Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

New Castle Public Library

EIN 25-6002274 · New Castle, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW CASTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TO PROVIDE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF ITS DESIGNATED SERVICE AREA AND AS FURTHER SET FORTH IN ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION PURSUANT TO THE PENNSYLVANIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION LAW OF 1988, AS AMENDED.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
37
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$65,891, 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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. $609,591 spent. NEXT READ AND HOMEWORK HELP OFFERED THROUGH TUTOR.COM BUT THEY TRAVEL TO NEARBY COUNTY PARKS TO BE ACTIVE IN THE FRESH AIR AND LISTEN TO A STORY OR TWO. THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN TEEN AND TWEEN ATTENDANCE TO THE LIBRARY SINCE THE FALL OF 2024 WITH A DESIGNATED SPACE JUST FOR TEENS AND OF COURSE FOR A HEALTHY AFTER SCHOOL SNACK
  2. $443,338 spent. ADULT SERVICES PROGRAMMING: THE ADULT SERVICES DEPARTMENT HOSTS CAPTIVATING AND ENGAGING PROGRAMS. THE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED IN SHOWCASING CULTURAL AWARENESS AND WAS EXCITED TO INVITE THE TIBETAN MONKS TO THE NEW CASTLE AREA IN THE SPRING OF 2025 AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL FALL CULTURAL SERIES. AS A SEGMENT OF ADULT SERVICES, THE GENEALOGY DIVISION WAS A HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER RESOURCE THAT PROVIDED RESEARCHERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD WITH ACCESS TO LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORIES. RESEARCHERS AS FAR AWAY AS ENGLAND REACHED OUT TO THE LIBRARY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR QUERIES. DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, IN 2025 THE LIBRARY STARTED A GENEALOGY CLUB. THEY ARE ALSO CURRENTLY BUILDING A GENEALOGY CENTER ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
  3. $55,417 spent. KIDS FRIDGE THE KIDS FRIDGE A VITAL RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH IS STOCKED WITH NUTRITIOUS SNACKS THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF LAWRENCE COUNTY EMPTY BOWLS, APPLE CASTLE, AND THE GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK. WITH THE RECENT REOPENING OF OUR SECOND FLOOR WE'VE WITHNESSED A SURGE IN AFTER-SCHOOL VISITORS MANY OF WHOM APPRECIATE A QUICK BITE AS THEY DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK OR PARTICIPATE IN THE BOOKMOBILE. AS OF NOVEMBER 2024, WE HAVE GIVEN OUT OVER 2000 SNACKS. IN THE UPCOMING YEAR WE AIM TO EXPAND OUR FUNDING FOR THE KIDS FRIDGE ENABLING US TO OFFER MORE SUBSTANTIAL SNACKS TO THESE CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO REGULAR MEALS. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE AN OBVIOUS SERVICE OF THE LIBRARY PROVING THESE SNACK PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUTH PATRONS ENSURING THEY ARE FUELED AND READY TO LEARN AND GROWN IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES.

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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 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.