The Port Washington Public Library

What The Port Washington Public Library does

The Port Washington Public Library (PWPL) is a non-profit, publicly funded municipal library established in 1892 and headquartered at One Library Drive, Port Washington, New York. It serves residents of the Port Washington School District through a single integrated facility operated by an 11–25 department-head leadership team under Library Director Keith Klang. The library delivers a broad portfolio of services: physical and digital lending, public computing and WiFi, a MakerSpace Lab (3D printers, podcast/recording studio, Cricut machines, VHS-to-DVD conversion), educational programming across children, teen, adult, ESOL, and homebound segments, local history archives, and ancillary services such as notary, meeting-room rental, and career counseling.

Technology infrastructure is predominantly composed of third-party and consortium-provided systems rather than proprietary development. Core layers include digital lending via OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, and OverDrive Magazines; an Integrated Library System provided through the Nassau Library System consortium that enables inter-library borrowing across all Nassau County public libraries; the All in One Accessibility screen-reader toolbar from Skynet Technologies; and discovery/research databases (LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, Pronunciator, CreativeBug, Craftsy, HelpNow, Consumer Reports, Morningstar, Value Line, Reference Solutions). Accessibility and inclusive programming (the Books for Dessert book club, Home Delivery, Talking Books, Braille) are prominent service differentiators rather than technology differentiators.

PWPL's revenue model is tax-funded rather than commercial: the library is financed primarily through local real-estate taxes levied on properties within the Port Washington School District, with no charge for district residents to obtain a library card and no overdue fines. Replacement fees apply only to lost or damaged materials. Supplementary funding flows from the Friends of the Port Washington Public Library, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that sponsors programs (Sandwiched In lecture series, SoundSwap concerts, annual Book & Author Luncheon) and capital purchases (MakerSpace equipment, WiFi hotspots, museum-pass access to 30+ metro-area institutions). The Library Foundation provides additional fundraising capacity. Customer segments span children and families, teens (grades 7–12), adults, ESOL learners, and homebound/accessibility-needs populations, all served in a horizontal segmentation approach without premium tiered offerings.

Name

The Port Washington Public Library

Legal name

Port Washington Public Library

Website

https://pwpl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Port Washington Public Library is a publicly funded, non-profit municipal library in Port Washington, New York, serving Port Washington School District residents since 1892 with free physical and digital lending, maker-space and accessibility services, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending
• Digital media lending
• Maker space programs
• Educational programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tax-funded public library services: The library is funded primarily by local taxes levied on real estate in the Port Washington School District. There is no charge for school district residents to join. Materials borrowed elsewhere may be returned at PWPL. The library does not charge overdue fines but assesses fees for lost or damaged materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Port Washington Public Library is a publicly funded community library that provides free access to physical and digital lending materials (books, eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video), technology services (3D printing, podcast studio, Cricut crafting, WiFi hotspot lending, public computing), and a wide range of educational, cultural, and accessibility programming (ESOL/citizenship classes, museum passes, Summer Reading Club, lectures, concerts, exhibits) to residents of the Port Washington School District, supported by its integration with the Nassau Library System.

