LA County Library
LA County Library is a public library system operated by Los Angeles County, providing free access to books, digital media, educational resources, and cultural programming through 85+ community libraries and mobile units to county residents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersDowney, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LA County Library does
LA County Library is a public library system operated as a department of the County of Los Angeles, providing free access to books, digital media, educational resources, and cultural programming to residents of Los Angeles County. Established in 1912, the system operates more than 85 community libraries plus mobile units (Bookmobile and Mobile Library), including specialized facilities such as the AC Bilbrew Library, which houses the Black Resource Center. Services are free at point of use and supported through public funding, with no direct charges to borrowers for standard access. The library's catalog and discovery layer is built on standard library systems (described as 'the catalog'), and digital access includes e-books, audiobooks, streaming media, and online learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning. Patrons are required to have a physical or digital library card to access most services.
Beyond traditional lending, LA County Library operates a broad programming portfolio that includes author talks, book clubs, storytimes, cultural celebrations, educational workshops, and civic engagement initiatives. Strategic partnerships extend its reach: collaboration with the USC Shoah Foundation supports the World War Z oral history project, partnership with LAUSD supports STAR Tutoring, and affiliation with the LA vs Hate initiative provides anti-hate community resources. Federal and California State depository designations grant the system a statutory role in providing public access to government documents. The library's business model is government-funded rather than revenue-generating; funding is provided by the County of Los Angeles, supplemented by Friends of the Library volunteer groups and grants from organizations such as the California State Library.
LA County Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LA County Library
- Legal name
- County of Los Angeles (LA County Library)
- Website
- https://lacountylibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- LA County Library is a public library system operated by Los Angeles County, providing free access to books, digital media, educational resources, and cultural programming through 85+ community libraries and mobile units to county residents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LA County Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where LA County Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Downey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
LA County 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, Others
Revenue model
- Public funding (tax-supported): LA County Library is a public, tax-supported county government department under the County of Los Angeles; primary operating funding comes from public taxes rather than service fees. Library services are free to cardholders.
- Donations: Accepts donations directly via the LA County Library website, plus revenue from volunteer-run Friends of the Library groups at individual branches conducting book sales and supporting library events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free library card with full access to all standard library services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
LA County Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LA County Library provides free public library services to Los Angeles County residents, including borrowing of physical and digital books, audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines; access to research databases and digital collections; in-person and virtual programming (Summer Discovery, STAR Tutoring, storytimes, author talks); cultural resource centers; mobile library outreach via Bookmobiles and M\u0101kM\u014d; Laptop Express and Kindle eReader lending; meeting and study room reservations; and Federal Depository Library access, all unified through a single free library card.
Product overview
LA County Library operates as a single unified public library system serving Los Angeles County, built around three interconnected service layers: (1) a core online catalog and 85+ physical branch network (including the SirsiDynix Enterprise catalog and Visit reservation platform) that handles physical and digital item circulation; (2) a Digital Library module (Libby/OverDrive for eBooks/audiobooks/magazines, Hoopla for streaming, and Freegal for music) that extends borrowing to digital content; and (3) an extensive portfolio of community programs such as the Summer Discovery Program (powered by Beanstack), STAR Tutoring, Family Place Library, Cultural Resource Centers (Black, Chicano, Asian Pacific, American Indian, LGBTQ+), Cultural Resource Center Popup exhibits (e.g., Museum of Black Women & Girls at AC Bilbrew), the Consumer Health Information Program, Californiana Collection, Federal Depository Library Program, Bookmobiles and MākMō mobile fleet, Laptop Express kiosk lending, Kindle Paperwhite eReader lending, Little Libraries, Books for Jails, Metro TAP card distribution, and EV charging at branches. These products and services are tightly integrated through a single LA County Library card, enabling patron authentication across all digital platforms and unlocking both in-branch resources and remote access to research databases (ProQuest, Newsbank, LearningExpress Library, OCLC ContentDM Digital Collections, BiblioBoard Community Collections).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LA County Library Online Catalog Web-based public access catalog powered by SirsiDynix Enterprise (v5.2.1.6) enabling cardholders to search the library's physical and digital collections, place holds, manage lists, view account information, and access library records across all LA County Library locations; supports English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese interfaces.
- Digital Library (Downloads and Streaming) Centralized digital lending platform providing free access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, music, and streaming movies/TV through a library card in good standing, with no overdue fines; powered by integrations with Libby, Hoopla, and Freegal.
- Research Databases Curated collection of authoritative research databases covering health, biography, history, business, and general reference, providing LA County Library cardholders with vetted article, journal, and primary source access via integrations such as ProQuest (National Newspaper Premier / Los Angeles Times), Newsbank (InfoWeb), and LearningExpress Library.
- Events Calendar and Virtual Programs Online calendar of in-person and virtual library events, storytimes, workshops, author talks, and cultural programs, with reservation and RSVP capability powered by the Visit platform (visit.lacountylibrary.org).
