Cairo Public Library

What Cairo Public Library does

Cairo Public Library is a municipal public library established in 1963 in Cairo, Greene County, New York, currently operating from a single site at 15 Railroad Ave (relocated in 2012). It serves Cairo and Greene County residents with a balanced collection of physical books and materials, age-segmented programming (babies 0-5, children, teens, adults), and digital lending through the Mid-Hudson Library System — providing access to Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy, Sora, Transparent Language, JobNow, and NOVELNY. The library maintains distinctive Special Collections: the Cairo Fossil Forest exhibit (documenting a 385-million-year-old Devonian fossil forest discovered in 2009 by New York State Museum scientists), a Library of Things (Tonies, board games, video games), a Local History Collection housed in the Soho Room, and a Makers Space equipped with a 3D printer and Cricut. Community-facing facilities include a Community Room (capacity 60-100) available for donation-based rental and resource navigation hubs covering housing, food security, health, childcare, and voter information.

The institution operates as a non-profit municipal library under a Board of Trustees, governed as part of the Mid-Hudson Library System cooperative alongside the Upper Hudson, Southern Adirondack, and Mohawk Valley library systems. Funding is derived from three streams: recurring municipal appropriations from the Town of Cairo and the Cairo-Durham School District, donations and fundraising (Nickel Social, Scholastic Book Fair, Romantasy Ball, Zeffy-powered online store, Amazon wishlist), and ancillary community-room rentals. Patron access is free via a free library card for residents who live, work, attend school, or pay property taxes within the Mid-Hudson service area; replacement cards are $2.00. Distribution is community-led through the Friends of the Cairo Public Library support organization, local government and school-district partnerships, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), and on-site programming.

In 2024 the library lost over 5,000 books to mold but continued operations and outreach. Recent strategic additions include the Makers Space (funded via the Wayne C. Speenburgh Greene County Grant), an expanded Library of Things, and a broadened adult programming calendar. The library currently employs 1-10 staff under Director Corinne Tatavitto, who assumed leadership from former Director Debra Kameke in 2023.

Name

Cairo Public Library

Legal name

Cairo Public Library

Website

https://cairolibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cairo Public Library is a 1963-founded municipal library in Cairo, New York, serving Cairo and Greene County residents with physical and digital lending, youth and adult programs, special collections including the Cairo Fossil Forest exhibit, a Makers Space, and community resources, funded by the Town of Cairo, school district, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community education programs
• Digital lending platforms
• Youth literacy programs
• Local history archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Funding: The library is a municipal library funded by the town, school district, and accepts donations from patrons
2. Donations and Fundraising: Accepts credit cards, checks, and cash donations. Hosts annual Nickel Social fundraiser (raises over $1,500), Summer Scholastic Book Fair, Romantasy Ball, and weekly summer book sales. Friends of the Library group organizes additional fundraisers.
3. Library Store: Year-round online store selling library merchandise through Zeffy platform
4. Community Room Rental: Donation-based rental of community room for non-profits and community members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cairo Public Library is a municipal public library that provides the Cairo, NY and Greene County community with free access to physical and digital library materials (books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, music), age-specific programming (storytime, Lego Club, playgroup, teen services, book club), special collections including the Cairo Fossil Forest exhibits and Library of Things, and community spaces including a Makers Space (with 3D printer and Cricut) and a Community Room available for rental. Library card services are free to residents who live, work, attend school, or pay property taxes in the Mid-Hudson Library System area.

