Des Moines Public Library
Des Moines Public Library is a municipal library system operating as a department of the City of Des Moines, serving City of Des Moines and rural Polk County residents free of charge. It operates six branch locations delivering physical and digital lending, educational programming, workforce-development services, and community outreach funded through public taxes and the DMPL Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1866
- HeadquartersDes Moines, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Des Moines Public Library does
Des Moines Public Library (DMPL) is a municipal public library system operating as a chartered department of the City of Des Moines, serving residents of the City of Des Moines and rural Polk County, Iowa. Founded in 1866 and operating across six branch locations (Central, East Side, Forest Avenue, Franklin Avenue, North Side, and South Side), DMPL provides free library services to eligible cardholders including physical collections, digital lending, study and meeting spaces, workforce-development programming, and educational outreach. Its scale is on the order of 51-100 employees with no private capital ownership and no commercial revenue stream; the organization is funded primarily through City of Des Moines tax appropriations and supplemented by the nonprofit DMPL Foundation.
DMPL's core technology stack is built on industry-standard library infrastructure rather than proprietary platforms: a public catalog (catalog.dmpl.org), the Libby/OverDrive digital lending platform for eBooks and eAudiobooks, Kanopy for video streaming, the Mango language-learning platform, and a wireless printing service. Differentiating operational features include the Tech Central Innovation/Maker Lab (3D printing and maker equipment), the Library by Mail service for accessibility, the long-running DMPL Podcast (Beyond the Shelves), and the Project Des Moines digital archive of local history. Signature programs include AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines, now in its 25th season), Summer Reading, and the Rosie Reader early-literacy outreach program.
DMPL's business model is publicly funded and non-commercial: services are delivered free at the point of use to residents within its service area, with no tiered pricing or paid subscriptions. Revenue flows entirely through municipal tax allocations (treating the city budget as a recurring funding stream) and donations to the DMPL Foundation (an affiliate-referral style supplemental funding channel). Distribution relies on six physical branches as primary access points, a self-serve digital lending channel for 24/7 access, a mail-delivery channel for accessibility, and a channel/reseller-style partnership with Des Moines Public Schools that embeds school IDs as library cards. Customer segments span children, teens, adults, immigrants/English learners, and DMPS students, with primary segments being children (early literacy and summer reading) and adults (digital lending, AViD events, job seeker assistance).
Des Moines Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Des Moines Public Library
- Legal name
- Des Moines Public Library
- Website
- https://dmpl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1866
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Des Moines Public Library is a municipal library system operating as a department of the City of Des Moines, serving City of Des Moines and rural Polk County residents free of charge. It operates six branch locations delivering physical and digital lending, educational programming, workforce-development services, and community outreach funded through public taxes and the DMPL Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Des Moines Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Support Services (611710), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- 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), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Des Moines Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Des Moines Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: The Des Moines Public Library is a department of the City of Des Moines and is funded through public tax revenues and city budget allocations
- Donations and Foundation Support: DMPL Foundation accepts donations and provides supplemental funding for library programs and services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Library Card - Standard Access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Des Moines Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Des Moines Public Library operates six branch libraries serving the City of Des Moines and rural Polk County, providing free access to physical and digital collections, community programs, and educational services. Its core offerings include lending of books and media, digital streaming and downloads through Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy, language learning via Mango, the AViD author series, Summer Reading programs, Tech Central maker lab access, and community resources such as meeting rooms, notary services, wireless printing, and job-seeker assistance.
Product overview
Des Moines Public Library operates as a unified library system offering a comprehensive portfolio of digital and physical services. The core offerings include the Stream & Download platform (integrating Libby/OverDrive for eBooks and eAudiobooks, Kanopy for video streaming, and Mango for language learning), the traditional physical catalog across six branch locations, and the DMPL Podcast (Beyond The Shelves) for author interviews and literary content. Featured services include Tech Central (maker lab/innovation space), Library by Mail for remote patrons, Adventure Pass for cultural venue access, and DMPL Community Fridges for food security. The library's signature programs include the AViD author series (celebrating 25 years), Summer Reading Program, and DMPL Reading Challenge bingo. Additional offerings span Local History & Genealogy research, early literacy outreach (Rosie Reader), Book Club Sets for community groups, Test Proctoring, Notary Services, Wireless Printing, Meeting Room reservations, and the Library of Things collection for non-traditional checkout items.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines): Literary author series program featuring national and local authors
- Beyond The Shelves
- Tech Central
- DMPL Foundation
- engage Magazine
Products and services
- Stream & Download (Libby/OverDrive) Digital content platform providing library cardholders free access to eAudiobooks, eBooks, streaming video (Film & TV), eMagazines, and eNews through the Libby (OverDrive) integration.
