named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Art Club
Monthly art sessions held on the second Tuesday, open to all ages with local artist Elaine Caflish
Ashville Library Book Club
Bi-monthly book discussion group open to the public; contact Dianne Hovey for details
LEGO Club and Minecraft Club
Regular meetups for children and teens to engage in creative building and gaming activities
Meeting Room Access
Community room with Zoom capabilities, large-screen TV, and DVD player available for public use by local groups and clubs
Seed Library
Free seed lending program allowing patrons to borrow seeds for gardening and growing food or native plants
Story Time with Mormor
Weekly story time for children held every Thursday at 10:30am led by community volunteer Peg Hite
Summer Reading Program
Annual four-week program for children featuring games, book borrowing, and art projects; includes incentives and events to encourage literacy
Toy Library
Collection of toys and games available for patrons to borrow, supporting play-based learning and family engagement
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
- Ensures governance and transparencyHolds regular in-person board of trustees meetings starting at 6:30pm and makes meeting agendas and minutes publicly available online to ensure transparency and community oversight.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Hosts educational and community programsOffers a variety of recurring and special programs for children and adults, including weekly storytimes, “Music and Makes,” “Music, Movement, Stories and Play,” LEGO and Minecraft Club, Adult Art Group, and Mah Jong Open Table. The library also hosts special events such as the “Living Dinosaurs” program and tracks annual program attendance in the thousands.
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Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Operates a seed and toy libraryProvides a seed library offering free seeds to the public and a toy library allowing patrons to borrow toys, puzzles, and games. The library also lends jigsaw puzzles ranging from 500 to 3,000 pieces and offers CD and DVD players for loan.
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Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
- Organizes an annual book saleHosts an annual book sale, projected to generate $2,000 in revenue, with the 2026 event scheduled for August. The sale offers a wide selection of newer books to the community and contributes to library fundraising efforts.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provides accessible and welcoming physical spaceOperates a public library space with physical accessibility features including an accessible ramp, fully accessible aisles, restroom, computer desks, and elevator. The space is available for community booking and includes a community room equipped with a large-screen TV, DVD player, and Zoom capabilities.
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
- Provides public library servicesOperates a public library serving approximately 550 registered patrons in the Towns of North Harmony and Harmony, with the library open approximately 52 hours per week (2,418 hours annually) and offering access to 20,697 physical books, 22,380 e-books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, and digital resources through Overdrive. The library provides reference services, answers thousands of reference questions annually, and supports in-person visits and public computer use.
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Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
- Provides public technology and internet accessOffers access to 9 public computers (including laptops with air print), free Wi-Fi, laser printing, low-cost color printing and copying, and free faxing services. The library also provides high-speed broadband internet and central air conditioning to ensure a comfortable, accessible environment for patrons.
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Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
- Runs a summer reading programOrganizes and operates an annual summer reading program with dedicated budget allocation ($1,000), registering dozens of children and recording hundreds of attendances each year. The program is supported by staff and volunteer efforts.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Employs and compensates library staffPays a library director for 1,200 hours annually at $20 per hour ($26,400 total) and an assistant librarian for 1,040 hours annually at $16 per hour ($14,976 total). In 2024, the library expanded staff capacity by hiring a part-time employee.
- Supports community engagement through resident animalsProvides a resident cat (currently Hank, previously Libby) to enhance community engagement and comfort, with the cat serving as a beloved presence at the library.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$110K
Contributions & grants$104K95%
Program service revenue$2650%
Investment income$2K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$67K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$36K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$375K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$375K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristina Benson | Key Employee | 22 | $22K |
board members · 5
- Adrienne Foos — Trustee
- Kathy Burns — Trustee
- Melissa First — Trustee
- Patricia Poignard — Trustee
- Roberta Schruise — Trustee
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- American Academy of Pediatrics Partner — Source of child health and development information for families.
- CCLS Government — Receives funding and support from CCLS, including book plan allocations, cash grants, LLSA funds, and summer reading program support
- CCLS Network — Member of the Chautauqua County Library System (CCLS), receiving funding and participating in system-wide programs.
- Central Library System Partner — Library director acts as liaison between the Ashville Free Library and the Central Library System.
- Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program Partner — Local advocacy program linked for child protection and support services.
- Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Partner — Partnering to plant and maintain a garden space with native plants, birds, and beneficial insects
- Erie Zoo Partner — Collaborated with the Ashville Free Library to present an educational program on “Living Dinosaurs” for children.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook to share updates on library programs and events.
- Garden Club Partner — Partnering to plant and maintain a garden space with native plants, birds, and beneficial insects
- Grange Partner — Donated the 32 by 60-foot Grange Hall to the Ashville Free Library for conversion into a permanent library location.
- Humane Society Partner — Partnered with the Humane Society to adopt Hank, the new library cat.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to share updates on library programs and events.
- Master Gardeners Partner — Partnering to plant and maintain a garden space with native plants, birds, and beneficial insects
- National Education Association Partner — Provider of parent resources related to involvement in children's education.
- New York State Education Department Government — Source of curriculum standards and educational publications for reference.
- OverDrive (Libby) Partner — Platform used to offer digital audiobooks to library patrons.
- Sivak Stonemasonry Partner — Built the new side patio for the library's outdoor expansion
- Smithsonian Partner — Provider of educational lesson plans in history and culture.
- Spectrum Partner — Provides broadband internet service for library computers.
- Town of North Harmony Government — Receives an annual grant of $2,000 from the Town of North Harmony.
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.
- Client-Choice Model in Programmingmethodology: client_choice_modelBy relying on community-driven programming and volunteer-led initiatives, the library increases local ownership and expands program offerings, because involving the community in design and delivery fosters relevance, engagement, and sustainability.
- Early Childhood Development Through Play-Based Engagementmethodology: experiential_learningBy using interactive music, storytelling, and structured creative play with tools like LEGO and Minecraft, the library supports cognitive and social development in young children, because play is a primary mechanism for learning and neural development in early years.
- Fine-Free Access to Promote Equitymethodology: harm_reductionBy eliminating late fines, the library reduces financial barriers to borrowing and participation, because removing monetary penalties increases equitable access, particularly for low-income patrons.