Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Southern Tier Library System

EIN 16-0836935 · Painted Post, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHERN TIER LIBRARY SYSTEM, A REGIONAL CONSORTIUM OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES, WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS MEMBERS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THEM THROUGH CLEARLY DEFINED, COST-EFFECTIVE SERVICES THAT MAKE POSSIBLE THE COORDINATION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES, ENABLING ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIVE COUNTY REGION TO HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO EXCELLENT LIBRARY SERVICES.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
33
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$186,056, executive 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    13 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $985,985 spent. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - MAINTAINS THE ONLINE INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM SOFTWARE THAT ENABLES RESIDENTS TO USE STARCAT, THE ONLINE REGIONAL LIBRARY CATALOG. AS A RESULT, RESIDENTS CAN USE COMPUTERS AT HOME, SCHOOL OR WORK TO SEARCH FOR, REQUEST AND EVEN DOWNLOAD MATERIALS OWNED BY ANY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION. SOUTHERN TIER LIBRARY SYSTEM ALSO PROVIDES MEMBER LIBRARIES WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE USE OF HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, NETWORK SECURITY, WEBSITE SUPPORT, TRAINING LABS AND THE PERIPHERALS USED TO ACCESS SOUTHERN TIER AUTOMATED SERVICES. THIS ASSISTANCE MAKES POSSIBLE INTERNET ACCESS TO RESIDENTS ON IN-LIBRARY COMPUTERS AND THROUGH WIRELESS ACCESS.
  2. $136,833 spent. OUTREACH - PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES TO SPECIAL CLIENT POPULATION GROUPS. LOANS LARGE PRINT LIBRARY BOOKS AND AUDIO BOOKS TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND SMALL RURAL LIBRARIES. PURCHASES BOOKS AND MAGAZINES FOR INMATES AT COUNTY JAILS. COORDINATES PROGRAMS FOR LIBRARIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFITS. ADMINISTERS GRANTS TO LOCAL LIBRARIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. PURCHASES LIBRARY BOOKS FOR INMATE POPULATIONS AT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND COORDINATES DELIVERY OF LIBRARY MATERIALS FROM LOCAL LIBRARIES.
  3. $301,358 spent. MEMBER SERVICES - ADMINISTERS GRANTS AND MATERIALS FOR MEMBER LIBRARIES. RECEIVES AND DISTRIBUTES STATE AID AND STATE GRANTS. APPLIES FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS AND ADVOCATES FOR COUNTY FUNDING. SELECTS, NEGOTIATES PRICES OF, AND PURCHASES SUPPLIES, BAR CODE LABELS AND BAR CODE READERS, AUDIO BOOKS, COMPUTERS, PERIPHERALS, SOFTWARE AND OTHER ITEMS ON BEHALF OF MEMBER LIBRARIES.

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 June 1960.

    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.