New Orleans Public Library
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1840
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
New Orleans Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Orleans Public Library
- Legal name
- New Orleans Public Library
- Website
- https://nolalibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1840
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Orleans Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)
Keywords
Where New Orleans Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices18 records
Markets served
New Orleans Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Public Library Funding: Funded through public tax revenue and city budget allocations as a municipal public library system serving Orleans Parish residents
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free library services for Orleans Parish residents |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
New Orleans Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Orleans Public Library provides free public library services to Orleans Parish residents through 15 branch locations, including lending of physical and digital media, research database access, educational programs, and community resources. Core offerings include the NOLA Library App for mobile account management, the Culture Pass museum program, REACH Center coworking space, Teen Tech Center, City Archives & Special Collections, Books-by-Mail for homebound patrons, and specialty lending collections (tools, seeds, cake pans, sensory kits, state park passes). Programs span early literacy, workforce development, adult learning, small business support, and community cultural enrichment.
Product overview
New Orleans Public Library operates as a multi-branch public library system with 15 locations across Orleans Parish, offering a unified portfolio of physical and digital services centered on the Library Card as the primary access mechanism. The core digital infrastructure includes the NOLA Library App (iOS/Android) providing mobile access to accounts, locations, and e-resources, alongside the Beanstack-integrated Summer Fun & Reading Challenge program. The digital content ecosystem spans multiple platforms including Libby (130,000+ e-books/audiobooks), Hoopla (streaming movies/TV/music), Kanopy (documentary/independent films), Freegal (music), Flipster (magazines), and BiblioBoard (Louisiana indie authors). Research capabilities are delivered through databases including EBSCOhost, Britannica Library, HeritageQuest, Ancestry Library Edition, NewsBank, and business tools like Business Source Complete. Educational platforms include LinkedIn Learning, HomeworkLouisiana (tutoring), Mango Languages, ABCMouse, BookFlix, and Creativebug. Physical community services encompass the REACH Center (coworking/gallery), Teen Tech Center (multimedia technology lab), the Children's Resource Center (early literacy under renovation), Culture Pass (free museum access), Books-by-Mail, Interlibrary Loan, Meeting Room Reservations, and specialty collections including Seed Libraries, Tool Library, Cake Pans, and Sensory Kits. Early literacy programming follows the Talk-Sing-Read-Write-Play framework, while teen services include volunteer opportunities and the Village Book Nooks community distribution program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NOLA Library App: Mobile application for accessing library services, account management, and digital resources
Products and services
- NOLA Library App Mobile application for iOS and Android that provides access to library locations, hours, account management, events, and featured e-resources.
- Library Card (Digital & Physical) Free library card for Orleans Parish residents 18+, available as digital barcode in the NOLA Library App or physical card, providing access to physical and digital collections.
- Books-by-Mail Mail delivery service for homebound Orleans Parish residents unable to visit library locations due to permanent or temporary disability.
- Interlibrary Loan International cooperative lending service for borrowing books, sheet music, audiobooks, microfilm, and magazine/journal articles not owned by the library.
- Meeting Room Reservations Community meeting space reservations at library locations for non-profit organizations and civic, educational, or cultural groups.
- REACH Center Free coworking space and public art gallery at the Corpus Christi-Epiphany Community Resource Center, with focus on access, opportunity, and community entrepreneurial support.
- Teen Tech Center Interest-based learning environment for teens ages 13–18 equipped with technology for music/video production, programming, graphic design, and more, connected to The Clubhouse Network.
- Children's Resource Center Dedicated early literacy center being renovated from a 117-year-old facility to serve as the central point for early literacy programming, resources, and collections for children ages 0–5.
- Culture Pass Free museum passes program providing access to New Orleans art and history museums, aquarium, zoo, and World War II Museum.
- City Archives & Special Collections Historical archives and special collections preserving New Orleans history, culture, places, and people with digital access to over 144,000 materials.
- Summer Fun & Reading Challenge Annual summer reading program using Beanstack platform for tracking reading progress and activities. Includes bingo card challenges and completion prizes.
- Seed Libraries Community seed sharing program allowing patrons to check out seeds to grow and return seeds at end of season, promoting urban agriculture.
- Tool Library Lending service providing tools for community use, supporting DIY projects and home improvement.
- Notary Services Free notary services available at library locations for patrons needing documents notarized.
- Cake Pan Collection Lending collection of specialty baking pans available for checkout to patrons.
- Free Period Supplies Free menstrual products available at library locations to address period poverty.
- Louisiana State Parks Passes Free state park passes available for checkout, providing access to Louisiana's outdoor recreation areas.
- Book Clubs Multiple book club programs meeting at various locations including Central City Book Salon, West Bank Book Club, Who Dun It? Mystery Book Club, African American Literature & The Urban Experience, Bywater Book Club, and Teatime Reading Nook.
- Library Vending Machine (Book Bot) Automated vending machine at NORD's Desire/Florida Multi-Service Center stocked with 235 books and DVDs for self-service checkout and returns. First of its kind in the region.
- Wireless Printing Wireless printing service available to library patrons from personal devices.
- Virtual Civil Legal Clinic Virtual legal clinic providing civil legal assistance to library patrons.
