Bibliotheek Montferland

What Bibliotheek Montferland does

Bibliotheek Montferland (legal entity: Stichting Bibliotheek Montferland) is a public library non-profit serving the municipality of Montferland in the Achterhoek region of Gelderland, Netherlands. It operates two physical branches — Bibliotheek Didam (Waverlo 1, flagship, 38 hrs/week) and Bibliotheek 's-Heerenberg (19 hrs/week) — supplemented by a home-delivery service (Bibliotheek aan Huis), direct school-lending partnerships, and integrated digital channels. The organization runs on a lean operating model of approximately 10 paid staff plus ~50 volunteers.

The core product is a public lending and information service combining physical collections (books, magazines, music) with digital lending via the national Online Bibliotheek platform (e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines) operated by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek. The technology stack rests on the SAMISIS library management system powering the online catalog and 'Mijn Bibliotheek' member portal, the Iguana Bibliotheek App on iOS/Android/Windows for self-service account management, and shared national single sign-on. Beyond traditional lending, the library bundles third-party digital services (Junior Einstein, Theorie.nl, Bereslim, Yoleo, Comics Plus, Uittrekselbank, SkillsTown, Soofos) and runs community programs including Boekjes&Babbels, BoekStart, VoorleesExpress, DigiTaalhuis (low-literacy support), Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO, government digital services), and SeniorWeb Digitaal café.

The business model is a hybrid public-subsidy + membership-subscription model with ANBI charitable status. The majority of operational funding comes from a structural municipal subsidy from Gemeente Montferland executed under a public policy plan with bi-annual accountability meetings. Secondary revenue consists of annual membership fees (€55 standard, €52.50 with auto-debit, €15 for 3-month temporary, free under 18), modest activity fees, and late-return/replacement charges (€0.20/item/day). The library serves a diversified customer base: children/youth (0–18, free), adults and seniors (including low-literate and digitally excluded), educational institutions (preschools, primary, secondary schools), and the general public (non-members access free in-branch services). A planned 2026 merger with Bibliotheek Achterhoekse Poort will form the larger regional entity Bibliotheek Poort van Gelre.

Name

Bibliotheek Montferland

Legal name

Stichting Bibliotheek Montferland

Website

https://bibliotheekmontferland.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bibliotheek Montferland is an ANBI-status Dutch public library non-profit operating two branches in Montferland, Gelderland, providing physical and digital lending, digital literacy programs, and school services to municipal residents, funded primarily by Gemeente Montferland and set to merge in 2026 into Bibliotheek Poort van Gelre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

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), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital reading resources
• Literacy education services
• Educational school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Didam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Subsidy (Gemeente Montferland): The primary revenue stream is a structural subsidy from Gemeente Montferland. The library operates as a non-profit (ANBI status) in execution of public tasks assigned by the municipality. This covers the majority of operational costs.
2. Library Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees (€55/year standard, €52.50 with automatic debit, €15 for 3-month temporary subscription) and youth memberships (free under 18). These fees provide access to physical and digital collections.
3. Activity and Program Fees: Revenue generated from workshops, courses, and special activities. Most activities are free or low-cost (as stated 'gratis of tegen een kleine vergoeding'), but some programs may generate modest fee income.
4. Overdue Fees and Replacement Charges: Late return fees (€0.20 per item per day) and charges for lost or damaged materials. Also nominal duplication fees for borrower cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bibliotheek Montferland provides free public library access for residents of the municipality of Montferland through two physical branches, lending physical collections (books, magazines, music) and providing digital lending via the national Online Bibliotheek (e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines). It also delivers structured community programs including early-childhood reading promotion (BoekStart, Boekjes&Babbels), youth digital reading platforms, adult literacy support (DigiTaalhuis), digital government-service assistance (IDO), and educational partnerships with schools.

Product overview

Bibliotheek Montferland is a public library system in the Netherlands operating two physical branches (Didam and 's-Heerenberg) that provides traditional lending services and digital resources. The core offering includes physical library collections (books, magazines, music) with membership subscriptions ranging from free (under 18) to annual plans. Digital services center around the Online Bibliotheek platform for e-books and audiobooks, accessible via the Iguana Bibliotheek mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. The library serves youth through specialized digital platforms including Jeugdbibliotheek.nl, Bereslim, The Reading Corner, Yoleo, and Comics Plus, while educational support includes Junior Einstein, Theorie.nl, and Uittrekselbank. Community programs include the DigiTaalhuis for literacy support, Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO) for government services, and BoekStart for early childhood reading stimulation. The library operates under the Bibliotheek Poort van Gelre umbrella, merging with Bibliotheek Achterhoekse Poort in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DigiTaalhuis Montferland: A language and digital literacy center addressing illiteracy, operating in collaboration with Gemeente Montferland, Graafschap College, and Welcom.

