Lebanon Community Library

What Lebanon Community Library does

Lebanon Community Library is a non-profit public library operating as one of six branches within the Library System of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1926 by the Woman's Club of Lebanon and housed since 1985 at 125 North 7th Street in Lebanon, the library serves residents of eight surrounding municipalities — Cornwall, Lebanon City, Mount Gretna, North Cornwall, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, West Cornwall, and West Lebanon — providing free access to physical and digital collections, public computing, WiFi, and structured programming across all age groups.

The library's core offerings include a Polaris-powered shared catalog, Overdrive/Libby digital lending, Beanstack-tracked reading challenges, Wowbrary-driven new-arrival notifications, and Power Library online databases. Programming spans early literacy storytimes, the annual Summer Learning Program and Bookopoly adult gamified reading, the FITT technology assistance program, multiple book groups, Teen Advisory Board, Writers' Group, Lebanon County Reads lecture series, and the 2026 Century Celebration Gala marking its 100-year anniversary. In 2025, the library recorded 92,000+ visitors, 48,000 print borrowings, 21,000+ digital borrowings, 42,000+ children's items distributed, and 383 programs serving 6,800+ attendees at a stated cost of $4.56 per household per year.

The operating model is municipal-grant plus diversified fundraising: annual appropriations from member municipalities form the base, supplemented by LSTA-funded federal pass-throughs (e.g., $68,500 PA Department of Education grant in February 2024), corporate event sponsorships (Barley Snyder, Fulton Bank, Steckbeck Engineering, Chrisland Engineering, Lebanon Federal Credit Union, Thrivent Financial, Woodland Contractors), an active Friends of the Library used-book-sale effort, and individual giving campaigns such as 1 for 100, Shelf Sustainers, and Buy A Book processed through Network for Good and PayPal. All patron-facing services remain free of charge, with limited late-fee and replacement-cost revenue treated as ancillary.

Name

Lebanon Community Library

Legal name

Lebanon Community Library

Website

https://lebanon.lclibs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lebanon Community Library is a non-profit public library in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, serving eight municipalities with free physical and digital collections, programs, and technology access, operating since 1926 as part of the Library System of Lebanon County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital book lending
• Early literacy programs
• Interlibrary loan

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Municipal Funding: The library relies heavily on local municipal support from the eight municipalities it serves (Cornwall, Lebanon City, Mount Gretna, North Cornwall, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, West Cornwall, and West Lebanon) and individual donations.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals support library services, collections, and technological resources. Programs include '1 for 100' campaign, Shelf Sustainers, Buy A Book, and general donations.
3. Friends of the Library Fundraising: The active Friends of the Library group raises funds through annual used book sales and other activities to support library needs not covered by the general budget.
4. Event Sponsorship: The library raises funds through sponsorships for events like the Bingo Fundraiser and Century Celebration, with various sponsorship tiers for local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lebanon Community Library provides free public library services to Lebanon County residents, including lending of physical and digital books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other media; public computer and WiFi access; interlibrary loan; online research databases; and educational programming for children, teens, and adults. Core services are delivered through a main branch facility, an online Polaris catalog, the Overdrive eLibrary, and recurring programs such as storytimes, Summer Learning, book groups, and FITT technology classes.

Product overview

Lebanon Community Library is a public library system operated as part of the Library System of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, serving residents of eight municipalities including Lebanon City and surrounding townships. The library offers a comprehensive range of services organized as a unified public library platform with multiple program types. Core offerings include physical and digital collections (books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks), public computer and WiFi access, online databases (NewsBank, Reference USA, POWER Library), and interlibrary loan services. The library provides patron-facing technology including the Polaris online catalog for searching holdings and managing accounts, and an Overdrive eLibrary for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks. Programming encompasses early literacy services (storytimes, Smart Start for babies), Summer Learning Program and Bookopoly gamified reading challenges, multiple book discussion groups, the FITT technology assistance program, Teen Advisory Board, Writers' Group, Lebanon County Reads series, and seasonal events. Digital engagement tools include Beanstack for reading program tracking, Wowbrary for new material notifications, and Network for Good for online donations. The library marks its centennial anniversary in 2026 with a special celebration event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FITT (Finding Independence Through Technology): Technology classes provided by Lebanon County Libraries to help community members gain tech confidence.
• Bookopoly
• GO Lebanon
• READ IT!

