Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

What Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library does

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) is a government-operated public library system founded in 1853, serving more than 800,000 residents of Hamilton County, Ohio through a network of 41 locations — one Downtown Main Library and 40 branches — and logging more than 2.4 million visits annually with over 4,980 scheduled events. The system provides free access to physical collections (books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, microfiche, and braille), digital lending via Libby by OverDrive, streaming via Kanopy, online courses through LinkedIn Learning (16,000+ courses), live tutoring and career coaching via Brainfuse, and interlibrary loan through SearchOhio and OhioLINK (140+ Ohio libraries). Its technology backbone is the BiblioCommons platform, which powers the catalog, events calendar, website, and user accounts, with supplemental services including MakerSpaces (vinyl printing, laser engraving, 3D printing, Adobe Creative Suite), public computers and laptop kiosks, free meeting/study rooms, 24/7 holds lockers, and passport acceptance at select branches.

CHPL is funded approximately 50% by the State of Ohio and 50% by Hamilton County, with supplementary private support from The Library Foundation (which manages the Mary S. Stern Lecture Series endowment), the Friends of the Public Library, and the Anderson Township Library Association (ATLA, $50,000 donated in 2025, $1.1M+ cumulative since 1985). Core services — borrowing, digital access, computer use, WiFi, and most programs — are provided free of charge; the only fee-based offering disclosed is the Mary S. Stern Lecture Series ($5–$15 per ticket). The go-to-market is community-led rather than commercial, with demand generated via the chpl.org blog series ('Spend a Day with a Library Worker,' 'Meet a Library Customer'), social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), email newsletters, and partnerships with workforce agencies (Ohio Means Jobs, Talbert House CCMEP), cultural organizations (Asianati), and educational institutions (Sinclair Community College). CHPL is led by Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Paula Brehm-Heeger, with Kyla Hardin as Chief Human Resources Officer and Molly DeFosse as Chief Finance and Facilities Officer.

Strategically, CHPL is executing a multi-year Next Generation Library capital program: it opened the new Forest Park Branch in September 2024, opened the new Symmes Township Branch (with geothermal, solar, and drive-thru) on April 11, 2026, and broke ground on the Cleves Branch in Miami Township for an estimated 2027 completion. The system is organized around horizontal customer segments (children/families, teens, adults, seniors) with use-case overlays for job seekers, small business owners, new Americans/immigrants, and educators, supported by workforce, civic, and cultural programming delivered through both library staff and partner organizations.

Name

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

Legal name

Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

Website

https://chpl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) is a publicly funded Ohio government library system operating 41 locations serving 800,000+ Hamilton County residents with free books, digital lending, MakerSpaces, workforce development, and community programming, supported by state and county appropriations plus private foundation donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices41 records

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. Public Funding: Approximately 50% of funding comes from the state and 50% from Hamilton County, providing the primary operational budget for the library system.
2. Private Donations and Foundations: The Library relies on private support through The Library Foundation, Friends of the Public Library, and Anderson Township Library Association (ATLA) to supplement public funding and support special programs and materials.
3. Event Tickets and Paid Programming: Some programs such as the Mary S. Stern Lecture Series generate revenue through ticket sales ($5-$15 per ticket), with proceeds supporting the Library Foundation endowment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library operates a public library system of 41 locations (Downtown Main Library plus 40 branches) serving more than 800,000 residents of Hamilton County, Ohio with free access to physical and digital collections, computers and WiFi, MakerSpaces, meeting rooms, and educational programming. Core services include lending books, audiobooks, e-books, magazines, newspapers, microfiche, and braille; streaming content via Kanopy; online courses via LinkedIn Learning; career support via JobNow and Brainfuse; and interlibrary loan through SearchOhio and OhioLINK. The system supplements its public-funded operations with community programming such as Summer Reading, Writer-in-Residence, and the Mary S. Stern Lecture Series.

