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BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 223331880 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B700 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · buffalolib.org
revenue
$13.8M
expenses
$13.5M
net assets
$4.2M
employees
388
volunteers
650
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

Connect the diverse community with library resources that enrich enlighten and entertain. Provide open and free access to information. Delivery timely confidential and customer oriented services to meet the informational recreational and educational needs of the community

profile · synthesized from sources

Public library system serving Buffalo and Erie County, New York, providing free access to information, technology, and educational resources. Offers a wide range of services including public computer and Wi-Fi access, digital lending, physical book collections, and community programs. Supports lifelong learning, literacy, and cultural enrichment for all residents.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.65M
    Provide access to computers internet and other technologies. With approximately 650 computers available for public use and Wi-Fi access Buffalo & Erie County Public Library affiliates provided over 153,000 computer access session and over 335,000 Wi-Fi sessions to the public many of whom would not otherwise have access. These computers are equipped with access to the internet and have many of the standard computer applications used by students and employment seekers. In addition to computer access Buffalo & Erie county Public Library also provides low cost printing and copying.
  2. #2 $2.35M
    Provide educational and entertaining programs for all member of the community. Throughout 2024 Buffalo & Erie County Public Library affiliates held over 6,800 group programs with over 123,000 attendees. Additionally over 72,000 one-on-one training sessions were conducted. In addition to Library organized events the various locations have public meeting space available for use by other organization. Total visits to the various locations totaled over 1.5 million
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Educational and Community Programs
Hosts over 6,800 group programs annually with more than 123,000 attendees, including literacy support, one-on-one training, and public events
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Enables cardholders to request books, articles, music CDs, or DVDs from other library systems; some lending libraries may charge a fee
Libby/OverDrive Digital Lending
Offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines through the Libby app, accessible with a library card and PIN
Public Computer and Wi-Fi Access
Provides access to approximately 650 public computers and Wi-Fi at library locations, supporting students, job seekers, and individuals without home internet access
Rare Books & Special Collections
Manages and provides access to rare materials including Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn manuscript, Audubon’s Birds of America, and historic scientific treatises
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Adult education and career advancement support
      Provides resources and programs to support adult learners in career and college advancement, including access to online research tools and homework help, as well as curated subject guides and one-on-one reference librarian appointments.
  • Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
    • Adult wellness and quality of life programs
      Offers programs and resources focused on enhancing adult wellness and quality of life, including access to curated materials and lifelong learning opportunities.
  • Regional Library Resource Sharing 1 activity
    • Interlibrary loan services
      Provides free interlibrary loan services allowing cardholders to request books, audiobooks, articles, DVDs, and other eligible materials not held in the local collection, with access to resources from other library systems.
  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
    • Library card access and digital resources
      Provides free library cards to New York State residents, offering access to physical and digital materials—including books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, videos, and research databases—across 37 locations and the Bookmobile, with specialized digital cards available for K-12 students.
  • Home Delivery and Curbside Pickup Services 1 activity
    • Mobility and remote access services
      Operates a Bookmobile serving locations across Erie County and offers Library by Mail and Proxy Card programs for patrons unable to visit in person.
  • Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
    • One-on-one and group technology training
      Offers free one-on-one technology training sessions and group computer classes at the Central Library, branch locations, and town libraries, covering topics such as device setup, email, and social media, with over 72,000 one-on-one sessions and over 6,800 group programs conducted annually.
  • Library of Things Lending 1 activity
    • Programming and resources for teens and children
      Offers a dedicated events guide and programming for teens, including summer activities, and provides hands-on craft programs and recreational equipment borrowing for children and families.
  • Public Access Technology Services 1 activity
    • Public computer and Wi-Fi access
      Provides access to approximately 650 public computers and Wi-Fi across library locations, supporting over 153,000 computer sessions and over 335,000 Wi-Fi sessions annually.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Special Collections and conservation initiatives
