What Delaware County Libraries does

Delaware County Libraries (DCL) is a public library system serving Delaware County, Pennsylvania, formed in 1981 as a federated consortium in which all public libraries operating in the county joined together. It operates 28 branch locations under a central administrative headquarters in Media, PA (340 N. Middletown Rd, Fair Acres Bldg. 19), governed by the seven-member Delaware County Library Board appointed by County Council. The system serves county residents of all ages, segmented into Children and Families, Teens, Adults and Seniors, and the general public.

The system's core product surface includes the Delco Discover online catalog (launched in 2025), a dedicated Kids' Catalog, the DelcoReads mobile app, and a suite of lending services: physical books, Libby (OverDrive) for e-books and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, MuseumKey for museum passes, and non-traditional lending items such as Hotspots, Kids Kits, Book Clubs in a Bag, Seed Libraries, and a Library of Things. Digital resource access is augmented by the statewide Power Library platform and a partnership with Penn State Libraries. The system is CIPA-compliant (Children's Internet Protection Act) with content filtering on all public access computers. The platform architecture is conventional library automation infrastructure rather than a proprietary AI-driven stack.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through public funding: Delaware County government allocations and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania state aid. Direct patron fees are nominal and transactional — printing ($0.30/page color, $0.20/page black and white) and book sales. Core services are provided free of charge to library card holders, and cards themselves are free to county residents. The system is supplemented by The Library Foundation of Delaware County, a nonprofit fundraising arm. As a government entity, no private equity, venture capital, or public market capital is involved.

Name

Delaware County Libraries

Legal name

Delaware County Library System

Website

https://delcolibraries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Delaware County Libraries is a tax-funded public library system in Pennsylvania, operating 28 branches and digital catalog services (Delco Discover, Libby, Kanopy) for Delaware County residents of all ages since 1981.

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

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platform
• Community education programs
• Library catalog systems
• Museum pass programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Media

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: Tax-funded public library system operated for Delaware County residents. Core services are provided free of charge to library card holders.
2. Printing Services: Nominal fees charged for printing services at public computers
3. Book Sales: Ongoing book sales at member libraries during regular library hours

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Delaware County Libraries operates a federated public library system serving Delaware County, Pennsylvania residents through 28 physical branch locations, an online catalog (Delco Discover), and digital lending services. The system provides free access to books, media, e-resources, computer and internet access, educational programming, and community gathering spaces, supplemented by digital services such as Libby for e-books/audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, MuseumKey for museum passes, and the DelcoReads mobile app.

Product overview

Delaware County Libraries operates as a federated public library system serving Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The system provides a unified platform for accessing 28 library locations, combining physical collections with digital services. The core offering centers on the Delco Discover Catalog (new online catalog) and Kids' Catalog for materials discovery, supplemented by digital services including Libby for e-books/audiobooks and Kanopy for streaming video. Additional services include MuseumKey for museum passes, Library of Things for non-traditional items, Hotspots for internet access, Kids Kits, Book Clubs in a Bag, Seed Libraries, and the DelcoReads mobile app. The system also supports special programs like StoryWalk and maintains partnerships with Power Library for statewide digital resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DelcoReads App: Mobile application for accessing library services, digital catalog, and borrowing materials
• Delco Discover

Products and services

• Delco Discover Catalog Main online library catalog providing Delaware County residents with access to search, reserve, borrow, and manage library materials including books, movies, audiobooks, and other items across the 28-branch system.
• Kids' Catalog Dedicated catalog interface designed for children to search and discover age-appropriate books and library materials in a kid-friendly format.
• Libby Digital Lending Digital lending platform for e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines accessible through the Libby mobile app to Delaware County library card holders.
• Kanopy Streaming Streaming video service offering Delaware County library patrons access to documentaries, films, and educational video content.
• MuseumKey Museum Passes Digital museum pass program allowing library card holders to reserve and access passes to local museums and cultural institutions online.
• DelcoReads Mobile App Mobile application providing Delaware County library patrons with on-the-go access to library services, digital catalog, reading resources, and account management from smartphones and tablets.
• Library of Things and Hotspots Lending service providing non-traditional items for checkout including mobile internet hotspots, kids kits, book club sets in a bag, seed libraries, and a puzzle exchange program.
• Power Library Digital Resources Statewide digital library resource providing Delaware County patrons with access to databases, e-resources, and research tools across Pennsylvania.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Power LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationPower Library provides access to statewide digital resources and the Power Library network connecting Pennsylvania libraries.
• Penn State LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing access to Penn State University library resources for Delaware County library patrons.
• County of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCL is a county-funded library system with oversight from Delaware County Council. The County provides funding and facilities including the government center location.
• Member Libraries (28 locations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederated system of 28 member libraries including Aston Public Library, Collingdale Public Library, Darby Free Library, Folcroft Public Library, Glenolden Library, Haverford Township Free Library, Helen Kate Furness Free Library, J. Lewis Crozer Library, Lansdowne Public Library, Marple Public Library, and others collaborating under the DCL system.
• The Library Foundation of Delaware CountysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit fundraising arm supporting Delaware County Libraries through donations and advocacy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bucks County Free Library: County library system serving Bucks County, PA, with member branches, digital resources, and county-supported governance. Highly comparable in operating model and mission to Delaware County Libraries.
• Allegheny County Library Association: Federated library association coordinating public library service across Allegheny County, PA, with shared catalog and digital lending. Comparable federation structure and county-funded delivery model.
• Chester County Library System: Pennsylvania county-level federated library system serving Chester County with a comparable mix of branch libraries, digital lending, and county-funded operating model. Closest direct operational analog to DCL within the region.
• Montgomery County Library District: Federated public library system serving Montgomery County, PA, providing branch-based lending, digital services, and programming under county-government funding. Operates a comparable scale and governance structure to DCL.
• Lancaster County Library System: Pennsylvania county federated library system combining independent branches with shared services, programming, and digital lending. Another close operational analog to DCL.

Others

• Power Library (Pennsylvania): Statewide Pennsylvania digital resource network providing databases, e-resources, and research tools to all PA library cardholders, including DCL patrons. Functions as a technology and content partner rather than competitor.
• OverDrive / Libby: Digital lending platform provider powering DCL's Libby e-book and audiobook service as well as many other public libraries. A key vendor and enabler of DCL's digital circulation rather than a direct peer.

Regional players

• King County Library System: Large county-funded public library system in Washington state offering branch service, digital lending, and community programs. Comparable in mission and federated structure, though significantly larger scale than DCL.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library: County-level public library system in Ohio with branch network, digital lending, and community programming. Comparable in federated county model though it operates in a different state and regulatory environment.
• Free Library of Philadelphia: Large urban public library system serving Philadelphia, adjacent to Delaware County. Provides similar lending, digital, and programming offerings but operates at greater scale under a municipal rather than county funding structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/delcolibraries
• Facebookfacebook.com/delawarecountylibraries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-county-libraries

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries28 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 Delaware County Libraries