Cook Memorial Public Library District

What Cook Memorial Public Library District does

Cook Memorial Public Library District is an Illinois public library district headquartered at Cook Park Library in Libertyville, with a second branch (Aspen Drive Library) in Vernon Hills, and a Wednesday bookmobile route serving surrounding Lake County communities. Founded in 1921 and governed by a Board of Trustees, the district is a local government entity funded primarily by local property taxes. Its service portfolio spans traditional lending (books, movies, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks via OverDrive/Libby), specialized research (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Fold3, FamilySearch, Newsbank newspaper archives, Gale, EBSCO business and legal databases, Morningstar, Value Line), maker services (Digital Studios for media conversion, 3D printing in PLA filament at $0.10/gram), and a broad programs calendar spanning early childhood literacy, teen services, adult book clubs, ESL, job seeker support, and a library-produced podcast. Ancillary services include notary, exam proctoring, museum passes, study and meeting room reservations, home delivery, interlibrary loan through the Linkin Libraries consortium, remote printing, EV charging, and a Seed Library.

Technology is delivered through the Encore integrated library system for catalog and account management, native iOS and Android apps, ezproxy-gated access to subscription databases, and podcast distribution on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Marketing and community engagement run through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, email newsletters, blog content, and in-person events.

The revenue model is dominated by statutory property tax levies (subscription/recurring in nature for the resident base), supplemented by modest fee-based revenue (3D printing, printing/scanning, notary, proctoring, late fees). Pricing is effectively freemium: free library cards and core services for district residents, with unit pricing for ancillary offerings. Customer segments are highly diversified across age, use case, and demographic, with no single segment materially driving outcomes.

Name

Cook Memorial Public Library District

Legal name

Cook Memorial Public Library District

Website

https://cooklib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cook Memorial Public Library District is an Illinois public library district serving Libertyville, Vernon Hills, and surrounding Lake County communities through two branches, a bookmobile, and digital services. It provides lending, research databases, maker services, genealogy, and educational programming funded primarily by local property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital library resources
• Genealogy research services
• Library media lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Libertyville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: As a public library district, primary funding comes from local property taxes levied on district residents. This supports core operations, collections, programs, and staff.
2. Fee-based Services: Selective fee-based services including 3D printing (10 cents per gram), printing, scanning, notary services, exam proctoring, and late fees for overdue materials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cook Memorial Public Library District operates as a public library district providing free access to physical and digital collections, research databases, educational programming, and community services across two branches and a bookmobile. Core offerings include book and media lending, eLibrary digital content, genealogy research tools, 3D printing, digital studios, meeting rooms, notary and exam proctoring services, and age-targeted community programs ranging from early childhood story times to senior lifelong learning.

Product overview

Cook Memorial Public Library District operates as a two-branch public library system (Cook Park Library in Libertyville and Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills) offering a comprehensive portfolio of traditional and digital library services. The core offering centers on physical and digital material lending (books, movies, music, Rokus) through the main catalog, supplemented by the eLibrary platform for ebooks, eAudiobooks, streaming media, and digital magazines. The library provides specialized research services including genealogy databases (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Fold3), local history archives, and subscription research databases for business and personal finance. Technology-focused services include Digital Studios for media creation, 3D Printing, computer access, and tech education classes. The Library of Things extends lending to equipment like laptops and science kits, while the Bookmobile brings services to underserved areas. Digital engagement is supported through a mobile app, podcast programming (Local Genealogists Speak), and the ReadSquared-powered Summer Reading Program. Additional services include meeting room reservations, notary and exam proctoring, EV charging, accessibility accommodations, home delivery, museum passes, and interlibrary loan. The portfolio is tied together through online class partnerships (Gale Courses, Udemy, Mango Languages) and job seeker resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eLibrary Digital media platform providing access to ebooks, eAudiobooks, movies, music, TV, comics, magazines, and newspapers viewable on phones, tablets, computers, or streaming devices for district cardholders.
• Library of Things Equipment lending program allowing patrons to check out laptops, Rokus, science kits, and other non-traditional library materials.
• Digital Studios Media creation spaces offering equipment and resources for digital content creation including audio and video production and media conversion (VHS to digital, audio cassette conversion, vinyl record conversion, photo and image scanning).
• 3D Printing Service 3D printing service for registered cardholders age 14 and older, printing objects in single-color PLA filament at 10 cents per gram with file size limits of 9.5 x 8 x 7.5 inches.
• Computers & Wi-Fi Public computer access and wireless internet connectivity available at both library locations for patron use.
• Print/Scan/Fax Document printing, scanning, and faxing services for patron use at library locations.
• Study and Meeting Rooms Reservable spaces including study rooms, conference rooms, and meeting rooms for patron use at both library branches.
• Bookmobile Mobile library service bringing books and library resources to community stops on Wednesdays throughout the district.
• Home Delivery Library material delivery service for patrons who cannot visit library locations in person.
• Museum Passes Free or discounted passes to local museums and cultural attractions available for patron checkout.
• Seed Library Program allowing patrons to borrow seeds for planting and grow their own produce, promoting gardening and community.
• Genealogy Research Services Comprehensive genealogy research resources including databases (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Fold3, American Ancestors, FamilySearch), access to historical newspapers, census records, immigration records, and expert librarian assistance.
• Local History Collections Historical archives documenting Libertyville and Lake County history, including photographs, newspapers, and local records.
• Research Databases Subscription databases for business research, career development, consumer information, and academic research including Business Source Complete, Morningstar, Value Line, and legal forms.
• Online Classes Digital learning platform offering Gale Courses (instructor-led), Udemy, Mango Languages, and LearnFree for patron skill development.
• Job Seekers Services Employment resources including access to Lake County Job Center, GLMV Chamber job postings, AtoZdatabases, Cypress Resume, and JobNow from Brainfuse.
• Interlibrary Loan Service allowing patrons to request and borrow materials from other libraries not available in the local collection.
• Notary Services Notary public services available at library locations for official document witnessing.
• Exam Proctoring Test supervision services for students taking proctored exams from remote educational institutions.
• Electric Vehicle Charging EV charging stations available at library locations for patron use.
• Accessibility Services Services and resources ensuring library materials and facilities are accessible to patrons with disabilities.
• Remote Printing Print from personal devices and pick up jobs at library locations.
• Social Services Referrals On-site social services consultations and community resource connections for patrons in need.
• Book Clubs Multiple book club offerings including Classics Book Club, Aspen Drive Book Club, Wednesday Morning Book Club, and specialized clubs for community members.
• Podcast Series Library-produced podcast programming including 'Local Genealogists Speak' series available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music.
• Summer Reading Program Annual reading incentive program allowing patrons to track reading progress and earn prizes, currently featuring 2026 Summer Reading.
• Tech Classes Technology education programs including Computer Basics Lab, Python Coding Bootcamp, Android Phone Basics, and other digital literacy workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving Lake County communities including Libertyville, Vernon Hills, and surrounding areas

