The Carnegie Corporation of New York named the Library Foundation SD as one of 11 grant recipients of the national Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy program. This two-year initiative builds on Carnegie’s renewed commitment to libraries as trusted public institutions that help reduce political polarization. The announcement was shared at the International Public Library Fundraising Conference hosted at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common.
The Library Foundation SD will provide these funds to the San Diego Public Library to expand two Library programs that promote college readiness and access, positively impacting higher education attainment and employment rates throughout San Diego. “Everyone knows we have books, but I believe it’s our programming that is the soul of the San Diego Public Library. This funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York will allow us to make our Discover U college prep and Adult High School Diploma programs a core offering for all of San Diego,” said Misty Jones, Director, City of San Diego Public Library Department. “I’m grateful for the work of my staff and the Library Foundation SD who worked together to secure these funds that will protect and expand the transformational programs that help youth and adults navigate their educational journeys and build thriving futures for themselves and their families.”
DiscoverU, which launched in the Fall of 2024, provides youth in San Diego with opportunities to prepare for college and gain life management skills. Through interactive, in-person workshops, students learn about the college admissions process, prepare for SAT/ACTs, get financial aid assistance, and receive tutoring. These quarterly programs are delivered through the Library’s 37-branch system with special focus on 12 designated under-resourced communities – using the City of San Diego’s Climate Equity Index.
The Library’s Adult High School Diploma (AHSD) program offers adult students the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma. Since its start in 2015, 189 people have graduated from the program. AHSD offers two education paths. Career Online High School gives students the opportunity to earn a career certificate in one of 10 industries in addition to their diploma. The Excel Adult High School program familiarizes students with the community college and university course structure while offering electives that introduce students to a broad range of topics for further study.
Participants take classes online and receive support from the library, including access to unlimited tutoring, guidance from Academic Success Coaches, technology tools, assistance with transfer of previously earned credits and services that support non-native English speakers.
A key difference between the San Diego Public Library programs from providers who offer similar education services is that all Library programs are free of charge, accessible, and do not require any affiliation.
“This two-year grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York will have an impact on San Diegans for decades to come,” said Patrick Stewart, CEO of Library Foundation SD. “Funding for a program that prepares teens for life in and out of college and helps adults with educational advancement and improved job prospects is a boost to the San Diego community overall. The Library Foundation SD is focused on six areas of supporting for the Library department and we are grateful to have secured these funds for education and lifelong learning programs at the San Diego Public Library.”
Funding from the Carnegie Corporation will allow San Diego Public Library to expand its offerings to include additional multi-day SAT and ACT prep programs and new sessions specifically for communities of concern that address college applications, essay preparation, and financial aid. Long-term goals for this program would include offering tours of universities, organizing panel discussions with current college students from underserved backgrounds, and developing a college and career fair with community partners.
This grant will also allow the Adult High School Diploma program to collaborate with DiscoverU to offer tailored support to these adult students, helping them in their next steps of applying for college or searching for a job.
Carnegie has been one of the largest philanthropic funders of libraries, from the early construction of almost 1,700 libraries in the U.S., including the San Diego Public Library in 1902. This was the first library built in California with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. Learn more about Carnegie’s longtime support of libraries at carnegie.org/libraries.
About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today, the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.
