named programs · 11 · from sources
What they call their work
Book Club
Monthly discussion group for adults held on the second Tuesday, focusing on shared reading and community conversation.
Chair Yoga for Seniors
Weekly yoga class held at the library for older adults, promoting physical wellness through gentle movement; offered for a small fee per session.
Children’s Room Mural
Permanent art installation in the children’s section created through community collaboration and artist partnership to enhance the library environment.
Fables and Fabrication
Library-run social enterprise that designs and sells handcrafted, assembled, and 3D-printed goods to raise funds and promote maker culture.
LEGO Club
Monthly building and creativity event for children held on the first Saturday of each month, encouraging imagination and hands-on learning.
Senior Game Group
Weekly social gathering for seniors featuring board games, card games, and snacks to foster community engagement and cognitive stimulation.
Sewing Group
Monthly gathering for adult crafters to work on sewing projects, share skills, and build community through textile arts.
Summer Reading Program
Annual program offering themed events, science activities, and reading incentives for toddlers, school-aged children, and teens to encourage literacy and learning during summer months.
Teen Movie + Game Night
Bi-monthly evening event for teens ages 13–17 featuring movies, board games, and popcorn to provide a safe and engaging social space.
The REV Theater Co. Outreach
Partnership with a professional theater company to bring family-friendly performances to the community at no cost.
Toddler Reading Group
Monthly storytime and activity session for toddlers and caregivers, designed to promote early literacy and social development.
activities · 12 groups
What they do
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Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Co-hosts family theater performancesPartners with The REV Theater Co. to co-host public performances of children's theater, such as "Jack and the Turnip Root," at local venues like the Carthage Area High School Auditorium to provide cultural programming for families.
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Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
- Conducts School-Aged Summer Reading ProgramOffers a recurring Summer Reading Program for school-aged children, including themed events such as science-based dinosaur excavation from fizzy eggs and Archaeology Bingo with prizes to promote literacy and learning during summer months.
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Recurring Craft and Fiber Arts Groups 1 activity
- Facilitates biweekly Sewing GroupHosts a biweekly or recurring Sewing Group, typically on Mondays, where community members bring their own projects and equipment to work collaboratively, share techniques, and support one another.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Hosts Teen Movie + Game NightOrganizes a monthly Teen Movie + Game Night for youth ages 13–17, featuring film screenings, board games, and snacks to engage adolescent patrons in recreational and social activities.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosts monthly Book Club for adultsOrganizes a recurring monthly Book Club meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00am, where adult patrons discuss selected books, exchange recommendations, and enjoy refreshments.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Hosts monthly Toddler Reading GroupRuns a recurring Toddler Reading Group on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, featuring storybook reading, coordinating activities, and snacks to promote early literacy among young children.
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Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
- Hosts weekly Senior Game GroupOrganizes a weekly Senior Game Group every Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, offering board games, card games, and snacks to foster social engagement among older adults in the community.
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Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
- Manages library facilities and infrastructure improvementsCompleted construction and renovation projects including a new Children’s Room in 2011 and its redevelopment into the Sandra L Lamb Community Room in 2021, enhancing library spaces for community use.
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Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
- Offers weekly Chair Yoga sessions for seniorsProvides weekly Chair Yoga sessions every Thursday morning for seniors, instructed by Wendy McDonald, with a $5 cash fee per session to support physical wellness among older adults.
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Library Operations and Program Support 1 activity
- Provides free public library servicesOffers free lending of books and general library services to the community of Black River, New York, including access to historical materials and digital resources such as school yearbooks via the New York Heritage portal.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Supports local history preservationHouses historical items and documents related to the Village of Black River and hosts the Village Historian, Mr. Bill Reichard, for weekly office hours to support community access to local history.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Hosts monthly LEGO ClubHosts a monthly LEGO Club on the first Saturday of each month from 11:00am to 12:30pm, providing a space for children and families to build and create together using LEGO materials.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$181K
Contributions & grants$178K99%
Program service revenue$7990%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$215K
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$87K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$518K
Cash$83K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$516K
Liquid reserves4.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +16.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAWN HUNT | TREAS/LIBRAR | 32 | $40K |
board members · 9
- ANDREW LONSBARY — PRESIDENT
- COURTNEY BELLOFF-BARKER — SECRETARY
- DELORES STRIFE — TRUSTEE
- GEORGE HAWVER — TRUSTEE
- HELEN MURDOCK — TRUSTEE
- JAMIE CHAMBERLAIN — TRUSTEE
- KELLY COON — TRUSTEE
- LORIE AMES — TRUSTEE
- SUE ELLEN DEION — VICE PRESIDE
relationships · 38
Who they work with
- Bethany Lodge 821 Partner — Community organization partner
- Bill Reichard Partner — Village Historian who holds regular office hours at the library.
