The Library Network
The Library Network (TLN) is a Michigan non-profit library cooperative serving 100+ public library locations with a shared automation catalog, OverDrive-powered digital lending, reciprocal borrowing, and roughly 20 add-on services including delivery, grants, and statewide purchasing discounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNovi, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Library Network does
The Library Network (TLN) is a Michigan-based non-profit library cooperative that provides shared infrastructure and services to over 100 public library locations across the state. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Novi, Michigan, TLN is governed by a Board of Trustees and a Member Council of library directors, operating as a member-driven organization rather than a venture-backed or publicly traded company.
The core of TLN's offering is the Shared Automation System (SAS), a unified library management and cataloging platform that exposes a single online public access catalog of millions of items (books, DVDs, CDs, and other materials) to patrons across the network. This catalog is complemented by the "Download Destination," a digital lending portal powered by OverDrive for eBooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines, and the "Check it Out!" reciprocal borrowing program that lets patrons use a single TLN card at 100+ member locations. Around these three core products, TLN offers roughly 20 add-on modules spanning acquisitions, cataloging, statewide delivery, interlibrary loan (MeLCat), RFID, the Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) cultural attraction program, grants administration (LEAF, Rural Library Grant), training, an Employee Assistance Program, a job board, a substitute staffing pool, and negotiated statewide discounts (including Amazon Business Prime). Technology integrations are anchored in OverDrive (digital lending), YourMembership (member portal and authentication), and MeLCat (statewide resource sharing).
TLN's revenue model is built on recurring membership dues paid by Michigan public libraries, supplemented by a transaction-fee online store and grant-funded programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set through the cooperative's governance process. New members are acquired through a membership process; recent additions include Holly Township Library and the 13-branch Capital Area District Library. The organization employs 11-50 staff and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors identified in the available data.
The Library Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Library Network
- Legal name
- The Library Network
- Website
- https://tln.lib.mi.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Library Network (TLN) is a Michigan non-profit library cooperative serving 100+ public library locations with a shared automation catalog, OverDrive-powered digital lending, reciprocal borrowing, and roughly 20 add-on services including delivery, grants, and statewide purchasing discounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Library Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Library Cooperative Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where The Library Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Novi
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Library Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Member Library Membership Dues: Public libraries in Michigan pay membership fees to join TLN and gain access to shared services including the catalog system, delivery network, statewide discounts, and collaborative purchasing programs
- Online Store Sales: TLN operates an online store offering library-related merchandise and materials to member libraries and staff
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Library Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Library Network is a non-profit library cooperative that provides shared automation, cataloging, digital content, delivery, and interlibrary loan services to more than 100 public library locations across Michigan. Its core product is the Shared System Catalog (SAS), a unified bibliographic platform providing patrons access to millions of items, supplemented by the OverDrive-powered Download Destination for digital lending and a Check it Out! reciprocal borrowing program. Member libraries pay recurring dues to access the shared infrastructure and a catalog of cooperative services including acquisitions, professional training, RFID technology, and grant administration.
Product overview
The Library Network operates as a cooperative library consortium serving Michigan, offering a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around three core products: the Shared System Catalog (SAS) providing a unified bibliographic database and OPAC for 100+ member libraries with millions of items; the Download Destination powered by OverDrive for digital content access; and the Check it Out! reciprocal borrowing program enabling cardholders to access materials across the network. These core services are augmented by a comprehensive suite of add-on modules including Acquisitions, Cataloging, Delivery, Interlibrary Loan, RFID technology, Michigan Activity Pass, Summer Reading, Grants (LEAF and Rural Library programs), Training, Employee Assistance, Empathy Studios, Job Board, Statistics, and Substitute Pool services. The modular structure allows member libraries to access shared infrastructure and collective purchasing power while maintaining local autonomy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Download Destination: Digital content platform offering eBooks, Audiobooks, and eMagazines through OverDrive/Libby
- Shared Automation (SAS)
- Library Equity Access Fund (LEAF)
- Michigan Activity Pass (MAP)
Products and services
- Shared System Catalog (SAS) The flagship shared library automation system providing a unified online public access catalog (OPAC) serving 100+ Michigan library locations with millions of items including books, DVDs, CDs, and other materials. Includes member account management capabilities for patrons.
- Download Destination (OverDrive) Digital media platform providing instant-checkout access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines through the Libby/OverDrive platform, integrated with TLN member library card authentication.
- Check it Out! with TLN Reciprocal borrowing program enabling TLN library cardholders to use their card at 100+ library locations across the network, expanding physical material access beyond the home library.
- Cataloging Services Professional cataloging services for member libraries ensuring standardized bibliographic records and metadata quality across the shared system.
- Acquisitions Centralized purchasing and acquisitions services enabling member libraries to acquire materials through collective buying power and streamlined ordering processes.
- Delivery Services Inter-library delivery system facilitating the physical transport of materials between member libraries across Michigan, including automated sorting and logistics management.
