Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Adams County Library System

EIN 23-1352002 · Gettysburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM (ACLS) IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENRICH THEIR LIVES THROUGH THE CORE VALUES OF STEWARDSHIP, EXCELLENCE AND TRUSTWORTHINESS. THE ACLS PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT CENTERS ON EARLY LITERACY SKILLS AS WELL AS CREATIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS. EVENTS FEATURE HANDS-ON- ACTIVITIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES. SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED INSPIRING CHILDREN TO READ AND LEARN YEAR-ROUND. SERVICES FOR ADULTS INCLUDE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT FOSTER LEARNING, PROMOTE PERSONAL GROWTH AND CULTIVATE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. ADULT PROGRAMS CREATE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH SENIORS. THE SIX ACLS FACILITIES ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT ADAMS COUNTY SO THAT LIBRARY SERVICE IS DECENTRALIZED. A LIBRARY IS LOCATED IN EACH OF THE SIX ADAMS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AREAS MAKING LOCAL LIBRARY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ALL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. FOUR BRANCHES OFFER NINE DEDICATED MEETI

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
49
Volunteers
86
Highest pay
$83,294, finance dire

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (1)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM (ACLS)PROVIDES LIBRARY FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN SIX LOCATIONS SERVING THE 106,027 ADAMS COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE ACLS IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL ENRICH THEIR LIVES THROUGH FREE ACCESS TO MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMS. THE SYSTEM HEADQUARTERS IN GETTYSBURG PROVIDES MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE BRANCH LIBRARIES LOCATED IN BIGLERVILLE, CARROLL VALLEY, EAST BERLIN, LITTLESTOWN AND NEW OXFORD. AS A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM PROVIDES A PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL COLLECTION OF 162,845 ITEMS. ASSISTANCE FROM PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ALL AGES INCLUDING HELP TO ACCESS RELIABLE INFORMATION AND READERS' ADVISORY SERVICES. TECHNOLOGY IN THE FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION DATA BASES, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET THROUGH PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS AND FREE PUBLIC WIRELESS ACCESS AND A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES ARE OFFERED AT ALL LIBRARY FACILITIES. EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED SO THAT CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE OFFERED SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ART MATHEMATICS STE(A)M AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATIONAL AND CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, BOOK CLUBS, COMPUTER ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE GAINING THE INFORMATION THEY REQUIRE. BOOK DISCUSSIONS, AUTHOR VISITS, LECTURE SERIES AND HANDS-ON PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR ADULTS OF ALL AGES, AS IS ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING DESIRED INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES. IN 2024, EIGHTY SIX VOLUNTEERS OFFERED 3,377 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO HELP WITH PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TECHNICAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SERVICES AND SERVE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OVER 1,016 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF LIBRARY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM (ACLS)PROVIDES LIBRARY FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN SIX LOCATIONS SERVING THE 106,027 ADAMS COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE ACLS IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL ENRICH THEIR LIVES THROUGH FREE ACCESS TO MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMS. THE SYSTEM HEADQUARTERS IN GETTYSBURG PROVIDES MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE BRANCH LIBRARIES LOCATED IN BIGLERVILLE, CARROLL VALLEY, EAST BERLIN, LITTLESTOWN AND NEW OXFORD. AS A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE ADAMS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM PROVIDES A PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL COLLECTION OF 162,845 ITEMS. ASSISTANCE FROM PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ALL AGES INCLUDING HELP TO ACCESS RELIABLE INFORMATION AND READERS' ADVISORY SERVICES. TECHNOLOGY IN THE FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION DATA BASES, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET THROUGH PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS AND FREE PUBLIC WIRELESS ACCESS AND A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES ARE OFFERED AT ALL LIBRARY FACILITIES. EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED SO THAT CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE OFFERED SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ART MATHEMATICS STE(A)M AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATIONAL AND CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, BOOK CLUBS, COMPUTER ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE GAINING THE INFORMATION THEY REQUIRE. BOOK DISCUSSIONS, AUTHOR VISITS, LECTURE SERIES AND HANDS-ON PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR ADULTS OF ALL AGES, AS IS ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING DESIRED INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES. IN 2024, EIGHTY SIX VOLUNTEERS OFFERED 3,377 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO HELP WITH PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TECHNICAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SERVICES AND SERVE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OVER 1,016 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF LIBRARY SERVICES TO OUR 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1961.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.