What Regina Public Library does

Regina Public Library (RPL) is the municipal public library system serving the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, operating under The Public Libraries Act, 1996 as a government entity governed by the Regina Public Library Board and funded through City of Regina property taxes and provincial Ministry of Education grants. The system operates nine physical branches across Regina (Central Library plus eight community branches) and serves Regina residents with free library cards as a statutory entitlement, with programming segmented across children, teens, adults, newcomers, Indigenous communities, students/educators, people with disabilities, and small businesses.

The library's platform combines physical collections (books, movies, music, audiobooks, magazines) with digital services accessed through third-party providers including Libby/Overdrive, hoopla, Kanopy, PressReader, LinkedIn Learning, Brainfuse, and Mango Languages, unified through the Saskatchewan Information & Library Services (SILS) Consortium catalogue that provides province-wide inter-library access across all 10 Saskatchewan public library systems. Supporting services include a Digital Media Studio, 3D printing ($0.10/gram), digitization stations, accessibility services featuring BlindSquare beacons and hearing loops (among the first Canadian libraries to deploy these), the Dunlop Art Gallery, RPL Film Theatre, and program-specific offerings such as the Writer in Residence program (first in Canada, est. 1978) and Indigenous Storyteller in Residence.

The business model is non-commercial: core services are provided free to Regina residents under provincial mandate, with revenue (in the government-budget sense) supplemented by selective fee-based services (3D printing, printing/scanning, room bookings, late fees) and public donations. The library has expanded its functional scope through community partnerships in mental health (Family Service Regina Thrive counselling), food security (REACH food boxes at five branches), legal aid (Law Society of Saskatchewan), and Indigenous programming (Métis Nation Saskatchewan), positioning itself as a multi-service civic platform rather than a traditional lending library. The Central Library Renewal Project to replace the deteriorating 1960s-era central facility is currently paused after City Council indicated insufficient debt room as of March 2026.

Name

Regina Public Library

Legal name

Regina Public Library

Website

https://reginalibrary.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Regina Public Library is a municipal public library system serving Regina, Saskatchewan, providing free physical and digital library services across nine branches, funded by city and provincial government. It serves all residents through universal free library cards and offers programming, accessibility services, cultural venues, and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Regina

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Services: Core services funded through municipal property taxes and provincial government grants. Free library cards and standard services are provided to all Regina residents under The Public Libraries Act, 1996.
2. Fee-Based Services: Selective fee-based services including 3D printing (10 cents per gram), printing and scanning, room bookings, and late fees for overdue materials. Revenue supplements but does not constitute primary funding.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from the public and fundraising campaigns support special programs and services, including the Writer in Residence program and equipment purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Regina Public Library (RPL) provides free public library services to residents of Regina, Saskatchewan through a network of nine branches and an online digital platform. Core offerings include physical and digital collections (books, eBooks, movies, music, audiobooks, magazines), digital lending and streaming services (Libby/Overdrive, hoopla, Kanopy, PressReader), community programming, a Digital Media Studio, 3D printing, the Dunlop Art Gallery, the RPL Film Theatre, accessibility services, and the Writer in Residence program.

Product overview

Regina Public Library operates as a public library system providing a unified platform of physical and digital library services. The core offering combines traditional physical collections (books, movies, music, audiobooks) with digital services accessed through partnerships with Libby/Overdrive, hoopla, Kanopy, PressReader, and other digital providers. Supporting services include a Digital Media Studio for content creation, 3D printing, accessibility services with BlindSquare technology, Dunlop Art Gallery, RPL Film Theatre, and extensive programs including the Writer in Residence program, Book Club in a Bag kits, and summer reading programs (Level Up, Summer at Central). Services are delivered across multiple branches with online catalogue access and home delivery through the Saskatchewan Information & Library Services (SILS) consortium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RPL Film Theatre: Film theatre operated by Regina Public Library showing films, documentaries, and hosting film festivals.
• Dunlop Art Gallery
• Writer in Residence Program
• Indigenous Storyteller in Residence

