Hawaii State Public Library System

What Hawaii State Public Library System does

Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) is the statewide public library system of the State of Hawaii, operated as a state government entity. The system was established in 1959 upon Hawaiian statehood, though a predecessor library was founded in 1911. It operates 51 branch locations across all six major Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai), supplemented by bookmobile services on Maui and Molokai to reach communities without nearby branches. Headquarters are at the Hawaii State Library at 478 South King Street in Honolulu. The system serves all Hawaii residents free of charge via library card access, with no subscription fees for core services including physical and digital borrowing, computer/Wi-Fi access, programs, and meeting rooms. Specialized units include the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (96,977 talking books at the Kapahulu Avenue facility), the Hawaiʻi & Pacific Section, the Hawaiʻi Documents Center (state/federal depository), and lending collections for seeds and ʻukuleles.

HSPLS's product surface spans physical collections (2.99M+ books, 113K+ CDs, 165K+ DVDs, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, yearbooks) and digital collections (54K+ eBooks, 14.8K+ audiobooks, 3K+ eMagazines, 6K+ PressReader newspaper titles, 3,300+ Korean eBooks via Kyobo, plus Kanopy streaming). The underlying technology stack is built on commercial platforms: a Sirsi online catalog (both legacy ipac1.librarieshawaii.org and a new hawaii.sdp.sirsi.net interface), OverDrive/Libby for digital lending, EBSCO, Gale (Cengage), and ProQuest for nearly 100 licensed research databases, Mango Languages for 70+ language courses, LearningExpress Library, Gale Courses for continuing education, Beanstack for reading-challenge tracking, and ezproxy for remote authentication. Services include research assistance, custom research (fee-based, minimum $60 + $60/hr), interlibrary loans, passport acceptance, and proctored exams at select branches. Annual programming features the Summer Reading Challenge, book clubs, storytimes, and the newly added Hawaiʻi AI Safety Week (2025).

HSPLS operates as a public agency whose funding derives primarily from State of Hawaii tax appropriations and federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The system has no commercial revenue stream; the only revenue-generating activity of note is fee-based custom research services. Strategic partnerships include OverDrive (digital content), Music for Life Foundation (ukulele lending), FINRA Investor Education Foundation (financial literacy), Hawaiian Electric (emergency preparedness), Friends of the Library of Hawaii (statewide fundraising), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (federal funding). Marketing is conducted via the librarieshawaii.org website and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube @hsplshigov), supplemented by community events and school/library partnerships. The entity has received multiple digital-communications awards (2017–2018) including WebAwards, W3, Davey, and Communicator Digital Distinction awards.

Name

Hawaii State Public Library System

Legal name

Hawaii State Public Library System

Website

https://librarieshawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) is a state-government-operated public library network operating 51 branches across all six major Hawaiian islands, serving all Hawaii residents free of charge with physical and digital collections, accessibility services, and community programming funded by state appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platforms
• Community education programs
• Government information services
• Research database access

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Tax Revenue): As a state government agency, the Hawaii State Public Library System is primarily funded through state tax revenues and federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Hawaii State Public Library System provides free public library services to Hawaii residents through 51 branch libraries across six islands, including access to physical collections (books, CDs, DVDs), digital lending (eBooks, audiobooks, eMagazines), licensed research databases, and community programs such as book clubs and the Summer Reading Challenge. Specialized services include talking books for the print-disabled, ukulele lending, seed lending, passport acceptance, and proctored exams.

