Delaware City Public Library

What Delaware City Public Library does

Delaware City Public Library (legal name: Delaware City Library) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public library established in 1973 and located at 250 5th Street, Delaware City, Delaware, where it shares a City of Delaware City-owned building with the Delaware City Community Center. The library operates as a contract branch within the New Castle County Library System, serving Delaware City residents through a single physical location open 40 hours per week and a statewide digital service network. Its service catalog is built on the SIRSI-powered Delaware Library Catalog, the Delaware Libraries Mobile App, and integrations with OverDrive/Libby, Kanopy, Flipster, Creativebug, Ancestry.com, and Princh, alongside specialized offerings including Chromebook/MiFi device lending, Library Access Services for patrons with disabilities, social-worker consultations, and career/small-business support.

The library's core offering is the free Delaware resident library card (available in standard, My First for ages 0–5, Super for ages 6–12, and Educator variants), which provides access to a 24,000+ item physical collection, inter-library loan across the state, and digital collections including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, streaming video, and licensed databases. Programming spans children's literacy initiatives (including a PAWS for Reading therapy-dog partnership), teen S.T.R.E.A.M. activities, and adult events such as Pub Trivia and Art in the Library. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors (President Steven Michel, Vice President Suzanne Brandt, Treasurer Craig O'Donnell, Secretary Maria D'Errico, and additional members) with daily operations led by Director Loree Elton and Assistant Director Kirsten Isakoff.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a publicly funded nonprofit: the majority of operating support flows through the New Castle County Library System contract, with the building provided by the City of Delaware City. The only direct user fees are $40 annual non-resident library cards; additional income arrives via donations (check, credit card via Square, AmazonSmile), and fundraising through a Friends Group. There are no investment-style funding rounds, no equity instruments, and no revenue figures publicly disclosed. Marketing and community engagement rely on organic channels including the library website, Facebook (DelawareCityLibrary), Instagram (delcitylibrary), Twitter (DECityLibrary), event calendars, and community partnerships rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Delaware City Public Library

Legal name

Delaware City Library

Website

https://delawarecity.lib.de.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Delaware City Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, single-branch public library established in 1973, operating as a contract library in the New Castle County Library System to provide free physical and digital library services to Delaware City residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library resources
• EBooks and digital media
• Children literacy programs
• Library research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Delaware City

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations from the public. Donations expand services and resources, providing Delaware City residents with access to skills and tools needed to thrive. Accepts checks, credit card donations via Square, and AmazonSmile contributions.
2. Non-Resident Library Cards: Non-Delaware residents can purchase an annual library card for $40, providing access to all library services and materials.
3. Public Funding: Contract library of New Castle County Library System, receiving public funding for operations. Building owned by City of Delaware City.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Delaware City Public Library provides free library card-based access to physical and digital library materials, public computers, WiFi, meeting room space, and educational programming for children, teens, and adults. It operates as a contract branch within the New Castle County Library System and the Delaware Libraries network, giving patrons access to a statewide catalog, inter-library loans, eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming video, eMagazines, and licensed online databases.

Product overview

Delaware City Public Library operates as a single-location public library within the New Castle County Library System, offering a unified service model combining physical and digital resources. The core offerings center on library card membership providing access to the Delaware Library Catalog (SIRSI-powered) and the broader eMedia Collection including OverDrive eBooks, Kanopy streaming video, Flipster eMagazines, and licensed databases like Ancestry.com. The library extends its services through specialized programs including device lending (Chromebooks, MiFi), Library Access Services for patrons with disabilities, social worker consultations, and career/small business assistance. The Delaware Libraries Mobile App and Libby App provide digital account management and content access. Physical services include nine public computers, a meeting room, over 24,000 circulating items, and programming for children, teens, and adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card Free library cards for Delaware residents providing access to physical materials, digital resources, computer use, and all library programs; available in standard, My First (ages 0-5), Super (ages 6-12), and Educator variants.
• Delaware Library Catalog Online catalog system (powered by SIRSI) for searching, reserving, and managing borrowed physical and digital materials across Delaware public libraries.
• eMedia Collection Digital media platform offering eBooks, eMagazines, streaming video (Kanopy), audiobooks, and online databases for Delaware library patrons.
• Subject Guides and Research Databases Curated research guides and licensed database subscriptions including Ancestry.com for genealogical research, language learning tools, and career resources.
• Delaware Libraries Mobile App Official mobile application enabling patrons to access their library account, manage checkouts, place holds, and access digital resources from their device.
• Public Computer and Meeting Room Access Nine public computers, WiFi, and a meeting room available for patron use at the Delaware City Library branch.
• Non-Resident Library Card Subscription Annual subscription library card available to non-Delaware residents for $40 per year, providing full access to library services and materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free library cards for all Delaware residents supporting the goal of 100% library card penetration
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PAWS for PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PAWS for People brings therapy dogs to the library for the PAWS for Reading program. Children read aloud to friendly therapy dogs to improve literacy and communication skills in a judgment-free environment. Program runs every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 1-2 PM.
• City of Delaware CitycoreOthersThe library building is owned by the City of Delaware City and also houses the Delaware City Community Center. This public-private arrangement supports the library's mission to serve the community.
• New Castle County Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelaware City Library is a contract library of the New Castle County Library System. This partnership provides access to the broader county library network, shared catalog system, and coordinated services.
• Delaware State LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Delaware Libraries network providing access to the statewide catalog, inter-library loan, shared digital collections (eMedia), and coordinated programming including the statewide library card campaign.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• OverDrive: Provider of the Libby/OverDrive digital lending platform that powers Delaware City Library's eBook, eAudiobook, and streaming offerings; a technology incumbent enabling the library's digital catalog.
• Delaware Division of Libraries: State-level library agency coordinating the Delaware Libraries statewide network, providing digital infrastructure (statewide catalog, eMedia, Library Access Services) that Delaware City Public Library leverages.
• OCLC: Provider of the ContentDM digital repository and library cataloging infrastructure (including the SIRSI-powered Delaware catalog); a backbone technology and metadata services provider for the library.

Emerging players

• Bibliotheca: Library technology vendor specializing in RFID, self-service, and digital media solutions; comparable as an adjacent infrastructure provider serving the public library technology stack.
• Kanopy: Streaming video platform offered through the Delaware Libraries network; comparable as an enabling digital content provider that expands the library's media footprint without in-house production.

Direct peers

• New Castle County Library System: The county-level contracting and network authority that Delaware City Public Library is part of; directly comparable as the parent system that defines shared catalog, digital collections, and service standards for member branches.
• Wilmington Public Library: Another Delaware public library in the same statewide network, comparable in mission, governance (501(c)(3) nonprofit), and reliance on shared Delaware Libraries digital infrastructure.

Others

• EBSCO (Flipster): Provider of Flipster eMagazines, integrated into Delaware City Library's digital offering; comparable as a content/database vendor serving public library digital collections.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DECityLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/DelawareCityLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/delcitylibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-city-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 Delaware City Public Library