Los Angeles Public Library
The Los Angeles Public Library is a municipal library system serving over four million residents across 73 locations. It provides free access to books, digital media, maker spaces, archives, citizenship services, and community programs, funded primarily by city taxation and voter-approved bonds.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1872
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Los Angeles Public Library does
The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is a municipal library system operated by the City of Los Angeles, founded in 1872 and serving over four million residents—the largest population of any public library in the United States. The system comprises 73 locations, including the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles (opened 1926) and 72 neighborhood branches distributed across the city, with operating governance vested in a Board of Library Commissioners and executive leadership held by the City Librarian. Core offerings center on a library catalog for physical and digital material discovery, a comprehensive digital library platform providing e-books, audiobooks, streaming media, online learning, and language learning resources, and specialized facilities including Octavia Lab and Koreatown Media Lab for digital media creation, Tessa for digital archives and historical photographs, Tech2Go for technology lending, and a USPTO-designated Patent and Trademark Resource Center. Beyond traditional lending, LAPL operates as a community-services platform delivering citizenship preparation (New Americans Initiative), adult literacy, senior support, homelessness resources, carceral/reentry services, and K-12 student programs through institutional partnerships with LAUSD, USCIS, and California State Library.
LAPL is funded primarily through City of Los Angeles tax allocation and voter-approved bond measures (notably the 1998 $335M construction bond), supplemented by philanthropic donations channeled through the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and Friends of the Library groups. All core services—book borrowing, digital access, computer use, programs, and events—are provided free of charge to residents; late fees were eliminated in 2020 as an equity initiative. Secondary revenue streams include facility rentals, grants from California State Library, and targeted philanthropy (including a $10M Centennial Celebration campaign). The library generates no commercial sales revenue and operates as a civic resource rather than a market entity; the City Librarian (currently John F. Szabo, with 30+ years of public library leadership experience) functions as chief executive. Strategic positioning emphasizes expanding the library's role beyond traditional lending into digital equity, immigration support, maker-space access, and community resilience, with the institution receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2015.
Los Angeles Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Los Angeles Public Library
- Legal name
- Los Angeles Public Library
- Website
- https://lapl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1872
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Los Angeles Public Library is a municipal library system serving over four million residents across 73 locations. It provides free access to books, digital media, maker spaces, archives, citizenship services, and community programs, funded primarily by city taxation and voter-approved bonds.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Los Angeles Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB), Public Media Archives, Libraries & Content Preservation (MPABADAL), Digital Archives, Libraries & Institutional Access Platforms (MPAJAMAJ), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)
Keywords
Where Los Angeles Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Los Angeles Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: Primary revenue from city of Los Angeles tax allocation and municipal budget, supplemented by voter-approved bond measures for capital projects
- Donations and Philanthropy: Donations through Library Foundation of Los Angeles and Friends of the Library groups; Foundation conducted $10 million Centennial Celebration campaign
- Facility Rentals: Meeting rooms and facilities available for rental at Central Library and branch locations
- Grants: Funding from California State Library and other government sources for specific programs and initiatives
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free library services for all |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Performer/presenter compensation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Book suggestion service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Los Angeles Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Los Angeles Public Library provides free public access to information, books, digital media, and technology across 73 locations serving over 4 million Los Angeles residents. Its core offerings include borrowing of physical and digital library materials, maker-space and digital creation services (Octavia Lab, Koreatown Media Lab), specialized research resources (Tessa archives, Patent and Trademark Resource Center, genealogy databases), educational and community programs, and free computer and Wi-Fi access.
Product overview
Los Angeles Public Library operates as a unified public library system serving over four million people through a central library and 73 branch locations. The product portfolio centers on the Library Catalog for physical and digital material discovery, supplemented by the Digital Library platform offering e-books, audiobooks, streaming media, and online learning. Specialized offerings include Octavia Lab and Koreatown Media Lab for digital media creation, Tessa for digital archives and historical photographs, Tech2Go for technology lending, and a Patent and Trademark Resource Center for intellectual property research. Additional services include museum and park passes, science kits, and genealogy research resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Library Catalog Online catalog for searching and borrowing books, movies, music, and other physical and digital materials across 73 locations, available to all Los Angeles library cardholders.
- Digital Library Comprehensive digital resource platform offering e-books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, newspapers, streaming media, online learning, language learning, and career preparation tools for library cardholders.
- Octavia Lab State-of-the-art digital media creation center at Central Library providing access to technology and equipment for digital creation, including 3D printing capabilities, for library patrons.
- Tessa: Photos & Digital Archives Digital archive platform providing instant access to rare and historical collections including photographs, maps, and special materials from Los Angeles Public Library.
- Tech2Go Program allowing patrons to borrow computers and technology equipment for personal use from branch locations.
- Neighborhood Science Kits Educational science kits available for borrowing to support STEM learning and exploration by families and students.
- California State Parks Passes Free park passes available for borrowing to provide access to California State Parks for library cardholders.
- Museum & Cultural Passes (Discover & Go) Passes for free admission to museums and cultural attractions throughout Los Angeles available to library cardholders.
- Koreatown Media Lab Media lab facility providing digital media creation resources and training for community members in the Koreatown area.
- DIY Memory Lab Lab facility at Central Library for digitizing personal memories including photographs, home movies, and other media formats.
- Patent and Trademark Resource Center USPTO-affiliated center providing computerized patent and trademark searching, intellectual property research assistance, and access to related print and microfilm collections at Central Library.
