Grayslake Area Public Library

What Grayslake Area Public Library does

Grayslake Area Public Library District is an Illinois public library district serving more than 28,000 residents across the communities of Grayslake, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park, Third Lake, Hainesville, and Highland Lake. It operates a single physical facility at 100 Library Lane, Grayslake, IL, with public-access computing (Windows desktops, free Wi-Fi, assistive devices), private study and meeting rooms, The Hub makerspace (3D printers, Epilog laser cutter/engraver, Brother embroidery machines, Silhouette Cameo vinyl cutter, Janome sewing machines, Cricut heat presses), and a circulating Library of Things. The collection spans 150,000+ physical items and 125,000+ digital items, the latter distributed 24/7 through Hoopla, Libby/OverDrive, Kanopy, Flipster, Comics Plus, Palace Project, BookFlix, LOTE4Kids, and Tumblebook Library.

The underlying technology stack is anchored by the Polaris integrated library system (catalog, circulation, patron management), Bibliocommons for catalog discovery, Beanstack for reading challenges, and a dedicated library events calendar at grayslake.librarycalendar.com. Content is enriched by a large licensed database portfolio covering genealogy (Ancestry.com, Fold3, HeritageHub, HeritageQuest Online), newspapers (NewsBank, ProQuest, Newspapers.com, Chicago Tribune), business research (AtoZdatabases, Business Source Elite, EBSCOhost), education and career (Brainfuse HelpNow/JobNow/CollegeNow/VetNow, LinkedIn Learning, LearningExpress, Pronunciator, Fiero Code, ABCmouse, PebbleGo, Britannica), and DIY/health reference (Creativebug, Auto Repair Source, Consumer Reports, Health Source). Online payments flow through Illinois ePay; remote print jobs flow through Princh and ewprints.

The district is governed by a seven-member volunteer Board of Trustees (President Rachel Rezek, Vice President Kris Hartman, Treasurer Nick J. Grimm, Secretary Mike Honegger, Trustees Ryan McKeon, Tom O'Keefe, Alpana Sahu) and managed day-to-day by Library Director Tim Longo with approximately 22 full-time and 39 part-time employees. Funding is overwhelmingly tax-based: the FY 2026-2027 operating budget is $5,384,465, sourced from property tax levies, personal property replacement taxes, state/federal grants, impact fees, fines, charges, and donations; the Grayslake Library Foundation (an independent 501(c)(3) established August 2001) and the volunteer Friends of the Library provide supplemental support. Library cards are free for district residents, with no fees on most physical materials.

Name

Grayslake Area Public Library

Legal name

Grayslake Area Public Library District

Website

https://grayslake.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Grayslake Area Public Library District is a tax-funded Illinois public library serving 28,000+ residents across seven communities with a 150,000-item physical collection, 125,000+ digital titles, The Hub makerspace, and a broad free database and tutoring stack.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grayslake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levy: Primary funding source. The library district levies property taxes for corporate purposes (general operating), IMRF (employee retirement), Social Security, audit, maintenance, tort liability, and working cash. This constitutes the overwhelming majority of the operating budget of $5,384,465 for FY 2026-2027.
2. State and Federal Grants: Illinois state library programs such as Talking Books and Braille Service, and federal grant funding supplement the operating budget.
3. Personal Property Replacement Taxes: State-collected replacement taxes distributed to the library district as a local funding source.
4. Fines, Charges, and Donations: Modest revenue from overdue fines (primarily on Library of Things items; most items are fine-free), fees for printing ($0.10 per side), 3D printing ($0.10 per gram), and donations from the public and the Library Foundation.
5. Impact Fees: Developer contributions collected for capital improvements and capacity expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Grayslake Area Public Library District is a tax-supported public library district providing free access to a physical collection of 150,000+ items and 125,000+ digital materials to district residents. Its core offerings include physical and digital lending (books, eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines), The Hub makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutting, embroidery and vinyl cutting equipment, public computers and Wi-Fi, meeting and study rooms, notary services, voter registration, and a year-round calendar of programs for all ages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hub: The library's makerspace, a collaborative learning space for exploring, designing, creating, playing, and building using tools, technology, and materials including 3D printers, laser engraver, sewing machines, and vinyl cutters
• Kent's Place
• Friends of the Library
• Grayslake Library Foundation