Products and services

• Iguana Bibliotheek App

Quantifiable outcome

• Free membership for all youth under 18 ensures universal access from childhood
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bibliotheek Achterhoekse PoortcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Bibliotheek Achterhoekse Poort and Bibliotheek Montferland are merging in 2026 to form the new organization 'Bibliotheek Poort van Gelre'. This is a full organizational merger creating a larger regional public library entity serving the Achterhoek region of Gelderland. The new combined entity will have a new website at www.poortvangelre.nl.
• Gemeente MontferlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Montferland is the primary funder and public mandate holder for Bibliotheek Montferland. The library operates in execution of tasks assigned by the municipality under a policy plan. Twice-yearly administrative meetings are held between the Raad van Toezicht/directeur and the municipal councilor for culture.
• DigiTaalhuis Montferland (Gemeente Montferland, Graafschap College, Welcom)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DigiTaalhuis is a collaborative consortium addressing low literacy in Montferland. Partners include Gemeente Montferland (municipality), Graafschap College (vocational college), and Welcom (social support organization). The DigiTaalhuis offers language learning, digital skills, and numeracy support for adults. In summer, the consortium also organizes a 'Zomerschool' (summer school) for newcomer children and children needing extra support.
• WelcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelcom is a social support organization in Montferland that collaborates with the library on the VoorleesExpress program (reading support for children aged 2-8 with a language development gap) and on the DigiTaalhuis consortium.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Koninklijke Bibliotheek operates the national Online Bibliotheek platform for e-books and audiobooks, and the shared national login system (eenmalig inloggen). Bibliotheek Montferland and the KB are joint controllers for personal data processing under the AVG/GDPR for the national login system. The KB shares limited membership data with Bibliotheek Montferland to enable e-book lending and membership management.
• SeniorWeb MontferlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeniorWeb Montferland specialists host a monthly 'Digitaal café' in both Bibliotheek Didam and Bibliotheek 's-Heerenberg branches, providing introductions to digital topics and answering questions from seniors about smartphones, tablets, and computers.
• National Reading Promotion OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library participates in national reading promotion programs including Read2Me (reading competition for first-year secondary students), the Jonge Jury (youth jury reading program), De Inktaap (reading prize for 15-19 year olds), Lezen voor de Lijst (curriculum reading lists), LitLab (digital literature lab), and the Graphic Novel Guide for teachers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ProBiblio: Provincial support organization for public libraries in North and South Holland, providing shared services, training, and innovation programs. Comparable in mission (supporting public libraries) and indirect to Bibliotheek Montferland's operating model.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): National library of the Netherlands and operator of the shared Online Bibliotheek digital lending platform and national SSO that Bibliotheek Montferland depends on. Adjacent infrastructure provider rather than a competitor.
• NBD Biblion: Dutch library service organization that supports public libraries with collection advice, metadata, and shared services. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but materially relevant to how Dutch public libraries operate.

Direct peers

• Bibliotheek Arnhem: Another regional Gelderland public library offering the same municipal-library product (physical branches, digital lending via Online Bibliotheek, DigiTaalhuis, school programs, IDO). Comparable in scope and operating model within the same province.
• Bibliotheek Eindhoven: Dutch municipal public library running the same ANBI-subsidized model with branches, digital lending, education programs, and community initiatives such as DigiTaalhuis. Directly comparable in service mix and customer base.
• Bibliotheek Achterhoekse Poort: Regional public library in the Achterhoek that operates the same Dutch municipal library model (ANBI, subsidized, branches, school programs). It is the announced 2026 merger partner that will combine with Bibliotheek Montferland to form Bibliotheek Poort van Gelre, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• Bibliotheek Utrecht: Utrecht municipal public library offering lending, digital, education, and community programming. Operates the same Dutch public-library model at a larger urban scale, providing a useful benchmark for service breadth.
• Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Large Dutch municipal public library operating multiple branches, digital lending, education and literacy programs, and community initiatives in Rotterdam. Comparable in mission and product mix, with broader portfolio and deeper resources.
• Bibliotheek Den Haag: Municipal public library of The Hague running the same Dutch public-library service set (branches, Online Bibliotheek, school services, community programs). Comparable in offerings; larger and more urban than Bibliotheek Montferland.
• OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam): The largest municipal public library in the Netherlands, offering the same core services (lending, digital, programs, school services) but at much greater scale across many branches and a much larger budget. Comparable in mission and product, but not in scale or specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BibliotheekPoortvanGelre
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibliotheekpoortvangelre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheek-montferland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Bibliotheek Montferland