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LEE-WHEDON MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Medina, NY · EIN 166069657 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B71Z · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · leewhedon.org
revenue
$1.5M
expenses
$891K
net assets
$1.3M
employees
11
volunteers
35
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is open to the public 2800 hours per year for the purpose of loaning library materials, providing reference services, and offering valuable programs for children and adults.

profile · synthesized from sources

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is a public library in Medina, NY, providing free access to books, digital resources, and community programs for all ages. It offers reference services, technology assistance, children's and adult programming, and homebound delivery. The library is undergoing a major expansion to better serve its community with modernized facilities and increased capacity.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $469K
    It is important to have a well trained staff to manage daily activities, offer reference services, assist patrons with computer applications, and provide valuable programs for children, teens, and adults. To better serve our community, it is necessary that our staff maintain memberships with library organizations. Proper training at various facilities throughout the state is beneficial for our growth and that of our patrons.
  2. #2 $115K
    It is necessary to keep a well-maintained building, taking care of repairs when necessary, and hiring contractors as needed for snow removal, lawncare, and various custodial contracts. Keeping the office stocked with proper office supplies for the functionality of our business is also a necessity. The library was able to purchase a building adjacent to us for future growth and expansion.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Homebound Delivery
Provides library materials delivery to patrons who are unable to visit the library due to illness, disability, or age.
Library of Things
Lends non-traditional items such as board games, video games, and other equipment to patrons.
Oral Histories of Orleans County
Digital archive and community project preserving local history through recorded interviews with residents.
Summer Reading
Annual reading program for children, teens, and adults featuring themed activities, reading challenges, and incentives.
Tech Tutor
One-on-one computer and technology assistance for patrons, including help with devices, software, and online applications.
activities · 13 groups

What they do

  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 2 activities
    • Digital and online resource access
      Provides digital access to movies, books, music, and magazines through Hoopla; offers free streaming and downloadable music via Freegal; and supports language learning through Mango Languages. Also provides access to genealogical records via Ancestry NY and MyHeritage (over 18 billion historical records), historic Medina newspapers, Medina High School yearbooks, and 3D virtual tours of local sandstone structures.
    • Public library services and programming
      Operates public library services for 2,800 hours per year, including lending materials, reference assistance, educational programs for children and adults, and in-person support during evenings and weekends. Provides free public access to computers, with supervision required for children under 12, and offers free Wi-Fi during operating hours.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Art and public exhibits
      Hosts art exhibits and provides space for public displays and exhibits within the library, governed by established guidelines and policies.
  • Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
    • Book sales and fundraising events
      Operates a weekly book sale and an annual book sale each August to raise funds for the library. The Friends of the Library group supports programming by selling donated books.
  • Library Book Donation Management 1 activity
    • Donation programs and memorial services
      Accepts in-person and online donations via cash, card, PayPal, and Venmo. Accepts used book donations (up to two boxes per day) for collections or book sales. Offers memorial bookplates for books purchased in memory of individuals. Provides permanent donor wall recognition for donations over $500 received by February 28th.
  • Library Operations and Program Support 1 activity
    • Grant funding receipt for library services
      Received $31,891 in Rural Libraries Grant funding from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to support library services in a rural community.
  • Home Delivery and Curbside Pickup Services 1 activity
    • Home delivery of library materials
      Provides home delivery of library materials to individuals unable to visit the library, available to residents within the Medina Central School District.
  • Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
    • Library facility expansion and infrastructure improvements
      Completed a library expansion project, including purchasing an adjacent building, securing $192,202 in grant funding for property acquisition, receiving $874,124 in Library Construction Grant funding, and $1,697,444 in total grant funding from multiple sources. Upgraded infrastructure with HVAC replacement, security camera enhancements, and installation of new shelving units. Groundbreaking occurred on August 22 with completion by September 2026, and construction was finalized with books placed on shelves in the expanded space.
  • Library of Things Lending 1 activity
    • Library of Things and mobile hotspot lending
      Offers a 'Library of Things' program that lends non-traditional items to the public and lends mobile hotspots to patrons to support internet access.
  • Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
    • Library policies and user guidelines
      Maintains a quiet environment by requiring patrons to speak quietly and use headphones for audio. Allows only water in clear, resealable containers. Prohibits animals except service animals. Requires children under 10 to be accompanied by a guardian, with caregivers responsible for behavior up to age 18. Restricts Children’s Area access to those accompanying children or using children’s materials. Eliminated late fines on owned materials as of July 1, 2023. Renews library cards every two years with verbal verification and issues free first cards with tiered fees for replacements.
  • Membership Program Administration 1 activity
    • Payment and fine management
      Accepts multiple payment methods for overdue fines and lost book payments, including credit/debit cards, cash, and personal checks.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Volunteer and community engagement programs
      Provides volunteer opportunities for high school students, including for required Participation in Government hours.
  • Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
    • Website accessibility improvements
      Invested resources to improve website accessibility for people with disabilities, including implementation of the UserWay Website Accessibility Widget to support compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards. Offers assistance during business hours for users experiencing access difficulties.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Library expansion fundraising campaign
      Raised $500,000 for the Next Chapter Campaign by December 2025, meeting the fundraising goal to support the library expansion project.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.53M
Contributions & grants$763K50%
Program service revenue$132K9%
Investment income$14K1%
Other revenue$617K
expenses
Total expenses$891K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$469K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.28M
Cash$1.28M
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.28M
Liquid reserves17.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +133.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • Cynthia Kiebala — President
  • David Schwert — Trustee
  • Isabella Mark — Vice-President
  • Kathleen Boice — Trustee
  • Stephen O'Dea — Trustee
relationships · 58

