The Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation (ICPLFF) was established in 1992 in order to respond to the changing needs of the Library and the greater community. The Friends Foundation is the result of a merger completed in 1992 between the Iowa City Public Library Foundation (established 1982) and the Friends of the Iowa City Library (established 1975).

The Board of Trustees of the Iowa City Public Library is the Corporate Membership of the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation. Each year, the Corporate Members elect the members of the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation Board of Directors.