irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $16KARCHIVES SERVICES PROGRAM: The Archives are located in the Library building and are staffed by two part-time employees, with help from volunteers. The Archives preserve local history and archival material relating to the Town of Keene, the Library, and other local institutions. For 30 years, an archivist has received and organized files, photographs, books and documents about the families and institutions of the community. Over 6,000 photographs have been organized and stored in archival boxes. Interviews with men and women of the community, many of whom are now deceased, have been taped and preserved, recording life in the early 20th century. Currently the tapes are being digitized to preserve them in a more permanent manner. Documents and newspaper articles relating to local families are maintained, and people come to our Archives from all over the United States, either to research their own families or to search for stories about the numerous writers, philosophers and artists who spent time in the Town of Keene. The archivist works both to preserve what is already in the Archives and to add items which will be history in the future. Over seventy people visited the Archives in 2020. Material from our archives was used in researching a book on the Goldman-Sachs family and other material was contributed to a local exhibit on Doc Goff, an iconic figure in the earlier history of our town.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Alpine Room Collection
Specialized collection of mountaineering-related books, journals, maps, and photographs honoring John and Anne Case, available to patrons during library hours.
Archives Services Program
Preserves and provides access to local history, genealogical records, photographs, and documents related to the Town of Keene and surrounding institutions; includes digitization of historical recordings and research support.
Community Events and Lectures
Hosts public events including author readings, historical presentations, and cultural talks, such as programs on John Brown, cave diving, and Adirondack folklore.
Estes Cemetery Restoration Project
Collaborative effort with the Town of Keene Historical Society to restore and preserve the historic Estes Cemetery, including cleaning and resetting tombstones and securing gravesites.
My Adirondack Story Project
Multi-year initiative to collect, organize, and share audio stories and photographs from community members to preserve the social and cultural history of the Town of Keene.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance Funding 1 activity
- Conducts cemetery preservation and restorationPerforms physical preservation work at Estes Cemetery, including grounds cleanup, tombstone restoration using D-2 cleaning solution, re-leveled leaning markers, and plans to restore the fallen tombstone of Orson (Old Mountain) Phelps, a notable 19th-century Adirondack guide.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Hosts community events and educational programsOrganizes and hosts a variety of public events including author readings, historical presentations, art talks, and cultural celebrations such as a reading of "Esther: An Adirondack Folktale," talks on John Brown’s Adirondack connections, cave diving presentations, and an end-of-summer celebration with music and ice cream.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Loans books and media to community membersProvides lending services for books and media as part of the Clinton, Essex, Franklin Library System, including access to online catalog and loan renewal services for patrons.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Operates a local history archiveManages the Archives of Adirondack Historical Materials, established in 1921, which includes over 6,000 photographs, documents, recorded interviews, and genealogical resources; houses the records of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve since 1987; and provides public access for research during staffed hours. Archive materials have been used in publications and exhibits, including a book on the Goldman-Sachs family and a local exhibit on Doc Goff.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provides public facility access for community useMakes the Strickler Family Community Room and library facilities available for nonprofit educational, cultural, and informative meetings and programs on a first-come basis, with after-hours access available for first-time user groups with staff or board support and a requested $25 donation.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Maintains a specialized mountaineering collectionHouses the Alpine Room, a curated collection of mountaineering-related resources including books, magazines, journals, photographs, maps, and specialized materials such as those donated by lifelong mountaineer John Case; includes alpine journals, guidebooks, fiction, and periodicals focused on climbing and mountain culture.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$308K
Contributions & grants$121K39%
Program service revenue$13K4%
Investment income$175K57%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$224K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$104K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.47M
Cash$93K
Investments$1.46M
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$3.47M
Liquid reserves83.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -1.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- Amy Ludlow — Director
- Bronson Lawrence — Director
- James Morris — Director
- Jim Mooney — Treasurer
- Kathy Wiegand — Vice President
- Leah Shabshelowitz — Secretary
- Robyn Shumer — President
- Sarah Carnevale — Director
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Adirondack Mountain Reserve Partner — Houses the records of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve in its Archives since 1987.
- Clinton, Essex, Franklin Library System Network — Member of regional library system enabling shared catalog access and resource borrowing.
- Clinton, Essex, Franklin Library System Network — Member of the regional library system to expand access to resources.
- John Case Partner — Donated a collection of books, maps, and documents to establish the Alpine Room collection.
- Keene Arts Partner — Collaborates on programming related to an art exhibition featuring Paul Matthews.
- Keim Asset Management Government — Investment adviser for the Keene Valley Library Association, facilitating gifts of securities.
- Margaret Hawthorn Partner — Co-presenter at a library event on the history of Keene Valley.
- Natalie Gibb Partner — Guest speaker presenting on cave diving at the library.
- Peter Slocum Partner — Co-presenter at a library event on the history of Keene Valley.
- R.L. and Karen Stolz Partner — Provided two photographs of Adirondack mountain adventures for display in the Alpine Room.
- The Local Scoop Partner — Provides ice cream for a community event hosted by the library.
- Town of Keene Government — Supervises 11 retired cemeteries in Keene, including Estes Cemetery, and provides gravel for stone restoration efforts.
- Town of Keene Historical Society Partner — Collaborates with Keene Valley Library and Archives on the Estes Cemetery Restoration Project.
- Worth family Funder — Provided a grant to support the Estes Cemetery Restoration Project and owns property adjacent to the cemetery.
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.
- Access as Community Necessitymethodology: access_as_necessityBy providing free, donation-supported access to information, technology, cultural experiences, and shared regional collections, the library ensures equitable resource access because it operates on the belief that libraries are a fundamental community necessity, not a luxury, which drives inclusive service design and reliance on community-supported sustainability.
- Community-Engaged Heritage Preservationmethodology: community_engaged_historyBy involving community members in the collection and presentation of local history — through oral histories, photographs, cemetery restoration, and author-led events — the library strengthens communal identity and ensures culturally relevant preservation, because participatory documentation increases community ownership and engagement with shared heritage.