named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Pantry
Operates a community pantry with refrigerator, freezer, and shelf space for food and essentials, located within the library facility.
Event Space
Provides a large open room with kitchen and storage for community events, made possible by the 2021 addition.
Homeschool Resources
Provides guidance and local/online resources for homeschooling families, including sample documents for NYS compliance (LOI, IHIP, Quarterly Reports) and connections to local programs.
Teen Room
Offers a dedicated space for teenagers within the library, part of the 2021 expansion and renovation project.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
- Hosts Summer Reading program with raffles and children's prizesRuns a Summer Reading program that includes free raffles for children, offering prizes such as 3D-printed figurines, book bundles, and toy bundles to encourage participation.
-
-
Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
- Hosts and maintains public access to Board of Trustee meetings and minutesConducts public board meetings as part of library governance and provides public access to meeting minutes, including archived minutes from 2017 and 2019, at the library location.
-
-
Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
- Manages facility improvements and community spacesCompleted a building expansion and renovation in Fall 2021, which added a teen room, event space with kitchen, and a community pantry with refrigeration and storage to better serve the community.
-
-
Library Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement 1 activity
- Organizes volunteer programs to support library operationsEngages volunteers to assist with library tasks such as organizing materials and supporting book sales, enhancing capacity for library services.
-
-
Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Provides public library services and access to reading materialsOffers in-person access to library resources and reading materials for all ages in multiple formats, with public library hours six days a week. Serves as a center for community information services.
-
-
Homeschool Support Services 1 activity
- Supports homeschooling families with compliance resources and curriculum guidanceProvides sample forms, including Letters of Intent, Individualized Home Instruction Plans, Quarterly Reports, and Annual Narrative Assessments, to assist homeschooling families with New York State compliance. Also offers a curriculum guide and curated list of local and online resources to support educational planning.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$315K
Contributions & grants$313K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5590%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$402K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$254K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.17M
Cash$111K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$1.16M
Liquid reserves3.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +1.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA KNOBEL | LIBRARY DIRECT | 40 | $58K |
board members · 7
- BETTY CONGER — Trustee
- BREANDAN KOMALA — BLDG & GROUNDS
- CATHY ROSA KLIMASZEWSKI — Vice President
- KATHY HOWARD — President
- KELLY KITCHIN — Trustee
- MARY MEEKER — Secretary
- NANCY DAILEY — Trustee
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- CK-12 Partner — Referenced as a provider of free online educational materials for students.
- Cheerful and Creative Art Studio Partner — Referenced as a provider of art classes for homeschoolers in Cortland.
- Community Foundation of Tompkins County Funder — Provides partial funding for library operations and programs.
- Cortland Christian Academy Partner — Referenced as a school offering part-time classes and sports opportunities for homeschool students in Cortland.
- Covenant Love Community School Partner — Referenced as a school offering a hybrid-homeschool day program in Freeville.
- Earth Arts Partner — Referenced as a provider of Waldorf-inspired outdoor homeschool programs in Ithaca.
- Friends of Groton Public Library Partner — Collaborates with the library through a designated Friends Liaison on the Board of Trustees.
- Friends of the Groton Public Library Partner — Volunteer group supporting the library through task assistance and events like book sales.
- HSLDA Advocates for Homeschoolers Partner — Referenced as a nonprofit providing advocacy and legal support for homeschool families.
- Ithaca YMCA Partner — Referenced as a provider of homeschool-specific swimming lessons.
- Khan Academy Partner — Referenced as a provider of instructional videos and practice exercises.
- Klein’s Archery Partner — Referenced as a provider of archery lessons for homeschoolers in Dryden.
- LEGOLAND Partner — Referenced as a venue offering homeschool week in Yonkers.
- Legends of the Fall Partner — Referenced as a provider of archery lessons for homeschoolers in Tully.
- Lime Hollow Partner — Referenced as a provider of forest school and weekly homeschool programs in Cortland.
- NYS Homeschool Loving Education at Home (LEAH) Partner — Referenced as a local homeschool support group with connections in Cortland and Ithaca.
- New York State Education Department Government — Provides information and sample documents aligned with New York State homeschooling regulations set by the NYS Education Department.
- Northern Light Learning Center Partner — Referenced as a cooperative learning community in Ithaca for homeschoolers.
- Primitive Pursuits Partner — Referenced as a provider of outdoor-focused homeschool programs in Ithaca.
- The Wild Animal Park Partner — Referenced as a venue offering homeschool days in Chittenango.
- Time4Learning Partner — Referenced as an online learning platform for PreK-12 covering all subjects.
- Wonderworks Partner — Referenced as a venue offering homeschool days in Syracuse.
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.
- Curated Resource Access for Homeschooling Supportmethodology: resource_curationBy compiling and simplifying access to educational resources and compliance tools, the library reduces barriers for homeschooling families, because curated, ready-to-use materials increase efficiency and confidence in meeting educational and regulatory demands.
- Incentive-Based Engagement for Literacy Programsmethodology: incentive-based participationBy offering raffles and incentives during the Summer Reading program, the library increases participation and engagement, because tangible rewards motivate continued involvement, especially among children and families.
- Intellectual Freedom as Access Strategymethodology: intellectual_freedomBy affirming unrestricted access to information and upholding the Freedom to Read Statement, the library promotes equitable engagement with ideas, because protecting the right to read fosters inclusion, critical thinking, and democratic participation.