Product overview

Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library operates as a comprehensive public library system with 41 locations serving over 800,000 residents. The library provides a unified platform combining physical collections (books, media, magazines) with digital services including Libby/OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks, Research Databases for academic and genealogical research, and streaming content through Kanopy. The service portfolio includes MakerSpaces with creative equipment, Meeting and Study Rooms for community use, and specialized programs such as the Summer Reading Program, Writer-in-Residence Program, and Mary S. Stern Lecture Series. Additional offerings encompass Passport Services, Career Resources via LinkedIn Learning and JobNow, interlibrary loan through SearchOhio/OhioLINK, and Discovery Passes to partner cultural institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Library Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 2.4 million visits annually from customers living in and working in Hamilton County
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, minor and core.

• AsianatimoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2026Asianati partnered with CHPL to present 'Passport to South Asia' event on June 27, 2026 at the Downtown Main Library, celebrating South Asian cultures through demonstrations, food, crafts, and educational programming.
• Cincinnati CompassmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCincinnati Compass podcast 'Roots, Routes & Voices that Shape America' records at the Forest Park Branch meeting rooms, exploring immigrant stories from the region. The library provides free meeting space and community access for this initiative.
• The MCS AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MCS Agency, a marketing agency helping nonprofits and small businesses, is co-host of the Cincinnati Compass podcast that records at the Forest Park Branch library.
• Ohio Department of DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio Department of Development partners with CHPL through branch libraries to provide workforce development resources and programs.
• Ohio Means JobsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio Means Jobs partners with CHPL through branch libraries to connect job seekers with employment resources and opportunities.
• Talbert House (CCMEP)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalbert House provides the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP) through the West End Branch Library, helping teens and parents with employment and education services.
• RobotLab CincinnatiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRobotLab Cincinnati participated in the Job Fair and Career Expo at the Deer Park Branch, connecting job seekers with robotics industry opportunities.
• MedpaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedpace participated in the Job Fair and Career Expo at the Deer Park Branch as an employer seeking candidates.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center participated in the Job Fair and Career Expo at the Deer Park Branch.
• Sinclair Community CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSinclair Community College participated in the Job Fair and Career Expo at the Deer Park Branch, providing educational opportunities information.
• Friends of the Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends of the Public Library is a volunteer organization that supports CHPL through advocacy and fundraising, including used book sales to raise funds for special materials and library programs.
• Anderson Township Library Association (ATLA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerATLA is a volunteer group that supports Anderson Township and Mt. Washington branch libraries through annual book sales, raising over $1.1 million since 1985 and donating $50,000 in 2025 alone.
• BiblioCommonscoreTechnology or IntegrationBiblioCommons provides the integrated platform powering CHPL's website, catalog, events calendar, user accounts, and mobile experience.
• Cincinnati Recreation CenterminorOthersDuring extreme heat when the library is closed, Cincinnati Recreation Centers may activate as cooling centers for residents.
• YMCA of Greater CincinnatiminorOthersDuring extreme heat when the library is closed, select YMCA locations may activate as cooling centers for residents.
• Village of St. Bernard Municipal BuildingminorOthersDuring extreme heat, the St. Bernard Municipal Building may activate as a cooling center for residents.
• Hamilton County Emergency ManagementminorOthersHamilton County Office of Emergency Management coordinates extreme heat safety and cooling center resources in partnership with library locations.
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationOverDrive provides the Libby platform for digital lending of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and read-along books.
• LinkedIn LearningcoreTechnology or IntegrationLinkedIn Learning provides 16,000+ expert-led online courses accessible with library cards for professional certificate prep and continuing education credits.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationKanopy streaming service provides access to over 3,000 movies, documentaries, foreign and indie films, classic cinema, shorts, educational videos, and children's programming.
• Brainfuse (Homework HelpNow, JobNow)coreTechnology or IntegrationBrainfuse provides Homework HelpNow for student tutoring and JobNow for live career coaching and resume assistance, accessible with library cards.
• SearchOhio and OhioLINKcoreTechnology or IntegrationSearchOhio and OhioLINK allow cardholders to borrow materials from over 140 Ohio public and academic libraries through interlibrary loan, expanding collection access statewide.
• United WayminorOthersUnited Way 211 is referenced as a resource for residents seeking cooling center information during extreme heat events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cincylibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cincylibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/CincyLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/cincylibrary
• TikToktiktok.com/@cincylibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library