Salt Lake County Library

What Salt Lake County Library does

Salt Lake County Library is a public library system serving Salt Lake County, Utah, operating 18 branch libraries, 2 reading rooms, a satellite jail location, and the Viridian Event Center. Founded in 1938-1939 and consistently ranked among the top ten U.S. libraries serving populations of 500,000 to 999,999, the system provides free access to physical and digital collections, educational programming, and community gathering spaces to county residents. It operates as a division of the Salt Lake County Department of Community Services under Library Director Jim Cooper.

The system's technology stack centers on a unified Polaris ILS catalog and patron account platform, supplemented by a Digital Library portfolio that integrates e-books, e-audiobooks, digital magazines via Flipster, streaming music via Hoopla, and research databases including Ancestry Library, Consumer Reports, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, Rosetta Stone, and Novelist. Programming and engagement products include Digital Escape Rooms hosted on Google Forms, STEM and Crafternoon video content on YouTube, Beanstack reading challenges, a mobile app, online room reservations, curbside holds, 3D printing, remote print services, a Create Space maker area, and the Library of Things lending program (telescopes, nature kits, memory care kits, heart health monitors). Signature events include ToshoCON, Summer Reading, Star Parties, Adult Night Out, Localscapes, O.W.L. Camp, Spy Camp, Bingo Lite Nights, and America 250.

The business model is publicly funded: core library services are free to Salt Lake County residents and financed through county tax revenue allocated via the Department of Community Services. Supplemental revenue is generated through Viridian Event Center rentals for banquets, conferences, weddings, performances, and presentations. Distribution is community-led through the 18-branch physical network, an online catalog and digital library accessible 24/7, and signature event programming, with marketing conducted via the website, Facebook, X, Instagram, email newsletters, and community partnerships such as Localscapes with the Jordan Valley Water Conservation District.

Name

Salt Lake County Library

Legal name

Salt Lake County Library

Website

https://slcolibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Salt Lake County Library is a publicly funded library system serving Salt Lake County, Utah, operating 18 branch libraries and 2 reading rooms. It delivers free physical and digital collections, educational programming, community events, and the Viridian Event Center to county residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

West Jordan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: Salt Lake County Library is a division of Salt Lake County Department of Community Services, funded primarily through public tax revenue. As a public library system, core services are provided free of charge to county residents.
2. Viridian Event Center Rentals: The library's Viridian Event Center generates revenue through rental fees for events including banquets, receptions, conferences, meetings, dances, celebrations, performances, presentations, and weddings. Rental information is available with rates, capacities, and catering options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salt Lake County Library is a public library system that provides free access to physical and digital library collections, educational and cultural programming, and community gathering spaces across 18 branch libraries and 2 reading rooms in Salt Lake County. Core offerings include book and media lending, Library of Things (telescopes, nature kits, memory care kits), digital resources (e-books, streaming music via Hoopla, databases such as Ancestry and LinkedIn Learning), educational programs for all ages, and the Viridian Event Center for paid event rentals.