- Kanopy Video Streaming Free video streaming service for library cardholders providing access to movies, TV shows, and Kanopy Kids educational content.
- Mango Languages Language-learning program offering dozens of languages including Spanish, Mandarin, German, and Japanese, free with a library card.
- Library Catalog Online catalog system at catalog.dmpl.org used by patrons to search and access physical and digital library materials.
- DMPL Podcast (Beyond The Shelves) Official library podcast featuring conversations with authors, illustrators, program presenters, and librarians, plus book recommendations. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and Google Play.
- Tech Central (Innovation/Maker Lab) Innovation and maker lab space offering technology resources, equipment, and learning opportunities, including 3D printing and button making, for patrons to create and learn new skills.
- Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading program designed to prevent summer slide and encourage reading across all age groups, running June through August.
- AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) Author visit program featuring prominent authors for readings and discussions, including a 25th anniversary season in 2026 in partnership with the Des Moines Arts Festival and Des Moines Art Center.
- Library by Mail Mail delivery service delivering library materials to patrons who cannot easily visit physical locations due to disability, lack of transportation, or other barriers.
- Adventure Pass Program providing passes or access to local attractions, museums, or cultural venues for library patrons.
- DMPL Community Fridges Community resource program providing access to food and essential supplies through refrigerator units located at library branches.
- Meeting Rooms Bookable rooms at all library locations for community groups, study sessions, and virtual meetings.
- Test Proctoring Exam supervision service for distance-learning students and professionals needing proctored testing facilities.
- Local History & Genealogy Research Services Research resources including high school yearbooks, historic city directories, histories & images, Project Des Moines digital archive, and premium research services for local history and genealogy patrons.
- Rosie Reader Early Literacy Program Early literacy outreach program bringing books and reading resources to young children and families to support early literacy development.
- DMPL Reading Challenge Annual reading challenge encouraging patrons to explore diverse genres and formats using a bingo-style tracking system.
- Book Club Sets Pre-assembled book club kits containing multiple copies of titles plus discussion guides for community book clubs.
- Wireless Printing Cloud-based printing service that allows patrons to send print jobs from any device and pick up printed documents at library locations.
- Notary Services Notary public services available at library locations for patrons needing document notarization.
- engage Magazine Bi-monthly newsletter publication (PDF) featuring events, new materials, and library news, available for each branch location.
- DMPL Library of Things Collection of non-traditional items available for checkout including tools, electronics, and other equipment.
- Consumer Reports Database Subscription database providing library cardholders free access to Consumer Reports product reviews and ratings.
- New York Times Digital Access Subscription database providing library cardholders with free digital access to The New York Times.
- Washington Post Digital Access Subscription database providing library cardholders with free digital access to The Washington Post.
- Wall Street Journal Digital Access Subscription database providing library cardholders with free digital access to The Wall Street Journal.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free services to all City of Des Moines and rural Polk County residents
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Des Moines Public Library
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Des Moines Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Des Moines Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Des Moines Arts FestivalflagshipJoint program partnership for the 25th anniversary AViD season. First time AViD will partner with both the Des Moines Arts Festival and Des Moines Art Center for a joint program on June 27, 2026. The partnership expands the reach and impact of both the author series and the arts community.
- Des Moines Art CenterflagshipJoint program partnership for the 25th anniversary AViD season. Joint program scheduled for June 27, 2026 as part of milestone anniversary celebrations. Expands cultural programming reach.
- Des Moines Public SchoolscoreSchool-library partnership allowing middle and high school students to use school-issued IDs as library cards, enabling access to the full library collection. Launched September 2025. Parents/caregivers can opt out. This partnership has faced opposition from parental rights groups and prompted Iowa legislative action (House Study Bill 636) attempting to ban such partnerships statewide.
