Vernon Area Public Library
Vernon Area Public Library District is a tax-funded public library in Lincolnshire, Illinois, established in 1974, providing free books, digital media, research databases, and programming to district residents across all ages, operated under a Board of Trustees with no commercial revenue model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersLincolnshire, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vernon Area Public Library does
Vernon Area Public Library District is a tax-funded public library system established in 1974 and headquartered at 300 Olde Half Day Road in Lincolnshire, Illinois, with an annex and Library Learning Garden at 4 Indian Creek Road. The district serves residents within its statutory service area, offering free access to physical collections (books, DVDs, the Library of Things, museum passes), digital media through partner platforms (cloudLibrary, Hoopla, Libby/OverDrive, Kanopy, PressReader), and subscription research and learning databases (EBSCO, Gale, ProQuest, Tutor.com, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, Morningstar). Programming spans all ages and includes early literacy, the annual Summer Library Club, the Little Play Box subscription for ages 0-2, Senior Connections, ELL support, and a Learning Garden for outdoor wellness and cultural events.
The technology stack is built on integrated third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Bibliocommons provides catalog management, with a 2024 upgrade adding smarter search, personalization, and accessibility features, and partnerships with the 125-member Digital Library of Illinois cooperative give the district access to roughly 10x the digital copies it could license independently. Physical technology assets include 3D printers, public computers, Wi-Fi, EV charging stations, and maker-space tools. The library also operates a drive-up window, 24-hour book returns, room reservations, notary and test-proctoring services, and homebound delivery.
The business model is non-commercial: services are provided at no charge to district residents, and operating revenue is derived primarily from local property taxes under a Board of Trustees governance structure, with no parent company, equity ownership, or subscription pricing. The library is approaching its 50th anniversary and is operating under a 2024-2027 Strategic Framework that guides facility, programming, and digital service priorities, including a proposed building expansion adding study rooms, a makerspace, and accessibility upgrades.
Vernon Area Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vernon Area Public Library
- Legal name
- Vernon Area Public Library District
- Website
- https://vapld.info
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Vernon Area Public Library District is a tax-funded public library in Lincolnshire, Illinois, established in 1974, providing free books, digital media, research databases, and programming to district residents across all ages, operated under a Board of Trustees with no commercial revenue model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vernon Area Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (519210), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)
Keywords
Where Vernon Area Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincolnshire
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vernon Area Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free services for district residents |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vernon Area Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vernon Area Public Library District provides free physical and digital library services to residents of its Illinois district, including lending of books, DVDs, and a Library of Things collection, access to e-books/audiobooks/streaming media via platforms such as cloudLibrary, Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy, subscription research databases, and a year-round calendar of classes, storytimes, and community programs. The library also delivers specialized services such as 3D printing, museum passes, test proctoring, notary public, notary, EV charging, a Library Learning Garden, and a Little Play Box subscription for young children.
Product overview
Vernon Area Public Library District provides a comprehensive suite of library services centered around its physical location in Lincolnshire, Illinois, supplemented by extensive digital content platforms. The core offerings include traditional borrowing services (physical books, DVDs, and the Library of Things collection), digital media access through multiple partner platforms (cloudLibrary, Hoopla, Libby/OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks; Kanopy and Hoopla for streaming video; PressReader for digital magazines and newspapers), and educational databases. The library offers specialized services including 3D printing, tech help, world languages materials, museum passes, and a Learning Garden outdoor space. Programming spans all ages from baby storytimes to senior services, with signature offerings including the Summer Library Club and Little Play Box subscription service for toddlers. The digital experience was enhanced by a 2024 catalog upgrade providing improved search, personalization, and accessibility features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 3D Printing Service 3D printing service as part of the library's maker services. Offers multi-part technology training series teaching design software (TinkerCAD) and creation of moving parts for district patrons.
- Tech and Maker Help Technology assistance and maker services helping patrons with digital literacy, device usage, and creative technology projects.
- Library of Things Collection of non-traditional items available for checkout including activity kits, museum passes, and other specialized materials.
- Museum Passes Free or discounted passes to local museums and cultural institutions available for checkout with library card.
- World Languages Collection Physical and digital materials in multiple languages including Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, and more. Includes books, e-books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and Roku channels.
- Library Learning Garden Outdoor learning space located next to the Library Annex at 4 Indian Creek Road. Hosts yoga classes, outdoor concerts, and nature-based programming.
- Summer Library Club Annual summer reading and activity program for all ages. Participants complete activities to earn rewards during June 1–July 31.
- Test Proctoring Exam proctoring service for students and professionals needing a supervised testing environment.
- EV Charging Electric vehicle charging stations available at the library for patron use.
- Little Play Box Monthly subscription box program for children ages 0-2 containing craft supplies and instructions for developmental play experiences. Free with library card.
- Copy and Print Services Copying and printing services for patrons at the library.
- Notary Public Notary public services available to library patrons.
- Wi-Fi and Public Computers Public Wi-Fi and computer access available at the library.
- Room Reservations Study and meeting room reservation service for library patrons.
- English Language Learner Services English language learning collection, conversation groups, and dedicated services for English language learners, supporting language acquisition, citizenship preparation, and integration.
- The Catalog Upgrade New library catalog system featuring smarter searching, organized results, personalization, and improved accessibility features, replacing the previous catalog.
Companies that use Vernon Area Public Library
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Vernon Area Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration26 records
Feature4 records
Vernon Area Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Digital Library of IllinoiscoreCooperative membership with 125 library systems providing access to more than 10x as many digital copies as a single library could provide alone. Enables shared e-book, audiobook, and digital magazine collections through Libby/OverDrive platform.
