Montgomery City-County Public Library

What Montgomery City-County Public Library does

Montgomery City-County Public Library (MCCPL) is a government-owned public library system jointly operated by the City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission in Alabama, tracing its origins to subscription library service started on June 19, 1899. The system comprises 11 physical branch locations — the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library (main), two regional libraries (E.L. Lowder and Rufus A. Lewis), and eight smaller branches — supplemented by an Extension & Outreach Services unit that delivers programming to schools, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and Maxwell Federal Prison Camp. MCCPL serves all Montgomery County residents free of charge, with out-of-county patrons paying $50-$150 annually for borrowing privileges.

The library's core offerings span a 600,000+ volume physical collection (circulating over 500,000 items annually), a unified Sirsi Dynix online catalog enabling 24/7 account management and inter-branch holds, and an integrated digital resource layer that includes EBSCO Discovery Service, Gale, Alabama Virtual Library, Newsbank, Cloud Library, Hoopla, TumbleBooks, and Homework Alabama. Youth and teen services are structured around a dedicated Children's Department and Young Adult Department with specialized programming including the Teen Advisory Board, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative, Summer Reading, and an After School Club. Recent technology modernization has introduced interactive Smartboards, Virtual Reality capabilities, gaming PCs, and esports programming funded through Alabama Public Library Service and IMLS/LSTA grants.

MCCPL's revenue model is dominated by government appropriations from the City of Montgomery and Montgomery County Commission, supplemented by competitive grants (APLS/IMLS/LSTA, ADECA, Alabama Humanities Foundation) and modest transaction-based income from printing, faxing, out-of-county library card fees, and proctoring services. Donations and bequests are channeled through the Friends of the Montgomery City-County Public Library 501(c)(3). The library is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed jointly by city and county government and led by Library Director Zella'Ques Holmes.

Name

Montgomery City-County Public Library

Legal name

Montgomery City-County Public Library

Website

https://mccpl.lib.al.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montgomery City-County Public Library is a government-funded public library system operating 11 branches across Montgomery County, Alabama, providing free physical and digital resources, programming, and outreach services to all county residents since 1899.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611)

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), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library access
• Digital library resources
• Children's reading programs
• Library card membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Montgomery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: Primary funding from City of Montgomery and Montgomery County Commission appropriations. Library was established in 1899 and merged city-county systems in 1974.
2. Grant Funding: Library receives grants from Alabama Public Library Service (APLS), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), Alabama Humanities Foundation, and ADECA. Grants have funded technology upgrades, lighting improvements, and programming.
3. Fee-Based Services: Printing and photocopying ($0.20 black & white, $0.50 color), faxing ($2.00 first page + $1.00 each additional), out-of-county library cards ($50-$150 annually depending on distance and media access), replacement cards ($2.00), and proctoring services.
4. Donations and Memorial Gifts: Accepts cash gifts, memorial and honor book donations, bequests through wills/living trusts, and stock donations. Friends of the Library organization raises funds for enhancement of public library service. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montgomery City-County Public Library (MCCPL) provides free public library services to residents of Montgomery County, Alabama, through 11 physical branch locations. Its offerings include lending of a collection of over 600,000 volumes, access to subscription-based digital databases and e-books, computer and internet access, youth and adult programming, homework tutoring, and community events. Services are delivered in person at branches, online through the Sirsi Dynix catalog, and via mobile outreach to schools, nursing homes, and correctional facilities.

Product overview

Montgomery City-County Public Library is a public library system offering a unified suite of services through eleven physical branch locations and digital platforms. The core offering centers on the Sirsi Dynix-powered online catalog enabling material search, account management, and inter-branch lending. The library provides integrated digital resources including subscription databases (EBSCO, Gale, Alabama Virtual Library, Newsbank) for research, and e-book/digital media services (Cloud Library, Hoopla, TumbleBooks) for patron consumption. Youth and teen services include specialized programming (Teen Advisory Board, After School Club), academic support (Homework Alabama tutoring, permit practice tests), and age-appropriate digital resources (ABCmouse, BookFlix). Community engagement features include event calendars, Summer Reading programs, LibraryFest, and Story Walk outdoor installations. Technology-enabled services encompass public computer labs, VR capabilities, and gaming PCs funded through LSTA grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Friends of the Montgomery City-County Public Library: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting the library through fundraising, special programs, and public information efforts.

