Josephine Community Library

What Josephine Community Library does

Josephine Community Library is a public library district serving Josephine County, Oregon, operating four physical branches (Grants Pass, Illinois Valley in Cave Junction, Williams, and Wolf Creek) plus a unified digital presence. Established originally in 1914, the system was reorganized in May 2017 when county voters approved creation of a dedicated Library District funded by a permanent property tax of $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed value, and all four branches reopened under public funding in January 2018.

The library's technology stack centers on a Polaris integrated library system (ILS) for catalog and patron account management, complemented by OverDrive/Libby for digital ebooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, Gale/Cengage databases (including PowerSearch across 50+ resources), NewsBank for newspaper archives, and specialized learning platforms (Brainfuse tutoring, Transparent Language, Mango Languages, Northstar Digital Literacy). Its core product surface spans physical collections (printed books, audiobooks on CD, DVDs, magazines), a non-traditional "Library of Things" inventory (WiFi hotspots, robotics kits, STEM resources, recreation equipment), accessibility services (Braille, large print, assistive devices), and programs (Summer Reading, storytimes, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, JosephineLINK community resource directory). The fine-free policy and free library cards for district residents frame access as a universal public service.

The revenue model is fundamentally tax-funded: a permanent dedicated property tax on assessed property value within district boundaries supplies the operating budget, supplemented by Foundation-raised donations and grants for capital projects, plus minor fee streams (non-resident cards at $60/year or $15/quarter, $0.10/page printing). Distribution is delivered through the four physical branches, a 24/7 online Polaris catalog, InterLibrary Loan, and a Read and Return service for travelers. The customer base is Josephine County residents of all ages, with no named enterprise customers and no commercial concentration; reported scale includes 25,000+ active cardholders, ~300,000 items checked out annually, and 200+ volunteers contributing roughly 2,500 hours per month.

Name

Josephine Community Library

Legal name

Josephine Community Library District

Website

https://josephinelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Josephine Community Library is a public library district operating four branches in Josephine County, Oregon, funded primarily by a permanent property tax and serving county residents with physical and digital collections, learning platforms, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending library
• Digital library resources
• Educational programming
• Library research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Grants Pass

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Permanent tax rate of $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed property value for residents within the library district boundary. Funds can only be used for the library district and cannot be diverted to other county departments.
2. Foundation Donations and Grants: Josephine Community Library Foundation raises funds through donations and grants to support projects beyond the regular operating budget, including building improvements, technology upgrades, and special programs
3. Non-Resident Library Cards: Households outside the library district can purchase cards for $60 per year or $15 for three months
4. Printing Services: Black-and-white printing available for 10 cents per page at all branches

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Josephine Community Library District operates four public library branches in Josephine County, Oregon, providing free access to physical and digital lending collections, research databases, language learning and tutoring services, community programming, and meeting spaces. Services are funded through a permanent dedicated property tax for district residents, with supplemental non-resident card fees, donations, and grants. The library offers fine-free access to books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, streaming media, assistive devices, and a Library of Things including hotspots and STEM kits.

