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Patterson Library

EIN 14-6022764 · Patterson, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PATTERSON LIBRARY PROVIDES VALUABLE AND EQUITABLE SERVICES THAT FULFILL ESSENTIAL ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING: COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING SUPPORT, AND POPULAR MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$965,650
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
28
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$103,508, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $719,699 spent. INFORMATION/EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS: WE OFFER PROGRAMS FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES. ADULT PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE BOOK DISCUSSIONS, MOVIES, MAHJONG, LOCAL HISTORY DISCUSSIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS, AUTHOR TALKS, CRAFTS, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, LECTURES, HEALTH AND EXERCISE PROGRAMS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, FINANCIAL SEMINARS, AND BOOK DISCUSSIONS. CHILDREN AND TEEN PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE STORYTIMES, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PROGRAMS, MOVIES, ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAMS, MINECRAFT, BOOK DISCUSSIONS, HANDS-ON COOKING AND GARDENING WORKSHOPS, MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS, MURDER MYSTERY EVENINGS, AND OPEN MIC NIGHTS. A TOTAL OF 8,094 PEOPLE ATTENDED 700 PROGRAMS IN 2024. SUMMER READING KEEPS CHILDREN ENGAGED DURING THEIR BREAK WITH READING INCENTIVES AND EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMING. IN 2024, OVER 200 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE LIBRARY OFFERS COMPUTERS, COPYING, FAXING, AND SCANNING SERVICES, 24-HOUR WIFI, AND ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAMS SUCH AS OPEN COMPUTER HELP AND HOMEWORK HELP. IN 2024 WE HAD OVER 10,000 WIFI SESSIONS, AND OVER 2,000 COMPUTER SESSIONS. ADULT SERVICES STAFF ANSWERED OVER 13,000 QUESTIONS. WE ALSO ADDED 329 NEW CARDHOLDERS. INFORMATION/EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS: WE OFFER PROGRAMS FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES. ADULT PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE BOOK DISCUSSIONS, MOVIES, MAHJONG, LOCAL HISTORY DISCUSSIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS, AUTHOR TALKS, CRAFTS, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, LECTURES, HEALTH AND EXERCISE PROGRAMS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, FINANCIAL SEMINARS, AND BOOK DISCUSSIONS. CHILDREN AND TEEN PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE STORYTIMES, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PROGRAMS, MOVIES, ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAMS, MINECRAFT, BOOK DISCUSSIONS, HANDS-ON COOKING AND GARDENING WORKSHOPS, MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS, MURDER MYSTERY EVENINGS, AND OPEN MIC NIGHTS. A TOTAL OF 8,094 PEOPLE ATTENDED 700 PROGRAMS IN 2024. SUMMER READING KEEPS CHILDREN ENGAGED DURING THEIR BREAK WITH READING INCENTIVES AND EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMING. IN 2024, OVER 200 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE LIBRARY OFFERS COMPUTERS, COPYING, FAXING, AND SCANNING SERVICES, 24-HOUR WIFI, AND ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAMS SUCH AS OPEN COMPUTER HELP AND HOMEWORK HELP. IN 2024 WE HAD OVER 10,000 WIFI SESSIONS, AND OVER 2,000 COMPUTER SESSIONS. ADULT SERVICES STAFF ANSWERED OVER 13,000 QUESTIONS. WE ALSO ADDED 329 NEW CARDHOLDERS.
  2. COLLECTIONS AND CIRCULATION: THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION IS COMPRISED OF BOTH PHYSICAL MATERIAL AND DOWNLOADABLE AND ELECTRONIC CONTENT. OUR PHYSICAL MATERIALS INCLUDE BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, PERIODICALS, DVDS, AND CDS. THE DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT INCLUDES EBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, FILMS, AND VARIOUS DATABASES. WE ALSO HAVE A "LIBRARY OF THINGS", WHICH CONSISTS OF MUSEUM PASSES, CAKEPANS, TOOLS, GAMING SYSTEMS, SEEDS, AND HOTSPOTS. WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS ITEMS FROM THE 66 -MEMBER LIBRARY MID-HUDSON LIBRARY SYSTEM, OF WHICH WE ARE A PART, AS WELL AS INTERLIBRARY LOAN ITEMS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY. WE HAD OVER 39,000 VISITORS IN 2024 WHO CHECKED OUT APPROXIMATELY 56,000 ITEMS FROM THESE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL COLLECTIONS.
  3. OUTREACH: THE LIBRARY STAFF PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC TO WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER AS WELL AS TO BRING EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMING TO THEM. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PATTERSON ROTARY TO HOST THE COMMUNITY-WIDE TOUCH-A-TRUCK EVENT IN JUNE. WE HOST AARP VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE FREE TAX HELP TO SENIORS AND LOW- INCOME INDIVIDUALS FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL EACH YEAR. WE FEATURE LOCAL ARTISTS' DISPLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY ROOM. WE COLLECT ITEMS FOR THE PATTERSON FOOD PANTRY, PUTNAM HUMANE SOCIETY, VET 2 VET VETERAN'S ORGANIZATION, AND THE PUTNAM COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP. THE PATTERSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS THEIR ANNUAL MEETING AND QUARTERLY PROGRAMS AT OUR LIBRARY, AND THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND FRIENDS OF THE GREAT SWAMP PARTNER WITH OUR PROGRAMMERS TO HOST ADULT AND CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. YOUTH SERVICES STAFF CONDUCT VISITS WITH PRESCHOOL, HOMESCHOOL, AND K-12 SCHOOL CLASSES TO INTRODUCE LITERACY CONCEPTS AND TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON THE USE OF THE LIBRARY. OUTREACH: THE LIBRARY STAFF PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC TO WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER AS WELL AS TO BRING EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMING TO THEM. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PATTERSON ROTARY TO HOST THE COMMUNITY-WIDE TOUCH-A-TRUCK EVENT IN JUNE. WE HOST AARP VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE FREE TAX HELP TO SENIORS AND LOW- INCOME INDIVIDUALS FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL EACH YEAR. WE FEATURE LOCAL ARTISTS' DISPLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY ROOM. WE COLLECT ITEMS FOR THE PATTERSON FOOD PANTRY, PUTNAM HUMANE SOCIETY, VET 2 VET VETERAN'S ORGANIZATION, AND THE PUTNAM COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP. THE PATTERSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS THEIR ANNUAL MEETING AND QUARTERLY PROGRAMS AT OUR LIBRARY, AND THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND FRIENDS OF THE GREAT SWAMP PARTNER WITH OUR PROGRAMMERS TO HOST ADULT AND CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. YOUTH SERVICES STAFF CONDUCT VISITS WITH PRESCHOOL, HOMESCHOOL, AND K-12 SCHOOL CLASSES TO INTRODUCE LITERACY CONCEPTS AND TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON THE USE OF THE LIBRARY.
  4. $3,623 spent. LIBRARY SERVICES AS WELL AS VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
  5. LIBRARY SERVICES AS WELL AS VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 August 1985.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.