connected. Whether I’m attending a talk, researching local history, or simply sitting in the reading room, I always leave feeling enriched. The library’s commitment to free access and thoughtful programming, like The Power of Language series, reminds me how vital public spaces like this are to a healthy, curious, and compassionate community." — Carmel resident and lifelong library patron
- Lacy Williams Buck, Carmel-by-the-Sea
