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Dauphin County Library System

EIN 23-1352317 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION: THE LIBRARY BUILDS COMMUNITY AND TRANSFORMS LIVES BY CONNECTING PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND OPPORTUNITIES. VISION: THE LIBRARY IS THE COMMUNITY'S TRUSTED PARTNER FOR GROWTH ANDCONNECTION. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION FUELS A THRIVING

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
158
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$79,986, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 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 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. COLLECTIONS - LENDING OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES, DVDS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO THE LIBRARY'S 134,059 CARDHOLDERS, IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY SERVICES OFFERED BY THE LIBRARY. IN 2024, LIBRARY USERS BORROWED APPROXIMATELY 838,528 ITEMS. OF THIS TOTAL, ADULT AND CHILDREN'S RESOURCE ITEMS WERE BORROWED 432,219 AND 406,309 TIMES, RESPECTIVELY. IN ADDITION, THE LIBRARY SAW 583,473 ONLINE RESOURCE ITEMS VIEWED AND 135,216 E-BOOKS LOANED DURING 2024.
  2. $995,899 spent. PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH - PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE A CORE LIBRARY SERVICE. THE IN-LIBRARY AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO ASSOCIATE FUN WITH LEARNING AND READING. IN 2024, THE LIBRARY HAD 2,021 PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH VISITS WITH 40,726 ATTENDEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THE EVENTS, PROGRAMMING INCLUDED THE ANNUAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO KEEP CHILDREN AND ADULTS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN READING AND LEARNING OVER THE SUMMER, EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON MATH AND SCIENCE, MOVEMENT AND ART, STEPPING STONES TO MILESTONES, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE EARLY LEARNING BY HELPING PARENTS BECOME A CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER WHILE INSTILLING A LOVE OF READING FOR MANY OTHERS.
  3. $900,092 spent. PUBLIC COMPUTING - FREE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND PUBLIC COMPUTING IS ANOTHER CORE LIBRARY SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE LIBRARY. IN 2024, THE LIBRARY OFFERED 163 PUBLIC COMPUTERS (PCS AND LAPTOPS) WHICH WERE USED 54,126 TIMES BY LIBRARY VISITORS DURING 17,516 PUBLIC HOURS. IN ADDITION, LIBRARY CARDHOLDERS PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MILLION SEARCHES OF THE LIBRARY CATALOG. THE LIBRARY HAD 405,868 SESSIONS OF WI-FI USED IN 2024.
  4. $3.8 million spent. IN ADDITION TO GENERAL LIBRARY SERVICES OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC, THE LIBRARY PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING CORE SERVICES: 1. REFERENCE WHICH MAKES REFERENCE STAFF AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS; 2. THE LIBRARY SERVES AS THE DISTRICT CENTER PROVIDING DELIVERY, REFERENCE SUPPORT AND OTHER LIBRARY SERVICES TO DAUPHIN, CUMBERLAND AND PERRY COUNTIES.

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 April 1959.

    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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