Altadena Library
Altadena Library District is a public library district serving Altadena, California residents with free books, digital resources, programming, and community services across multiple branches, a mobile library, and 24/7 vending kiosks, funded primarily by Measure Z property taxes and supplemented by grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersAltadena, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Altadena Library does
Altadena Library District is a public library district governed by a Board of Trustees that serves the unincorporated community of Altadena, California, within Los Angeles County. Its core product is free public library services — physical and digital book/media lending, programming for children, teens, adults, and lifelong learners, and community gathering space — delivered through a multi-branch system (Bob Lucas Memorial Library & Literacy Center at 2659 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park at 3330 N. Lincoln Avenue, and the Main Library at 600 E. Mariposa Street, which closed February 1, 2026 for an 18-month "Next Chapter" renovation). Service channels extend beyond branches via the Curiosity Connection mobile library (including a yearlong Kidspace Children's Museum partnership beginning April 2026), two AutoLend 24/7 vending machines, and digital reading/streaming via third-party platforms including Flipster (EBSCO) for magazines and Beanstack for reading challenges.
The underlying technology stack is largely composed of third-party integrations rather than proprietary systems: a library catalog (catalog.altadenalibrary.org), Princh cloud-based remote printing ($0.15/page B&W, $0.50/page color, with $1.50/day cardholder credit), Fab Lab maker equipment (3D printing, laser cutting), AutoLend kiosks sourced from International Library Services, and Flipster digital magazines. Distinctive in-house offerings include the Fab Lab maker space, Library of Things (tool lending launched February 2024 in partnership with Plant Material), and the Altadena Poets Laureate program (2025 Academy of American Poets Fellows). The district functions as a community hub offering non-traditional services such as full passport application processing (1,549 passports handled in 2022, Monday–Saturday by appointment) and bilingual (English/Spanish) assistance.
The business model is tax-funded rather than commercial. Primary revenue is property tax via Measure Z, a special tax lien passed by Altadena residents in 2020. This is supplemented by charitable contributions through the Altadena Library Foundation and Friends of the Altadena Library, plus grants — notably a $1.2 million Andrew W. Mellon Foundation award (January 2026–June 2028) for the LA County Cultural Climate Commons project with LA County Library, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, and Los Angeles Public Library. Customer segments are horizontal community personas (children/families, teens, adults/lifelong learners, general community) with no commercial account concentration. Strategic posture is expansionary: ongoing capital reinvestment (the Bob Lucas $4.5M renovation completed August 2025), programmatic diversification, and ecosystem coalition-building with LA County cultural and educational institutions.
Altadena Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Altadena Library
- Legal name
- Altadena Library District
- Website
- https://altadenalibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Altadena Library District is a public library district serving Altadena, California residents with free books, digital resources, programming, and community services across multiple branches, a mobile library, and 24/7 vending kiosks, funded primarily by Measure Z property taxes and supplemented by grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Altadena Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Altadena Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Altadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Altadena Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding through Measure Z, a special tax lien passed by Altadena residents in 2020, providing ongoing operational and capital funding
- Government Grants: Funding from government and foundation grants including $1.2 million from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for LA County Cultural Climate Commons project
- Printing Services: Printing fees: $0.15 per page for black and white, $0.50 per page for color printing, with $1.50 daily credit for cardholders
- Passport Services: Fees for passport application processing services provided to the community
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Black and White Printing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Color Printing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Passport Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Altadena Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Altadena Library District provides free public library services to the Altadena community through physical branch locations, a mobile library unit, and automated vending machines. Its core offerings include lending of books and media, digital reading and streaming access, literacy and educational programming for all ages, a Fab Lab maker space, a Library of Things tool lending program, and passport application processing services.
Product overview
Altadena Library District operates as a multi-branch public library system serving Altadena, California. The system includes the Main Library (currently under renovation), Bob Lucas Memorial Library & Literacy Center, and the Loma Alta Park branch. Core services encompass traditional library lending (books, media, digital resources), specialized programs including Fab Lab fabrication laboratory, Library of Things (tool lending), and mobile library outreach. The district has expanded service delivery through technology initiatives including Print From Anywhere (Princh), 24/7 AutoLend vending machines, and digital reading platforms. Passport services, literacy programs, and community arts exhibitions round out the offerings. Recent major initiatives include the Bob Lucas Library expansion (completed August 2025) and the Main Library 'Next Chapter' renovation project.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bob Lucas Memorial Library & Literacy Center Branch library facility offering books, media, programs, and literacy services to Altadena residents.
- Main Library Primary library location at 600 E. Mariposa Street, currently closed for an 18-month renovation starting February 1, 2026.
- Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park Branch location operating from the Loma Alta Park Social Hall, Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm.