      Houses nearly 500,000 titles in Special Collections related to Local History, Genealogy, Maps, Music, and Rare Books, and conducts conservation and digitization projects on significant items such as Audubon’s Birds of America and Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn manuscript.
  • Non-Discrimination Compliance and Access Assurance 1 activity
    • Specialized services for people with disabilities
      Ensures non-discriminatory access to services and programs for individuals with disabilities, including accommodations upon request, an Assistive Technology Room at the Central Library, and timely response to ADA complaints.
  • Library Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement
      Engages volunteers from diverse backgrounds—including students, adults, and local organizations—in projects across library locations.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Automated renewal and flexible return options
      Automatically renews eligible borrowed items up to three times for accounts in good standing and allows returns at any library location, including through 24-hour outdoor drop boxes at most branches.
    • Elimination of overdue fines system-wide
      Eliminated late fines for overdue materials across all library locations as of May 1, 2022, to improve access and reduce barriers to borrowing.
    • Exhibitions and public programming on rare collections
      Produces major collection-based exhibitions such as "Milestones of Science" and "The Map That Changed the World," supported by educational programs, public events, and museum-quality display infrastructure.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$13.77M
Contributions & grants$13.69M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$80K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$13.46M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$9.81M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.22M
Cash$4.22M
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$4.22M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +4.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 22
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Margaret Errington - retire 113024 Orchard Park Public Library Director 35 $118K
Kristi Dougherty Amherst Public Library Director 35 $115K
Daniel Caufield Cheektowaga Public Library Dictore 35 $114K
Monica Mooney Clarence Public Library Director 35 $107K
Bridgette Heintz Grand Island Memorial Library 35 $104K
Brian Hoth Hamburg Public Library Director 35 $97K
Thomas Carloni Elma Public Library Director 35 $93K
Kara Stock Lancaster Public Library Director 35 $93K
John Gaff City of Tonawanda Public Library Director 35 $92K
Mary Muscarella Town of Tonawanda Public Library 35 $91K
Abigail Barten-McGowan Town of Collins Public Libary Director 35 $88K
Robert Alessi West Seneca Public Library Director 35 $83K
Shannon Thompson Marilla Free Library Director 33 $82K
Kristine Sutton Newstead Public Library Director 24 $80K
Pamela Edholm Lackawanna Public Library Director 35 $78K
Paula Ausberger Aurora Town Public Library Director 35 $75K
Donna-Jo Webster Eden Library Director 30 $74K
Jennifer Morris Hulbert Library of the Town of Concor 35 $71K
Alice Yoder Town of N Collins Public Library 30 $70K
Rebecca Moe Ewell Free Library Director 35 $63K
Jennifer Page Angola Public Library Director 32 $62K
Lydia Herren Boston Free Library Director 34 $61K
board members · 3
  • Adam Zaremski — Aurora Town Public Library Board Secretary
  • Agnes Becker — Grand Island Memorial Library Board Secretary
  • Amanda Cleesattel — West Seneca Public Library Board Secretary
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • ADA Coordinator Government — Designated staff member responsible for handling accommodation requests and ADA compliance issues.
  • Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Foundation Partner — Supports the library through fundraising and financial stewardship
  • Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Government — Holds, oversees, and administers the Library Foundation’s 13 donor-established endowment funds; ensures cost-effective management and appropriate investment of assets.
  • Erie County Department of Health Partner — Collaborates on health programs and information initiatives at Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries.
  • Grosvenor Research Library Partner — Merged with Buffalo Public Library collections in 1953 to form the Grosvenor Room.
  • Local Organizations Partner — Collaborates with local organizations whose members participate in volunteer projects at library locations.
  • OverDrive Partner — Partners with OverDrive to provide digital lending of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines to library cardholders.
  • OverDrive Partner — Provides downloadable eBooks, eAudio, and videos through a partnership with OverDrive.
  • WorldCat Partner — Partners with WorldCat to facilitate interlibrary loan requests and resource sharing.
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.

  • Fine-Free Access to Reduce Barriers
    methodology: fine-free_libraries
    By eliminating fines, the library reduces systemic barriers to access, particularly for underserved populations, because financial penalties disproportionately impact low-income communities and deter library use.
  • Personalized and Inclusive Service Delivery
    methodology: accessibility-inclusion
    By providing staff-supported accessibility guidance and assistive technologies, the library ensures meaningful inclusion for people with disabilities because tailored support and adaptive tools enable full participation that generic access cannot.
  • Universal Physical and Digital Access
    methodology: universal_access
    By maintaining a distributed network of 37 locations and a mobile bookmobile alongside digital platforms like Libby, the library increases equitable access because geographic proximity and technology integration jointly remove structural barriers to participation.