Mansfield Richland County Public Library

Name

Mansfield Richland County Public Library

Legal name

Mansfield Richland County Public Library

Website

https://mrcpl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

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)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community resource referral
• Digital lending platforms
• Research databases access
• Library maker programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mansfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levies: Public library funded primarily through property tax levies. In 2023, a 10-year 3.9-mill property tax levy renewal was passed securing roughly 61% of the library's operating budget.
2. Library Card Fees: Free library cards for Ohio residents; $1 replacement fee for lost cards; fines for lost or damaged OhioLink items ($0.50/day late fine).
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations accepted for general operations and purchasing of library materials. Monetary donations sent to Business Office. Kroger Community Rewards program generates additional donations.
4. Friends of the Library Bookshop: Evergreen Bookshop managed by volunteers sells donated materials; proceeds support library programs and materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Mansfield Richland County Public Library (MRCPL) provides free public library services across nine physical locations plus a Bookmobile, offering physical and digital material lending, research databases, educational programs, and community resources. Core services include library cards, eBooks/audiobooks via Libby, streaming on Hoopla/Kanopy/Freegal, the Library of Things (bicycles, tools, instruments, STEM kits), Creation Lab (3D printing, maker tech), Memory Lab digitization, Learning Lab technology training, genealogy research in the Sherman Room, meeting room space, passport services, and 24/7 First Call 211 community information and referral.

Product overview

Mansfield Richland County Public Library operates a unified library services platform across 9 physical locations plus mobile services. The core offering centers on physical and digital material lending through a library card system, supplemented by extensive digital streaming platforms (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Freegal Music, Freading) and research databases. Key differentiating services include the Library of Things (non-traditional items), Creation Lab (3D printing/maker tech), Memory Lab (digitization), Learning Lab (technology training), First Call 211 (community referral service), and a Bookmobile outreach program. The library also provides meeting room facilities, passport services, and genealogy/local history research through the Sherman Room.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MRCPL: Main library system brand abbreviation used for the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library system.

Products and services

• Library Card System Physical and digital library cards providing Ohio residents with access to physical materials, digital downloads, research databases, and online resources. Free for residents; eCards available online with instant digital access.
• Digital Downloads and Streaming (Libby/OverDrive) eBook and audiobook lending through the OverDrive/Libby platform (Ohio Digital Library) with up to 20 simultaneous checkouts for 3 weeks and 200+ digital magazine titles.
• Hoopla Digital Streaming platform offering audiobooks, ebooks, movies, music, TV shows, and comics with 15 instant checkouts per month.
• Kanopy Free movie streaming service featuring popular movies, documentaries, and foreign films with 8 movies per month allocation.
• Freegal Music Music streaming service with over 15 million songs from 40,000+ labels including Sony Music. Allows 3 hours of streaming per day and 3 MP3 downloads per week.
• Research Databases Collection of 50+ research databases covering academic journals, genealogy (AncestryLibrary Edition, HeritageQuest, Fold3, FamilySearch), business resources, health information, career development, language learning (Mango Languages, Rosetta Stone), and K-12 education.
• Library of Things Non-traditional library lending collection including baking pans, bicycles, crafting supplies, electronics, games, instruments, jigsaw puzzles, Launch Pads, memory kits, power tools, sensory kits, sewing machines, sparkler kits, STEM equipment, and seed libraries.
• Bookmobile Mobile library service bringing materials, holds pickup, returns, and library card services to schools, neighborhoods, and community events across Richland County.
• Creation Lab Technology maker space at Main Library featuring 3D printers, Cricut cutting machine, embroidery machine, and button maker available for public use.
• Memory Lab Digitization service for preserving memories including photographs, film, cassettes, and other analog media formats.
• Learning Lab Technology training center offering workshops and one-on-one sessions on job searching, resume writing, computer skills, and Microsoft Office training.
• First Call 211 Free confidential 24/7 community information and referral service connecting callers to local social services for food, housing, financial assistance, healthcare, transportation, and more. Accredited by Inform USA.
• Meeting Rooms Free meeting room space at multiple library locations for non-profit, civic, educational, and community organizations with various capacity options.
• Passport Services Passport application acceptance services provided at the Main Library location.
• Sherman Room (Genealogy and Local History) Local history and genealogy research center at Main Library with access to Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, HeritageQuest, newspapers, yearbooks, and city directories.
• Little Free Libraries

