Lincoln Libraries
Lincoln Libraries is the municipal public library system serving Lincoln, Nebraska and Lancaster County, operating eight branches plus the Lied Bookmobile to provide free borrowing, research, programming, and technology services to residents, with a school partnership program and a new Central Library capital project underway.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1875
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lincoln Libraries does
Lincoln Libraries, formally Lincoln City Libraries, is the municipal public library system serving Lincoln, Nebraska and Lancaster County. Operated by the City of Lincoln under the oversight of a Library Board of Trustees and directed by Ryan Wieber, the system runs eight physical branch locations plus the Lied Bookmobile and provides free library services to residents funded primarily through municipal tax appropriations, trust income (notably the Lillian Helms Polley Trust sustaining the Polley Music Library), and grants from bodies such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The system's core technology platform is SirsiDynix, used for the unified catalog, patron accounts, holds, renewals, and interlibrary loans, supplemented by library-branded iOS/Android mobile apps, a website hosted by GHD Digital, and Google-powered website search. The product portfolio spans core borrowing (books, DVDs, audiobooks, e-books, instruments including ukuleles and guitars), over 60 research databases (genealogy, legal, health, business, language, music, career, and education), special collections (Polley Music Library, Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, Local History Center), technology services (computers, WiFi, 3D printing, print/scan/copy, tech help), and outreach services (bookmobile, home mail delivery, Library OneCard school partnership).
Customer segments are organized horizontally across children and families, adults and seniors, Lincoln Public Schools students (served via the Library OneCard partnership covering all 62 LPS schools), researchers and genealogists, musicians, and adults with memory challenges. Strategic priorities include the Central Library Project at 1111 O Street with a public fundraising campaign launched in 2025-2026, ongoing 2024-2027 strategic plan execution, and program expansion through initiatives like the Collaborative Learning Lab and America 250 programming. As a government entity, the system generates no commercial revenue.
Lincoln Libraries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lincoln Libraries
- Legal name
- Lincoln City Libraries
- Website
- https://lincolnlibraries.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1875
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lincoln Libraries is the municipal public library system serving Lincoln, Nebraska and Lancaster County, operating eight branches plus the Lied Bookmobile to provide free borrowing, research, programming, and technology services to residents, with a school partnership program and a new Central Library capital project underway.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Lincoln Libraries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Lincoln Libraries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Library Card - Basic Access |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Library OneCard - School Partnership |
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Lincoln Libraries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lincoln Libraries operates a public library system of eight branch locations and the Lied Bookmobile serving Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska. Patrons receive free access to physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, instruments), digital content (e-books, audiobooks, databases), public technology (computers, WiFi, 3D printing), community programs for all ages, and specialized research collections. Services are delivered through in-person branches, mobile outreach, online catalog, mobile apps, and a partnership with Lincoln Public Schools.
Product overview
Lincoln City Libraries operates as a public library system consisting of eight branch locations and the Lied Bookmobile, offering a unified catalog-based service for borrowing physical materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, musical instruments) and accessing digital content. The product portfolio includes core borrowing/catalog services through SirsiDynix, mobile apps, specialized collections (Polley Music Library, Local History Center, Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors), over 60 research databases, community programs (One Book One Lincoln, Summer Reading Challenge, Memory Cafe, America 250 events), technology services (computers, WiFi, 3D printing, print/scan/copy, tech help), outreach services (bookmobile, home outreach, Library OneCard school partnership), and meeting/study room reservations. The library serves Lincoln and Lancaster County residents with free access to materials and databases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lied Bookmobile: Mobile library service providing access to library materials throughout the community
- One Book One Lincoln
- Polley Music Library
- Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors
- Local History Center
Products and services
- Library Catalog and Borrowing Services Online catalog and borrowing system enabling Lincoln and Lancaster County patrons to search materials, manage accounts, place holds, and renew items across physical books, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, and other collections at eight branch locations and the Lied Bookmobile.
- Mobile Apps Library-branded mobile applications for iOS and Android providing on-the-go access to catalog, patron accounts, and digital content for library cardholders.
- 3D Printing Service On-demand 3D printing service available to library patrons via request form, enabling custom 3D object printing at branch locations.
- Print, Scan and Copy Services Printing, scanning, and copying services available to patrons at all Lincoln City Libraries branch locations.
- Computers and WiFi Public computer workstations and wireless internet access available to patrons at all Lincoln City Libraries branch locations.
- Tech Help Technology assistance programs helping library patrons with digital literacy, device setup, and troubleshooting.
- Databases and Research Over 60 online research databases covering genealogy (Ancestry Library Edition, MyHeritage), legal information (Legal Information Source), health (Consumer Health Complete), business and investment (Morningstar, Reference Solutions), language learning (Transparent Language Online), music (Classical Music Library, Jazz Music Library, Smithsonian Global Sound), career (Peterson's Test and Career Prep, JobNow), and educational content (Explora, TumbleBook Library, HelpNow).
- Polley Music Library Specialized music library within Bennett Martin Public Library featuring circulating music books, printed music, compact discs, digital collections, reference materials, and music magazines. Funded by the Lillian Helms Polley Trust.
- Local History Center Local history and genealogy research center at Bennett Martin Public Library providing Nebraska-focused materials including microfilmed newspapers from 1867, city directories from 1873, digitized yearbooks, property records, and access to genealogical databases.
- Ukuleles and Guitars Loan Program Musical instrument lending program allowing library patrons to check out ukuleles (soprano) and acoustic guitars with a 3-week loan period, supported by the Lincoln Ukulele Group.
- One Book One Lincoln Annual community reading program since 2002 encouraging adults in Lincoln and Lancaster County to read and discuss the same book, with a 17-member selection committee narrowing 156 nominations to finalists each year.
