named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Nationwide early literacy program encouraging parents to read 1,000 books to their children before kindergarten, with tracking sheets, rewards, and reading lists
Books By Mail
Service providing mailed books and audiobooks to seniors, people with disabilities, and others unable to visit the library in person
Community Room Use
Provides space for local groups and nonprofits to meet during library hours
Digital Resources
Offers access to e-books, e-audiobooks, online language learning through Mango Languages, and historical newspaper archives
GED and Literacy Services
Offers GED preparation and ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language) instruction for adult learners
Passport to Fun
Provides free passes to local attractions including museums, parks, and water parks for library cardholders
Summer Reading Program
Annual program with events, reading challenges, and activities for children, teens, and adults
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Early Literacy Promotion 2 activities
- Administers 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programSupports early literacy by recognizing children’s reading milestones with stickers and progress tracking, and celebrates program completion with certificates, photo opportunities, and a free book.
- Offers children's programming and dedicated spacesProvides weekly story times, crafts, scavenger hunts, and special events such as bookmark decoration and LEGO builds in the children's room; hosts visiting programs like Penn Dixie Fossil Park and offers adjusted closing times for family accessibility.
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Home Delivery and Curbside Pickup Services 2 activities
- Offers curbside pickup serviceProvides curbside pickup for library holds and requests, enabling remote access to library materials.
- Provides mobile and home delivery of library materialsOperates a Bookmobile that delivers books to the local community during summer months and offers free home delivery service for patrons unable to visit the library in person.
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Hosts community events and art programsDistributes pieces of a community art project based on tessellations and hosts public events such as Storytime in the park and Teen Botanical LEGO Build in the community room.
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Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
- Offers public access to technology and digital servicesProvides mobile printing (black-and-white and color), on-demand computer assistance, free wireless internet, and scanning services that allow users to email documents as PDFs.
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Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
- Operates public book saleSells surplus and withdrawn library materials to the public at low prices through an ongoing book sale.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Produces annual community reportsPublishes annual community reports detailing organizational activities and services, including editions for 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26.
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Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Provides alternative lending itemsLends cake pans, STEM kits for children, and free passes to local cultural and recreational sites for three-day use to support educational and community activities.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provides community room accessMakes the library’s Community Room available to local groups and nonprofit organizations during operating hours.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Provides public library servicesOffers library services focused on learning, reading, and access to information for the greater Oswego area, including regular operating hours Monday through Saturday with extended evening hours on weekdays.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.54M
Contributions & grants$1.48M97%
Program service revenue$8K1%
Investment income$45K3%
Other revenue$162
expenses
Total expenses$1.43M
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$727K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.27M
Cash$2.27M
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.53M
Net assets$4.74M
Liquid reserves19.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUCAS J CONNOR | LIBRARY DIRECTOR | 40 | $79K |
| JAMIE JASKULA | TREASURER | 1 | $3K |
board members · 7
- ELIZABETH OBERST — PRESIDENT
- KAREN SWARTZ — FISCAL OFFICER EFFECTIVE APRIL 2025
- MARY MCGOWAN — SECRETARY
- MATTHEW BEAUDRY — TRUSTEE
- MERCEDES NIESS — FISCAL OFFICER UNTIL APRIL 2025
- MOLLY CLARK — TRUSTEE
- ZACHARY VICKERY — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Partner — Partners with the national 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to implement early literacy reading initiatives for children.
- Friends of the Library Partner — Local support group that helps operate the library and maintains a presence on Facebook.
- Gerrit Smith Partner — Founded the library through a letter dated July 17, 1853.
- NCLS Government — Partner organization through which volunteer applications are submitted via email (eelsner@ncls.org).
- North Country Library System Partner — Partner organization that administers the Books By Mail program for eligible patrons.
- Penn Dixie Fossil Park Partner — Partner organization that visits the library's children's room to provide educational programming.
strategies · 3
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.
- Child-Centered and Family-Friendly Programmingmethodology: family-centered accessBy providing dedicated spaces, age-inclusive events, and regular programming for children, the library fosters literacy and engagement, because structured, accessible, and developmentally appropriate activities increase participation and learning outcomes for young patrons and their families.
- Community-Centered Learning Environmentmethodology: community-centered learningBy shaping library programming and access around community needs and fostering an inclusive atmosphere, the library promotes exploration, connection, and discovery, because engagement increases when services are responsive and welcoming.
- Early Literacy Through Research-Based Reading Promotionmethodology: research-based-early-literacy-outreachBy encouraging consistent parent-child reading habits using research-based messaging, the library advances long-term literacy and school readiness, because early, repeated exposure to reading aloud directly builds vocabulary and cognitive development.