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CANTON FREE LIBRARY
CANTON, NY · EIN 150545824 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B71Z · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · cantonfreelibrary.org
revenue
$706K
expenses
$610K
net assets
$3.8M
employees
17
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

OPERATION OF A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Public library serving Canton, NY and surrounding communities through its main location and two branch libraries. Offers free access to books, media, and digital resources, along with educational and recreational programs for children, teens, and adults. Provides services such as readers' advisory, interlibrary loans, curbside pickup, and community outreach.

named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Literacy program encouraging families to read 1,000 books to their children before they enter kindergarten
Battle of the Books
Reading competition for students to encourage reading and teamwork
Children’s Programs
Regular programs for children including storytimes, crafts, and educational activities
NOCO Seed Library
Community seed lending library allowing patrons to "borrow" seeds for gardening
Outreach Services
Library services provided to homebound individuals and community organizations
Readers’ Advisory Services
Personalized book recommendations through the “Get RA” service for patrons unsure of their next read
StoryWalk®
Outdoor activity where pages of a children's book are displayed along a walking path
Summer Reading
Annual summer reading program for children, teens, and adults with reading challenges and incentives
Teen Programs
Programs and activities designed for teenagers, including clubs and volunteer opportunities
Tool Library
Lending collection of tools available for patron use
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Library Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement 1 activity
    • Engage volunteers in library operations
      Collaborates with community volunteers who support library operations and outreach programs alongside paid staff.
  • Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
    • Hold public board meetings
      Convenes monthly board meetings that are open to the public to ensure transparency and community involvement in library governance.
  • Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
    • Host youth and teen enrichment programs
      Offers a summer library program for children from birth through age 12, including storytimes, Lego Builders, and family events. Hosts a weekly chess club for children aged 12 and under, a monthly beginner Dungeons & Dragons campaign for teens aged 13–18, and a weekly anime program for teens every Thursday evening.
  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
    • Operate free public library services
      Provides public access to reading, viewing, and listening materials and services for users of all ages during scheduled hours, including Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Offers curbside pickup for books, DVDs, and magazines via phone, email, or app.
  • Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
    • Provide printing, copying, scanning, and faxing services
      Offers free black and white printing and copying up to 20 pages, with fees beyond that; color copying at $0.50 per page; free scanning to external drives; and free faxing up to 10 pages, with fees beyond. Also provides wireless printing for patrons.
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Support community use of library facilities
      Makes the Paige Room and kitchen available to community non-profit groups year-round, with priority given to library-sponsored programs.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Deliver personalized reading recommendations
      Provides tailored reading suggestions through the "Get RA" service to support individual interests and reading goals.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$706K
Contributions & grants$154K22%
Program service revenue$449K64%
Investment income$97K14%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$610K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$444K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.83M
Cash$480K
Investments$2.39M
Liabilities$27K
Net assets$3.81M
Liquid reserves56.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
EMILY OWEN HASTINGS LIBRARY DIRE 40 $60K
board members · 10
  • ALI ZAIDI — TRUSTEE
  • CHELSEA CHASE — TRUSTEE
  • DENNIS MORREALE — TRUSTEE
  • DOREEN RADWAY — VICE PRESIDE
  • ERIKA BEEKMAN — TRUSTEE
  • GINGER TEBO — PRESIDENT
  • LINDA SMITH — TRUSTEE
  • MARIANNA LOCKE — TRUSTEE
  • ROSEMARY PHILIPS — SECRETARY
  • SHELLY SANDERSON — TRUSTEE
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Beardsley Design Associates Partner — Architectural firm that developed plans for the 2006 library renovation.
  • Facebook Network — Has a presence on Facebook to share updates and engage with the community.
  • Friends of the Canton Free Library Partner — Sponsors children's summer library programs.
  • Morley Library Association, Inc. Partner — Community organization that meets monthly to support the Morley Branch Library.
  • NCLS Network — Member of the North Country Library System, using its app for online services.
  • North Country Library System Government — Email domain (ncls.org) indicates affiliation with the North Country Library System.
  • Rensselaer Falls Library Association Partner — Volunteer group that helps raise funds for the library.
  • St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau Government — Cosponsors children's summer library programs.
  • Village of Rensselaer Falls Government — Hosts library information on its official website.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Decentralized Branch Model to Expand Access in Rural Areas
    methodology: branch_network_model
    By operating a network of decentralized branches in rural communities, the library increases access to services because localized, municipally supported locations reduce geographic and logistical barriers for underserved populations.
  • Equitable Community Access Through Inclusive Programming
    methodology: equitable_community_access
    By restricting room use to educational, free, and publicly accessible programs, the library promotes equitable community access because it ensures that library spaces serve the broad public good rather than private or commercial interests.
  • Non-Judgmental Learning Environment to Support Skill Development
    methodology: judgement free_learning
    By providing a non-judgmental space for beginners, the library fosters confidence and foundational skill development in areas like chess, because reducing fear of failure increases participation and sustained learning.
  • Personalized Readers Advisory for Enhanced Engagement
    methodology: personalized readers advisory
    By offering personalized reading recommendations, the library increases patron engagement with materials because tailored suggestions align with individual interests and encourage continued use of library resources.