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Lowville Free Library
Lowville, NY · EIN 150564079 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Small ($100K-$1M) · lowvillefreelibrary.org
revenue
$188K
expenses
$178K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
0
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

The purpose of the Library is to provide literary/computer resources & Services for Lewis County Residents and surrounding Communities for educational purposes

profile · synthesized from sources

Public library serving Lowville and surrounding areas in Lewis County, New York. Provides free access to books, digital media, public computers, and community spaces. Offers programs for children, teens, and adults, along with special services like tech help, exam proctoring, and museum passes. Founded in 1903 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Room Use
Offers library spaces for public use for meetings, programs, and events during open hours.
Digital Collections Access
24/7 access to e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital media via Libby and Overdrive platforms.
Museum and Park Pass Program
Lends free admission passes to attractions including MOST, NYS Parks, and local nature centers.
Proctoring Services
Supports distance learners by proctoring exams for online courses and academic programs.
Summer Reading Program
Annual literacy and engagement program for children with registration and themed activities.
Tech Access and Printing
Provides public computers, printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and free Wi-Fi access.
Tech Help
One-on-one assistance with library digital resources and basic technology use.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 2 activities
    • Lending library materials to patrons
      Provides access to physical and digital collections including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and digital items such as e-books and e-audiobooks through the Libby app. Patrons may check out up to 20 items with varying loan periods: 4 weeks for books, 2 weeks for new books and audiobooks, and 1 week for DVDs. Services include in-person visits, curbside pickup, and interlibrary access.
    • Providing access to digital and online resources
      Offers remote and in-library access to digital resources including e-books, e-audiobooks, online courses (Universal Class), historical archives (Ancestry.com, Watertown Daily Times, military records, and newspaper archives dating to 1785), music classes, business planning tools, and reference materials via NovelNY. Access requires a library card or pin and is available through library computers, public Wi-Fi, or remotely.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Hosting community programs and educational activities
      Organizes and hosts programs for children, teens, and adults focused on early literacy, STEM (e.g., legos, coding lab), crafting, and technology. Programs are designed to support educational development and community engagement.
  • Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
    • Offering cultural and recreational access passes
      Provides free admission passes to cultural and recreational institutions such as New York State Parks (Empire Pass), Rosamond Gifford Zoo, MOST, Onondaga County Parks, and Splash Indoor Water Park, allowing patrons to check out passes for family access.
  • Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
    • Operating public technology and office services
      Provides public access to printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and 24/7 outdoor Wi-Fi without password or usage limits. Also offers instructional tutorials through Niche Academy to assist patrons in using digital resources.
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Providing community room and facility access
      Makes community rooms—including the Leonard Room, Room 2, and a kitchen—available for public use during library hours. Facilities support meetings, events, and community gatherings.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Supporting workforce and educational needs
      Provides tools for resume creation and updates via a digital form, and offers access to online learning platforms covering topics such as Excel, mindfulness, and communication skills to support lifelong learning and career development.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Delivering personalized and reference services
      Offers personalized book recommendations, curated reading lists, book displays, and assistance in locating materials. Provides proctoring services for online exams and one-on-one technology help with library staff by appointment.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$188K
Contributions & grants$183K97%
Program service revenue$6K3%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$178K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$121K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.55M
Cash$136K
Investments$1.38M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.55M
Liquid reserves102.1 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -2.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • Amanda Kerkove
  • Jamie Roberts
  • Pam Hirshey
  • Sarah Moser — Treasurer
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Daughters of the American Revolution Partner — Contributed to the library's building fund in the early 20th century
  • Empire State Library Network Network — Collaborates to provide access to historical newspaper archives.
  • Flower Memorial Library Partner — Partner in providing access to Watertown Daily Times archives.
  • Lewis County Government — Public funding source for the library
  • Lowville Academy and Central School District Government — Public funding source for the library
  • Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology Partner — Collaborates with the library to provide free admission passes for 6 people.
  • New York State Library Network — Provides access to digital reference materials through NovelNY.
  • North Country Libraries Partner — Provides a shared library app for digital card setup and access.
  • North Country Library System Network — Member of the North Country Library System, enabling shared borrowing and return of materials across member libraries.
  • North Country Library System Network — Member of the North Country Library System.
  • Northern New York Library Network Network — Collaborates to provide access to historical newspaper archives.
  • Onondaga County Parks Partner — Provides free admission to multiple parks and attractions through the Explore Outdoors pass program.
  • Splash Indoor Water Park Partner — Offers free admission for 4 people through a partnership with the library.
  • Town of Lowville Government — Public funding source for the library
  • Village of Lowville Government — Public funding source for the library
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.

  • Community-Driven Collection Development
    methodology: community-driven_collection_development
    By curating materials based on community and student demand, the library increases relevance and utilization of resources because collections reflect actual local needs and interests.
  • Library as a Community Access Point
    methodology: library-as-access-point
    By treating admission passes and technology access as borrowable library materials, the library expands cultural and digital equity because barriers to entry are reduced through familiar, trusted channels.
  • Shared Circulation Network Integration
    methodology: shared-circulation-network
    By enabling borrowing and returns across the North Country Library System, the library increases access to resources because geographic and institutional barriers are reduced through regional collaboration.