The Laramie County Library Foundation is pleased to announce that Kristi Wallin has been selected as its new Foundation Director. In her role, Kristi will lead the way in helping the foundation accomplish its goal to raise funds for the Laramie County Library System and provide financial support for the library’s innovative programming, services, and award-winning collections.
Born and raised in Wyoming, Kristi has dedicated much of her career to the betterment of the state and is bringing years of philanthropic expertise to the library. After beginning her career in Washington D.C. working for US Senators Al Simpson and Malcom Wallop, she returned home to Wyoming where she began working for the University of Wyoming Foundation. During her time at the university, she served as the Annual Fund Director and as a College Development Officer. Following nearly a dozen years at UW, she spent ten years serving as the state director for US Senator John Barrasso. Before coming to the Laramie County Library Foundation, she worked on Governor Mark Gordon’s campaign and 2019 inauguration.
For Kristi, her role as the Foundation Director is not only about the library but also about its impact on the entire community. “I’m excited to work to support the library’s programs, collections, and services,” Kristi says. “Our library is a community hub, and working for the Laramie County Library Foundation fulfills a desire to use my skills and experience to add great value to our community. Supporting the library allows me to positively impact nearly everyone in our county.”
Kristi believes that every resident of Laramie County can benefit from a strong library. “I’d challenge anyone to go through the library’s event calendar and not find something that piques their interest,” she says. “As a life-long learner, I am so impressed that our library’s programming encompasses everyone from infants to seniors.”
Kristi is driven by her conviction that libraries are pivotal components of thriving communities, and looks forward to working with existing donors, prospective donors, and businesses to foster a wide range of meaningful partnerships. She has fond memories of different libraries throughout her lifetime and knows that contributions to the Laramie County Library Foundation are, “sound and worthy investments in our community and its residents.”
By continuing to support Foundation initiatives such as the First Steps: Early Literacy Begins at Home Program, an early literacy campaign designed to increase opportunities for the most at-risk children in Laramie County, Kristi will help the library more effectively reach its patrons in the places that matter most.
Thus far, her favorite part about working at the Laramie County Library has been, “going to work every day in a building full of books and book-loving people.”
“Plus,” she says, “the café has terrific coffee.”
The Laramie County Library Foundation in conjunction with the Laramie County Library System would like to officially welcome Kristi Wallin to the team. The library is thrilled to welcome someone to their ranks who understands the importance of libraries in fostering vibrant, diverse, and flourishing communities, and the entire organization is excited to see Kristi’s expertise at work for the Laramie County Library System.