Manhattan Public Library
Manhattan Public Library is a municipal public library in Manhattan, Kansas serving 75,000+ Riley County residents with free access to over one million physical and digital resource items, community programming, and outreach services funded primarily through local tax revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1856
- HeadquartersManhattan, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Manhattan Public Library does
Manhattan Public Library is a municipal public library serving the Manhattan, Kansas community and the broader Riley County area. Founded in 1856 and operating from a single downtown location at 629 Poyntz Avenue, the institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and funded primarily through local tax revenue, with a stated per-household cost of less than $10 per month for a $200,000 property owner. All core services are provided free of charge to community members holding a library card.
The library's service offering spans physical and digital collections aggregating more than one million resource items, plus supplementary services including meeting room reservations, public computer access, mobile printing, technology training, personalized reading lists, and an extensive programming calendar segmented by age group (PreK, K-5, Teens, Adults). The underlying technology stack centers on the Polaris/Sierra integrated library system for catalog and circulation, with third-party digital content delivery through Hoopla, Overdrive/Sunflower eLibrary, Libby, PressReader, and BookFlix. Patron-facing engagement tools include the Beanstack reading challenge platform and the myLIBRO mobile application. Outreach extends to homebound residents, the Riley County Jail (via a volunteer librarian-administered Summer Reading program with 40 incarcerated participants), local K-12 schools, and Kansas State University.
The revenue model is predominantly non-commercial: a stable tax-funded base supplemented by donations routed through two affiliated 501(c)(3) entities — the Manhattan Library Association (which runs Rosie's Corner used book sales yielding approximately $11,800 annually) and the Manhattan Library Foundation — plus modest community business sponsorships supporting programs such as Summer Reading ($17,000+ raised in 2024). No membership fees, subscription tiers, or transactional pricing are applied to end patrons. Distribution occurs through a single physical branch, the 24/7 online catalog, digital platforms, community-event participation, and the Enjoy & Share take-and-share book distribution program placing books in airports, workplaces, food pantries, and medical offices.
Manhattan Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manhattan Public Library
- Legal name
- Manhattan Public Library
- Website
- https://mhklibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1856
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Manhattan Public Library is a municipal public library in Manhattan, Kansas serving 75,000+ Riley County residents with free access to over one million physical and digital resource items, community programming, and outreach services funded primarily through local tax revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manhattan Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)
Keywords
Where Manhattan Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manhattan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Manhattan Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: Manhattan Public Library is a public library funded primarily through local tax revenue. A homeowner with a $200K property in Manhattan pays less than $10 per month in taxes for access to library resources.
- Donations and Fundraising: The library receives support through donations via the Manhattan Library Association (Friends of the Library) and Manhattan Library Foundation, as well as individual donors and community business sponsors for programs like Summer Reading.
- Library Services (Free to Public): All core library services including book checkout, digital resources, programs, and meeting room access are provided free of charge to all patrons with a library card.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Library Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Manhattan Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manhattan Public Library provides free public library services to the Manhattan, Kansas community through a hybrid physical-and-digital model. Core offerings include access to over 1 million physical and digital resource items, an online catalog and patron account system, reading challenge programs, community events and educational programming for all ages, meeting room reservations, public computer and technology access, and outreach services to underserved populations including homebound residents and incarcerated individuals at Riley County Jail.
Product overview
Manhattan Public Library provides public library services to the Manhattan, Kansas community through an integrated physical and digital service model. Core offerings include the Polaris-powered online catalog and patron account system, digital library collections accessed via Libby, Hoopla, Overdrive/Sunflower eLibrary, PressReader, and BookFlix, and reading challenge programs managed through Beanstack. The library also offers Personalized Reading Lists, online research databases (including Mango Languages, Ancestry, O'Reilly, LinkedIn Learning, Novelist Plus), meeting room reservations, community resource referrals, the myLIBRO mobile app, technology services (public computers, mobile printing, tech workshops), and outreach programs including homebound delivery and community presentations. Services are free to residents with a library card.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Library Catalog and Account Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 75,000+ people served in Riley County area
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Manhattan Public Library
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Manhattan Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Manhattan Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Manhattan Library Association (MLA)coreThe official Friends of the Library organization. MLA is a volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports library programs through used book sales (Rosie's Corner) and an annual book sale generating approximately $11,800 annually. MLA also provides $5,800 annually for Summer Reading supplies, prizes, and marketing.