Quantifiable outcome

• 66.44% voter approval for 2023 levy renewal
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration29 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bromfield Library (OSU-M & NCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ohio State University Mansfield and North Central State College for library services at the university campus, serving students and the community.
• Buckeye Imagination MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting children's learning and imagination through collaborative programs and resources.
• Crossroads City CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with this community center to provide outreach services and resources to underserved populations.
• Friendly HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with this community social services organization to extend reach and provide support services.
• Kingwood Center GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the historic estate and gardens to support educational programming and community engagement.
• Mansfield City Parks & ReccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership supporting StoryWalks, library programming in parks, Little Free Library locations, and community events.
• Mansfield PlayhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting performing arts programming and cultural events in the community.
• Mansfield Public Art CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting public art initiatives and cultural enrichment in the community.
• Oak Hill CottageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with this historic cottage museum to support local history programming.
• Ohio State ReformatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the historic prison museum to support cultural tourism and educational programming.
• Ohio Bird SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting environmental education programs and wildlife-related community events.
• Renaissance TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting performing arts and cultural programming through collaborative events.
• Richland Carrousel ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting family-friendly community events and programming at the carousel park.
• Richland Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant public health partnership supporting community health initiatives, immunization information, and health resource referrals through First Call 211.
• United Way of Richland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership supporting community services; United Way funding helps support First Call 211 and other community programs.
• Inform USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Call 211 is accredited by Inform USA, the national organization for information and referral services, ensuring quality standards for community resource referral services.
• Richland SourceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree in-library access to Richland Source's full website through library WiFi, supporting local journalism and community information access.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to earn donations for the library by linking their Kroger card to MRCPL.
• Mansfield YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVending library located at the Mansfield YMCA allowing members to checkout and return library materials after workouts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• OverDrive: The digital library platform that powers Libby (MRCPL's primary eBook/audiobook source) and many peer library systems; a key infrastructure supplier whose product roadmap and contract terms materially affect MRCPL's digital lending capability.

Direct peers

• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Ohio's largest public library system, operating a multi-branch network funded through Franklin County property tax levies with similar digital and maker service offerings, providing a benchmark for service-scaling potential.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library: A large Northeast Ohio county library system with multiple branches, levy-based funding, and parallel digital/research database programming serving a similar mix of urban and suburban Ohio patrons.
• Cleveland Public Library: A major Ohio public library system with branch network and levy funding, providing another benchmark peer for MRCPL on staffing, programming scale, and digital service delivery.
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: An Ohio county library system with multi-branch operations, property tax levy funding, and similar research database, streaming, and community partnerships structure to MRCPL.
• Toledo Lucas County Public Library: A multi-branch public library system serving a comparable Ohio metropolitan county (Lucas) with similar levy-funded operations, branch networks, and digital service offerings including Libby/OverDrive integrations and community programming.
• Dayton Metro Library: A multi-branch Ohio county library system (Montgomery County) with comparable levy-funded operations, digital services, and community engagement programs to MRCPL.
• Akron-Summit County Public Library: A Summit County, Ohio public library system with branch networks, tax-levy funding, and overlapping digital streaming/research database offerings comparable to MRCPL's service catalog.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: A national benchmark incumbent public library with vastly larger branches, collections, and budgets but directly comparable programming model (branch network, research databases, maker spaces, community partnerships), making it an upper-bound comparison for MRCPL's service catalog.
• Brooklyn Public Library: A large U.S. public library system with branch network, digital lending, and community programming paralleling MRCPL's offerings but operating at meaningfully greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLUB-wObwA1A2qAthVJtTTsHTx6bA9-vuJ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Mansfield-Richland-County-Public-Library-291452779342
• Instagraminstagram.com/mansfieldlibrary
• Xx.com/mansrichpl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mansfield-richland-county-public-library

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Mansfield Richland County Public Library