Idaho Falls Public Library

What Idaho Falls Public Library does

Idaho Falls Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1925 and operated under local government administration in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It serves the city's residents with a free core membership model — non-residents can purchase fee-supported memberships — and generates no commercial revenue in the traditional sense, relying instead on municipal tax appropriations, charitable grants (notably a $34,836.69 Mae Neuber Foundation donation earmarked for audiobooks), and minor cost-recovery charges for makerspace materials and select programs. Patrons are segmented into children and families, teens (Grades 7-12), and adults, each served with age-appropriate programming including storytimes, reading challenges, book clubs, and technology education.

The library's core technology stack is built on third-party vendor platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure. The Sirsi-powered online public access catalog manages physical and digital holdings, supplemented by OverDrive/Libby for tens of thousands of ebooks and audiobooks, EBSCOhost for 30+ research databases (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Consumer Health Complete, NoveList Plus, etc.), TumbleBooks for 250+ animated children's ebooks, Beanstack for reading challenge tracking, Niche Academy for patron tutorials, and Princh for mobile printing. Physical infrastructure includes a 3-floor main building at 457 West Broadway with a drive-thru pickup service, makerspace equipped with FDM and resin 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut Design Space, audio recording rooms, and sewing machines.

Distribution and engagement operate through a community-led go-to-market model: free in-library access, digital self-serve platforms (Libby app, TumbleBooks mobile apps), social media (Facebook, Instagram for both general and children's programming), and a network of 100+ local business sponsors supporting the annual Summer Reading program. Strategic community partnerships — with the Idaho Falls Fire Department, Eastern Idaho Public Health, College of Eastern Idaho, University of Idaho 4-H, Idaho Falls Chukars, and the Idaho Commission for Libraries (LiLI) — extend programming into health, safety, and STEM verticals beyond traditional literacy services.

Name

Idaho Falls Public Library

Legal name

Idaho Falls Public Library

Website

https://ifpl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Idaho Falls Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1925 serving Idaho Falls, Idaho residents with free physical and digital lending, a makerspace, year-round reading challenges, and educational programming for children, teens, and adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platform
• Community reading programs
• Library makerspace services
• Research database access

Headquarters

HQ city

Idaho Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: As a public library, Idaho Falls Public Library is primarily funded through local taxpayer support and municipal budget allocations from the City of Idaho Falls.
2. Grants and Donations: The library receives funding through grants and charitable donations from foundations and community organizations, such as the Mae Neuber Foundation donation of $34,836.69 for audiobooks.
3. Library Membership Fees: Free membership for City of Idaho Falls residents; fee-supported membership available for patrons outside city limits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Idaho Falls Public Library is a municipal public library that provides free access to physical and digital library materials, multi-age reading challenge programs, research databases, children's digital content, and a community Makerspace. Offerings include book lending via Sirsi catalog, ebooks/audiobooks through OverDrive/Libby, TumbleBooks, EBSCOhost research databases, Beanstack reading tracker, makerspace technology access (3D printing, Glowforge, Cricut, audio recording), and circulation services such as Binge Bags, Book Club in a Bag, and Interlibrary Loan.

Product overview

Idaho Falls Public Library operates as a public library system offering a unified physical and digital resource platform. The core offerings include the traditional library catalog for physical materials (books, audiobooks, DVDs) combined with extensive digital services including Libby App/OverDrive for ebooks and audiobooks, TumbleBooks for children's digital content, and makerspace facilities. The library runs multiple reading programs through Beanstack including Summer Reading, Winter Reading, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Extreme Book Nerd, and Book Madness competitions. Circulation services include Book Club in a Bag sets, Binge Bags for series, interlibrary loan, and a drive-thru pick-up service. The Makerspace provides access to 3D printing, laser cutting, audio recording, Cricut design, and coding programs. Research databases through EBSCOhost and other providers support patron research needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog (Sirsi OPAC) Online searchable catalog system (Sirsi) used by patrons to find, reserve, and manage physical books, audiobooks, DVDs, and digital content.
• Drive-Thru Pick-Up Contactless drive-thru service allowing patrons to pick up holds and pre-selected children's book bags Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.
• Digital Library Web portal aggregating digital resources including ebooks, audiobooks, research databases, online learning platforms, and digital maps, accessible from home or mobile devices.
• Libby App (OverDrive) Mobile and web app from OverDrive for borrowing and reading ebooks, emagazines, and digital audiobooks via library card, with support for multiple library cards.
• TumbleBooks Online collection of 250+ animated, talking ebooks for children including Spanish and French titles, read-along chapter books, nonfiction, and educational games/puzzles; available via browser, Android, and iOS apps.
• Makerspace Community makerspace providing access to 3D printers (FDM and resin), Glowforge laser cutting, audio recording rooms, Cricut Design Space for vinyl cutting, sewing machines, lending telescopes, and coding-for-kids programs.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading challenge running June 1 to August 8 with separate programs for kids, teens, and adults; participants set daily reading goals and earn incentives and prize entries.
• Winter Reading Program Annual winter reading challenge from December 1 to February 28 for patrons of all ages, with separate tracks for teens/adults and families.
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Early literacy program encouraging parents to read 1000 books to their children before kindergarten, tracked through Beanstack with incentives at 100-book intervals.
• Extreme Book Nerd Year-long reading challenge running January 6 to December 19 with separate tracks for kids (25 books in 25 categories), teens (25 books), and adults (50 books in 50 weeks); participants earn exclusive prizes including sling bags and Bluetooth speakers.
• Book Madness March reading bracket competition where patrons (children, teens, and adults) vote for favorite books or genres in a tournament-style bracket; grand prizes include iPad Mini and Kindle Fire tablets.
• Book Club in a Bag Circulation service offering sets of 10 paperback copies of the same title for local book clubs; sets check out for 6 weeks from the third-floor desk.
• Binge Bags Bags containing complete book series ready for checkout; check out for 3 weeks with up to 3 renewals, located on the 3rd floor between large print and YA collections.
• Interlibrary Loan Service allowing patrons to borrow materials from other libraries that are not available in the local collection.
• Computer Access & WiFi Public computer workstations and wireless internet access available for library patrons.
• Early Learning Bags Educational bags containing materials to help preschool children develop skills needed for kindergarten success.
• Beanstack Reading Tracker Online platform used by patrons to register and track progress in reading challenges including Summer Reading, Winter Reading, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, and Extreme Book Nerd.
• Mobile Print Service Mobile printing service accessed via print.princh.com that allows patrons to send print jobs from their devices to library printers.
• Library Programs & Events Community programming including storytimes, book clubs, writing workshops, tech classes, art clubs, 4-H STEM club, theater camp, and special events for children, teens, and adults.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11th year of Extreme Book Nerd reading challenge program demonstrates sustained community engagement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 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.

• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationOverDrive provides the Libby platform enabling access to tens of thousands of ebooks, emagazines, and digital audiobooks. The Libby app is available on Apple, Android, and via web browser. This is a core digital service partnership.
• EBSCO Information ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationEBSCOhost provides access to 30+ research databases including Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, ERIC, Consumer Health Complete, Explora, History Reference Center, Literary Reference Center, NoveList Plus, and Small Business Reference Center.
• TumbleBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationTumbleBooks provides an online collection of 250+ animated, talking ebooks for children in English, Spanish, and French, with read-along chapter books, nonfiction, and educational games.
• Beanstack (Homework Helpers Inc)coreTechnology or IntegrationBeanstack provides the online reading challenge tracker platform used for all library reading programs including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Summer Reading, Winter Reading, and Extreme Book Nerd.
• Idaho Falls Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership bringing local firefighters to library storytimes to build connections between community heroes and children through the Reading Hands program.
• College of Eastern Idaho WTCEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Drug Overdose Prevention & Response Training (Narcan Training) at the library, in partnership with Eastern Idaho Public Health.
• Eastern Idaho Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partnership providing Narcan training and overdose response education at the library.
• University of Idaho 4-HminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4-H STEM Club meets at the library twice monthly, providing STEM activities including rockets, spaghetti towers, insects, and plants for youth.
• Idaho Falls ChukarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal minor league baseball team hosts special storytime event at the library with Chukars players for community engagement.
• Idaho Commission for Libraries (LiLI)coreTechnology or IntegrationAccess to Libraries Linking Idaho (LiLI.org) resources, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries providing additional digital resources statewide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boise Public Library: Boise Public Library is the largest public library system in Idaho, offering comparable physical and digital lending services, community programming, makerspace-style offerings, and reading challenges. As a municipal library serving a similarly structured (though larger) Idaho community, it is the closest geographic and operational peer.
• Eugene Public Library: Eugene Public Library is a mid-sized municipal library offering physical lending, digital services, makerspace, and reading programs. It mirrors IFPL's community-led model with similar service breadth and municipal funding structure.
• Salt Lake City Public Library: Salt Lake City Public Library is a flagship Mountain West municipal library system known for its main building, extensive programming, makerspace facilities, and digital lending via OverDrive/Libby. It is a direct operational peer given its similar service mix, public funding model, and innovation profile.
• Spokane Public Library: Spokane Public Library serves a mid-sized Pacific Northwest city with a comparable mix of physical lending, OverDrive digital services, EBSCO databases, children's programming, and community partnerships — a directly comparable public library peer in service scope and scale.

Others

• OverDrive / Libby: OverDrive is the underlying digital lending platform that IFPL uses to deliver ebooks, audiobooks, and emagazines to patrons. It is an enabling technology partner and ecosystem vendor rather than a competitor, but its scale and product roadmap directly affect IFPL's digital service capabilities.
• EBSCO Information Services: EBSCO provides the research database platform (EBSCOhost) used by IFPL to deliver academic, business, and consumer research resources. It is a core technology enabler for the library's information services rather than a competing institution.
• Idaho Commission for Libraries (LiLI): The Idaho Commission for Libraries operates the Libraries Linking Idaho (LiLI) consortium that pools digital resources for Idaho libraries including IFPL. It is a statewide enabling and funding partner rather than a competitor, but it shapes the digital resource landscape IFPL can offer patrons.

Regional players

• Museum of Idaho: Museum of Idaho is a regional cultural/educational institution based in Idaho Falls offering exhibits, programs, and community engagement. While not a library, it operates as a sibling community resource in the same city, often cross-promoting programming and sharing the same municipal funding ecosystem.
• Pocatello Public Library: Pocatello Public Library is a regional peer in Idaho serving a similar mid-sized community with comparable reading programs, children's services, and OverDrive-based digital lending. Operates in a different geographic catchment but with the same service mix.

Emerging players

• Boise State University Albertsons Library: Albertsons Library is an academic library in Idaho offering comparable digital resources, research databases, and study space to a related audience. It is an adjacent rather than directly competing institution but represents an overlapping resource pool for Idaho Falls-area patrons.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/idahofallspubliclibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifplib

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 Idaho Falls Public Library