Akron-Summit County Public Library

What Akron-Summit County Public Library does

Akron-Summit County Public Library (ASCPL) is a public library system established in 1874 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, serving Summit County through 19 physical locations — one Main Library downtown and 18 branch libraries — plus mobile outreach via bookmobile, Library Express Delivery Service (LEDS), and Library On the Go locker portals at the METRO RTA transit center. The Main Library alone welcomes over one million visitors annually. The system operates on Koha integrated library technology for catalog and circulation management, with digital media access through Libby/OverDrive, Axis 360, and a proprietary mobile app; specialized facilities include TechZone@Main (3D printers, laser engravers, maker space equipment), a Patent & Trademark Resource Center, a Health Information Center, and the Summit Memory digital archive.

ASCPL's service portfolio spans traditional lending (books, audiobooks, e-books, streaming media, Library of Things including hotspot lending), programming (Summer Reading, Memory Café for dementia patients and caregivers, Main Event: Many Voices author series, Lucky Day popular titles collection), essential government-adjacent services (passport acceptance at two locations, free notary, document printing/scanning/faxing), and accessibility infrastructure (first-in-country KultureCity sensory-inclusive certification, assistive technology zone, NLS Talking Book program connections, WCAG 2.1 Level AA digital compliance). It serves nine distinct persona segments ranging from early literacy and teens to immigrants/refugees, educators, and genealogists.

The business model is non-commercial public funding: a property tax levy has underwritten nearly half of the operating budget since 1984, supplemented by state funding, voter-approved bonds (most recently a $160M, 20-year capital bond in May 2025), federal grants (ARPA via State Library of Ohio), and an Akron Community Foundation-managed endowment fund targeting $60,000/year in donations. Transaction-based revenue (passport execution fees, photos, printing, meeting room rentals) is incidental; overdue fines were eliminated in March 2024 (previously 0.30% or less of revenue). Strategic execution is delivered through a Board of Trustees-governed management team led by Executive Director Pam Hickson-Stevenson, with Bostwick Design Partnership and Independence Construction engaged for the current multi-year capital modernization cycle.

Name

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Legal name

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Website

https://akronlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Akron-Summit County Public Library is a publicly funded library system established in 1874, serving Summit County, Ohio through 19 branches, mobile services, and digital platforms with programs spanning literacy, accessibility, technology training, and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Special Libraries (Law, Medical, Corporate, Government) Operations (EDAEAGAD), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community education programs
• Digital media lending
• Local history archives
• Government document access

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 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 Funding (Property Tax Levies): Primary revenue source since 1984 - property tax levy funds nearly half of operating budget. Voters approved 1mill, 20-year bond issue in May 2025 generating $160 million for capital improvements.
2. State Funding: State funding support for public libraries in Ohio
3. Passport Execution Fees: $35 execution fee per passport application collected on behalf of U.S. Department of State
4. Notary Services: Free notary service for document notarization
5. Passport Photos: $12 plus sales tax for passport photos at library locations
6. Printing and Copying: 5¢ per side black & white, 25¢ per side color; 50¢ per lamination
7. Meeting Room Rental: Fees for Main Library meeting rooms and auditorium rental; free for non-commercial/non-profit groups not charging fees
8. Endowment Fund Donations: Donations to Akron Community Foundation endowment fund supporting library services and programs
9. Overdue Fines (Eliminated): Fine-free as of March 1, 2024. Previous revenue from overdue fines was 0.30% or less of total revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

Public library system providing free access to physical and digital collections, community programming, research resources, and ancillary government services across 19 branch locations in Summit County, Ohio. Founded in 1874 and primarily funded through a property tax levy first approved in 1984, the system lends books, audiovisual media, and digital content while offering educational, cultural, and civic services to local residents.