- Interlibrary Loan (MeLCat) Resource sharing service enabling patrons to request materials from other libraries within the TLN network and statewide through the Michigan eLibrary (MeLCat) system.
- RFID Technology Services Radio-frequency identification technology solutions for library materials, including tagging, tracking, and automated handling systems.
- Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) Digital pass program providing free or discounted access to Michigan museums, cultural venues, and attractions for TLN library cardholders.
- Training Services Professional development and continuing education programs for library staff, including technology training, programming ideas, and workforce skills development.
- Grants Program (LEAF and Rural Library Grant) Grant writing support and funding programs for member libraries, including the Library Equity Access Fund (LEAF) and the Rural Library Grant Program, which together awarded $500,000 in combined grants in June 2026.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Workplace support services providing counseling, mental health resources, and employee wellness assistance for member library staff.
- TLN Online Store Online storefront offering library-related merchandise and materials to member libraries and staff.
Quantifiable outcome
- Rural Libraries Awarded $500,000 Combined in Grants (2026)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Library Network
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Library Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature4 records
The Library Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OverDrivecoreOverDrive provides the digital content platform (Download Destination) for TLN's eBook, audiobook, and eMagazine lending services. TLN offers thousands of digital titles through the Libby/OverDrive platform, integrated into the TLN member library experience.
- YourMembershipcoreYourMembership provides the membership management software powering TLN's member portal, website functionality, and community platform for library staff.
- Amazon Business PrimeminorTLN provides Amazon Business Prime access to member libraries, enabling them to leverage business pricing and benefits for library acquisitions and purchasing.
- Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) PartnerscoreMAP is a partnership with Michigan cultural attractions, museums, and organizations that provide free or discounted passes to library patrons. At miactivitypass.org, patrons can access passes from participating cultural institutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Library Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- OverDrive: OverDrive is a strategic technology partner and digital content distribution platform used by TLN for eBooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines. It is an ecosystem participant whose terms directly affect TLN's service economics rather than a direct competitor.
- Bibliotheca (now part of Rittenhouse): Bibliotheca provides library technology including RFID, self-service, and management solutions — comparable to TLN's RFID services and broader shared automation offerings as a vendor in the library technology ecosystem.
Direct peers
- ConnectNY: ConnectNY is a library consortium of independent academic and research libraries offering shared catalog access and resource sharing. It is a directly comparable cooperative model, though it serves a different region and member mix.
- Bibliomation: Bibliomation is a Connecticut-based library consortium offering shared automation, catalog, and technology services to member libraries — a directly comparable model to TLN operating in a different region.
- Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS): MCLS is a regional library cooperative serving Michigan and other Midwest states with shared cataloging, automation, and resource-sharing services — a directly comparable cooperative model to TLN, with overlapping Michigan membership.
Broad incumbents
- LYRASIS: LYRASIS is a large nonprofit library and cultural heritage consortium offering technology, content, and grant services. It is a broader incumbent operating across many U.S. states, offering overlapping capabilities to TLN's member services.
- OCLC: OCLC operates the global WorldCat catalog and shared library services infrastructure. It is the dominant broad incumbent in cooperative library data services, providing cataloging and resource-sharing tools that compete with TLN's SAS platform at scale.
Regional players
- Minitex: Minitex is a Minnesota-based library cooperative providing resource sharing, ILL, and technology services to upper Midwest libraries. It is structurally comparable to TLN as a regional library cooperative with similar service offerings.
- Michigan eLibrary (MeLCat): MeLCat is a statewide Michigan interlibrary loan and e-resources platform. TLN already integrates with MeLCat, and the two compete/overlap for ILL and digital resource services across Michigan public libraries.
- PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc.): PALCI operates a statewide library resource-sharing and discovery platform serving Pennsylvania academic and public libraries. It is a directly comparable cooperative platform in a different region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Library Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe Library Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Library Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Library Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Library Network 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 The Library Network
What does The Library Network do?
The Library Network is a non-profit library cooperative that provides shared automation, cataloging, digital content, delivery, and interlibrary loan services to more than 100 public library locations across Michigan. Its core product is the Shared System Catalog (SAS), a unified bibliographic platform providing patrons access to millions of items, supplemented by the OverDrive-powered Download Destination for digital lending and a Check it Out! reciprocal borrowing program. Member libraries pay recurring dues to access the shared infrastructure and a catalog of cooperative services including acquisitions, professional training, RFID technology, and grant administration.
Is The Library Network a public or private company?
The Library Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Library Network founded?
The Library Network was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Library Network based?
The Library Network is headquartered in Novi, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Library Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Member Library Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are online Store Sales.
Who are The Library Network's main competitors?
Others on record are OverDrive and Bibliotheca (now part of Rittenhouse). Direct peers are ConnectNY, Bibliomation and Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS). Broad incumbents are LYRASIS and OCLC. Regional players are Minitex, Michigan eLibrary (MeLCat) and PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc.).
Does The Library Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Library Network.
What industry is The Library Network in?
The Library Network's product category is Library Cooperative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAF, Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.