Product overview

Cairo Public Library is a municipal library established in 1963 that provides the Cairo community with access to a balanced collection of books and other materials to serve their educational, cultural, and recreational needs. The library operates as a single physical location with digital lending partnerships. Core offerings include physical library services (books, materials, programs) supplemented by digital platforms including Libby/OverDrive for ebooks and audiobooks, Hoopla for on-demand movies and music, Kanopy for film streaming, and Sora for children's content. The library maintains Special Collections featuring the Cairo Fossil Forest exhibit (385-million-year-old Devonian forest artifacts), a Library of Things with Tonies and games, and a Local History Collection. Community spaces include a Community Room (capacity 60-100), a Makers Space with 3D printer capabilities, and the Soho Room for quiet study and local history research. Additional services encompass youth programs, adult services, museum passes, and community resource navigation for housing, food security, and health needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card and Borrowing Services Free library card registration for residents, workers, students, and property taxpayers in the Mid-Hudson Library System area, granting access to physical and digital borrowing. Lost or stolen card replacement is $2.00.
• Youth Services Programs Programs and services for children including storytime, playgroup, Lego Club, staff picks, board books, parenting resources, and resources for babies through teens.
• Adult Services and Book Club Services for adult patrons including staff picks, book club, online resources via Libby/Hoopla/Kanopy, and adult-focused programs.
• Cairo Fossil Forest Collection

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Landmarks IllinoisminorOthers · 17 December 2025Landmarks Illinois awarded $64,828 in grant funding to 11 preservation projects across Illinois, including funding for the Cairo Custom House restoration effort. This is not a direct operational partnership but rather a grant for historic preservation of a local landmark.
• Mid-Hudson Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library is part of the Mid-Hudson Library System, which provides shared catalog access, digital resources (Libby, OverDrive), and system-wide lending agreements with Upper Hudson Library System, Southern Adirondack Library System, and Mohawk Valley Library System.
• Town of CairocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing municipal funding and co-managing the Cairo Fossil Forest site. The library is funded by the town and maintains close ties with town government.
• Greene CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner providing resources and support for Greene County residents. The library connects patrons to county services and programs.
• Cairo-Durham SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district partnership providing educational resources and programming for students. The library is funded by the school district and serves students.
• Friends of the Cairo Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated support organization that raises funds through the annual Nickel Social, book sales, and merchandise. Provides materials and volunteers for library programs and events.
• Bank of Greene CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor for library events and programs.
• Stewart ShopsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor for the Nickel Social fundraiser and STEM space materials through Spencersport Foundation.
• Lowe'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor providing support for library materials and programs.
• Storybrook HollowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal venue partner hosting the Romantasy Ball fundraiser event.
• New York State MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientists from the New York State Museum discovered the oldest Devonian fossil forest remnants in the world at Cairo in 2009. The library maintains information about this archaeological site.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Massive public library system serving Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island with extensive branches, digital collections, and programming. Relevant as a broad incumbent in the public library space, illustrating the scale ceiling and the kinds of programs and digital infrastructure that a successful library can deliver at scale.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Borough-wide public library system in Brooklyn, NY with extensive branch network, Makerspace-style programs, and notable special collections. Comparable as a large-scale operator demonstrating how library programming and community services can be scaled within a single municipal system.

Direct peers

• Mid-Hudson Library System: Cooperative library system of which Cairo Public Library is a member; provides shared catalog, digital lending, and resource sharing across member libraries in the Mid-Hudson region. Directly comparable as a delivery model for shared library services.
• Catskill Public Library: Public library in Catskill, NY — the Greene County seat — operating with comparable scale, municipal funding model, and community programming focus. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, similar service mix, and equivalent municipal funding structure.

Regional players

• Ramapo Catskill Library System: Regional library cooperative serving Sullivan, Orange, and part of Ulster counties in New York. Comparable as a sister cooperative library system that delivers shared digital resources, catalog access, and interlibrary loans to small member libraries.
• Windham Public Library: Small public library serving Windham in Greene County, NY with comparable community-driven programming, municipal funding, and special collection emphasis. Comparable as a peer small-town library in the same geographic region.
• Tannersville Public Library: Small public library serving the Tannersville area in Greene County, NY with similar community-programming focus and rural municipal funding model. Comparable as a like-for-like small-town library in the same county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/cairolibrary12413
• TikToktiktok.com/@cairolibrary1?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cairo-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cairo Public Library