Product overview

The Hawaii State Public Library System operates as a unified public library network providing both physical and digital services through 51 branch locations across the Hawaiian Islands. The system offers a comprehensive portfolio of products organized around three core pillars: physical library services (branch libraries, physical collections, meeting spaces, and specialized lending programs), digital library services (eBook/eAudiobook lending via OverDrive, streaming video through Kanopy, eMagazine access via PressReader, and licensed research databases from EBSCO, Gale, and ProQuest), and community programming (Summer Reading Challenge, book clubs, online learning through Mango Languages and Gale Courses, and adaptive technology services). The system also provides government document services, passport acceptance facilities, and proctored exam services as community conveniences. Patrons access digital resources through an online catalog and the library's website, with reading programs managed through the Beanstack platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branch Library Services
• Physical Collections
• eBook and eAudiobook Lending
• Talking Books and Adaptive Technology
• Research Databases
• Government Documents
• Online Learning Resources
• Streaming Video Services
• Seed Library Program
• Ukulele Lending Program
• Summer Reading Challenge
• Book Clubs
• Passport Acceptance Services
• Proctored Exam Services
• Meeting Room Reservations

Quantifiable outcome

• 51 branches serving all major Hawaiian islands
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Music for Life FoundationcoreOthers · 1 January 2020Leo Daquioag and Jake Shimabukuro of the Music for Life Foundation donated ukuleles to establish the Ukulele Lending Program at all Hawaii public libraries. The goal is to make ukulele and ukulele-playing opportunities accessible for all by allowing them to be checked out as easily as books.
• FINRA Investor Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy program sponsor providing vetted links, tools, and classes to help patrons become financially literate. The partnership supports bankruptcy basics, saving, credit, insurance, investing, debt management, retirement, fraud prevention, and more.
• American Library AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in financial literacy initiative, working with FINRA Investor Education Foundation to assemble vetted resources for library patrons.
• Hawaiian ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide emergency preparedness resources to Hawaii residents through the library system. Resources developed by Hawaiian Electric distributed via library branches.
• Friends of the Library of HawaiicoreOthersStatewide organization responsible for raising funding for the Hawaii State Public Library System. Hundreds of volunteers and members raise funding that directly supports programming and services. Local Friends groups at most branch libraries meet local community needs.
• OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform provider for eBooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines. Powers the library's Libby app and digital catalog serving thousands of patrons.
• EBSCO Information ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of academic databases including Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete, and Novelist K-8. One of the largest database providers for the library system.
• Gale (Cengage Learning)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of reference databases, eBooks, Gale Courses for continuing education, and research tools. Major database provider including Encyclopedia Britannica and custom collections.
• ProQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of news databases including ProQuest U.S. Newspapers, Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, and Books in Print.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• American Library Association: National professional association for libraries, providing standards, advocacy, and programming support — directly comparable as a co-development partner on HSPLS's financial literacy and professional initiatives.

Direct peers

• San Francisco Public Library: Major urban public library system offering branch services, e-lending, research databases, and robust community programming — directly comparable in service portfolio and free-access positioning.
• California State Library: State-level library agency performing statewide coordination, federal depository services, and support for local libraries — most direct institutional peer to HSPLS as a state library system.
• King County Library System: Regional public library system serving a large, geographically dispersed suburban and unincorporated population across multiple jurisdictions — comparable as a multi-branch public library serving a dispersed user base.
• Seattle Public Library: Mid-to-large municipal public library with branch network, digital lending, and extensive programming — comparable as a public, multi-branch free library system.
• New York Public Library: One of the largest U.S. public library systems, operating numerous branch locations across a major metropolitan area and offering free access to physical collections, digital lending, research databases, and community programming — directly analogous to HSPLS at city-scale.
• Chicago Public Library: Major municipal public library system operating dozens of branches with a strong digital platform (OverDrive, Hoopla), research resources, and free public programs — comparable in service mix and free-access model.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Multi-branch public library serving a large, diverse population with extensive programming for children and adults, maker spaces, and digital lending — comparable in offering breadth and community focus.
• Los Angeles Public Library: Large multi-branch public library system serving a geographically dispersed population with extensive digital lending, multilingual collections, and community programming — a close operational analog to HSPLS's statewide branch-and-digital model.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress: The national library and federal depository coordination center — comparable in its public mission, depository role, and cultural-preservation function, though far larger in scope than HSPLS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hsplshigov
• Facebookfacebook.com/HSPLSHIgov
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsplshigov
• Xx.com/hsplshigov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-state-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii State Public Library System