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PHILLIPS FREE LIBRARY

HOMER, NY · EIN 150532226 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B71Z · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · phillipsfreelibrary.org
revenue
$301K
expenses
$355K
net assets
$4.2M
employees
12
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

THE LENDING OF READING MATERIALS AND OTHER ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE FINGER LAKES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM WHICH SERVICES THE LITERACY NEEDS OF THE HOMER NEW YORK AREA

profile · synthesized from sources

Phillips Free Library serves the Homer, New York area with lending services for books, digital media, and a variety of community items such as fishing rods and cake pans. The library supports literacy and lifelong learning through programs like the Decodable Books Literacy Hub and a Winter Reading Challenge. It also provides public access to technology, including computers, a 3D printer, and a photo scanner.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Science Fair
Event showcasing scientific research by local students, featuring presentations and light refreshments.
Decodable Books Literacy Hub
Program focused on promoting early literacy through decodable books, featuring children's activities and community engagement events.
Library of Things
Collection of non-traditional library items available for checkout, including hotspots, fishing rods, sewing machines, puzzles, and museum passes.
Stories from Behind the Mask
Project collecting stories, poems, journal entries, photos, and interviews from Central New York residents about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Winter Reading Challenge
Annual reading program encouraging community members of all ages to read books over a set period, with prizes awarded by random drawing at the end.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
    • Documenting community experiences during the pandemic
      Launched and maintains 'Stories from Behind the Mask,' a digital archive of stories, poems, journal entries, photos, and interviews capturing Central New York residents' experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Library Operations and Program Support 1 activity
    • Lending reading materials and supporting literacy
      Lends physical books, e-books, and audiobooks to patrons in the Homer, New York area to support literacy and lifelong learning.
  • Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
    • Offering educational support services
      Provides weekly math tutoring through The Math Corner (by registration) and hosts Computer Cafe sessions to teach digital skills such as document scanning.
  • Library of Things Lending 1 activity
    • Operating a library of things
      Maintains a non-traditional lending collection including hot spots, fishing rods, puzzles, and museum passes available to the public.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Operating a public food pantry
      Operates a food pantry accessible to the public during library hours without requiring a library card; accepts community food donations.
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Providing community space and programming
      Offers a welcoming public space with access to books, quiet areas, events, and free Wi-Fi; hosts programs such as a community science fair, literacy hub launch event, and a Winter Reading Challenge with prize drawings.
  • Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
    • Providing public technology access
      Offers free public access to computers, Wi-Fi, a photo scanner for digitizing documents and photos, and a 3-D printer for personal projects, with staff-managed appointments and use during regular hours.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$301K
Contributions & grants$258K86%
Program service revenue$1K0%
Investment income$42K14%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$355K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$156K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.17M
Cash$200K
Investments$3.25M
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$4.17M
Liquid reserves116.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • ELLEN BATZER — TRUSTEE
  • HONGLI FAN — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER BLOCK — TRUSTEE
  • LINDA ROBISON — TRUSTEE
  • NOAH KILMER — TRUSTEE
  • SHARI POWERS — TRUSTEE
  • STACEY MCCALL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • American Library Association Government — Primary grant funder through the Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries initiative
  • Association for Rural and Small Libraries Partner — Collaborating organization in the Libraries Transforming Communities initiative that funded the project
  • Eves Digital Partner — Designed and hosted the library's website.
  • Eves Digital Partner — Designs and hosts the library's website.
  • Finger Lakes Library System Network — Member of the Finger Lakes Library System providing access to shared resources and databases.
  • Finger Lakes Public Library System Network — Member of the regional public library system providing shared resources and services.
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.

  • Library of Things Expansion
    methodology: library_of_things
    By expanding beyond traditional books to lend diverse physical resources (e.g., tools, technology, household items), the library increases community access to underutilized goods, because access to such items can reduce economic barriers and promote equitable resource sharing.
  • No-Barrier Access Model
    methodology: no-barrier_access
    By removing registration and affiliation requirements for pantry access, the library increases utilization of essential resources, because lowering administrative and social barriers enables more inclusive and timely support for vulnerable populations.
  • Participatory Community Storytelling
    methodology: participatory_storytelling
    By engaging community members in documenting and sharing their lived experiences, the library fosters social connection and preserves local history, because participatory storytelling validates individual voices and strengthens collective identity during times of crisis.