Products and services

• Digital Collections (eBooks and Audiobooks) Free downloadable eBooks and audiobooks available to library cardholders through the Overdrive/Libby platform.
• Public Computer and WiFi Access Free public computer terminals and WiFi sessions available at the library for internet use, research, job searches, and other digital needs.
• Online Resources and Databases Digital research databases including Access World News (NewsBank), Reference USA, POWER Library, and the Ask Here PA reference service, accessible free with a library card.
• Library Catalog (Polaris) Online searchable catalog of all Lebanon County library holdings with patron account management for renewals, requests, and viewing checked-out items.
• Interlibrary Loan Service allowing patrons to request materials from other Pennsylvania libraries through the OCLC interlibrary loan system, with delivery three days per week across the county library network.
• Storytimes and Early Literacy Programs Regular storytime sessions for children ages 2-5, Smart Start Storytime for babies birth to 2 years, and Stories on Saturday family sessions, including virtual storytimes on YouTube.
• Summer Learning Program Annual summer reading and learning program with themed activities for children, tweens, and teens including reading logs, crafts, performers, and prize incentives, tracked through Beanstack.
• Bookopoly Summer Reading for Adults Gamified summer reading program for adults using a downloadable game board where participants earn entries by completing reading challenges for prize drawings.
• Book Groups Recurring book discussion groups including Tuesday Evening, Thursday Afternoon, Haunted Horror (co-hosted with The Haunted Whimsy), and Whimsy Detective Agency book clubs.
• Tech Help (FITT Program) Finding Independence Through Technology (FITT) one-on-one technology assistance sessions helping patrons with devices, email accounts, job applications, and other digital literacy needs; 30-minute appointments.
• Teen Advisory Board Youth advisory group for grades 7-12 that provides input on library activities, new books, movies, and resources; open participation with RSVP required.
• Lebanon County Reads Community reading program series featuring author talks, Death Cafe discussions, and educational programs exploring various themes and topics.
• Curbside Pickup (Books to Go) Contactless library material pickup service allowing patrons to request items online or by phone/email and retrieve them at the library entrance.
• GO Lebanon County Get Outdoors Lebanon program encouraging exploration of local parks and natural areas, with sign-ups available at the library and partner locations.
• READ IT! Adult Reading Program Adult reading reward program where participants purchase a $5 button, read 2 books monthly, track progress, and earn free pizza at Schaylor Brewing Company.
• Writers' Group Monthly informal writing group meeting on the last Friday of the month, providing inspiration, feedback, and peer support for aspiring writers.
• Monthly Newsletter Monthly email newsletter keeping patrons informed about library events, new resources, and community updates.
• Paws to Read Reading program for kids in grades 1-5 featuring therapy dogs, allowing children to practice reading aloud to canine companions.
• Board Game Night Monthly board game evening held every second Monday at 5:30pm, providing social gaming opportunities for patrons.
• A Century Celebration Gala Special 100th anniversary celebration event recognizing the library's legacy of community service since 1926.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92,000+ annual visitors served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Library System of Lebanon CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe umbrella organization that includes six county public libraries, providing shared catalog, interlibrary loan, and coordinated services.
• The Haunted Whimsy BookstoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the Haunted Horror Book Club and The Whimsy Detective Agency Book Club with the library.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Overdrive (Libby): Not a peer library but the underlying digital lending platform the library uses; relevant as an ecosystem enabler whose roadmap (Libby app features, content licensing) directly shapes the library's digital service capability.

Direct peers

• Annville Free Library: Sister library within the Library System of Lebanon County; operates the same shared Polaris catalog and interlibrary loan network, serving a comparable community of similar scale within the same county.
• Myerstown Community Library: Fellow community library within the Lebanon County system; shares the Polaris ILS, Wowbrary notifications, and Beanstack reading programs with directly comparable service offerings.
• Richland Community Library: Community library within the same Lebanon County system, providing directly comparable programming, digital lending, and physical collection services to a similar-sized municipality.
• Matthews Public Library: Member of the Library System of Lebanon County, sharing catalog, ILL, and coordinated programming. Directly comparable in scale, services, and funding model as a small PA community public library.
• Palmyra Public Library: Another member of the Library System of Lebanon County providing the same suite of services under the shared catalog, ILL, and digital lending platform infrastructure.

Regional players

• Hershey Public Library: Community public library in nearby Dauphin County, PA; comparable in mission and service mix but operating in a different geography (Derry Township) and not part of the Lebanon County system.

Broad incumbents

• Lancaster Public Library: Larger PA community library serving Lancaster City; broader incumbent in the same regional public-library category with similar programming and digital lending but a materially larger service footprint.
• Dauphin County Library System: Pennsylvania county-wide library network with shared statewide services (POWER Library, LSTA funds); comparable as a regional public library system serving a similar mix of small municipalities.
• Cumberland County Library System: Multi-branch PA library system analogous to the Library System of Lebanon County; comparable mission and shared statewide PA library ecosystem but operates across a larger, different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lebanoncommunitylibrary

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Lebanon Community Library