Product overview

Josephine Community Library is a public library district operating four branches (Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, Wolf Creek) in Josephine County, Oregon. The library provides a unified catalog system (Polaris) combining physical collections (printed books, audiobooks on CD, DVDs, magazines) with digital services accessed via Libby/OverDrive (ebooks and e-audiobooks), Kanopy streaming, research databases (Gale, NewsBank), language learning (Transparent Language, Mango Languages), and tutoring (Brainfuse). The Library of Things extends beyond traditional media to include technology items, STEM kits, and recreational equipment. Accessibility services include large print, Braille accommodations, assistive devices, and connections to Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library. Programs include Book Match personalized recommendations, Summer Reading, Storybook Walk, and community services through JosephineLINK resource directory. The library district was established in 2017 with permanent tax funding, recovering from prior funding challenges that led to nonprofit operation from 2007-2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polaris Online Catalog The library's primary online catalog system, allowing patrons to search hundreds of thousands of print titles and digital resources, place holds, and manage their library accounts online.
• Libby / OverDrive Ebooks and E-Audiobooks Digital lending platform providing access to thousands of ebook and audiobook titles via smartphone, tablet, computer, or Kindle, with a dyslexic font option, available free with a library card through the Oregon Digital Library Consortium.
• Audiobooks on CD Physical audiobook collection on compact discs available for checkout at all four branch locations.
• Printed Books Collection Physical book collection spanning popular titles, bestsellers, mysteries, children's books, cookbooks, and more, with nearly 20,000 books checked out monthly.
• DVDs and Music Collection Physical DVD collection of popular movies including new releases, plus compact discs for music, available for checkout at all branches.
• Magazines and Newspapers Physical magazines and newspapers plus digital access to local, regional, and national news sources through the NewsBank database.
• Library of Things Lending collection of non-traditional items including WiFi hotspots, cameras, robotics kits, STEM resources, early literacy kits, recreation items, disc golf sets, musical instruments, DIY tools, and storytime bags; up to three items for 10 days.
• Braille and Accessibility Accommodations Accessibility services and tools for vision-impaired and print-disabled patrons, including audiobooks, large print books, LED page magnifiers, in-library desktop magnifiers, yellow high-contrast keyboards, and referrals to the State Library of Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library.
• Kanopy Plus Streaming Ad-free streaming service featuring curated film collections including documentaries, series, and family-friendly titles, with Kanopy Kids for age-appropriate children's viewing.
• Brainfuse HelpNow Tutoring Live virtual tutoring service for students from elementary through college level covering subjects including math, writing, and language, free with a library card.
• Transparent Language Online Online language learning platform offering pronunciation practice with speech analysis, grammar and writing activities, vocabulary exercises, and a dedicated Kids section, free with a library card.
• Northstar Digital Literacy Digital literacy assessment and learning tool providing online assessments covering basic computer skills, software skills, and technology in daily life, with social media literacy modules.
• NoveList Plus Reading recommendation database providing fiction and non-fiction recommendations based on previous reading history, with reviews and discussion guides.
• Gale Research Databases Suite of online research databases providing access to millions of articles across dozens of resources, with PowerSearch enabling cross-database searching and citation tools.
• Mango Languages Language learning platform for English and other world languages, free with a library card.
• NewsBank Digital Newspapers Digital newspaper database providing access to more than 60 Oregon news sources, The Oregonian Collection with archives from 1987, America's News for national coverage, and the USA Today Collection.
• Online Reference Library Single access point to millions of articles across 50 online databases, including language learning tools, test-prep resources, and published/peer-reviewed articles across various subjects.
• InterLibrary Loan Free service allowing patrons to request items from other library systems, limited to six items at a time, for materials not available in the local collection.
• Book Match Personalized Recommendations Personalized reading recommendation service in which librarians create custom reading lists based on patron preferences, reading history, and interests, delivered within three business days.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program providing free age-appropriate books mailed monthly to children from birth through age five.
• Storytime Programs Children's programming including Sprout a Reader for birth-to-five with caregivers, weekly storytimes at various branches, K9 Reading Buddies with therapy dogs, and Storytime in a Bag kits for home use.
• Summer Reading Program Annual eight-week reading challenge for all ages featuring prizes, events, and special programming.
• Storybook Walk Outdoor reading experience displaying children's story pages along walking paths at downtown locations, parks, and library branches.
• Printing Services Black-and-white printing at 10 cents per page at all branches, with the option to email documents in advance for pickup.
• Meeting Space Reservations Free meeting room access for community members, clubs, and organizations at the Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, and Wolf Creek branches, including hybrid technology access.
• Public Computers and WiFi High-speed internet computers with Microsoft Office at all branches, Learning Center stations with adaptive equipment at Grants Pass, and password-free WiFi; computer sessions limited to 30 minutes if others are waiting.
• JosephineLINK Community Resource Directory Online community resource directory connecting Josephine County residents to hundreds of community organizations, with regularly updated contact information, hours, locations, and website addresses, curated by librarians.
• Library Card and Instant Online Registration Library cards for district residents funded through property taxes, with instant online registration for immediate digital access and full-service cards obtained in person with photo ID within 30 days.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 25,000 active library cardholders
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Josephine Community Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2017Nonprofit partner that raises and protects funds for projects beyond the library's regular operating budget, including building improvements, technology, and materials. Manages capital fundraising campaigns for new library buildings.
• Oregon Digital Library ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership enabling Libby/OverDrive access for ebooks and audiobooks, providing thousands of digital titles to library patrons
• State Library of Oregon Talking Book and Braille LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationReferral partnership connecting vision-impaired patrons to free library services for Oregonians with print disabilities, including audiobooks and Braille materials mailed directly
• Brainfuse HelpNowcoreTechnology or IntegrationLive virtual tutoring service for students elementary through college level in subjects including math, writing, and language, available free with library card
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital lending platform for ebooks and audiobooks, accessible via Libby app or Library2Go website
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming service providing ad-free curated film collections including Kanopy Kids for family-friendly viewing with library card
• Transparent LanguagecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline language learning resource with pronunciation practice, grammar activities, vocabulary exercises, and dedicated Kids section
• GALE (Cengage)coreTechnology or IntegrationAccess to millions of articles across dozens of databases including PowerSearch for cross-database searching, available through library card
• NewsBankcoreTechnology or IntegrationNewspaper and news archive database providing access to Oregon and national news sources, including The Oregonian Collection with archives dating back to 1987
• Grants Pass Daily CourierminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper partnership for summer reading program coverage, recommended reading lists, and program announcements appearing in Sunday editions
• Mango LanguagescoreTechnology or IntegrationLanguage learning platform for English and other languages, free with library card