- Evelyn K Davis Center for Working FamiliescoreWeekly job seeker assistance program at North Side Library. Staff from the center provide one-on-one job search help, resume building, employer referrals, and mock interviews every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcome. Partnership supports workforce development in the community.
- City of Des MoinescoreDMPL is a department of the City of Des Moines. The library receives funding through city budget allocations and tax revenues. All locations serve as cooling centers during extreme heat events, coordinated with city emergency management.
- DMPL FoundationcoreNonprofit foundation supporting the library through donations, merchandise sales, and supplemental funding for programs and services. Partners on Summer Reading promotions and library advocacy efforts.
- DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit)minorTransit partnership providing free rides for the public to access cooling centers at DMPL locations during extreme temperature events. Riders inform bus drivers they want to go to a cooling center.
- Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)minorEducational institution mentioned in context of patron Taha Gesalla's educational pathway. He completed an associate's degree at DMACC before transferring to the University of Iowa.
- University of IowaminorHigher education institution mentioned in context of patron educational pathways. Patron Taha Gesalla completed his bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Iowa after starting at DMACC.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Des Moines Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- OverDrive / Libby: Digital content platform that powers DMPL's eBook, eAudiobook, and eMagazine lending via Libby. Not a peer in service delivery but the underlying vendor — relevant as a comparable in the digital-library ecosystem.
- Kanopy: Free video streaming service offered to DMPL cardholders via library partnership. Comparable in the sense of providing library-funded digital content access, though operating as a vendor rather than a direct library peer.
Regional players
- Multnomah County Library: County-level library system in Oregon with branch locations, digital lending platforms, and community programming — a strong operational peer to DMPL in terms of scale and service portfolio, though serving a different metro.
- Hennepin County Library: Regional library system in Minnesota serving a comparable mid-sized population with branch locations, digital lending, and community programs — directly comparable in operational scope to DMPL, though serving a different geographic area.
Broad incumbents
- Los Angeles Public Library: Large municipal library system offering physical branches, digital lending, community programming, and STEAM/maker initiatives — operates the same core public-library service portfolio as DMPL but at significantly larger scale.
- New York Public Library: One of the largest U.S. public library systems, serving New York City with branch networks, free digital lending, author events, and community programming — directly comparable in mission and service mix to DMPL, though at vastly greater scale.
Direct peers
- Seattle Public Library: Municipal public library with branch locations, digital collections, community programming, and innovation/maker spaces — closely mirrors DMPL's blend of physical and digital services plus community-engagement programming.
- Chicago Public Library: Municipal public library system serving Chicago with branch locations, free digital resources, summer reading programs, and maker/innovation spaces — a directly comparable public library operating model to DMPL's community branch structure.
- Brooklyn Public Library: Urban public library system with branch network, free digital lending, author programs, and educational outreach — directly comparable in service mix to DMPL with similar emphasis on community-centered programming.
- Indianapolis Public Library: Mid-size municipal library system in a peer Midwestern city, offering branch locations, digital lending, community programming, and maker/innovation spaces — directly comparable to DMPL in scale, regional context, and service mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Des Moines Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceDes Moines Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Des Moines Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Des Moines Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Des Moines 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 Des Moines Public Library
What does Des Moines Public Library do?
Des Moines Public Library operates six branch libraries serving the City of Des Moines and rural Polk County, providing free access to physical and digital collections, community programs, and educational services. Its core offerings include lending of books and media, digital streaming and downloads through Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy, language learning via Mango, the AViD author series, Summer Reading programs, Tech Central maker lab access, and community resources such as meeting rooms, notary services, wireless printing, and job-seeker assistance.
Is Des Moines Public Library a public or private company?
Des Moines Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Des Moines Public Library founded?
Des Moines Public Library was founded in 1866. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Des Moines Public Library based?
Des Moines Public Library is headquartered in Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Des Moines Public Library make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Foundation Support.
Who are Des Moines Public Library's main competitors?
Others on record are OverDrive / Libby and Kanopy. Regional players are Multnomah County Library and Hennepin County Library. Broad incumbents are Los Angeles Public Library and New York Public Library. Direct peers are Seattle Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Indianapolis Public Library.
Does Des Moines Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Des Moines Public Library.
What industry is Des Moines Public Library in?
Des Moines Public Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.