Orange Public Library Foundation

For more than a century, Orange Public Library has been providing essential library services to local residents and businesses. Established in 1885, three years before the City of Orange incorporated, the Orange Public Library system has grown to include the recently constructed and expanded Orange Public Library & History Center and two branch facilities (Taft and El Modena).

The City of Orange Public Library Foundation was established in 1998 as an innovative, collaborative effort by local leaders and municipal officials united by a common goal: To strengthen support for Orange’s public libraries in order to develop an outstanding library system.

OPLF bridges gaps in tax-based funding through the cultivation of public/private partnerships. Its funding ensures that the community’s growing needs for library services and programs are met by developing library support from individuals, businesses, and community organizations.

OPLF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, and its federal ID number is: 33-0803671.

OPLF Newsletters


Winter 2019
Your Donations at Work
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A Giving Tree, a Donor Wall, and Citrus Crate Labels. All offer opportunities to support Orange's Public Library & History Center.

Click here do download a brochure with more detailed information.

Foundation Celebrates STEAM for Teens & Tweens


The Orange Public Library Foundation celebrated the 6th annual STEAM for Teens & Tweens program with the City Council at their February 12th meeting. Executive Director Linda Cundiff presented a new laptop and printer to each of the three teen participants who won the prizes at the conclusion of the STEAM program.

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Pictured from left to right with the City Council are Foundation Board members Rick Martinez, Pat Buttress, Priscilla Selman, and Larry Tannas; Executive Director Linda Cundiff; Assistant Dean of External Relations Elaine Benaksas Schwarz, Ph.D. with Chapman University STEAM presenters and student volunteers; Schmid College of Science & Technology STEAM presenters; Keck Science Center STEAM presenters; BSA Venturing Crew 1701 Robotics Team – Clockwork Oranges STEAM presenters; and laptop winners Bryce Leng, Jonathan Speiser, and Delaney Carr.

Library Foundation Donates $37,000

Our Orange Public Library Foundation presented a $37,000 donation to our Library Services Director Dave Curtis at the August 13, 2019 City Council meeting. The generous dollar amount coming from OPLF will be used to purchase books and electronic resources, refresh the libraries with new technology and furniture, and provide new furniture, technology, and supplies for the Children’s, Teen, and El Modena Homework Centers.
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Orange Seed Lending Library Celebrates Its 3rd Anniversary



The Seed Lending Library at the Orange Public Library & History Center, a collaboration between the Orange Public Library Foundation and Orange Home Grown, premiered in March 2016.  The mission of the Seed Library is to nurture a community of backyard farmers and seed savers in and around the City of Orange.  Community members may come to the OPL & HC and borrow FREE organic, heirloom seeds (donated by seed companies) for their garden from a repurposed card catalog.  Once they grow these plants in their garden, community members who let a few plants ‘go to seed’ may return the same amount of seed (or more) to the Library as they borrowed at the beginning of the growing season.  Over the past three years, library patrons have checked out over 12,000 seed packets, and over 500 gardens have sprouted in Orange! A second Seed Lending Library opened at the El Modena Branch Library in September of 2018. El Modena area gardeners arre delighted to find FREE organic, heirloom and non-gmo seeds close to home.
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Little Free Libraries


Eagle Scout Max Lochrie completed his leadership badge in partnership with the Orange Public Library Foundation and Troop 241 by building and installing four Little Free Libraries in our City of Orange parks on February 4, 2017. You can find a Little Free Library in  El Camino, Killefer, Steve Ambriz and LaVeta Parks. The Little Free Libraries encouage reading by promoting a "Take a book, leave a book" philosophy. OPLF volunteers will maintain the libraries with donations from the public and the Friends of the Orange Public Library as needed. For more
information, please call (714) 288-2470.

 Boy Scouts in front of a small library display.