Companies that use New Orleans Public Library
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
New Orleans Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration22 records
Feature2 records
New Orleans Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- We PLAY Center by TrainingGroundscorePartnership with TrainingGrounds to operate the We PLAY Center at East New Orleans Regional Library and Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center. Free play-based learning space for parents/caregivers with infants and toddlers, supporting brain development, language, and social-emotional skills through play sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Village Book Nooks PartnersminorCommunity book distribution partnerships with 7 local businesses: Low-Barrier Shelter, Back-A-Town Coffee Shop, 2 Phat Vegans, I-tal Garden, Glorias Grocery, Odyssey House, and Hagar's House. Provides free books to BIPOC communities throughout New Orleans.
- Library Foundation of New OrleanscorePrimary nonprofit fundraising partner that sponsors library programs including Take & Make craft kits, Summer Fun reading challenges, and other special initiatives.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FoundationminorSponsors Summer Fun programming at library locations throughout New Orleans.
- Raising Cane'sminorCorporate sponsor of Summer Fun programming at library locations.
- Friends of the New Orleans Public LibrarycoreNonprofit advocacy and support organization that sponsors Village Book Nooks program and advocates for library funding and services.
- Ben Franklin High SchoolminorSchool partnership where REACH Center provides database workshops, research project support, and thesis statement review for students.
- Edna Karr High SchoolminorSchool partnership where REACH Center provides database workshops, research project support, and thesis statement review for students.
- Science and Math AcademyminorSchool partnership where REACH Center provides database workshops, research project support, and thesis statement review for students.
- Second Harvest Food BankminorProvides free snacks for youth age 18 and under at Central City, Mid-City, Rosa F. Keller, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library locations, Monday-Thursday 3pm-4pm during summer.
- The Clubhouse NetworkcoreGlobal network connecting teen tech centers worldwide. Teen Tech Center members can share their work with teens across the globe through this platform.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
New Orleans Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chicago Public Library: Municipal library system operated by the City of Chicago with 80+ branches, e-resources, teen tech and workforce programs. Highly comparable in scale, municipal funding model, and breadth of digital+physical services to NOPL.
- Houston Public Library: City of Houston-operated public library system with 30+ branches and a comparable portfolio of e-resources, job/entrepreneurship support, and community programming. Operates under similar municipal-government governance and funding structure as NOPL.
- Boston Public Library: Oldest large municipal public library in the U.S. with neighborhood branches, e-resources, and community programs including workforce development. Directly comparable as a free, city-funded, multi-branch system with archival/special-collections assets.
- Detroit Public Library: Municipal public library serving Detroit with branches, e-resources, and strong community programming. Comparable in operating structure and in navigating capital/budget constraints similar to those NOPL faces.
- New York Public Library: Large U.S. municipal public library system operating dozens of branches across New York City, offering free library cards, digital content platforms, and community programming. Most directly comparable in operating model (free, city-funded, multi-branch, community-anchored) to NOPL.
- Free Library of Philadelphia: City-supported public library system with 50+ branches, workforce/learning programs, and digital collections. Comparable in operating model, free-access philosophy, and community-anchored programming to NOPL.
- Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: Public library system serving Atlanta/Fulton County with branches, e-resources, and community programming. Closely comparable governance (county/municipal funding) and service mix to NOPL.
Regional players
- Jefferson Parish Library: Public library system serving the immediately adjacent Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans metro. Geographic neighbor, comparable offerings (free card, e-resources, community programs), but explicitly excluded from NOPL's service area — closest regional substitute/alternative.
- St. Bernard Parish Library: Public library system serving the neighboring St. Bernard Parish in the New Orleans metro. Direct regional neighbor to NOPL with similar offerings; explicitly excluded from NOPL's service area.
Broad incumbents
- Los Angeles Public Library: One of the largest U.S. municipal public library systems, with 70+ branches, deep e-resource licensing, and community programming. Larger scale and broader budget than NOPL but shares the same city-funded, free-access public-library operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
New Orleans Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceNew Orleans Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Orleans Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
New Orleans Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Orleans 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 New Orleans Public Library
What does New Orleans Public Library do?
New Orleans Public Library provides free public library services to Orleans Parish residents through 15 branch locations, including lending of physical and digital media, research database access, educational programs, and community resources. Core offerings include the NOLA Library App for mobile account management, the Culture Pass museum program, REACH Center coworking space, Teen Tech Center, City Archives & Special Collections, Books-by-Mail for homebound patrons, and specialty lending collections (tools, seeds, cake pans, sensory kits, state park passes). Programs span early literacy, workforce development, adult learning, small business support, and community cultural enrichment.
Is New Orleans Public Library a public or private company?
New Orleans Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was New Orleans Public Library founded?
New Orleans Public Library was founded in 1840. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is New Orleans Public Library based?
New Orleans Public Library is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does New Orleans Public Library make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Library Funding.
Who are New Orleans Public Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chicago Public Library, Houston Public Library, Boston Public Library, Detroit Public Library, New York Public Library, Free Library of Philadelphia and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Regional players are Jefferson Parish Library and St. Bernard Parish Library. Los Angeles Public Library is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does New Orleans Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Orleans Public Library.
What industry is New Orleans Public Library in?
New Orleans 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 519210 and its SIC code is 8200.