- Meeting Rooms and Study Rooms Bookable meeting and study rooms at Lincoln City Libraries branch locations available for community use, requiring advance reservation with address and email.
- Bookmobile Service Lied Bookmobile mobile library service providing outreach to communities throughout Lincoln with books, media, and library services.
- Home Outreach by Mail Mail-based library service for homebound patrons who are unable to visit Lincoln City Libraries physical locations.
- Interlibrary Loans Service enabling Lincoln City Libraries patrons to request materials from other library systems not available in local collections.
- Library OneCard Partnership program with Lincoln Public Schools providing every student a library card, creating a seamless connection between school and public library resources across all 62 LPS schools.
- Collaborative Learning Lab Hands-on learning space at Walt Branch Library offering tactile STEM learning tools, LEGO kits including LEGO Technic, molecule models, early language builders, and educational games available for borrowing and in-library use.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3+ million items borrowed annually from 8 locations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lincoln Libraries
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lincoln Libraries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Lincoln Libraries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lincoln Public SchoolscoreLibrary OneCard partnership providing all Lincoln Public Schools students (across 62 schools) with seamless access to public library resources, creating a continuous bridge of opportunity for students regardless of age, income, or educational background.
- Nebraska Library CommissioncoreState library agency partnership supporting the Polley Music Library digitization project and Nebraska Memories archive, making over 250 Nebraska-related music scores available online.
- Institute of Museum and Library ServicescoreFederal funding agency providing Technology Act grants administered through the Nebraska Library Commission for Polley Music Library projects and digitization efforts.
- Parlay ConsultingminorConsulting firm that collaborated with LCL staff, Library Board, and community members in 2023-2024 to develop the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan through a unified approach from multiple perspectives.
- Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA)minorPartnership bringing the Heritage sculpture by Eddie Dominguez to Eiseley Branch Library on loan, marking a first-of-its-kind institutional collaboration for public space enrichment.
- Public Art LincolnminorCity art program collaborating on the Heritage sculpture installation at Eiseley Branch Library, representing commitment to enriching public spaces through art and culture.
- GHD DigitalcoreWebsite hosting service for Lincoln City Libraries website, collecting non-personally-identifying information to better understand how visitors use the site.
- Lincoln Ukulele GroupminorCommunity group providing colorful soprano ukuleles to the library for patron checkout, supporting music education and instrument access.
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical SocietyminorLocal genealogical society partner contributing to the Local History Resource Hub at Bennett Martin Public Library, providing expertise and resources for family history research.
- Lincoln Public Schools (Yearbooks)minorPartnership providing digitized school yearbooks from Lincoln Public Schools, accessible through the Local History Resource Hub online.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lincoln Libraries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- New York Public Library: Largest municipal public library system in the U.S., operating 92 branches across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Comparable to LCL as a tax-funded municipal library system offering free public access to collections, programs, and digital services, though materially larger in scale, geography, and operating budget.
- Los Angeles Public Library: Large municipal library system with 72 branches serving Los Angeles; offers free lending, special collections, and extensive digital services. Comparable to LCL as a city-funded library network, though at substantially greater scale and with broader programming.
- Chicago Public Library: Municipal public library system serving Chicago with 81 locations, operating free public lending, programs, and digital resources under city funding. Structurally comparable to LCL as a tax-funded branch-network system serving a defined municipal geography with school-district-adjacent programming.
Emerging players
- OverDrive (Libby): Digital lending platform that powers e-book and audiobook borrowing for thousands of public libraries globally, including LCL's digital collections. Comparable to LCL on the digital-lending dimension it serves, representing both a technology supplier and a partial substitute for traditional library usage.
- BiblioCommons: Provider of library discovery and patron engagement platforms used by public library systems for catalogs, events, and community features. Comparable to LCL on the public-facing library experience layer, with potential substitution risk if LCL were to migrate away from SirsiDynix.
- Hoopla (Midwest Tape): Digital content platform providing libraries with on-demand e-books, audiobooks, music, and video accessible to patrons. Comparable to LCL on the digital-content distribution dimension and increasingly integrated into library service offerings alongside Libby/OverDrive.
Others
- SirsiDynix: Library management system vendor whose integrated library system (ILS) is used by LCL to run its catalog, patron accounts, holds, and circulation. Included as a key enabling technology peer rather than a direct competitor, since it underpins LCL's core service delivery.
- Barnes & Noble: Large retail bookseller offering physical bookstores and digital reading services including Nook and BN Books. Adjacent to LCL's retail/book-distribution function rather than a direct competitor, since LCL lends rather than sells, but represents the principal commercial alternative for book acquisition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lincoln Libraries social profiles
Digital presenceLincoln Libraries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lincoln Libraries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Lincoln Libraries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lincoln Libraries 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 Lincoln Libraries
What does Lincoln Libraries do?
Lincoln Libraries operates a public library system of eight branch locations and the Lied Bookmobile serving Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska. Patrons receive free access to physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, instruments), digital content (e-books, audiobooks, databases), public technology (computers, WiFi, 3D printing), community programs for all ages, and specialized research collections. Services are delivered through in-person branches, mobile outreach, online catalog, mobile apps, and a partnership with Lincoln Public Schools.
Is Lincoln Libraries a public or private company?
Lincoln Libraries is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Lincoln Libraries founded?
Lincoln Libraries was founded in 1875. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lincoln Libraries based?
Lincoln Libraries is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Lincoln Libraries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library and Chicago Public Library. Emerging players are OverDrive (Libby), BiblioCommons and Hoopla (Midwest Tape). Others are SirsiDynix and Barnes & Noble.
Does Lincoln Libraries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lincoln Libraries.