Products and services

• Library Card Membership Free library card registration available to all Regina residents providing borrowing privileges, digital access, program registration, and room booking. Community Library Card available for non-address-verified customers allowing up to 4 item borrows.
• Physical Collection Lending Borrowing of physical library materials including books, movies, music CDs, audiobooks on CD and MP3, newspapers, magazines, graphic novels, sheet music, art kits, maps, and Braille materials through the SILS provincial catalogue.
• Digital Lending and Streaming Services Digital access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming video (Kanopy), music streaming (Naxos, medici.tv), digital magazines and newspapers (PressReader), language learning (Mango), online tutoring (Brainfuse), professional development (LinkedIn Learning), and over 70 research databases.
• Digital Media Studio Studio space and equipment for digital content creation including audio/video production, podcasting, and other media projects, available for booking by library cardholders.
• 3D Printing Service 3D printing service priced at 10 cents per gram (rounded to the nearest gram), including object weight, raft, and supports. Print jobs reviewed for compliance and functionality with pickup at Central Library and Sunrise Library branches.
• Dunlop Art Gallery Art gallery within Central Library featuring rotating exhibitions of contemporary art including Indigenous art, with publications, art rental programs, and artist submissions. Sherwood Village Branch hosts a Sherwood Gallery extension.
• RPL Film Theatre Film theatre within Central Library screening feature films, documentaries, and special programming including Cannes Lions Awards, cultural film festivals, and community screenings.
• Programs and Events Educational and cultural programming for all ages including children's storytimes, teen programs, adult learning, technology workshops, author talks, film screenings, early literacy initiatives, business and career programs, Indigenous programming, and newcomer/EAL events.
• Book Club in a Bag Kit service for book clubs containing 10 copies of one book title, author biographies, discussion questions, and guidance materials. Available in multiple categories including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children's, Young Adult, Genre, Indigenous Voices, and Literacy/EAL.
• Accessibility Services Accessibility services for patrons with disabilities including BlindSquare beacons and hearing loops for navigation, CELA and NNELS print disabilities support, and accessible formats such as Daisy Disc, Braille, dyslexia-friendly, and restricted e-audiobook materials.
• Writer in Residence Program Annual program connecting local writers with established authors for personal guidance on writing projects. RPL was the first public library in Canada to offer this program, established in 1978.
• Room Bookings Meeting room rental service for community groups featuring various room sizes and the accessible Community Commons space at Central Library.
• Computer Access and Wi-Fi Public computer stations and Wi-Fi internet access provided at all library branches for customer use.
• Basic Tech Help One-on-one technology assistance helping patrons with basic digital literacy skills, device setup, and technology questions.
• Digitization Stations Stations allowing patrons to digitize photographs, documents, and other physical materials for preservation and digital access.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the first public libraries in Canada to install BlindSquare beacons and hearing loops for accessibility
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Regina Education on Child Hunger (REACH)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership to offer healthy, low-cost food boxes for pickup at five library branches, addressing food security in the community.
• Métis Nation Saskatchewan Western Region IIImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership to celebrate Métis culture and connect people with Louis Riel's history through cultural programming and exhibitions.
• Law Society of SaskatchewanmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Annual Law Fair partnership providing free legal support and information to the community, in collaboration with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan.
• Pro Bono Law SaskatchewanmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Collaboration on annual Law Fair providing free legal information and support services to Regina residents.
• Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Joint hosting of panel discussions and events focused on downtown health, wellbeing, and revitalization including the Safety and Wellbeing Panel series.
• Farm & Food Care SaskatchewanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership for Agriculture Week panel discussion celebrating Saskatchewan agricultural innovation and food production.
• Family Service ReginamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partnership providing free, immediate mental health counselling through Thrive Rapid-Access Counselling at multiple RPL locations. Also supports safety initiatives at Central Library with Family Service Regina workers.
• Saskatchewan Information & Library Services Consortium (SILS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009SILS Consortium brings together all 10 public library systems in Saskatchewan plus the Provincial Library and Literacy Office. Enables province-wide catalogue access, inter-library loans, collaborative purchasing, and joint projects for the benefit of all Saskatchewan residents.
• Regina Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Sounds of Summer Reading partnership bringing live orchestral performances to George Bothwell Branch.
• First Nations University of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting author events including Michelle Good presentation.
• Saskatchewan Library AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting of author events and literary programming.
• CommissionairesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSecurity services partnership supporting customer-first safety approach at Central Library.
• Saskatchewan Science CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscovery Pass program allowing library card holders to access the Science Centre with free passes distributed through the library.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/reginalibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReginaPublicLibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/reginalibrary
• Xx.com/officialrpl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regina-public-library

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Regina Public Library