- cloudLibrary (Bibliotheca)coreDigital lending platform providing access to over 77,000 e-book copies. Works with tablets, smartphones, and Nooks through a multi-library partnership that enables borrowing from other libraries.
- Hoopla (Midwest Tape)coreInstant streaming and download platform for e-books, comics, manga, audiobooks, movies, TV, and music. No wait times on titles. Allows borrowing up to 15 titles per month per card.
- Libby/OverDrivecoreE-book, audiobook, and digital magazine platform compatible with Kindle e-readers including Paperwhite. Provides access to curated teen and youth collections.
- KanopycoreStreaming service with more than 30,000 movies including Criterion Collection, Janus Films, PBS, BBC, and The Great Courses. Includes Kanopy Kids section for children.
- PressReadermajorDigital newspaper and magazine kiosk providing access to more than 6,000 publications from over 100 countries in 60+ languages. Includes instant translation in 17 languages.
- EBSCO PublishingmajorDatabase vendor providing 39 database products including full-text articles, abstracts, and research resources across multiple subject areas.
- Gale CengagemajorProvider of 7 database products including Gale Virtual Reference Library (encyclopedias, reference sources, and business resources) and Gale Presents: Udemy for online learning.
- Tutor.com (The Princeton Review)majorOnline tutoring platform providing live subject specialist help daily 2-11 PM CT, writing assistance, practice quizzes, and test prep for SAT, ACT, AP, and citizenship tests.
- LinkedIn LearningmajorOnline learning platform for software, creative, and business skills courses accessible with library card.
- Mango LanguagesmajorLanguage learning platform for acquiring conversational skills in multiple languages.
- NewsBankmajorNewspaper archive and research database providing access to Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and other local publications.
- The New York TimesmajorPaywall-free access to NYTimes.com including news, Games, Cooking, Wirecutter, and The Athletic with 24-hour access codes renewable through the library.
- The Wall Street JournalmajorPaywall-free browser access to WSJ.com with 3-day access sessions. Four-year backfile available through advanced search.
- Chicago TribunemajorAccess to Digital Edition (fully-formatted online replica), Online Edition (paywall-free website), and full-text archives through ProQuest.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vernon Area Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cook Memorial Public Library District: Neighboring Illinois library district serving Libertyville, Vernon Hills, and surrounding areas; directly comparable suburban Illinois public library district with similar tax funding model, similar patron demographics, and overlapping digital platforms (Hoopla, Libby, Kanopy).
- Indian Trails Public Library District: Adjacent suburban Illinois library district serving Wheeling and Prospect Heights; comparable in size, digital platform suite, and demographic profile, making it a high-fidelity operational peer.
- Highland Park Public Library: Suburban Chicago-area public library with similar scale, patron demographics, and service mix including Maker/3D printing, extensive digital collections, and adult/senior programming.
- Deerfield Public Library: Neighboring Lake County suburban Illinois public library; directly comparable in size, funding model, and demographic profile, with overlapping digital platform offerings and similar programming portfolio.
- Glencoe Public Library: North Shore Chicago suburban public library of similar affluence profile and patron demographics; offers comparable premium database partnerships, programming, and museum pass services.
- Skokie Public Library: Larger suburban Illinois public library known for digital innovation and extensive multilingual programming (particularly relevant given Vernon Area's growing ELL/multilingual focus); useful peer for benchmark on scaling multilingual and digital services.
- Ela Area Public Library: Suburban Lake County, Illinois public library district of comparable size; offers matching digital and physical services, Maker/3D printing programming, and serves as a direct functional peer for suburban Illinois district libraries of similar scale.
- Lake Forest Library: Affluent-suburban Chicago-area public library with comparable patron demographics in Lake Forest; offers similar premium research databases, museum passes, and programming tiers, and serves a structurally similar tax-funded district.
Others
- Reach Across Illinois Library System (RAILS): Illinois regional library system that supports cooperative resource sharing, digital delivery, and continuing education for member libraries including Vernon Area; comparable as the ecosystem-level umbrella organization rather than a direct competitor.
Regional players
- Wauconda Area Public Library District: Suburban Lake County public library district operating in a similar regulatory and funding environment but serving a less affluent community; useful for comparing service-mix scaling and digital adoption across funding levels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vernon Area Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceVernon Area Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vernon Area Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Vernon Area Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vernon Area Public 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 Vernon Area Public Library
What does Vernon Area Public Library do?
Vernon Area Public Library District provides free physical and digital library services to residents of its Illinois district, including lending of books, DVDs, and a Library of Things collection, access to e-books/audiobooks/streaming media via platforms such as cloudLibrary, Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy, subscription research databases, and a year-round calendar of classes, storytimes, and community programs. The library also delivers specialized services such as 3D printing, museum passes, test proctoring, notary public, notary, EV charging, a Library Learning Garden, and a Little Play Box subscription for young children.
Is Vernon Area Public Library a public or private company?
Vernon Area Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Vernon Area Public Library founded?
Vernon Area Public Library was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Vernon Area Public Library based?
Vernon Area Public Library is headquartered in Lincolnshire, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Vernon Area Public Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cook Memorial Public Library District, Indian Trails Public Library District, Highland Park Public Library, Deerfield Public Library, Glencoe Public Library, Skokie Public Library, Ela Area Public Library and Lake Forest Library. Reach Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) is listed as an others. Wauconda Area Public Library District is listed as a regional player.
Does Vernon Area Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vernon Area Public Library.
What industry is Vernon Area Public Library in?
Vernon Area Public Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management. Its NAICS code is 519210 and its SIC code is 8200.