Friends of Forbes Library
Forbes Library is a 501(c)(3) public library in Northampton, Massachusetts serving Massachusetts residents free of charge, with lending collections, over 30 research databases, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, local history collections, and community programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1887
- HeadquartersNorthampton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Friends of Forbes Library does
Forbes Library (the operating entity supported by the Friends of Forbes Library) is the public library serving Northampton, Massachusetts. Established in 1887 through the will of Charles E. Forbes, the library is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 04-6004208), governed by an elected Board of Trustees, and funded primarily by City of Northampton municipal appropriation, endowment returns, donations, and grants. It operates from a single facility at 20 West Street in downtown Northampton, open 56 hours per week, with 24/7 online catalog and research-database access. Library card services are free to Massachusetts residents; non-residents pay $35 annually. The Friends of Forbes Library is a separate volunteer support organization that assists with fundraising and community advocacy without operational control.
The library's service portfolio spans specialized departments including Borrower Services, Children's and YA Services, Adult Services/Reference, Arts & Music, the Hosmer Gallery, the Hampshire Room for Local History and Special Collections, and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum. Core offerings comprise physical and digital lending (books, music, movies); a Library of Things program lending WiFi hotspots, musical instruments, museum passes, Kindles, tools, and seeds; over 30 subscription research databases including JSTOR, Ancestry Library Edition, American Ancestors, Britannica, Mergent Online, Morningstar, and Value Line; and streaming through Overdrive/Libby, Kanopy, PressReader, biblio+, the Palace Project, and Open Library. Technology infrastructure is built on the CW MARS library management system, which connects Forbes to a Central and Western Massachusetts consortium for shared catalog and interlibrary loan, supplemented by an Argus online portal exposing over 14,000 digitized special-collection items.
Distribution combines the physical building, curbside pickup, an outreach delivery service to homebound residents in Northampton, Leeds, and Florence on a three-week cycle, and remote digital access. The library also hosts a MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center on-site, three reservable meeting rooms equipped with Meeting Owl Pro videoconferencing, and a parking lot that generates supplemental revenue at $0.25/hour and $3 day passes. The revenue model is overwhelmingly institutional (municipal appropriation plus endowment and donations) rather than transactional; transactional revenue streams (non-resident cards, parking, occasional fees) are marginal supplements.
Friends of Forbes Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Friends of Forbes Library
- Legal name
- Forbes Library
- Website
- https://forbeslibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1887
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Forbes Library is a 501(c)(3) public library in Northampton, Massachusetts serving Massachusetts residents free of charge, with lending collections, over 30 research databases, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, local history collections, and community programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Friends of Forbes Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Museums (712110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Friends of Forbes Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Northampton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Friends of Forbes Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Municipal Funding: City appropriation from the City of Northampton constitutes primary funding source for library operations
- Endowments and Investment Income: Library endowment funds managed by trustees generate investment income supporting operations
- Donations and Gifts: Individual donations, memorial gifts, and grants from foundations and organizations
- Non-Resident Library Cards: $35 annual fee charged to individuals who do not have residence in Massachusetts
- Parking Revenue: Metered parking lot behind building generates revenue; $0.25 per hour parking and $3.00 day passes with proceeds to library book fund
- Donation Revenue: Online and mail-in donations supporting general operations and specific initiatives like Coolidge Museum renovation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free Library Card for Massachusetts Residents |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Resident Library Card |
| Subscription | Annual | Educator/Teacher Cards |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Parking Fees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Replacement Library Card |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Friends of Forbes Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forbes Library is a public library providing free access to physical and digital collections, research databases, community programming, and specialized services to Massachusetts residents. Offerings include book and media lending, Library of Things items (WiFi hotspots, instruments, museum passes), Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, Hampshire Room local history collections, digital media streaming, children's and teen programming, meeting room rentals, and outreach delivery to homebound residents. The Friends of Forbes Library is an autonomous nonprofit support organization that raises funds and advocates for the library's interests.
Product overview
Friends of Forbes Library supports the Forbes Library, a public library serving Northampton, Massachusetts. The library operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single product, providing physical and digital lending (books, music, movies), specialized collections (Local History, Genealogy, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum), research databases (over 30+ databases including JSTOR, Britannica, Ancestry), digital media streaming (Overdrive, Kanopy, Palace, PressReader), and community programs (Hosmer Gallery exhibitions, meeting room reservations, children's/teen programming). The Library of Things program extends beyond traditional media to lend WiFi hotspots, musical instruments, museum passes, games, e-readers, and seeds. Accessibility services include curbside pickup, outreach delivery, assistive technology, and one-on-one technology help. The library also provides personalized reading recommendations through 'Your Next Great Read' and curated staff picks for books, audiobooks, movies, and music.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum: A presidential library and museum dedicated to Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, located within Forbes Library.
- Hampshire Room
- Hosmer Gallery
Products and services
- Library Card Services Free library cards for Massachusetts residents enabling access to physical and digital materials, online resources, catalog browsing, and holds placement.
- Digital Books and Media
Quantifiable outcome
- 56 hours per week of in-person access plus 24/7 online resource availability
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Friends of Forbes Library
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Friends of Forbes Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
Feature4 records
Friends of Forbes Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Massachusetts Library SystemcoreForbes Library is a member of the Massachusetts Library System, which provides consortium benefits, resource sharing, and collaborative services across Massachusetts libraries.
- CW MARS NetworkcoreCW MARS (C/W MARS) is the library network connecting Central and Western Massachusetts libraries. Forbes Library participates in this consortium for shared catalog, interlibrary loan, and resource access.
- Lilly LibraryminorForbes Library collaborates with Lilly Library on delivery services and Neighborhood Free Book Boxes to expand access to library materials in the community.
- MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career CenterminorCareer Center located at Forbes Library provides workshops, events, and career resources for job seekers in Franklin and Hampshire counties.
- Boston Public LibrarycoreForbes Library provides access to Boston Public Library eCard resources including PressReader, Palace Project, and other digital platforms for Massachusetts residents.
- Local Museums and Cultural InstitutionsminorForbes Library offers museum passes providing free or reduced admission to local museums, historic sites, and attractions including museums throughout the region.
- Smith CollegeminorSmith College students receive library cards at Forbes Library. Free parking at Smith College parking garage is available to library visitors after 5 PM weekdays and all day on weekends.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Friends of Forbes Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Friends of Forbes Library social profiles
Digital presenceFriends of Forbes Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Friends of Forbes Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Friends of Forbes Library subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Friends of Forbes Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Friends of Forbes 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 Friends of Forbes Library
What does Friends of Forbes Library do?
Forbes Library is a public library providing free access to physical and digital collections, research databases, community programming, and specialized services to Massachusetts residents. Offerings include book and media lending, Library of Things items (WiFi hotspots, instruments, museum passes), Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, Hampshire Room local history collections, digital media streaming, children's and teen programming, meeting room rentals, and outreach delivery to homebound residents. The Friends of Forbes Library is an autonomous nonprofit support organization that raises funds and advocates for the library's interests.
Is Friends of Forbes Library a public or private company?
Friends of Forbes Library is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Friends of Forbes Library founded?
Friends of Forbes Library was founded in 1887. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Friends of Forbes Library based?
Friends of Forbes Library is headquartered in Northampton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Friends of Forbes Library make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Municipal Funding is the primary driver. The others are endowments and Investment Income, donations and Gifts, non-Resident Library Cards, parking Revenue and donation Revenue.
Does Friends of Forbes Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Friends of Forbes Library.
What industry is Friends of Forbes Library in?
Friends of Forbes 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 51921.