How the Library is Funded

The James Prendergast Library is an Association library funded by a mixture of public and private sources. For more details, view the library’s annual budget here.

• The library has an investment fund that provides approximately 1/3 of the library’s funding.
• Community tax dollars collected by the Jamestown Public School district provide $350,000 in annual funding (approximately 25% of the library’s annual revenue). 
• Grants from local foundations provide roughly 10% each year
• Prendergast receives slightly less than 10%  of the budget from New York State for serving as the co-central library of the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System.
• The Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System resides in the Prendergast Library building and they reimburse the library for their share in utilities, maintenance, etc., which comprises about  5% of the budget.
• Chautauqua County provides funding for all libraries in the county; for Prendergast it comprises about 1% of the budget
• All other funds must be raised by gifts, donations, fees and fundraising.

View the library’s annual budget here.

The Annual Appeal letter is an easy, but important way to help support the library. If you would like to be included in the list, please contact the library at (716) 484-7135 and we will add your name.

The James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees and staff sincerely appreciate all the support from the community. The library has served this area for 130 years and will continue to work hard to meet community needs. If you are interested in helping the library, please see our “Support” page for more information.