- Bookmobiles and M\u0101kM\u014d Mobile Fleet Mobile library fleet including traditional bookmobiles (East, West, Gateway, Antelope Valley routes) and the M\u0101kM\u014d mobile makerspace, which brings library services and hands-on making experiences to underserved communities across Los Angeles County.
- Reserve Meeting and Study Rooms Online reservation system enabling patrons and community groups to book meeting rooms (commercial and non-commercial) and study rooms at LA County Library branch locations via the Visit platform.
- Laptop Express (Laptop Library Kiosk) Self-service kiosk-based laptop lending service available at multiple branch locations (19+ named branches including Temple City and South El Monte), allowing cardholders in good standing to check out a laptop for in-library use during the same business day with same-day return; powered by Envisionware infrastructure.
- Kindle Paperwhite eReader Lending Pre-loaded Kindle Paperwhite eReaders available for checkout at participating libraries, with expert-curated book selections, three-week checkout terms, and up to three renewals; no internet required during use.
- Family Place Library Early childhood and family support program offering a dedicated space, books, toys, and parent education workshops (including a five-week Parent-Child Workshop) at participating LA County Library branch locations.
- Consumer Health Information Program Specialized health research service based at the Norwalk Library, providing medical condition, medication, and procedure information from reliable sources along with individualized research assistance; does not provide medical advice.
- Californiana Collection Closed-stack research collection of over 24,000 books, hundreds of magazine and newspaper titles, California census schedules (1850-1910), historical newspapers including the Alta California and Los Angeles Star, and state/county documents housed at the Norwalk Library.
- Summer Discovery Program Annual summer reading and exploration program powered by Beanstack where participants log books, complete activities, earn badges, and are entered to win prizes; sign-up available online or at any branch.
- STAR Tutoring Free, small-group, in-person reading and math tutoring program for students in grades 1-6, offered at select LA County Library branches with trained tutors and all materials included.
- Cultural Resource Centers Dedicated community spaces and collections serving specific cultural groups, including Black, Chicano, Asian Pacific, American Indian, and LGBTQ+ resource centers, each with curated materials and culturally responsive programming at LA County Library branch locations.
- Federal Depository Library Program Participation in the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program, providing free public access to federal government documents and publications at designated LA County Library locations (notably the Norwalk Library) under FISMA-aligned standards.
- Books by Mail Mail-based lending service delivering library materials directly to patrons' homes, supporting access for those unable to visit a physical branch of LA County Library.
- Books for Jails Outreach service providing library materials and reading resources to individuals in Los Angeles County detention facilities.
- Little Libraries Network of small unmanned book-exchange boxes placed throughout LA County neighborhoods, enabling free book sharing without requiring a library card.
- Metro TAP Cards Distribution Service providing reduced-fare Metro TAP cards for LA County residents through partner library locations, supporting transit access across Los Angeles County.
- EV Charging Locations Information and access to electric vehicle charging stations available at LA County Library branch locations for patrons and visitors.
- My Brother's Keeper Peer Advocates Youth-focused program providing peer advocacy and mentorship at LA County Library branches, supporting young men and boys of color in achieving academic and life success.
- Library Mobile App Mobile application enabling patrons to manage their library account, search the catalog, place holds, access digital content, and find branch locations and hours from a smartphone or tablet.
- Digital Collections (OCLC ContentDM) Online archive of digitized photographs, documents, oral histories, and other materials of historical and cultural significance to Los Angeles County; browseable and searchable online via OCLC ContentDM.
- Online Homework Help Homework support service for K-12 students offering access to tutors, learning resources, and databases to assist with school assignments at multiple LA County Library branch locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85+ branch library network with mobile fleet reaching countywide populations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LA County Library
Customer profileSegments9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LA County Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
LA County Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- LA vs HatecoreLA County Library and LA vs Hate partnered to expand anti-hate resources across Los Angeles County. The collaboration includes a Signs of Solidarity campaign and supports the LA vs Hate Neighbors United Against Hate initiative. Announced May 19, 2026 with yard sign imagery used in press materials.
- California State ParkscoreLA County Library lends CA State Parks Passes to cardholders as part of its "More to Borrow" collection. Customers can check out passes at library branches, enabling access to California State Parks.
- Sirsi Corporation (SirsiDynix)coreLA County Library runs its catalog on the Sirsi Corporation Enterprise integrated library system (version 5.2.1.6), powering the public catalog, patron accounts, holds, and multilingual interface (English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese). Copyright 2025 Sirsi Corporation.
- Libby (OverDrive)coreLA County Library offers Libby eBooks, Audiobooks, and Magazines to cardholders through the OverDrive/Libby platform (libbyapp.com/library/lacountylibrary). Used for digital lending including audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines.
