Patterson Library
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF WESTFIELD BY PROVIDING UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND BY OFFERING MATERIALS GEARED TO USER WANTS AND NEEDS.
- Income
- $806,437
- Spending
- $487,197
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 10
- Highest pay
- $56,289, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 129% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $385,416 spent. PATTERSON LIBRARY PROVIDES FREE AND EQUAL ACCESS TO BOOKS, PERIODICALS, REFERENCE MATERAILS AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR CHECKOUT TO RESIDENTS IN LIBRARY'S SERVICE AREA. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE ONLINE ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF VOLUMES OF REFERENCE MATERIALS THROUGH SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES THAT WOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE IN THIS AREA. THE LIBRARY OFFERS 15 PUBLIC COMPUTERS WHICH GIVE USERS FREE AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE INTERN. WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE.
- PATTERSON LIBRARY PROVIDES FREE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS TO ENCOURAGE LIFE LONG LEARNING, PROMOTE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC ENRICHMENT, DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS AND TO HELP INDIVIDUALS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO OFFER COMPUTER CLASSES FOR SENIORS AND ONE-ON-ONE HELP FOR ANY USER WHO NEEDS A LITTLE EXTRA TECHNOLOGY HELP.
- THE LIBRARY PROVIDES CRITICAL YOUTH SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE LITERACY, LIFE SKILLS, COMPUTER EXPERIENCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF-MOTIVATED LOVE OF LEARNING IN CHILDREN FROM INFANTS TO TEENAGERS. PATTERSON LIBRARY GIVES SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN A SAFE, POSITIVE AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAMS KEEP THE CHILDREN OF WESTFIELD AND SURROUNDING AREAS EXCITED ABOUT READING AND LEARNING THROUGH WEEKLY SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITY SESSIONS THAT HELP RETURN THEM TO SCHOOL PREPARED FOR THE YEAR AHEAD. AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PROVIDED AT THE LIBRARY INCLUDE STORY TIMES, STEAM LESSONS, CRAFTS, GAME DAYS AND FAMILY MOVIES. SUMMER PROGRAMS INCLUDE STORY TIMES, BOOK DISCUSSIONS, SPECIAL GUESTS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, AND ART WORKSHOPS.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.