- Konza United WayminorPartnership to offer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, providing free books through the mail to children in the community.
- K-State Department of Modern LanguagesminorCollaboration for bilingual storytime program '¡Cuenta cuentos! / Tell Tales!' celebrating Spanish language and culture for children ages 5 and up.
- Pediatric AssociatesminorCommunity donor providing $3,200 combined with other donors for Summer Reading program prizes and supplies.
- Riley County JailminorPartnership for Summer Reading program administered by volunteer librarian Kathy Pauls with 40 incarcerated participants.
- In-Kind Donors (Vista, Raising Cane's, Papa Murphy's, Varsity Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Sonic, Sunset Zoo, Flint Hills Discovery Center)minorLocal businesses providing food coupons and free entry passes for Summer Reading program incentives and prizes.
Scale indicators7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Manhattan Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Overdrive / Libby: Digital lending platform used by MPL through the Sunflower eLibrary consortium for ebook and audiobook distribution. Acts as an enabling technology provider rather than a direct competitor.
- Beanstack: Reading challenge and engagement platform MPL uses to run Summer Reading and other programs. An enabling technology vendor that supports MPL's patron engagement strategy.
- Hoopla Digital: A digital content platform integrated with MPL via patron library card access. While not a competing library, Hoopla is a critical supplier of ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and music that extend MPL's digital collection.
- Polaris / Innovative Interfaces (Sierra): Integrated library system (ILS) vendor powering MPL's catalog and circulation. As MPL's core operational backbone, Polaris is a critical infrastructure provider rather than a peer competitor.
Direct peers
- Lawrence Public Library: A Kansas-based municipal public library serving a similar-sized college town (Lawrence, KS / University of Kansas). Comparable in scope of community programming, free public access model, and reliance on local tax funding.
- Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library: Another Kansas public library system serving a comparable regional population. Operates with similar free public-access model, community programming, and digital lending services through Hoopla/Overdrive.
- Johnson County Library: A larger Kansas-area public library system with multiple branches and similar community-focused programming. Comparable free public library model but operates at greater scale within suburban Johnson County.
- Salina Public Library: A Kansas municipal public library comparable in size and community focus to MPL. Provides similar physical collections, digital lending, and free community programming for a mid-size Kansas city.
Broad incumbents
- Kansas State Library: Statewide library agency that supports Kansas public libraries including MPL. Operates at broader jurisdictional scale, providing interlibrary loan coordination, statewide databases, and library development services.
Emerging players
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Mailing-based early literacy program that MPL delivers to local families via Konza United Way partnership. Addresses overlapping early childhood literacy mission but operates as a complementary program rather than a substitute.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manhattan Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceManhattan Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manhattan Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Manhattan Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manhattan 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 Manhattan Public Library
What does Manhattan Public Library do?
Manhattan Public Library provides free public library services to the Manhattan, Kansas community through a hybrid physical-and-digital model. Core offerings include access to over 1 million physical and digital resource items, an online catalog and patron account system, reading challenge programs, community events and educational programming for all ages, meeting room reservations, public computer and technology access, and outreach services to underserved populations including homebound residents and incarcerated individuals at Riley County Jail.
Is Manhattan Public Library a public or private company?
Manhattan Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Manhattan Public Library founded?
Manhattan Public Library was founded in 1856. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Manhattan Public Library based?
Manhattan Public Library is headquartered in Manhattan, United States, in the North America region.
How does Manhattan Public Library make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising and library Services (Free to Public).
Who are Manhattan Public Library's main competitors?
Others on record are Overdrive / Libby, Beanstack, Hoopla Digital and Polaris / Innovative Interfaces (Sierra). Direct peers are Lawrence Public Library, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Johnson County Library and Salina Public Library. Kansas State Library is listed as a broad incumbent. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is listed as an emerging player.
Does Manhattan Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manhattan Public Library.
What industry is Manhattan Public Library in?
Manhattan 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.