- Hoopla DigitalcoreLA County Library partners with Hoopla Digital (hoopladigital.com) to provide streaming movies, TV, music, audiobooks, eBooks, and comics to library cardholders.
- BeanstackcoreLA County Library uses Beanstack (lacountylibrary.beanstack.com/reader365) to power its Summer Discovery Program reading tracking, badge earning, and prize entry system for patrons.
- LibraryCraft (libraryc.org)coreLA County Library uses libraryc.org/lacountylibrary to host Virtual Author Talks, including the One Book, One Coast Author Talk with George Takei on May 31, 2026.
- OCLC ContentDMcoreLA County Library partners with OCLC ContentDM to host its Digital Collections platform (lacountylibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/), providing online access to local history and digitized materials.
- George Takei / One Book, One CoastcoreLA County Library hosted author George Takei for a One Book, One Coast Author Talk on May 31, 2026, with RSVPs reaching capacity. Featured in the Trailblazers in Conversation series and Library Happenings June 2026 promotion.
- U.S. Federal Government (Government Publishing Office)coreLA County Library serves as a Federal Depository Library, providing public access to U.S. federal government documents and operating a dedicated Federal Government Documents collection.
- FIFA / 2026 World Cup Los AngelescoreLA County Library is celebrating the 2026 World Cup in LA with a Summer of Soccer programming series, including soccer-inspired events and a limited edition library card.
- Library Friends Groups (Friends of the Library at each branch)coreVolunteer-run Friends of the Library organizations at individual branches (e.g., Friends of Temple City Library, Friends of South Whittier Library) support the library through book sales, fundraising, and event support. Patrons are directed to "Join a Friends Group" via the library website.
- County of Los Angeles / LA County DepartmentscoreLA County Library operates as a department of the County of Los Angeles, with cross-departmental integrations to LA County Departments page, 211 LA County referrals, Public Alerts, Cooling Centers, and Civic Resources.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LA County Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chicago Public Library: Citywide public library system with 80+ branches across Chicago neighborhoods; comparable digital lending, free learning/tutoring programs, special collections, and immigrant services model funded by municipal taxes.
- New York Public Library: Large urban public library system serving New York City's three boroughs with 90+ branches; comparable in scale (millions of cardholders), multilingual programming, deep special collections (e.g., Schomburg, Schomburg, NYPL Research Libraries), and free-to-patron funding model.
- San Francisco Public Library: City of San Francisco public library with 27+ branches plus main library; similar free-to-patron public funding model, multilingual services, robust digital lending and cultural programming for a diverse urban population.
- Boston Public Library: Municipal public library system combining neighborhood branches with research library; comparable free public access, deep special collections, multilingual outreach, and cultural programming funded through city appropriation.
- Brooklyn Public Library: Borough-level public library system with 60+ branches serving Brooklyn; offers comparable services including digital lending, mobile outreach, free tutoring, multilingual collections, and cultural programming for diverse populations.
- Hennepin County Library: County public library serving Minneapolis-area Hennepin County with 40+ branches; comparable municipal-county funding model, multilingual services, robust digital lending, and special collections.
- King County Library System: County-level public library system serving the Seattle metro area with 50+ branches; comparable scale, free digital lending, mobile services, special collections, and a county-tax funding model.
- Harris County Public Library: County public library serving the Houston metro with 30+ branches; operates a similar tax-funded, free-to-patron model with mobile outreach, ESL/citizenship services, and digital lending via OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla.
- Los Angeles Public Library: City of Los Angeles public library (separate from LA County Library); operates a large branch network within the City of LA, with overlapping digital lending vendors (OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla) and free-to-patron services; nearest same-metro peer.
- San Diego County Library: County-level public library in San Diego County serving unincorporated areas and several cities; comparable county-government funding structure, mobile outreach vehicles, and digital lending platform mix (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy-like streaming).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LA County Library social profiles
Digital presenceLA County Library compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
LA County Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LA County Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
LA County Library subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
LA County Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LA County 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 LA County Library
What does LA County Library do?
LA County Library provides free public library services to Los Angeles County residents, including borrowing of physical and digital books, audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines; access to research databases and digital collections; in-person and virtual programming (Summer Discovery, STAR Tutoring, storytimes, author talks); cultural resource centers; mobile library outreach via Bookmobiles and M\u0101kM\u014d; Laptop Express and Kindle eReader lending; meeting and study room reservations; and Federal Depository Library access, all unified through a single free library card.
Is LA County Library a public or private company?
LA County Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was LA County Library founded?
LA County Library was founded in 1915. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is LA County Library based?
LA County Library is headquartered in Downey, United States, in the North America region.
How does LA County Library make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public funding (tax-supported) is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are LA County Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chicago Public Library, New York Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, Boston Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Hennepin County Library, King County Library System, Harris County Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library and San Diego County Library.
Does LA County Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for LA County Library.
What industry is LA County Library in?
LA County 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 EDAEAGAF, Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing). Its NAICS code is 51921.