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration34 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FamilySearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationCMPLD is a FamilySearch affiliate library. Anyone may use FamilySearch from home, but additional content is available only when used inside the library.
• Linkin LibrariescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsortium allowing patrons to search and borrow from partner library collections across multiple libraries.
• Lake County Job CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing job seeker resources and access to job center services at library locations.
• GLMV Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills Chamber of Commerce for local business and job resources.
• Libertyville-Mundelein Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting local history archives and research, with joint blog content and archival collections.
• American AncestorscoreTechnology or IntegrationGenealogy database subscription providing hundreds of searchable databases including vital records, cemetery transcriptions, marriage and death indexes, and family histories. In-library use only.
• Ancestry Library EditioncoreTechnology or IntegrationGenealogy database providing access to 4,000+ databases and 1.5 billion names including U.S. Federal Census from 1790 forward, vital records, and immigration records.
• HeritageQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline database of over 25,000 books, U.S. Census (1790-1950), and other collections for genealogical research.
• Gale (Gale Courses, Udemy, Legal Forms)coreTechnology or IntegrationMultiple Gale database subscriptions including online courses, business resources, legal forms, and professional development content.
• EBSCO (Business Source Complete, Small Business Source)coreTechnology or IntegrationBusiness research databases providing full-text business articles, market research reports, company profiles, and small business resources.
• Newsbank (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald)coreTechnology or IntegrationNewspaper archives providing historical and current newspaper content for research and genealogy.
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines accessible through Libby app.
• Mango LanguagescoreTechnology or IntegrationLanguage learning database offering lessons in Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Japanese, and more with mobile app access.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barrington Area Library: Suburban Illinois library district serving a comparable affluent demographic with similar programming, digital lending, and community engagement model. Closely comparable operating scale and service mix.
• Des Plaines Public Library: Suburban Chicago public library with comparable multi-branch footprint, maker services, and traditional lending/programming mix. Directly comparable service area demographic and Illinois library-system context.
• Naperville Public Library: Suburban Illinois public library serving a comparable affluent demographic with multi-branch footprint, robust digital lending, and broad programming. Closely comparable in operating model, scale, and community profile.
• Arlington Heights Memorial Library: Suburban Illinois public library serving a similar affluent Chicago-suburb demographic with comparable programming depth, digital services, and physical footprint. Closely comparable in operating model and service breadth.
• Indian Trails Public Library District: Adjacent Lake County, Illinois library district serving Wheeling and Buffalo Grove with similar suburban demographic and comparable service mix. Same Illinois taxing district framework and overlapping Lake County community footprint.
• Skokie Public Library: Suburban Illinois public library district serving a comparable demographic profile with similar traditional and digital lending services, programming, and maker offerings. Directly comparable in scope, funding model (property tax), and service breadth.
• Gail Borden Public Library District: Illinois public library district serving Elgin and surrounding communities with comparable size, multi-branch footprint, maker services (3D printing, Digital Studio), and broad programming. Operates under the same Illinois library-district legal structure.
• Evanston Public Library: Illinois public library serving an adjacent Chicago-suburb community with similar traditional lending, digital services, and maker programming. Comparable scope and demographics, slightly more urban catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Library: Larger Illinois public library system with broader geographic scope and a much larger budget, but operating under the same Illinois library framework. Comparable core service categories but materially larger scale and urban footprint.

Others

• OverDrive (Libby app): Digital content platform that powers CMPLD's eLibrary ebook/eaudiobook lending and is also a partner. Not a direct competitor for the library's physical/community services, but a key technology and content vendor that defines the digital lending experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CookMemorialLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/CMPLD
• Instagraminstagram.com/cooklibrary
• Xx.com/CookLibrary

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 Cook Memorial Public Library District