Products and services

• Library Card (Resident, Business, and Organizational) Free library card providing district residents, businesses, and organizations access to physical and digital library collections, public computers, makerspace, programs, and services.
• Physical Collection Lending (Books, Audiobooks, Magazines, Movies, Music, Library of Things) Borrowing of over 150,000 physical items including books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, music, board games, telescopes, power tools, recreation equipment, and Library of Things items for district cardholders.
• Digital Collection (eBooks, Audiobooks, Movies, TV, Music, Magazines, Newspapers, Comics) 24/7 access to 125,000+ e-materials including eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, music, magazines, newspapers, and comics via Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy, Flipster, Comics Plus, Palace Project, BookFlix, LOTE4Kids, and Tumblebook Library apps with a library card.
• The Hub Makerspace Collaborative makerspace providing access to digital fabrication equipment including 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver, embroidery machines, vinyl cutters, sewing machines, and heat presses for district cardholders, with maker kits also available for checkout.
• Library of Things Circulating collection of non-traditional items available for checkout with a library card, including telescopes, power tools, recreation equipment, phone chargers, and accessibility items.
• Public Computers and Wi-Fi Nine Windows desktops on main level, three teen computers, and five children's desktops on the second floor, all equipped with internet access, Microsoft Office, and multiple browsers. Free Wi-Fi available throughout the building and parking lot on the GAPLD network.
• Print, Scan, and Fax Services In-library printing ($0.10 per side B&W and color), lamination ($0.10 per pouch), fax, and scan services, plus remote printing via Princh (printer ID 107397) and ewprints email-to-print service ($0.10 per side, auto-cancels after 48 hours).
• Study Rooms and Meeting Rooms Reservable private study rooms and public meeting rooms at the library building for individual and group use.
• Notary Services Free notary services available to library patrons.
• Voter Registration Voter registration assistance available at the library.
• Homebound Delivery Service Free monthly home delivery of books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and other materials to homebound district residents unable to visit in person due to physical disability, illness, or limited mobility. Outreach staff work with patrons to select materials.
• Online Learning and Tutoring (Brainfuse, LinkedIn Learning, LearningExpress, ABCmouse, Fiero Code) Suite of online learning platforms including HelpNow live tutoring (2-11pm daily in English/Spanish), JobNow career support, CollegeNow admissions counseling, VetNow veteran services, LinkedIn Learning, LearningExpress Library test prep, ABCmouse early learning, and Fiero Code coding lessons for ages 8-18.
• Research Databases (NewsBank, ProQuest, Ancestry, EBSCOhost, Consumer Reports, Auto Repair Source, HeritageQuest) Access to research and reference databases including Chicago-area newspapers via NewsBank, U.S. Major Dailies via ProQuest, genealogy (Ancestry, Fold3, HeritageHub, HeritageQuest), business databases (AtoZdatabases, Business Source Elite), Consumer Reports, Auto Repair Source, and other EBSCOhost-hosted research resources.
• Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois Free or discounted admission passes to Chicago-area museums and cultural attractions via Museum Adventure Pass, and special offers at museums, parks, historical societies, zoos, and arts centers across Illinois via Explore More Illinois.
• Library Programs and Events (Youth, Teen, Adult, Community) Year-round calendar of free programs including storytimes, Summer Reading Challenge, Winter Reading Challenge, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, Book Scouts, teen programs, adult programs, community events, author talks, and an annual concert series.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 28,000 residents across 7 communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration56 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Museum Adventure PassminorOthersFree admission or discounts at select Chicago-area museums and cultural attractions available to Grayslake library cardholders through the Museum Adventure Pass program. Passes are limited per attraction, available first-come first-served, with one pass per family per week. Distributed online, at the library, or by phone.
• Explore More IllinoisminorOthersSpecial offers and discounts at museums, park districts, historical societies, zoos, arts centers, recreational facilities, and cultural attractions across Illinois. Library cardholders can reserve passes for specific dates. Up to three active reservations per card. Self-service pass generation from home available.
• Lions Club of GrayslakeminorOthersDonated the Optelec ClearView C Speech desktop reading magnifier with speech mode to the library's Business Center as part of the library's accessibility assistive device program.
• Illinois State LibraryminorOthersThe library reports to and is answerable to the Illinois State Library (Office of the Secretary of State, State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias). The State Library provides the Talking Books and Braille Service program to eligible Illinois residents through the library.
• Hoopla (Midwest Tape)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, music, and comics streaming and downloads. Integrated with library card access. Core component of the library's digital collection strategy.
• Libby / OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary eBook and eAudiobook lending platform. Integrated with library card for 24/7 access to the digital collection. App available for all devices.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming video platform offering films and documentaries, including a dedicated Kids section. Library cardholders access through grayslake.kanopy.com. Core component of digital video collection.
• Flipster (EBSCO)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital magazine platform providing access to current and back issues of popular magazines. Accessed through EBSCOhost with library card authentication.
• NewsBank (Chicago Community Collection, Daily Herald, Lake County News-Sun, Northwest Herald)coreTechnology or IntegrationNewspaper database providing 24/7 access to current and archived news from over 270 Chicago-area sources, including Daily Herald, Lake County News-Sun, Northwest Herald, and Chicago Sun-Times. Accessed through NewsBank with library card.
• Brainfuse (HelpNow, JobNow, CollegeNow, VetNow)coreTechnology or IntegrationSuite of online learning and career services including live tutoring (2–11pm daily in English/Spanish), homework help, resume assistance, GED prep, citizenship test support, college admissions counseling, and veteran services. Accessed through library-branded landing pages.
• Friends of the Grayslake LibrarycoreOthersVolunteer organization supporting the library through book and media sales. Operates the Books & More Store in the library lobby and holds large book sales throughout the year. Financially supports library programs, equipment, and improvements including the Summer Reading T-shirts, concert series, and makerspace equipment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lake Villa District Library: Lake County, IL library district serving a similar suburban population with comparable operating budget and a property-tax-funded operating model, providing a closely matched peer for collection and service benchmarking.
• Round Lake Area Public Library: Adjacent Lake County, IL public library district serving overlapping communities including Round Lake and Round Lake Beach. Operates under the same Illinois library district legal framework and is directly comparable in mission, tax-base model, and collection scale.
• Mundelein Public Library District: Suburban Lake County, IL library district of comparable scale, similarly funded via property tax levy under PTELL, offering comparable collections, programming, and digital lending platforms.

Peers

• Vernon Area Public Library District:

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GrayslakeAreaPublicLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrayslakeLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/grayslakelibrary
• Xx.com/GraysLibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Grayslake Area Public Library