- Ancestry Library Edition Genealogy database containing over 1.5 billion names including U.S. census, military, court, land, probate, church records, and passenger lists, available to library cardholders.
- Genealogy Research Resources Comprehensive genealogy research services including databases, city directories, newspapers on microfilm, family histories, and access to research guides for tracing family history.
- Government Document Collection Federal, state, and local government publication depository providing access to U.S. Government Publishing Office, USPTO, United Nations, and California state documents.
- Volunteer and Community Engagement Programs Community volunteer programs coordinated through the Volunteer Engagement Office, engaging thousands of active volunteers across 73 locations in support of library operations and programming.
- Facility Rentals Meeting rooms and facilities available for rental at Central Library and branch locations for events and gatherings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 4 million people served across Los Angeles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Los Angeles Public Library
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Los Angeles Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Los Angeles Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Library Foundation of Los AngelescoreIndependent fundraising organization working closely with the library to enhance resources and services. Hosted the $10 million Centennial Celebration campaign for Central Library's 100th anniversary, having raised $4 million.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)coreLAPL is a member of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program, assisting USPTO in disseminating patent and trademark information to the public through the Science, Technology, and Patents Department.
- Los Angeles Unified School DistrictcorePartnership to provide Student Success Library Cards to all students, supporting educational success and access to library resources.
- University of Southern California Center for Library Leadership and ManagementminorJohn F. Szabo serves on the Board of Directors for USC's Center for Library Leadership and Management.
- California State LibrarycoreCentral Library is a depository site for government information published by California State Library. State library also partners on the Adult Literacy program launched in 1984.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicescoreFirst public library to partner with USCIS, launching the New Americans Initiative to provide citizenship and immigration services to residents.
- Alzheimer's L.A.minorPartnership to provide Alzheimer's awareness workshops and tabling events at library locations to support caregivers and those affected by the disease.
- Los Angeles County Department of AgingminorPartnership to deliver meals along with historical postcards to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic isolation period.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Los Angeles Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- OCLC: Global library cooperative that provides cataloging, resource sharing, and technology infrastructure to thousands of libraries including LAPL. LAPL's City Librarian serves on OCLC's Board of Trustees. Comparable as a strategic technology and service partner rather than a competitor.
- OverDrive (Libby): Leading digital content distribution platform used by public libraries including LAPL for e-book, audiobook, and streaming lending. Comparable as an enabling technology infrastructure partner rather than a peer institution, but central to LAPL's #1 e-media circulation ranking.
Direct peers
- Boston Public Library: Oldest large municipal public library in the United States, operating a central research library plus 24 neighborhood branches. Comparable to LAPL in historical significance, special collections, research depth, and free public service mission.
- New York Public Library: Largest municipal public library system in the United States by budget and holdings, serving the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island with 92+ branches. Directly comparable to LAPL in scale, free public access model, multilingual services, and significant digital infrastructure investment.
- Houston Public Library: Large urban public library system serving one of the most diverse U.S. cities with 40+ locations. Comparable to LAPL in serving a major immigrant population, offering multilingual services, maker spaces, and digital library platforms funded by municipal taxation.
- Queens Public Library: Borough-level public library system in Queens, NY, one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the U.S. with 60+ branches. Directly comparable to LAPL in immigrant integration services, multilingual collections, and community programming.
- Brooklyn Public Library: Borough-level public library system serving Brooklyn with 60+ branches. Comparable to LAPL in dense urban service area, diverse immigrant population focus, robust youth and adult literacy programming, and free digital access model.
- Chicago Public Library: Major urban public library system serving Chicago with 81 branches and the landmark Harold Washington Library Center. Comparable to LAPL in city-scale free public library operations, digital lending via OverDrive/Libby, community programming, and municipal funding structure.
Regional players
- Seattle Public Library: Pacific coast urban public library serving Seattle with a notable architecturally significant central library. Comparable to LAPL in modern digital infrastructure, maker spaces, and progressive library service model, though serving a smaller population.
- San Francisco Public Library: Major California urban public library system serving San Francisco with 28+ branches. Comparable to LAPL in California municipal funding structure, immigrant services, digital equity programs, and overlapping service area demographics, though smaller in geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Los Angeles Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceLos Angeles Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Los Angeles Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Los Angeles Public Library subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Los Angeles Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Los Angeles Public Library M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Public Library
What does Los Angeles Public Library do?
The Los Angeles Public Library provides free public access to information, books, digital media, and technology across 73 locations serving over 4 million Los Angeles residents. Its core offerings include borrowing of physical and digital library materials, maker-space and digital creation services (Octavia Lab, Koreatown Media Lab), specialized research resources (Tessa archives, Patent and Trademark Resource Center, genealogy databases), educational and community programs, and free computer and Wi-Fi access.
Is Los Angeles Public Library a public or private company?
Los Angeles Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Los Angeles Public Library founded?
Los Angeles Public Library was founded in 1872. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Los Angeles Public Library based?
Los Angeles Public Library is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Los Angeles Public Library make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy, facility Rentals and grants.
Who are Los Angeles Public Library's main competitors?
Others on record are OCLC and OverDrive (Libby). Direct peers are Boston Public Library, New York Public Library, Houston Public Library, Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Chicago Public Library. Regional players are Seattle Public Library and San Francisco Public Library.
Does Los Angeles Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Los Angeles Public Library.
What industry is Los Angeles Public Library in?
Los Angeles Public Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 2731.