Product overview

Salt Lake County Library operates as a unified public library system consisting of 18 branch locations, two reading rooms, a jail reading room, and the Viridian Event Center, serving a population of 500,000 to 999,999. The system offers a unified catalog and patron account system (Polaris ILS) as its core infrastructure, through which patrons access physical collections (books, movies, music), the Library of Things lending program (telescopes, nature kits, memory care kits, heart health monitors), and digital resources. The digital portfolio centers on the Digital Library platform integrating e-books, e-audiobooks, streaming music (Hoopla), digital magazines (Flipster), and research databases (Ancestry Library, Consumer Reports, Mango Languages, Rosetta Stone, Novelist). Interactive digital programming includes Digital Escape Rooms hosted via Google Forms, STEM Videos and Crafternoon Video tutorials on YouTube, and reading challenges through Beanstack. Signature programming includes the Summer Reading Program with age-segmented challenges, signature events (ToshoCON, O.W.L. Camp, Spy Camp, Adult Night Out, Localscapes, Star Parties, Bingo Lite Nights, America 250), and accessibility-focused services (All Ability Program for intellectual disabilities). The system provides patron-facing tools including online room reservation, curbside holds pickup, 3D printing, Print From Anywhere remote printing, and a mobile app. Community engagement extends through Book Clubs, Library Podcast, Adult Lecture Series, and Teen Summer Internships. The Viridian Event Center functions as a distinct full-service rental venue for banquets, conferences, performances, and weddings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Library Comprehensive digital resource platform providing e-books, e-audiobooks, digital magazines, streaming music, and access to research databases including Ancestry Library, Consumer Reports, and language learning tools like Mango Languages and Rosetta Stone. Available to Salt Lake County library cardholders.
• Library of Things Lending program offering non-traditional items including telescopes, nature kits, memory care kits, and heart health monitors that patrons can borrow rather than purchase. Available to library cardholders across the branch network.
• Viridian Event Center Full-service event venue operated by the library offering indoor and outdoor spaces for banquets, conferences, dances, performances, and weddings. Located at 8030 S 1825 W, West Jordan, UT 84088. Generates rental fee revenue.
• Summer Reading Program Annual reading incentive program with challenges for adults, teens, kids, and pre-readers. Participants complete activities by reading, creating, learning, playing, and connecting to earn rewards including books, prize drawings, and coupon sheets for local attractions.
• 3D Printing Service Additive manufacturing service available to library patrons for creating physical objects from digital designs. Provided at branch locations.
• Print From Anywhere Remote printing service enabling patrons to send print jobs to library printers from any location via the PrinterOn platform.
• Create Space Maker space facilities providing tools and equipment for patron creative projects and hands-on learning at library locations.
• Online Catalog Online public access catalog (OPAC) powered by Polaris ILS, enabling patrons to search, reserve, and manage library materials including books, movies, music, and digital resources 24/7.
• Curbside Holds Contactless pickup service allowing patrons to reserve materials online and retrieve them without entering the library building.
• Reserve a Room Patron-accessible room booking system allowing groups to reserve library meeting spaces for study, programs, and community gatherings.
• Digital Escape Rooms Interactive online puzzles themed around literature, pop culture, and adventure stories available for all ages, teens, and adults. Includes escape rooms based on Narnia, fairy tales, Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jumanji, Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek, and more.

Quantifiable outcome

• Summer Reading program participants complete 30 activities and receive books, prize drawing entries, and coupons for local attractions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jordan Valley Water Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Localscapes program - a water-efficient, low-maintenance yard education initiative. The class teaches design basics, free local resources, and substantial rebates available through Utah Water Savers. This is a community education partnership addressing water conservation in Utah.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hennepin County Library: Minnesota county library system serving a population of similar scale with branch-based physical access, digital resources, and community programming. Direct structural comparable as a county-administered public library system.
• Las Vegas-Clark County Library District: Large county library district serving Clark County, Nevada with extensive branches, digital resources, and community programming. Direct comparable as a county-funded public library system in the western U.S.
• Seattle Public Library: Municipal public library serving Seattle with a flagship central library plus branches, digital lending, and signature programming. Comparable as a publicly funded urban library system, though serving a smaller population than Salt Lake County.
• Maricopa County Library District: Arizona county library district serving a large Sun Belt population with multiple branches, digital services, and signature programming. Comparable as a county-level, publicly funded library system in a fast-growing U.S. metro.
• Multnomah County Library: Oregon county library system serving the Portland metro area with a strong branch network, programming, and digital services. Comparable in structure as a county-administered public library serving a mid-size metro population.
• King County Library System: County-level public library system in Washington state serving a comparable suburban population with multiple branches, digital lending, and signature programs. Closest direct peer in scale, governance structure (county-funded), and service scope.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Largest U.S. public library system, operating 88+ branches with deep digital resources and signature programming. Directly comparable as a public, tax-funded library network providing books, databases, classes, and community programming — though at vastly larger scale.
• Los Angeles Public Library: Major municipal public library system serving a large U.S. metro area with extensive branch network, digital collections, and community programming. Comparable as a publicly funded library offering free access to books, digital resources, and educational events.

Others

• Hoopla (Midwest Tape): Digital content platform providing libraries with streaming music, e-books, audiobooks, and comics. Already integrated into Salt Lake County Library's Digital Library; comparable as a key vendor enabling the system's digital lending capability.
• OverDrive: Leading digital content platform used by libraries globally to lend e-books, audiobooks, and streaming media. Comparable as a library-serving technology provider, not a competing library — adjacent infrastructure enabling the digital collections Salt Lake County Library offers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_CountyLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCountyLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecountylibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Salt Lake County Library