Bibliotheek Almelo

What Bibliotheek Almelo does

Bibliotheek Almelo is a public non-profit library organisation (ANBI-status, founded 1916) serving the municipality of Almelo and surrounding areas of Aadorp and Bornerbroek in the Netherlands. It operates a main library at Het Baken 3, a secondary branch (Bibliotheekvoorziening De Driehoek), and 12 Afhaalpunt pickup locations embedded in schools, community centres, and care homes, complemented by a volunteer-driven Bibliobode home delivery service for mobility-limited residents. Its offering spans physical and digital lending, the MaakLab digital fabrication facility (3D printers, laser cutter, embroidery machine, micro:bits), the national online Bibliotheek platform for e-books and audiobooks, and structured programmes for digital government assistance (Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid), Dutch language learning (Taalpunt), and senior digital literacy (SeniorWeb).

The library's underlying technology is largely procured rather than proprietary: the Wise app and Mijn Bibliotheek web portal (hosted by provincial support organisation Rijnbrink) handle catalog, reservations, and account management; Single Identity SSO links the local library to the Koninklijke Bibliotheek's national systems; and Publicroam provides secured WiFi. Differentiated in-house assets are limited to the MaakLab facility and the IDO service point, which is co-delivered with Gemeente Almelo, Avedan Welzijn, and Almelo Sociaal.

Revenue mechanics combine low-friction individual subscriptions (Standard €45/year, Top €60/year, Digital-only €42/year, free for under-18s), ancillary transactional income from late fees (€0.15/day), printing, and room rental, with the bulk of operating funding flowing from municipal subsidies and provincial support via Rijnbrink. Customer segments are horizontal — the general public, seniors, youth, immigrants and language learners, and homebound residents — and go-to-market is community-led through the 14 physical access points, the Wise app, and the national online Bibliotheek platform.

Name

Bibliotheek Almelo

Legal name

Bibliotheek Almelo

Website

https://bibliotheekalmelo.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bibliotheek Almelo is a Dutch public non-profit library (ANBI, founded 1916) operating a main library, one branch, and 12 pickup points across Almelo, serving residents of all ages with lending, digital fabrication (MaakLab), digital government help (IDO), language learning, and home delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending
• Digital literacy training
• Maker space facilities
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Almelo

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Library Membership Subscriptions: Annual and monthly subscription fees for library membership, with tiered pricing (Standard, Top, youth free). Revenue is recurring from member subscriptions, which fund library operations and collections.
2. Late Fees and Fines: Late return fees charged per material per day, as well as replacement and administration costs for unreturned materials
3. Printing and Copying: Revenue from black-and-white and colour photocopying and printing services within the library
4. Room Rental: Rental income from meeting rooms and theatre spaces to external parties for events, lectures and meetings
5. E-books and Digital Content: Digital membership option for non-members to access e-books and digital content via the online Bibliotheek, priced at €42/year

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bibliotheek Almelo is a public library organization that lends physical and digital media (books, e-books, audiobooks, magazines), provides public access to computers and WiFi, hosts cultural events, courses, and workshops for all ages, and runs a digital fabrication maker space (MaakLab). It also operates specialised community services including the Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (government digital service assistance), Bibliobode home delivery for homebound residents, Taalpunt Dutch language learning, SeniorWeb digital literacy helpdesk, and youth programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Feijn Lunchen & Lezen: A café within the library premises offering newspapers and magazines for reading.
• MaakLab
• Jeugdbieb
• Bibliobode
• Historisch Informatie Punt
• Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO)

Products and services

• Library Membership Subscription
• MaakLab Maker Space
• Bibliobode Home Delivery Service
• Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO)
• Taalpunt Dutch Language Learning
• SeniorWeb Helpdesk
• Online Bibliotheek Digital Content Membership
• Zaalhuur (Meeting Room and Theatre Rental)
• Online Cursussen (Online Courses Platform)
• Historisch Informatie Punt (Historical Information Point)
• Jeugdbieb Youth Library Programming

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RijnbrinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRijnbrink serves as the webbuilder and web manager for the Bibliotheek Almelo website. The website was created in collaboration between the Netwerk van Overijsselse Bibliotheken and Rijnbrink as the provincial support institution for Overijssel and Gelderland. Rijnbrink also hosts the catalog and member portal (Mijn Bibliotheek / Wise).
• Avedan WelzijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvedan Welzijn is a local welfare organisation in Almelo that collaborates with Bibliotheek Almelo on the Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO), helping citizens navigate government digital services.
• Almelo SociaalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlmelo Sociaal is a local social services organisation that partners with Bibliotheek Almelo on the Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO) to assist residents with digital government services.
• Gemeente AlmelocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Almelo collaborates with the library on the Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO), providing residents with assistance in accessing digital government services.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands) operates the online Bibliotheek platform used by Bibliotheek Almelo. A Single Identity login system links local and national library services. Personal data is shared between the two organisations for authentication and membership verification.
• De Historische Kring AlmelominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe local historical society collaborates with the library's Historisch Informatie Punt (Historical Information Point), providing resources and expertise for historical and genealogical research in Almelo and Twente.
• SeniorWeb AlmelocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeniorWeb volunteers provide walk-in helpdesk services for seniors with computer, laptop, tablet, and smartphone questions. Sessions are held at the library every Tuesday 14:00-15:30 and at multiple partner locations throughout Almelo.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Rotterdam's public library. Comparable in operating model (multi-location public library, community programming, digital learning) at much larger scale, serving as a benchmark for urban community-library operations.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): The national library of the Netherlands and operator of the Online Bibliotheek digital platform that Bibliotheek Almelo's members access. Compares as the broader public-sector incumbent defining national library services and digital infrastructure that local libraries plug into.
• Stichting OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam): Amsterdam's public library system, the largest and most innovative in the Netherlands. Comparable as a public-library operator but at significantly larger scale; benchmarks the upper end of community programming depth (e.g., OBA Makerspace, civic services).

Direct peers

• Bibliotheek Enschede: Public library for the largest Twente-region city adjacent to Almelo. Directly comparable: same Overijssel province, same Rijnbrink-managed Wise platform, similar community-hub positioning with maker and digital literacy programming.
• Bibliotheek Hengelo: A public library serving the neighbouring city of Hengelo in Overijssel. Highly comparable: similar municipal-scale public library, same provincial support structure (Rijnbrink), comparable programming breadth (Taalpunt, digital learning, community pickup points).
• Bibliotheek Deventer: Public library serving a comparable-sized municipality in Overijssel. Comparable business model, customer base (all ages, with strong youth programming), and ANBI non-profit governance structure.
• Bibliotheek Zwolle: Public library serving Zwolle, the provincial capital of Overijssel. Operates under the same provincial umbrella (Rijnbrink) with similar community programming, slightly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bibliotheekalmelo
• Instagraminstagram.com/biebalmelo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheek-almelo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bibliotheek Almelo