Who they work with

  • ALA Funder — Provided grant funding in multiple years to support library programs.
  • American Library Association Network — Adopts ALA's Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements as part of its policies.
  • Apex Wind Funder — Provided grant funding in 2025.
  • Apex/Heritage Wind Partner — Provided a $3,000 grant for the library expansion.
  • Bike Friendly New York Partner — Partner organization supporting bicycle repair services at the library
  • Cobblestone Society & Museum Partner — Community partner organization
  • Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Partner — Administered a $25,000 grant from the Garman Family Foundation for the library expansion.
  • Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo Funder — Administered a grant from the Garman Family Foundation.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Community partner organization
  • Curtis Foundation Funder — Provided multi-year grant support for library operations and programming.
  • Dollar General Funder — Provided multi-year grant support for library programs.
  • East Hill Foundation Funder — Provided grant support in 2013 for library programs.
  • Erie Canalway Heritage Grant Funder — Provided grant funding in 2025 for heritage-related programming.
  • Friends of the Library Partner — Organizational partner that sells donated books not added to the library's collection.
  • Friends of the Library Partner — Volunteer group that provides supplemental support through fundraising, membership dues, and service projects.
  • Friends of the Library Partner — Volunteer group that raises funds for library programming through book sales
  • GO-Art Funder — Repeatedly awarded grants to support arts and cultural programming at the library.
  • GO-Art Partner — Community partner organization
  • Head Start Partner — Community partner organization
  • Humanities Council Funder — Provided funding for humanities-related programming at the library.
  • Jen’s Precious Gems Partner — Community partner organization
  • Leadership Orleans Partner — Community partner organization
  • Medina Area Association of Churches Partner — Community partner organization
  • Medina Area Partnership Partner — Community partner organization
  • Medina Central School District Partner — Community partner organization
  • Medina Food Pantry Partner — Community partner organization
  • Medina Historical Society Partner — Community partner organization
  • NIOGA Network — Member of the NIOGA library network, allowing for reciprocal fine payment processing.
  • NIOGA Library System Network — Library system network member
  • NIOGA Library System Network — Member of the NIOGA Library System, allowing reciprocal borrowing across Niagara, Orleans, and Genesee counties.
+ 28 more
strategies · 4

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.

  • Accessibility as a Moral Imperative
    methodology: continuous-accessibility-improvement
    By continuously improving digital and physical accessibility, the library ensures dignity and independence for people with disabilities, because equitable access is a moral obligation, not just compliance.
  • Digital Inclusion Bridges the Equity Gap
    methodology: digital-inclusion
    By providing mobile internet access to patrons without connectivity, the library supports digital equity, because access to technology is essential for full participation in education, employment, and civic life.
  • Free Access Ensures Equity
    methodology: free-access
    By removing financial barriers to information and educational resources, the library ensures equitable access, because cost-free services enable participation across all socioeconomic groups.
  • Literacy as Empowerment
    methodology: literacy-as-empowerment
    By promoting reading as a transformative practice, the library expands access to knowledge and opportunity, because literacy is foundational to personal and community empowerment.