Whelden Memorial Library

Name

Whelden Memorial Library

Legal name

Whelden Memorial Library

Website

https://wheldenlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital lending services
• Interlibrary loan network
• Children's reading programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Barnstable

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Direct donations at various levels (Supporter $25, Innovator $50, Founder $100, Philanthropist $500, Benefactor $1,000), annual appeal letters, and special fundraising campaigns. The library relies on community support as an independent nonprofit.
2. Special Fundraisers: Sales of fundraiser items including Blind Date with a Book Bundles ($15), America 250 Commemorative Ornaments ($30), and Summer of Giving campaigns with suggested $25 donations. Redeemable bottle/can shed for donations.
3. Town of Barnstable Grant: Partial funding from Town of Barnstable annual grants. Each of the seven village libraries are private nonprofit organizations with the town providing partial funding through grants.
4. Amazon Smile/Wowbrary: Support through Amazon shopping via Wowbrary link at no extra cost to shoppers, generating affiliate-style support for the library.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Whelden Memorial Library is a nonprofit public library that lends physical and digital books, audiobooks, DVDs, and magazines to Massachusetts residents. It supplements traditional lending with unique circulating collections (Library of Things, Seed Library, Tea Library, vinyl records, Tonie Boxes), museum passes for regional attractions, historical research resources, meeting space, technology help, and community programs including Summer Reading, Village Festival, and Hydrangea Festival tours.

