named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Book Club
Monthly book discussion group for adults, meeting the second Wednesday of each month
Computer Fixer
Monthly drop-in event offering technical support for personal computers and devices
LEGO Club
Monthly play and build session for children ages 5 and up
Machine Sewing Club
Monthly workshop for adults to work on sewing projects with access to machines and guidance
Medicare Counseling
Free individual assistance with Medicare questions provided in partnership with the Office for the Aging
Memory Caregivers Support Group
Monthly support group for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia
Online Resources Access
Provides free access to digital content including Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Transparent Language Online, and The Great Courses
Summer Reading Program
Annual literacy program for children and adults featuring reading challenges, raffles, and awards
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 3 activities
- Offering access to major newspaper and periodical contentProvides digital access to online, historical, video, and blog content from major newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
- Operating public library servicesProvides free library services to residents of the Town of Shandaken and association members, including access to physical materials (books, DVDs), computers, printing, curbside service, and a physical location at 48 Main Street in Phoenicia, NY.
- Providing digital media and online learning platformsOffers patrons access to extensive digital resources including over 850,000 titles via hoopla (audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV), over 26,000 streaming videos through Kanopy, language learning in 110+ languages via Transparent Language Online, and 500+ continuing education courses across 30 subjects through Universal Class.
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Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
- Administering children's literacy and creative engagement programsRuns an annual summer reading program with a raffle and awards event, a daily-changing virtual calendar of activities and stories for young children, curated eBooks and audiobooks by reading level (K–8), and hosts recurring contests including a coloring/drawing contest and an essay contest focused on the Shandaken Eagle Statue or local history, with winners honored at Eagle Day.
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Real-Time Environmental Monitoring and Community Engagement 1 activity
- Conducting environmental monitoringOperates an air quality monitoring sensor that measures real-time PM2.5 levels in the community.
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Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
- Facilitating community access to museums and government servicesProvides free access passes to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum for families (up to five people), hosts office hours for U.S. Congressman Josh Riley’s team to assist constituents with federal/state programs, and offers free voter registration forms that also serve as change of address forms.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Hosting educational and cultural programsHosts ongoing educational and cultural events including fly tying classes, author talks (e.g., Douglas Penick), local history programs (e.g., Ulster County during the American Revolution, ancient history of Phoenicia), traditional crafts, LEGO club for children aged 5+, machine sewing club for adults, poetry club, book club, meditative nature drawing, food preservation workshops, and grief and caregiver support groups.
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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives 1 activity
- Implementing sustainable building practicesIncorporated flood mitigation measures including floodproofing up to four feet, moisture barriers, anchoring to a concrete-filled basement, attic relocation of critical systems, and reduced fuel consumption by approximately 80% since reopening in 2015.
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Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Maintaining a specialized collection on Catskill angling historyOperates a special collection focused on Catskill angling history, including books, memorabilia, artworks, archives, a digital hatch chart, fly-tying recipes, species information, program archives, and offers fly rods and spinning rods for checkout to library cardholders.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Providing technology and health-related support servicesOffers computer troubleshooting drop-in support, one-on-one Medicare counseling sessions in partnership with the Office for the Aging, and maintains a YouTube channel featuring educational content such as technology classes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$273K
Contributions & grants$253K93%
Program service revenue$1K0%
Investment income$18K7%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$301K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$179K
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.02M
Cash$544K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$1.02M
Liquid reserves21.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 5
- BECCA FRANK — TREASURER
- BERNARD HANDZEL — PRESIDENT
- BETHIA WATERMAN — VICE PRESIDENT
- HOLLY GEORGE WARREN — RECORDING SECRETARY
- NICOLE CAPUTO — CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- FEMA Government — Government agency whose flood mitigation requirements influenced the library's rebuilding design.
- Harmony Builders, LLC Partner — Contractor responsible for rebuilding the library according to Passive House standards.
- Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum Partner — Collaborates to provide discounted or free museum access to library patrons via a library pass program.
- Mid-Hudson Library System Network — Member of the regional library system, enabling shared catalog access and resource borrowing across member libraries.
- Mohawk Valley Library System Partner — Library system with which Phoenicia Library has a sharing arrangement
- NYS Library Government — Provides the NYS Library Trustee Handbook for board governance guidance.
- New York State Board of Elections Government — Provides links to state voter registration and absentee ballot information through official NY.gov and elections.ny.gov websites.
- North Engineers and Design Associates Partner — Architectural firm led by John Wasylyk that designed the Passive House-certified library.
- Office for the Aging Partner — Partners to provide free individual Medicare counseling at the library.
- Onteora School District Partner — Provides link to Onteora School District website as a local resource.
- Pine Hill Library Partner — Collaborates on displaying children's artwork from the coloring and drawing contest during August.
- ProQuest Partner — Provides access to newspaper and media content through a partnership with ProQuest.
- Southern Adirondack Library System Partner — Library system with which Phoenicia Library has a sharing arrangement
- Town of Shandaken Government — Local government whose building code required flood mitigation measures in the library's reconstruction.
- Town of Shandaken Government — Provides link to Town of Shandaken website for local government information.
- U.S. Congressman Josh Riley's team Partner — Hosts constituent office hours at the library for federal and state program assistance.
- Ulster County Government Government — Provides link to Ulster County government website for local government information.
- Ulster County Library Association Government — Partner organization providing regional library services and digital resource coordination
- Upper Hudson Library System Partner — Library system with which Phoenicia Library has a sharing arrangement
- catskillanglingcollection.org Partner — Collaborates on digital outreach and educational resources for anglers.
strategies · 2
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.
- Community-Sourced Knowledge Preservationmethodology: community_sourced_programmingBy engaging local residents to create and share content on regional history and traditional skills, the library sustains cultural relevance and strengthens community ownership of knowledge because participatory programming fosters intergenerational transmission and authentic representation.
- Open-Access Library Modelmethodology: open-access_library_modelBy offering free and open access to library services for both residents and non-residents, the organization increases community engagement with educational resources because removing membership barriers broadens participation across socioeconomic and geographic lines.