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OWWL LIBRARY SYSTEM
CANANDAIGUA, NY · EIN 223219499 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE B70Z · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · owwl.org
revenue
$2.2M
expenses
$2.2M
net assets
$3.0M
employees
21
volunteers
9
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF LIBRARY SERVICES THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS, MATERIALS, ELECTRONIC SERVICES, AND INFORMATION TO LIBRARIES IN ONTARIO, WAYNE, WYOMING AND LIVINGSTON, NEW YORK COUNTIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

OWWL Library System supports public libraries across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties in New York State by distributing funds, materials, electronic services, and information. It enhances regional library services through resource sharing, technology access, and curated collections. The organization serves local communities by facilitating access to bestsellers, educational content, and digital media.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Digital Audiobook Collection
Offers a wide selection of unabridged audiobooks, including fiction, nonfiction, and children's titles, available through a shared online catalog.
New York Times Bestsellers Access
Provides patrons with curated access to current New York Times bestselling books and audiobooks across multiple genres.
Regional Library Resource Sharing
Operates a union catalog system enabling member libraries to share physical and digital materials across county lines.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 3 activities
    • Facilitates library card registration and collection development
      Enables online registration for new library cards for individuals who have not previously held one from an OWWL member library and accepts title purchase suggestions from patrons to guide collection development.
    • Operates public library services during regular weekly hours
      Provides public library access through physical locations such as the Marion Public Library and Palmyra Community Library, operating Monday through Saturday with scheduled weekly hours to serve communities including Lima (pop. 4,154) and Marion (pop. 4,566).
    • Provides access to digital media and publications
      Offers digital access to a wide array of media including streaming films (documentaries, foreign films, classics, children’s content) via Kanopy; over 3,800 digital magazine titles through OverDrive and Libby; academic journals, newspapers, and reference databases via NOVELny; and unbiased product reviews through Consumer Reports. Also enables browsing of current New York Times Bestsellers with direct links to the OWWL catalog.
  • Library Operations and Program Support 1 activity
    • Coordinates and supports a network of public libraries
      Provides operational and resource support to 42 member libraries across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties in New York State through a cooperative public library system. Distributes funds, materials, electronic services, and information to strengthen local library capacity.
  • Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
    • Ensures digital accessibility of online platforms
      Maintains website and mobile app accessibility in compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards through features such as alternative text for images, relative font sizing, responsive design, keyboard navigation, consistent layout, improved color contrast, touch target sizing, descriptive labels, support for iOS Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, and ongoing testing using tools like the iOS Accessibility Inspector.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Supports genealogy and local history research
      Provides specialized research resources for genealogy and local history, including access to Ancestry Library Edition and historic newspapers, supporting community members in tracing family histories and exploring regional heritage.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Provides access to digital learning and educational resources
      Offers patrons access to a range of digital learning tools including Little Pim for children's language learning in 12 languages, Mango Languages for adaptive language instruction (including ASL), ArtistWorks for self-paced music lessons with Grammy Award-winning instructors, and Advisorator for technology education on digital security, AI use, and browser organization.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$2.24M
Contributions & grants$1.86M83%
Program service revenue$280K12%
Investment income$98K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.19M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.02M
Grants paid out$261K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.01M
Cash$2.72M
Investments$0
Liabilities$482
Net assets$3.01M
Liquid reserves14.9 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -7.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RON KIRSOP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 35 $155K
board members · 9
  • ALISSA BUB — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JENNIFER TESSENDORF — TREASURER
  • JUDITH MCKINNEY — SECRETARY
  • LESLIE SHAW — TRUSTEE
  • MAUREEN WHEELER — TRUSTEE
  • PATRICE SAMPSON- BOUCHARD — TRUSTEE
  • RACHEL LEE — TRUSTEE
  • SUBRATA PAUL — PRESIDENT
  • THOMAS WHITMORE — TRUSTEE
relationships · 44

Who they work with

  • ASL Inside Partner — Third-party vendor integrated with Mango Languages offering ASL instruction, with documented accessibility commitments.
  • Advantage Archives Partner — Third-party vendor providing Community History Archives with published VPAT compliance statement for Section 508 and WCAG 2.1.
  • Allens Hill Free Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Arcade Free Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • ArtistWorks Partner — Partner offering self-paced music instruction from professional musicians.
  • Avon Free Library Partner — Local library location operated as part of the OWWL Library System serving the Town of Avon.
  • Avon Free Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Bell Memorial Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Bloomfield Public Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Bristol Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • ByWater Solutions Partner — Third-party vendor providing Aspen (Koha and Aspen Discovery) with documented WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
  • Caledonia Library Association Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Clarivate Partner — Third-party vendor providing Ancestry Library Edition, with documented WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.
  • Clifton Springs Library Partner — Local library location operated as part of the OWWL Library System in the Village of Clifton Springs.
  • Clifton Springs Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Clyde-Savannah Public Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Consumer Reports Partner — Partner providing access to product ratings and reviews based on consumer surveys.
  • Consumer Reports Partner — Third-party vendor providing consumer information resources with published VPAT accessibility conformance report.
  • Cordelia A. Greene Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Dansville Public Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Dansville School District Partner — Library serves the geographic and institutional area of the Dansville School District, indicating a partnership with the school district.
  • Eagle Free Library Partner — Member library within the OWWL library system
  • Finger Lakes Library System Partner — Partner library system allowing shared access through the Libby app.
  • Kanopy Partner — Partner providing streaming access to films, documentaries, and children's content.
  • Kanopy Partner — Third-party vendor providing streaming video services, with accessibility identified as an ongoing focus area.
  • Libby Partner — Partner platform for accessing ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and ArtistWorks through the OWWL library system.
  • Libby/OverDrive Partner — Partners with Libby/OverDrive to provide the Owwl2Go digital lending service.
  • Lima Public Library Partner — OWWL Library System operates the Lima Public Library as a member library.
  • Lyons School District Partner — Library serves the geographic and administrative area of the Lyons School District.
  • Mango Languages Partner — Partner organization providing language-learning content, including Little Pim, to OWWL library cardholders.
+ 14 more
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.

  • Cooperative Public Library System Model
    methodology: cooperative_library_system
    By operating as a cooperative public library system, OWWL enhances shared services and resource distribution across member libraries, because collaboration enables economies of scale and broader access than individual rural libraries could achieve alone.
  • Equitable Access Through Integrated Infrastructure
    methodology: equitable_access
    By aligning library services with school district boundaries and educational infrastructure, OWWL promotes equitable access to resources, because integration with established public systems ensures consistent community coverage and removes barriers to enrollment and use.