Product overview

Whelden Memorial Library is a single-location public library offering traditional lending services (books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines) alongside innovative lending programs. The core collection includes print and physical materials, while special collections include the Library of Things (tools, gadgets, vinyl records, Tonie Boxes), Museum Passes, Seed Library, Tea Library, and Conscious Citizen Kits. Digital services are provided through integrations with Libby/Overdrive, Hoopla, and the CLAMS network. The library also offers community programs including Summer Reading, Village Festival, Hydrangea Festival tours, and Citizen of the Year awards. Tech Help, meeting room rental, and historical research services round out the offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library of Things Circulating collection of tools, gadgets, and creative items including cordless drill, garden tools, sewing machine, metal detector, microscope, record player, and Tonie Boxes that patrons can check out like traditional library materials, promoting sustainability and hands-on learning.
• Seed Library and Little Tea Library Seasonal seed library offering free vegetable, flower, herb, and fruit seeds with a community seed return program, paired with a tea lending program allowing patrons to try and share tea varieties.
• Conscious Citizen Kits Backpack-style kits in the Children's Room featuring curated books about diverse cultures and experiences, with discussion questions designed for family conversations about cultural awareness.
• Circulating Vinyl Record Collection Growing collection of vinyl records spanning classic rock to jazz available for checkout, with a portable record player also available for borrowing.
• Tonie Boxes and Figures Screen-free audio players for children with a wide range of Tonie figures for story time and music, with six boxes available for circulation.
• Museum Passes Discounted or free admission passes to regional museums and attractions including Battleship Cove, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Roger Williams Park Zoo, JFK Hyannis Museum, and more.
• Historical Indexes and Local History Archives Indexes to West Barnstable's historical collections including Bicentennial indexes, General History indexes, Historical Survey indexes, and other document indexes supporting genealogical and local history research, with digitized photographs on Flickr.
• Digital Lending Resources (Ebooks, Audiobooks, Databases) Digital lending services including Libby/Overdrive for ebooks and audiobooks, Hoopla Digital for movies, music, and comics, NoveList Plus for readers' advisory, EBSCO databases, and Commonwealth Catalog interlibrary loan.
• Tech Help by Appointment One-on-one technology assistance with devices, email, ebooks, and other basic technology needs available by appointment.
• Library Card Services Free library card issuance for Massachusetts residents, workers, and property owners, with eCard option for immediate digital access; cards valid for 3 years before renewal.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading initiative with programs for youth and adults, reading challenges, prizes for all ages, and online or in-library registration.
• Citizen of the Year Award Annual award recognizing a person who has made West Barnstable a better place through inspiration, dedication, and community spirit.
• Hydrangea Festival Garden Tours Annual self-guided private garden tours during Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival supporting Whelden Memorial Library with $5 admission per garden.
• West Barnstable Village Festival Annual community festival on the library lawn featuring local vendors, food, and activities to benefit the library.
• FOWL Book Sale Friends of Whelden Library book sales typically held on second and fourth Saturdays in the library basement.
• Meeting Room Rental Facility use available for small groups and community organizations through facility request forms, subject to space availability and library policies, with a $100 fee for groups using the space more than 6 days per fiscal year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fine-free library services since January 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing) NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe CLAMS network connects Whelden Memorial Library with six other village libraries on Cape Cod (Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, Sturgis). Patrons can use a single library card to borrow materials from any member library, return items to any location, and access shared digital resources including Libby and Overdrive.
• Commonwealth CatalogcoreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide catalog enabling Whelden patrons to borrow materials from libraries throughout Massachusetts. Items are delivered to Whelden for patron pickup. Part of the Massachusetts Library System.
• Battleship Cove Maritime MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum pass program providing 2 passes for discounted entry to Fall River museum.
• Cape Cod Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPass providing free gallery admission for two at Dennis, MA museum. Not valid for special events.
• Museum of Fine Arts BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline discount code pass providing $10 admission for up to two adults. Tickets must be purchased online using the discount code.
• Heritage Museums and GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPass providing 50% off general admission for up to 2 adults and 4 youth. Online discount code valid for specific dates.
• Roger Williams Park ZoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner$4 off per ticket for up to 4 tickets. Discount codes redeemable online or in-person.
• J. Palino JewelryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal artist partnership for Summer of Giving fundraiser. Handcrafted bracelets awarded as donor appreciation at campaign milestones. Jewelry not sold online or shipped, making this exclusive partnership valuable for supporters near and far.
• White House Historical AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to offer Official America 250 Commemorative Ornament as fundraising item. Library sells ornaments for $30 donation each.
• DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) MassachusettsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo parking passes available for most DCR facilities including state parks, beaches, and Cape Cod Rail Trail. Passes good for car occupants.
• Barnstable Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for researchers seeking local history and genealogical resources. Society maintains significant archival collections. Library staff refer patrons requiring extensive research.
• Sturgis LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for local history and genealogical research. Library recommends Sturgis for patrons needing extensive local history research support.
• Cape Cod Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for Higgins Art Gallery and Tilden Arts Center archives for researchers exploring Cape Cod history.
• Edward Gorey House MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2 passes available providing one free admission or two half-priced admissions. Limited to one per patron.
• USS Constitution MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4 passes available for free admission for groups up to 9 people. Located in Charlestown Navy Yard.
• Whydah Pirate MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPass allowing up to 4 people at $12 per person (regular price $17 adults, $15 seniors, $13 children). West Yarmouth location.
• JFK Hyannis MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2 passes available, each providing 4 free admissions to the museum. Not valid for special events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nantucket Atheneum: Historic independent nonprofit public library on Nantucket with similar small-scale community library operations, donor-driven funding model, and local history research focus.
• Osterville Free Library: Sister CLAMS village library under the same Barnstable town grant funding structure. Direct peer in nonprofit governance, Cape Cod community context, and patron services.
• Sturgis Library: One of the seven Barnstable village libraries and an explicit historical research partner of Whelden. Operates as a private nonprofit serving a similar Cape Cod community with comparable collections and local history holdings, making it the closest functional peer.
• Brewster Ladies' Library: Historic Cape Cod community library founded in the 19th century with similar nonprofit public library model, comparable scale, and shared commitment to local history services.
• Falmouth Public Library: Mid-sized Cape Cod public library with broader resources but analogous municipal funding model, CLAMS-adjacent service area, and overlapping patron programs.
• Hyannis Public Library: Seventh CLAMS village library in Barnstable. Direct peer sharing catalog, grant funding structure, and community-focused service model.
• Eldredge Public Library (Chatham): Small Cape Cod community library with comparable funding structure (municipal plus private fundraising) and similar patron programs. Strong operational comparable for footprint and service mix.
• Cotuit Library: Another of the seven Barnstable village libraries connected through the CLAMS network. Comparable small nonprofit community library with similar programming and funding model.
• Centerville Public Library: Sister CLAMS village library in the Town of Barnstable sharing the same municipal grant model, CLAMS catalog, and patron base. Direct comparable in funding structure, scale, and service mix.
• Marstons Mills Public Library: One of the seven Barnstable village libraries connected through CLAMS. Comparable small community library with similar funding and programming approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WheldenMemorialLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/whelden.memorial.library
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whelden-memorial-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Whelden Memorial Library