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Rockingham Library Association

EIN 54-0548703 · Harrisonburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY PARTNER PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, FOSTER CREATIVITY, AND ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING. MRL STRIVES TO BE THE WELCOMING HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY WHERE ALL COME TO LEARN, DISCOVER, CREATE, AND CONNECT.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
68
Volunteers
171
Highest pay
$135,493, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    14 of 14 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $165,073 spent. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - MRL PROVIDED 1,908,087 FREE WI-FI USER SESSIONS AT ALL LOCATIONS. MRL PROVIDED 10,711 COMPUTER USER SESSIONS TO PATRONS THROUGH OUR PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS. UPGRADED AND EASIER TO MANAGE DIGITAL SIGNAGE WAS INSTALLED AT CENTRAL, PAGE, NORTH RIVER, AND VILLAGE BRANCHES. NEW WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS WERE ORDERED TO IMPROVE WIRELESS REACH AT THE CENTRAL AND ELKTON BRANCHES. MRL ADDED THE ACQUISITION MODULE TO OUR INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM THROUGH SIRSIDYNIX, ALLOWING MRL TO PLACE ORDERS THROUGH MOST VENDORS THROUGH EDI, ENABLE REAL-TIME BUDGET TRACKING, AND SIMPLIFY THE ORDERING WORKFLOW.
  2. $115,758 spent. COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT & CIRCULATION MRL ADDED 16,280 ITEMS TO OUR COLLECTION INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: AUDIO CDS 138, BOOKS 11,156, DVDS 630, E BOOKS & E AUDIO 748, MAGAZINES 1,973, REFERENCE MATERIALS 104, VARIOUS OTHER MATERIALS 1,531. MRL CIRCULATED 889,386 ITEMS ACROSS OUR SEVEN BRANCHES. MRL OFFERS EARLY LITERACY KITS AND THINKING MONEY FOR KIDS KITS, LAUNCHPADS, AND PROGRAMMING.
  3. $2.4 million spent. READING PROGRAMS & EVENTS - LIBRARY MATERIALS, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF HARRISONBURG, AND PAGE AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES THROUGH A NETWORK OF SEVEN PUBLIC SERVICE LOCATIONS AND THE MRL'S WEBSITE. IN FY 25, MRL TALLIED 242,086 VISITS. MRL HOSTED 2,473 PROGRAMS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY 54,217 PEOPLE. MRL ISSUED OR RENEWED 9,809 LIBRARY CARDS AND ANSWERED 25,674 REFERENCE QUESTIONS. MRL HAS CONTINUED THE PRESCRIPTION FOR READING PROGRAM WORKING WITH A GROUP OF AREA PEDIATRICIANS TO PROVIDE BOOKS AND READING MATERIALS FOR BABIES AND THEIR PARENTS. THESE ITEMS ARE DISTRIBUTED DURING BABY WELLNESS VISITS. MRL ALSO PARTICIPATES IN A "1,000 THINGS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN" PROGRAM. MRL TEAMED UP WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS TO HOST THE BIG READ EVENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY. SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS WERE ADDED IN FY25 SUCH AS PAGE TO SCREEN BOOK CLUB, TRUE CRIME BOOK CLUB, AND BAD ART NIGHT. AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE CENTER PASSES CAN BE CHECKED OUT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1952.

    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.