- Black River Ambulance Squad Partner — Emergency services partner
- Black River American Legion, Post 673 Partner — Veterans organization partner
- Black River Elementary School Partner — Local school partner
- Black River Fire Department Partner — Emergency services partner
- Black River Improvement Committee Partner — Local civic improvement partner
- Black River Police Department Partner — Law enforcement partner
- Bruce Funeral Home Partner — Local funeral service partner
- Carthage Central School District Partner — Regional school district partner
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library Partner — Literacy program partner providing free books to children
- Encompass Recreation Partner — Recreation services partner
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook to post program updates, event reminders, and schedule changes for library programs.
- Five Corners Greenhouse Partner — Local horticulture and gardening partner
- Indian River School District Partner — Regional school district partner
- Kamargo Senior Apartments Partner — Senior housing partner
- Ken Blankenbush Government — New York Assemblyman supporting the library
- Lee’s Lawn Care Partner — Local landscaping services partner
- New York Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush Government — State legislative supporter of the library
- New York Heritage Partner — Collaborates with New York Heritage to provide digitized historical materials for public access.
- New York Senator Mark Walczyk Government — State senator supporting the library
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Regrant program funder supporting the Children's Room Mural through the Statewide Community Regrants Program.
- New York State Legislature Government — Supports the Statewide Community Regrants Program that funded the Children's Room Mural.
- North Country Library System Network — Member of the North Country Library System, sharing resources and programs across more than 60 libraries in Northern NY.
- Office of the Governor Government — Supports the Statewide Community Regrants Program that funded the Children's Room Mural.
- REV Theater Co. Partner — Collaborates on children's theatrical performances at the library.
- Service Plus Automotive Partner — Local automotive services partner
- St. Lawrence County Arts Council Partner — Administers the Statewide Community Regrants Program funding used for the Children's Room Mural project.
- St. Lawrence County Arts Council Partner — Arts and culture partner
- Stewart’s Shops Partner — Local convenience store chain partner
+ 8 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Child-Centered Literacy Engagementmethodology: integrated-literacy-activitiesBy combining storytelling with hands-on crafts, snacks, and an environment designed for physical and vocal expression, the library increases children's engagement in literacy activities because experiential and sensory-rich formats reinforce learning and foster positive associations with reading.
- Community Hub with Networked Partnershipsmethodology: community_hubBy acting as a central hub for information, arts, and social services and partnering with local government, schools, and emergency services, the library amplifies its impact because coordinated access across institutions increases resource reach and community resilience.
- Hybrid Access Model for Inclusive Servicemethodology: hybrid_accessBy maintaining a robust collection of printed materials while expanding digital access through online registration and technology education, the library serves diverse patron needs because varying levels of digital literacy and physical access require flexible, multi-channel service delivery.
- Social Enterprise Fundraising to Sustain Programsmethodology: social_enterprise_fundraisingBy generating revenue through the sale of handcrafted, assembled, and 3D-printed goods via the Fables and Fabrication initiative, the library funds community programs because embedding entrepreneurship into programming creates a self-sustaining funding stream that aligns with community values and participation.
- Social-Emotional Wellness Through Community Connectionmethodology: senior_social_engagementBy offering structured social, physical, and creative group activities for seniors and families, the library reduces isolation and supports wellness because regular, accessible engagement opportunities build community belonging and improve mental and physical health outcomes.