Los Angeles Public Library

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.

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

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

• Public library services
• Digital library access
• Community education programs
• Maker space resources
• Research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: Primary revenue from city of Los Angeles tax allocation and municipal budget, supplemented by voter-approved bond measures for capital projects
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Donations through Library Foundation of Los Angeles and Friends of the Library groups; Foundation conducted $10 million Centennial Celebration campaign
3. Facility Rentals: Meeting rooms and facilities available for rental at Central Library and branch locations
4. Grants: Funding from California State Library and other government sources for specific programs and initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Library Foundation of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Independent 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)coreTechnology or IntegrationLAPL 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 DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn F. Szabo serves on the Board of Directors for USC's Center for Library Leadership and Management.
• California State LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral 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 ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst public library to partner with USCIS, launching the New Americans Initiative to provide citizenship and immigration services to residents.
• Alzheimer's L.A.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Others

• 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/losangeleslibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Los%20Angeles%20Public%20Library/104080916296358/#
• Instagraminstagram.com/lapubliclibrary
• TikToktiktok.com/@lapubliclibrary
• Xx.com/lapubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/los-angeles-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Los Angeles Public Library