Product overview

Akron-Summit County Public Library is a public library system consisting of one Main Library downtown and 18 branch locations across Summit County. The library offers physical and digital collections including books, audiobooks, e-books, streaming media, and specialized items through its Library of Things (including hotspots). Core services include technology access via TechZone@Main (maker space with 3D printers, laser engravers), meeting room facilities (physical and virtual via Zoom), passport and notary services, interlibrary loan through Ohiolink/SearchOhio, and research resources including Patent & Trademark Resource Center and Health Information Center. Special programs include the Lucky Day popular titles collection, Summer Reading, Memory Café/Memory Kits for dementia support, and the Main Event: Many Voices speaker series. Mobile outreach includes Bookmobile, Library Express Delivery Service, and Library On The Go at transit centers. The system is sensory-inclusive certified through KultureCity and maintains accessibility commitment meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Library
• Branch Libraries (18 locations)
• TechZone@Main
• Digital Media Lending
• Library of Things
• Passport Acceptance Services
• Notary Services
• Virtual and In-Person Meeting Rooms
• Akron History Center
• Print, Scan, Fax, and Copy Services Self-service and staff-assisted document production services available to patrons for a per-page fee.
• Mobile Library Services (Bookmobile and Outreach)
• Library On The Go Lockers
• Seed Sharing Program
• Mobile App
• Interlibrary Loan
• Special Collections

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million visitors annually at Main Library alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bostwick Design PartnershipcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025System-wide design partner for $160M capital improvement plan. Conducted Space Usage Feasibility Study (April 2025). Presenting design plans at town hall meetings for each branch renovation.
• Independence ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Approved as Construction Manager at Risk for Main Library, Ellet Branch, Nordonia Hills Branch, and Tallmadge Branch renovation projects.
• METRO RTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2024Partnership to install Library On the Go self-serve locker portals at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. Provides 24/7 access to physical and digital library materials for transit riders. METRO riders can also ride METRO Direct free on first Thursday of each month with library card.
• The Accessibility LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Proud partner of The Accessibility Library, a resource center dedicated to enhancing accessibility at cultural events and community gatherings.
• Fair Housing Contact Service (FHCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-presented Just Action series addressing housing inequality with book discussions, legal clinic, documentary screening, and author talk by Leah and Richard Rothstein. FHCS has addressed housing issues in Akron area for 59 years.
• Community Legal AidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Participated in Housing Insecurity Free Legal Clinic providing information on tenant-landlord rights, eviction, foreclosure, and housing discrimination.
• Friends of Main LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Non-profit organization selling books at author events, supporting Main Event: Many Voices speaker series, and funding library programs and resources.
• Alzheimer's Association Greater East Ohio Area ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizes Memory Café series for people with early-stage cognitive loss and their caregivers. Monthly sessions at Ellet, Northwest, and quarterly at Norton branches. Staff trained as Dementia Friends through this partnership.
• Yiddish Book CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Selected as participating library for 'Stories of Exile' Reading Groups for Public Libraries 2023. Engages teens and adults in discussions about displacement, migration, and diaspora through Yiddish literature. Includes book discussions and Immigrant Perspectives on Film series.
• Independent Library Systems (Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Peninsula, Stow-Munroe Falls, Twinsburg)minorOthersSix communities in Summit County are served by independent library systems rather than ASCPL.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cleveland Public Library: Urban Ohio public library system; comparable scale, special collections, urban patron demographics, and Ohio library levy funding structure as ASCPL.
• Dayton Metro Library: Montgomery County public library serving the Dayton metro; comparable mid-sized Ohio library system with branch network and voter-supported funding model.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Franklin County public library serving the Columbus metropolitan area; comparable scale and Ohio-based levy-funded model, with similarly extensive branch network and programming portfolio.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library: Northeast Ohio county-level public library system serving the Cleveland metropolitan area; comparable in scale, branch footprint, public funding model, and statewide Ohio library policy context to ASCPL.
• Toledo Lucas County Public Library: Northwest Ohio county-level public library; comparable scale, branch footprint, and Ohio property-tax levy funding model.
• Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County: Southwest Ohio county-level public library; comparable scale, branch count, special collections operation, and Ohio public-funding framework to ASCPL.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Library: Major U.S. urban public library with extensive branch network and innovative programming; useful broad-incumbent comparison for scale, but substantially larger than ASCPL.
• Boston Public Library: Historic U.S. public library with extensive special collections and branch network; broad incumbent useful for comparing 150+ year operating histories and specialized research services to ASCPL's Special Collections.
• New York Public Library: Largest U.S. public library system; broad incumbent reference for large-scale branch operations, special collections, and major capital campaigns — but operates at materially greater scale than ASCPL.
• Los Angeles Public Library: Largest U.S. public library by branches; broad incumbent relevant for comparison on accessibility programming, technology hubs, and large-scale civic engagement, though materially larger than ASCPL.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/akronsummitlibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/AkronLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akron-summit-county-public-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/akronlibrary
• TikToktiktok.com/@akronlibrary
• Xx.com/akronlibrary

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Akron-Summit County Public Library