- Curiosity Connection Mobile Library Mobile library unit bringing books and library services to community locations including Kidspace Children's Museum every Friday and various Altadena stops on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Fab Lab Fabrication laboratory offering access to creative tools and equipment for community members, host
Quantifiable outcome
- Bob Lucas Library expansion added 1,000 sq-ft of community space (50% more space)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Altadena Library
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Altadena Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Altadena Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kidspace Children's MuseumcoreYearlong collaboration bringing the Curiosity Connection Vol. 2 mobile library to Kidspace Children's Museum every Friday from 2-5pm, beginning April 3, 2026
- LA County LibrarycoreLA County Library and Altadena Library District, in partnership with LA County Department of Arts and Culture and Los Angeles Public Library, received a $1.2 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the LA County Cultural Climate Commons project. The initiative preserves stories and cultural heritage of communities impacted by the 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
- LA County Department of Arts and CulturecorePartner in the $1.2 million Mellon Foundation grant for LA County Cultural Climate Commons, focusing on community artmaking programs and cultural preservation in Altadena
- Los Angeles Public LibrarycorePartner in the LA County Cultural Climate Commons initiative to preserve stories and cultural heritage of wildfire-impacted communities
- Community of WritersminorLester Graves Lennon serves on the board of directors of the Community of Writers
- Prime PizzaminorLocal business hosting an AutoLend library vending machine, providing community access to library materials 24/7
- Voices Breaking BoundariesminorSocial justice arts organization founded by Sehba Sarwar (former Altadena Poet Laureate) that explored border issues in North America and South Asia
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Altadena Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pasadena Public Library: Municipal public library serving Pasadena, immediately adjacent to Altadena. Comparable in scale, tax-base funding model, and breadth of programming; competes for the same regional patron base and donor pool.
- Los Angeles Public Library: Large municipal library system serving the city of Los Angeles. Comparable as a public library operator; explicit partner on the Mellon-funded Cultural Climate Commons initiative and a benchmark for innovative programming at scale.
- LA County Library: Operates public library services across unincorporated and contract cities in Los Angeles County. Directly comparable as a fellow LA County public library system; also an explicit partner with Altadena Library on the Mellon-funded Cultural Climate Commons project.
Emerging players
- Cleveland Public Library: Urban public library known for community-centered programming, mobile services, and partnerships with cultural institutions. Comparable in using grants and partnerships to expand programming beyond traditional lending.
- Calgary Public Library: Canadian public library recognized for technology-forward services (maker spaces, mobile library, community vending) and signature architecture. Comparable in pioneering non-traditional library services similar to Altadena's Fab Lab and AutoLend initiatives.
Regional players
- Glendale Library, Arts & Culture: Public library and arts/culture operator serving Glendale, CA in the greater LA region. Comparable tax-funded municipal library with integrated arts programming — similar combination of traditional library services and creative/cultural offerings.
- Burbank Public Library: Municipal public library serving Burbank, CA. Comparable in size and service breadth, and operates in the same LA County regional market with overlapping patron demographics.
Broad incumbents
- San Diego Public Library: Large urban public library system comparable in offering breadth (Fab Lab–style maker spaces, passport services, mobile outreach) and as a peer on public library innovation and capital modernization programs.
- New York Public Library: Largest U.S. public library system, widely regarded as a benchmark for innovative services (maker spaces, mobile units, vending-machine pilots, passport services). A useful reference for the upper bound of programming ambition Altadena could pursue.
Others
- Eaton Fire Collaborative: Community-based organization (referenced on Altadena Library's homepage) coordinating resource distribution to wildfire-impacted residents. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a direct library competitor, reflecting the institutional role Altadena is playing in disaster recovery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Altadena Library social profiles
Digital presenceAltadena Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Altadena Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Altadena Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Altadena Library 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 Altadena Library
What does Altadena Library do?
Altadena Library District provides free public library services to the Altadena community through physical branch locations, a mobile library unit, and automated vending machines. Its core offerings include lending of books and media, digital reading and streaming access, literacy and educational programming for all ages, a Fab Lab maker space, a Library of Things tool lending program, and passport application processing services.
Is Altadena Library a public or private company?
Altadena Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Altadena Library founded?
Altadena Library was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Altadena Library based?
Altadena Library is headquartered in Altadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does Altadena Library make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Property Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are government Grants, printing Services and passport Services.
Who are Altadena Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pasadena Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library and LA County Library. Emerging players are Cleveland Public Library and Calgary Public Library. Regional players are Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and Burbank Public Library. Broad incumbents are San Diego Public Library and New York Public Library. Eaton Fire Collaborative is listed as an others.
Does Altadena Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Altadena Library.
What industry is Altadena Library in?
Altadena Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAA, Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.