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Ramapo Catskill Library System

EIN 14-1457346 · Middletown, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RCLS, WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH ITS MEMBER LIBRARIES, PROVIDES COORDINATED SERVICES, GUIDANCE, TRAINING, SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP TO MEMBER LIBRARY TRUSTEES AND STAFF TO SUSTAIN THEIR EFFORTS TO BE RESPONSIVE, PROACTIVE, VITAL COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS THAT MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THEIR USERS IN ORANGE, ROCKLAND, SULLIVAN AND SOUTHERN ULSTER COUNTIES. RCLS, WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH MEMBER LIBRARIES, WILL HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES AND WORK TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO LIBRARY ACCESS AND USE.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
31
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$162,475, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $4.4 million spent. RCLS PROVIDES LIBRARY SERVICES TO 46 MEMBER LIBRARIES IN OUR CHARTERED AREA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN OF SERVICE 2022-2026 APPROVED BY THE DIVISION OF LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT, NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. RCLS HAS TWO MAIN SOURCES OF REVENUE: NYS AID TO LIBRARY SYSTEMS AND FEES FROM MEMBER LIBRARIES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES. SERVICES INCLUDE:1) ONLINE AUTOMATED NETWORK SERVICES THAT MANAGES CIRCULATION, BORROWER REGISTRATION, AN ON-LINE CATALOG, INTERLIBRARY LOANS BETWEEN MEMBER LIBRARIES, MID-HUDSON LIBRARY SYSTEM (MHLS) AND SOUTHEASTERN NY LIBRARY RESOURCES COUNCIL (SENLRC), A FIBER OPTIC WIDE-AREA NETWORK LINKING ALL MEMBER LIBRARIES, STATISTICAL REPORTING OF COLLECTION USE AND OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND CATALOGING SERVICES. ANSER IS OPERATED ON A COST RECOVERY BASIS. RCLS ALSO MAINTAINS A CAPITAL FUND FOR ANSER TO SUSTAIN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UPGRADES FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.2) A DELIVERY SYSTEM MOVES LIBRARY MATERIALS DAILY BETWEEN MEMBER LIBRARIES AND RCLS WITH A DROP OFF FOR MHLS AND SENLRC USING A FLEET OF SIX VANS.3) CONSULTING SERVICES FOR YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT, ADULT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDING SIX NYS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, THREE COUNTY JAILS AND ONE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ARE PROVIDED BY RCLS PROFESSIONAL STAFF. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR MEMBER LIBRARY STAFF AND TRUSTEES ARE PROVIDED. WORKSHOPS AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED FOR NYS PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION GRANT APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS REQUIRED ANNUAL REPORTING BY LIBRARIES TO THE DIVISION OF LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT. RCLS ALSO DISTRIBUTES PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL FOR LIBRARY ACTIVITIES AND ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE LIBRARY SERVICES.INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM-THEIR BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE HAD 2,607,837 TITLES AT DECEMEBER 31,2025.DELIVERY SYSTEM-MAKES 204 STOPS PER WEEK. IN 2025, 59,306 BOXES WERE MOVED CONTAINING 2,668,781 ITEMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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