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Kitsap Regional Library: Pacific Northwest regional library district serving Kitsap County, Washington with a similar mix of branches, digital lending, and community programming; comparable scale but in a different state, so a regional rather than direct competitor.
• Timberland Regional Library: Five-county regional library district in Washington State with branches, digital collections, and tax-based funding; comparable operating model but geographically distinct, serving as a useful regional reference for governance and scale benchmarks.

Direct peers

• Salem Public Library: Mid-size Oregon public library offering branches, digital lending, and community programming with similar patron segments (children, teens, adults, Spanish-speaking), serving as a comparable scale peer within Oregon.
• Jackson County Library Services: Neighboring Southern Oregon public library system serving a similar rural county footprint with comparable branches, digital lending, and tax-funded district structure; the most direct geographic and scale peer to Josephine Community Library.
• Lane County Library District: Oregon public library district with multiple branches, property-tax funding, and parallel programming including Summer Reading and early literacy initiatives, comparable in structure and scale to Josephine.
• Washington County Cooperative Library Services: Oregon public library cooperative serving Washington County with shared catalog, multiple branches, and tax-supported operations; comparable in funding model and digital/physical service mix.
• Deschutes Public Library: Oregon public library district serving Bend and surrounding communities with multiple branches, property-tax funding, and a similar mix of physical collections, digital lending, and community programming.
• Bend-La Pine Libraries: Central Oregon public library serving multiple communities with branches, digital services, and community programming; similar service mix and rural-urban blend comparable to Josephine's catchment.
• Lincoln County Library District: Rural-coastal Oregon library district with similar multi-branch structure, property-tax funding, and small-staff operating model, offering close comparability to Josephine's footprint and resource constraints.

Broad incumbents

• Multnomah County Library: Largest public library system in Oregon, serving the Portland metro with extensive branches, collections, and programming; operates in the same state regulatory environment but at materially larger scale, making it a broad incumbent reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9q99mB_eXzcGYQSPRCHNTg
• Facebookfacebook.com/JosephineCommunityLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/josephinecommunitylibrary/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Josephine Community Library