named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
ESL Convo Group
Weekly conversation group for non-native English speakers to practice speaking skills in a supportive environment with native speakers.
Fun Item Rentals
Collection of non-traditional library items such as cake pans, jewelry kits, hiking backpacks, and game night packs available for patron checkout.
Genealogy Club
Monthly gathering for individuals researching family history, offering access to genealogical resources, library laptops, and peer support.
Homeschool S.T.E.M. Programs
Weekly in-person STEM-themed crafts and hands-on exploration stations for homeschool families during the school year.
Homeschool Spanish
Weekly Spanish language class for homeschool families featuring music, beginner vocabulary, and crafts.
Plant Propagation Class
Seasonal educational program teaching participants how to propagate and care for indoor and outdoor plants, with free plant cuttings to take home.
Silent Book Club
Monthly event where adults gather to read silently together in a social setting, no discussion required.
Tech Help
One-on-one technology assistance provided by LiteracyCNY volunteers, plus access to online instructional videos and digital resources.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 2 activities
- Operates a community library with in-person services and physical collectionsProvides access to physical and digital library materials, including books, music, videos, and downloadable audiobooks, through a facility located on Chapel Drive in Syracuse, NY. Offers in-person services six days per week, on-site and overflow parking including handicap-accessible spaces, and elevator access between floors with staff support.
- Provides access to digital resources and online learning platformsOffers patrons access to digital tools and databases including BookBrowse, NoveList, WorldCat, LinkedIn Learning, Mango, and NicheAcademy for book discovery, language learning, technology training, and skill development.
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Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
- Conducts facility improvements and capital projectsCompleted a library renovation project totaling approximately $250,000, including a new roof, redesigned interior spaces across all three floors, new furniture and shelving, modernized children’s room and adult reading areas, and installation of a self-checkout system.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Hosts STEM and family engagement programsOrganizes monthly STEM-focused activities and year-round indoor and outdoor family events led by teachers and child development specialists, including recurring annual programs and access to fun item kits and activity passes.
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Recurring Craft and Fiber Arts Groups 1 activity
- Hosts adult enrichment and lifelong learning programsOrganizes monthly Genealogy Club meetings, tri-annual Plant Propagation classes, a Silent Book Club for shared silent reading, and Alice’s Book Club focused on contemporary fiction, all designed to support adult learning and community engagement.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Offers children's programs and early literacy initiativesHosts recurring programs for children ages 0–5 including Preschool Storytime, Baby Circle, Musical Mornings, and Story Walks, and operates the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program using the ReadSquared app to track progress. Programs aim to foster a love of learning and literature.
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Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Offers non-traditional item lending and community resource accessProvides no-cost rentals of items such as baking pans, hiking backpacks, jewelry-making kits, and family game night packs for two-week periods using a library card. Also collects donated books, puzzles, board games, and craft supplies for community use.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Provides adult education, career, and language support servicesOffers career development resources including resume assistance, interview practice, and test preparation; entrepreneurial support for small business owners; driver’s education materials; and an ESL conversation group for non-native English speakers.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provides community space and local engagement resourcesMakes meeting rooms available to nonprofit community groups and offers resources to connect patrons with local programs in Camillus, as well as the Central New York art and music scene including galleries, museums, and theater performances.
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Homeschool Support Services 1 activity
- Provides homeschool support and educational programmingOffers weekly STEM and literary programs, hands-on exploration stations, Spanish language activities, physical education lessons via Hiveclass, and grade-level educational packets for homeschool families during the school year.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$506K
Contributions & grants$503K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$7260%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$367K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$245K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$792K
Cash$343K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$792K
Liquid reserves11.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -12.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 10
- ALISON EARL — Vice President
- BECKY PONZA — President
- BRENDA SHEA — Executive Dir.
- CAROL CHARBONEAU — Trustee
- JENNIFER GRANT — Trustee
- LAURIE CLARK — Trustee
- MARY CLIFTON — Treasurer
- NATALIE HEMPSON ELLIOTT — Trustee
- PENNY NOLL — Secretary
- RACHEL KING GIBSON — Secretary
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- BookBrowse Partner — Offers book recommendations and reviews to Fairmount Community Library patrons through a resource partnership.
- Fairmount Fire Department Partner — Provides overflow parking for library patrons in its adjacent lot from May through January.
- Hiveclass Partner — Partners with Hiveclass to provide digital physical education lessons for homeschool families.
- LiteracyCNY Partner — Provides volunteers who lead 1-on-1 technology assistance appointments at the library.
- New York State Library Government — Provided funding through the State Aid for Library Construction Program for the 2023 renovation project.
- ONLIB (Onondaga County Public Library) Partner — Provides access to NoveList and other resources through a partnership with Fairmount Community Library.
- Onondaga County Library Network — Accesses research databases and resources through Onondaga County Library.
- PayPal Partner — Platform used to process online donations.
- ReadSquared Partner — Uses the ReadSquared platform to enable families to track reading progress in the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program.
- Trade-Mark Construction Partner — Completed the construction work for the 2023 library renovation project.
- Vaysen Studios Partner — Designed the new library layout and interior spaces as part of the 2023 renovation project.
- WorldCat Partner — Provides access to a global catalog of physical and digital library materials for Fairmount Community Library patrons.
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.
- Adaptive Service Delivery for Evolving Community Needsmethodology: adaptive service deliveryBy continuously adapting library materials and services to reflect changing community needs, the organization ensures sustained relevance and engagement, because responsive programming increases utilization and meets patrons where they are.
- Gamified Engagement to Build Early Reading Habitsmethodology: gamified engagementBy using gamified reading tracking through the ReadSquared app, the library encourages consistent parent-child reading habits among families with young children, because game-based motivation increases adherence and makes literacy development engaging.
- Non-Traditional Lending to Expand Access and Engagementmethodology: non-traditional_lendingBy offering no-cost rentals of everyday and recreational items beyond books, the library increases community engagement and resource access, because removing barriers to non-traditional materials fosters broader participation and meets diverse needs.
- Peer-Supported Language Learning for Inclusive Educationmethodology: peer-supported language learningBy facilitating peer-based conversation practice in a welcoming environment, the library supports English language acquisition, because social, low-pressure interaction improves retention and confidence more effectively than formal instruction alone.