Product overview

The Port Washington Public Library is a traditional public library system serving the Port Washington School District since 1892, funded primarily by local taxes. The library operates as a single integrated institution offering physical and digital lending services, technology access through public computing and WiFi, maker space facilities including 3D printing and recording studios, educational programs, and community services. The library provides access to digital content through third-party platforms (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, OverDrive Magazines), online learning resources (LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, Pronunciator, CreativeBug, Craftsy), and research databases (Consumer Reports, Morningstar, Value Line, Reference Solutions). Technology services include borrowing WiFi hotspots, 3D printing, Cricut crafting, VHS digitization, and recording studio access, all largely funded by the Friends of the Library organization. The library also offers meeting rooms, study rooms, gallery space, local history archives, accessibility services, and special programming including the America 250 exhibit series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Library Membership and Card Free annual library card granting cardholders access to physical lending, digital lending via Libby/Hoopla/Kanopy/OverDrive Magazines, online databases, museum passes, and inter-library borrowing across Nassau County public libraries. Eligibility is residential (Port Washington School District) or employment-based.
• Museum Pass Program Free access passes to 30+ metro-area cultural institutions for library card holders, sponsored by Friends of the Library.
• MakerSpace Lab Maker space on the lower level featuring 3D printers, podcast/recording studio, large-format printer, Cricut craft machines, and digital conversion devices (VHS to DVD, vinyl to MP3), available for patron use.
• WiFi Hotspot Lending Loan program offering nearly 100 portable WiFi hotspots to patrons to support home internet access and bridge the local digital divide.
• Library of Games and Gadgets Patron lending program for non-book items such as GoPro cameras, Orion StarBlast telescopes, musical instruments, Kindles loaded with e-books, and birding kits with binoculars.
• ESOL Program Free English language and citizenship preparation classes for non-native English speakers in the Port Washington community.
• Career Counseling One-on-One One-on-one career counseling appointments for job seekers, scheduled via online booking.
• Tech Help One-on-One Scheduled one-on-one technology assistance appointments for patrons who need help with personal devices, apps, or library digital resources.
• VHS Digitization Service Request-form-based service that converts patron-supplied VHS tapes to DVD using digital conversion devices at the library.
• Home Delivery Service Accessibility service that delivers library materials directly to homebound patrons who cannot visit the library.
• Notary Public Service Notary service available to patrons at the library.
• Meeting and Study Room Reservations Reservable rooms including the Thomas Lapham meeting room (capacity 154), the Hagedorn room (capacity 45), and individual small study rooms (up to 2 hours, ages 16 and older), booked through the library's online calendar.
• Digital Downloads and Streaming Access Patron access to eBooks, audiobooks, streaming movies, and digital magazines through third-party platforms Libby (OverDrive), Hoopla, Kanopy, and OverDrive Magazines.
• Online Research Tools A-Z directory of licensed research databases including Consumer Reports, Reference Solutions, Morningstar, Value Line, Gale Books and Authors, Novelist, BookPage, New York Times (24-hour pass), Mometrix Test Prep, and Peterson's Test and Career Prep.
• Online Courses and Tutoring Licensed online learning platforms available with library card authentication, including LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages (70+ languages), Pronunciator (315+ languages), CreativeBug, Craftsy, Niche Academy, HelpNow (live K-12 tutoring 2–11pm via Brainfuse), JobNow (live career coaching 2–11pm), and CollegeNow.
• SoundSwap Concert Series Music concert series produced by the Friends of the Library as part of PWPL's adult programming calendar.
• Sandwiched In Lecture Series Free adult lunchtime lecture series sponsored by Friends of the Library.
• Local History Center Archives and research services for Port Washington local history, including historical exhibitions such as the Cow Neck in the Revolution display (June–December 2026) developed with the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.
• Cow Neck in the Revolution Exhibit Local history exhibit on display in the History Center Annex from June through December 2026, developed with the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, exploring Revolutionary-era Port Washington and highlighting three local families involved in the war, as part of the America 250 celebration.
• Karen and Ed Adler Gallery Art gallery space programmed by the Art Advisory Council, hosting rotating art exhibitions with an open call for community submissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving community since 1892 - over 130 years of continuous service
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Cow Neck in the Revolution exhibit, a local history exhibit exploring Revolutionary-era Port Washington and highlighting three local families involved in the war. On display in History Center Annex June through December 2026 in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
• Nassau Library SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Integrated Library System (ILS) infrastructure including circulation, patron management, inter-library borrowing, and access to the shared catalog network across Nassau County public libraries.
• AHRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Books for Dessert program, a book club for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AHRC is one of several community organizations partnering with the library for this inclusive programming.
• Community Mainstreaming Associates (CMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Books for Dessert program, supporting adults with developmental disabilities in community integration through library programming.
• The Nicholas CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Books for Dessert program, providing day program services and support for adults with developmental disabilities in the Port Washington area.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manhasset Public Library: Adjacent Long Island public library serving the Manhasset school district with a comparable mix of lending, programming, and digital services. Closest functional peer in scale and service profile within the same Nassau County inter-library network.
• Great Neck Public Library: Nearby Nassau County public library system serving multiple school districts with traditional and digital lending, programming, and museum pass programs. Directly comparable suburban public library operating model.
• Bryant Library (Roslyn): Small-to-mid-sized Long Island public library serving the Roslyn school district with traditional lending and community programming. Comparable suburban public library serving an affluent district with similar tax-funded economics.
• Glen Cove Public Library: Nassau County public library serving Glen Cove with similar lending, programming, and digital services. Directly comparable peer operating within the same Nassau Library System.
• Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library: Long Island public library serving the Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district with traditional lending and community programming. Directly comparable peer operating in a similar suburban tax-funded model.
• East Meadow Public Library: Nassau County public library with comparable lending, programming, and digital service offerings. A directly comparable peer in scale and service scope within the same county inter-library network.
• Cold Spring Harbor Library: Long Island public library serving Cold Spring Harbor with traditional lending and community programming. Comparable suburban public library in scale and operating model.

Regional players

• Nassau Library System: Cooperative library system providing shared ILS infrastructure, inter-library loan coordination, and talking books services across all Nassau County public libraries including PWPL. Functions as a peer cooperative and supporting infrastructure provider rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Massive multi-branch public library system serving Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island with extensive programming, digital collections, and research libraries. Broader incumbent in the same public library category but operating at much larger scale across different geography.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Large multi-branch public library system serving Brooklyn with traditional lending, robust programming, and maker/STEM initiatives. Broader incumbent in the same public library category but at substantially larger geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/library11050/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Port-Washington-Public-Library-57808963854
• Instagraminstagram.com/pwplhappenings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

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 The Port Washington Public Library