Products and services

• Library Card Membership Membership card granting borrowing privileges, database access, and program eligibility. Free to Montgomery County residents and City/County employees; annual fee of $50-$150 for out-of-county borrowers depending on distance and media access; $75-$105 for out-of-county families.
• Online Library Catalog Sirsi Dynix-powered online catalog enabling patrons to search the physical and digital collection, manage accounts, place holds, and renew materials 24/7 across all library branches.
• Digital Databases and Research Resources Subscription-based research databases including EBSCO Discovery Service, Gale resources, Alabama Virtual Library, Newsbank, Oxford Reference, and specialized collections for genealogy, health, business, and academic research.
• eBooks and Digital Media Lending Electronic lending platforms including Cloud Library, Hoopla, TumbleBooks, AudioBookCloud, and Gale e-Books providing patrons with access to e-books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, and streaming content.
• Homework Alabama Tutoring Free online tutoring service offering homework help and academic assistance for K-12 and college students, with extended hours available during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Children's Services Age-appropriate resources and programming for children up to age 11, including TumbleBooks, ABCmouse, BookFlix, children's reading lists, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and homework help.
• Young Adult Services Teen-focused programs for ages 12-18 including Teen Advisory Board (TAB), YA databases, young adult reading lists, homework help, permit practice tests, and the After School Club offering daily tutoring and club activities.
• Community Programs and Events Calendar-based programming including Summer Reading, LibraryFest, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Story Walk outdoor reading installations, and branch-specific events scheduled throughout the year.
• Computer Lab and Technology Access Public computer labs, scheduled computer lab access, technology training, and technology lending services available across library branches.
• Gaming PCs and VR Programs Gaming computer stations and virtual reality experiences funded by Library Technology and Automation grants, enabling patrons to participate in educational and recreational gaming, esports, STEM activities, and digital skill development.
• Extension and Outreach Services Mobile library services bringing resources to public libraries, public and private schools, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and Maxwell Federal Prison Camp for patrons unable to visit physical branches.
• Printing, Faxing, and Proctoring Services Fee-based ancillary services including black and white printing ($0.20/page), color printing ($0.50/page), faxing ($2.00 first page plus $1.00 each additional page), and proctoring services for examinees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600,000 volumes in collection with circulation exceeding 500,000 items annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alabama Public Library Service (APLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPLS is the primary state-level library service organization providing grants, technology support, and resources to Montgomery City-County Public Library. MCCPL has received multiple technology and automation grants from APLS including $45,000 (FY2023), $40,000 (FY2024), and $50,000 (FY2025) for technology enhancements, gaming PCs, and STEM programs.
• Alabama Humanities FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $5,000 CARES Relief Grant to MCCPL to replace lost revenue during COVID-19 pandemic due to reduction in fine collection. Funding was part of $507,500 distributed to nonprofits across Alabama with humanities programming.
• Montgomery Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive partnership providing reading lists for Montgomery Public Schools at all grade levels, homework help resources aligned with curricula, and school library support services. Library provides resources supporting MPS teachers and students.
• Alabama State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Janice Franklin serves as Dean of Library and Learning Resources at ASU and as board member. Partnership includes HBCU Library Alliance co-founded by Dr. Franklin for digitization initiatives and preservation of HBCU cultural legacy.
• Trenholm State Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngela Hurst serves as Director of Community Programs. Partnership through Director of Cultural Affairs oversight. College students residing in Montgomery County receive library privileges same as residents.
• Maxwell Federal Prison CampminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExtension & Outreach Services provides library services to incarcerated individuals at Maxwell Federal Prison Camp as part of the library's outreach mission to underserved populations.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing e-books, audiobooks, movies, music, and comics. MCCPL offers Hoopla access to patrons with Bonus Borrows feature for additional borrowing without using monthly instant borrows.
• Cloud Library / BibliothecacoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital lending platform providing e-books and e-audiobooks. MCCPL integrates Cloud Library access for patrons alongside physical collection.
• EBSCO Information ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides research databases, e-journals, and discovery services. EBSCO Discovery Service provides all-inclusive search solution for in-depth research. Free EBSCO resources also available to patrons.
• Alabama Virtual LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide digital library resource providing access to databases and research materials. MCCPL participates in AVL providing patrons access to additional digital resources including Oxford Reference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Houston Public Library: Houston Public Library is a much larger Texas municipal system serving a major metropolitan area with extensive branch network and digital services. Operates similar government-funded model but at significantly greater scale, providing a benchmark for what expanded city-county library systems can offer.
• New York Public Library: NYPL is the largest US public library system and a broad incumbent in the public library sector. While operating at vastly larger scale, it demonstrates the upper bound of government-funded library services including research branches, cultural programming, and digital innovation.
• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library is a larger Southeastern municipal library system serving Fulton County with similar government-funded operations, branch network, and educational services. Provides regional benchmark for governance, funding, and service delivery in comparable demographics.

Others

• SirsiDynix: SirsiDynix is the technology vendor providing MCCPL's integrated library system (ILS) and online catalog. An ecosystem enabler whose products (Sirsi, BLUEcloud) underpin operations at MCCPL and many peer public library systems; highly relevant as a shared infrastructure provider.
• Alabama Public Library Service (APLS): APLS is the state-level library administrative agency that distributes LSTA/IMLS grants to MCCPL and other Alabama public libraries. Functions as a funding/coordination body that channels federal library dollars to local systems — a critical ecosystem partner for MCCPL's grant capture strategy.

Direct peers

• Mobile Public Library: Mobile Public Library is another Alabama city-county library system offering similar services including branch network, digital collections, and educational programming. Shares state funding environment (APLS) and similar demographic service area.
• Tuscaloosa Public Library: Tuscaloosa Public Library serves Tuscaloosa County with similar government-funded model, branch structure, and APLS grant eligibility. Comparable collection scale and digital resource offerings.
• Huntsville-Madison County Public Library: Huntsville-Madison County Public Library serves a similar Alabama city-county population with multiple branches and shared city-county funding model. Comparable scale, digital resource subscriptions (EBSCO, Hoopla, Cloud Library), and programming scope including maker spaces and technology centers.
• Auburn Public Library: Auburn Public Library is a smaller Alabama municipal library system serving Lee County with similar city funding model, branch operations, and educational programming. Comparable scale and service offerings to MCCPL's smaller branches.
• Birmingham Public Library: Birmingham Public Library is the most directly comparable Alabama municipal library system, serving Jefferson County with multiple branches, similar digital subscriptions, and equivalent government funding model. Same state regulatory environment (APLS oversight) and similar service offerings including computer labs, children's services, and community programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpDJnwIquOHn62s-293mQng/videos
• Facebookmccpl.lib.al.us/social-media
• Xx.com/your_mccpl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montgomery-city-county-public-library

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Montgomery City-County Public Library