Bacon Free Library

“The trustees have an opportunity to review and comment on the Form 990 prior to filing.”

“The 1908 state legislation creating the corporation is public. Other governing documents are available upon request.”

“The corporation does not have employees or paid trustees. The Town of Natick employs the library Director and staff.”

“The corporation and its predecessor trust have operated a public library at the same location since 1880. The corporation is responsible for the building (including furniture, fixtures and equipment) and the grounds, and some operation and programming expenses. The Town of Natick has supported some of the library services since 1951. The Town employs the Director and staff, and these Town employees are responsible for operating the library. When the Town pays wages and other expenses (such as utility bills and materials and programming costs), the Town pays those expenses directly, and does not pay through the corporation or reimburse the corporation. Those expenses (and employees) are directly the Town's, and the costs are approved by Town meeting and paid through the Town finance function.”

“Functional expense such as occupancy and office expenses appear large compared with programming expenses solely because the Town of Natick pays for personnel, most materials, most programming and some other costs - in the range of $200,000 per annum. If the corporation added those Town borne costs to its programming expense line, the overhead and fundraising lines would look minor compared to the programming costs. The apparently high ratio of overhead and fundraising to programming is because the Town covers much of the library operation.”