Brockville Public Library

What Brockville Public Library does

Brockville Public Library is a municipal public library serving the City of Brockville, Ontario, Canada. Established as a public library under Ontario's 1895 Public Libraries Act and operating from a Carnegie building opened in 1904 (predecessor Brockville Mechanics' Institute founded 1842), it provides free library card membership to all Brockville residents, workers, and students, with a $40/year non-resident membership option. The institution is governed by a volunteer Board appointed by Brockville City Council and operates as a registered charity under a municipal charter, accredited through Ontario Public Library Guidelines and designated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA).

The library's core technology stack consists of third-party platforms including the Bibliocommons online catalog, Libby/OverDrive for digital lending of ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines, plus ePrints for mobile printing. Distinctive in-house assets include the FabLab makerspace (Prusa MK4S 3D printer, Glowforge Pro laser cutter, Cricut Explore 3 cutting machines, Singer sewing machines), a microfilm archive of local newspapers from 1828-2008, and an Experience Collection lending program covering museum passes, snowshoes, fishing rods, board games, tools, telescopes, and VR headsets. Service modules span physical lending, digital lending, accessible format collections via CELA, home delivery for mobility-limited patrons, interlibrary loans, book club kits, meeting room rentals, computer and printing services, and Tech Tutoring.

The business model is anchored by recurring municipal tax appropriations from the City of Brockville, supplemented by charitable donations (registered charity issuing tax receipts), ancillary transaction revenue from printing/fax/lamination ($0.25-$1.50/page), meeting room rentals ($15-25/hour, three rooms), FabLab material fees (3D printing at $0.15/gram, laser cutting at $10/basswood piece), and non-resident memberships ($40/year). Marketing and distribution operate through the library website, Facebook and Instagram organic social, a monthly email newsletter, and in-person community programming.

Name

Brockville Public Library

Legal name

Brockville Public Library

Website

https://brockvillelibrary.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Brockville Public Library is a municipal public library in Brockville, Ontario providing free physical and digital lending, FabLab makerspace access, accessible collections, and community programs to local residents, workers, and students from a historic Carnegie building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital media lending
• Makerspace access
• Accessible library resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Brockville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Funding: Primary operating funding from municipal taxes through City of Brockville
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Charitable donations from public, including monthly or one-time donations, book adoptions, and securities/mutual fund donations. Registered charity issuing tax receipts for donations $10 and above.
3. Meeting Room Rental: Rental revenue from three meeting rooms (Buell St. Room, George St. Room, Carnegie Room) with hourly and daily rates
4. Printing, Fax and Related Services: Fees for printing ($0.25 black & white, $1.00 colour), fax ($1.50/page), lamination services
5. Non-Resident Membership: $40/year membership fee for non-Brockville residents

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Brockville Public Library provides free library-card-based access to physical collections (books, DVDs, video games, magazines, board games), digital lending (ebooks, audiobooks, magazines via Libby), an Experience Collection of non-traditional items (museum passes, snowshoes, fishing rods, tools, VR equipment), public computers and printing services, interlibrary loans, meeting room rentals, a FabLab makerspace, and community programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. The library also offers accessible-format collections and home delivery service for patrons with mobility or print-disability needs.

Product overview

Brockville Public Library operates as a traditional public library offering a unified service model that combines physical and digital lending. The core offering centers on library card membership granting access to books, movies, and recreational items, supplemented by the digital lending platform Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, and an Experience Collection program for non-traditional items like museum passes, tools, and maker equipment. Key service modules include accessible format collections for patrons with disabilities, the FabLab makerspace for creative technology access, meeting room rentals, home delivery for mobility-limited patrons, interlibrary loan services, computer and printing facilities, and various community programs. The library's digital presence includes online catalogue access, program registration, and subscription-based newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FabLab Makerspace: Brockville Public Library's makerspace hub for learning, creating and collaborating, offering community access to creative technology and equipment including 3D printers, laser printer, Cricut cutting machines, and sewing machines.

Products and services

• Library Card Membership Free library cards issued to Brockville residents, workers, students, and taxpayers unlocking borrowing of physical and digital materials, program attendance, computer use, and museum passes; temporary online cards provide immediate digital access; non-residents pay $40/year.
• Digital Lending via Libby (OverDrive) Digital borrowing platform for ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines available via the Libby mobile app and web browser to library cardholders.
• Experience Collection Lending program for non-traditional items including museum passes, snowshoes, fishing rods, board games, sewing machines, tools, telescopes, and VR equipment, available to library cardholders.
• Museum Passes Free general-admission passes to partner museums including the Canadian Museum of History and Canadian Museum of Nature, available for 7-day checkout on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Accessible Format Collections Reading materials in accessible formats — large print, audiobooks on CD, DAISY audiobooks, digital ebooks, and DAISY reader devices — provided to patrons with print disabilities.
• FabLab Makerspace Community makerspace offering access to creative technology — Prusa MK4S 3D printer, Glowforge Pro 3D laser printer, Cricut Explore 3 cutting machines, and Singer sewing machines — by appointment for library cardholders, with material fees.
• Interlibrary Loans Borrowing service allowing Brockville patrons to obtain books, audiobooks, and DVDs from other Ontario public libraries through a mutual borrowing agreement.
• Home Delivery Service Monthly volunteer-driven delivery of library materials to Brockville residents who cannot visit the library due to mobility challenges, scheduled on the 2nd Thursday of each month.
• Computers & Printing Services Public computer workstations with internet and Wi-Fi access, mobile printing via ePrints, in-house printing (B&W $0.25, color $1.00), faxing ($1.50/page), scanning, microfilm reader access, and lamination services.
• Meeting Room Rental Rental of three meeting rooms — Buell St. Room (capacity 50, $25/hour up to $150/day), George St. Room (capacity 10, $15/hour up to $75/day), and Carnegie Room — for community meetings, study sessions, and remote working.
• Tech Tutoring Free one-on-one training sessions with a volunteer Tech Tutor covering internet basics, device usage, and simple technology skills for library patrons.
• Book Club Services Book club support including curated 10-copy sets with discussion questions, interlibrary loan assistance for club titles, and facilitated monthly book club meetings at the library.
• Online Research Databases Digital research resources covering genealogy (Ancestry Library Edition, FamilySearch), book recommendations (Novelist), and arts/crafts tutorials (Creativebug), available to library cardholders.
• Community Programs & Events Scheduled community programs and events for adults, seniors, teens, and children including workshops, author events, and educational sessions delivered across age-group calendars.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free library membership for all Brockville residents, workers, and students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian Tire BrockvilleminorOthersSponsor of fishing rod lending initiative at the library. Canadian Tire Brockville provided sponsorship along with the Friends of the Brockville Public Library for this seasonal equipment lending program.
• Friends of the Brockville Public LibraryminorOthersCommunity support organization that sponsors various library initiatives including the fishing rod lending program.
• CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing accessible reading services to people with print disabilities across Canada. CELA provides audio and braille formats. BPL members can access these services by contacting CELA directly.
• Leeds-Grenville Stewardship CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating MAPsacks project as part of the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Healthy Communities Partnership. Joint library project with Rideau Lakes Public Library.
• Rideau Lakes Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint library partner in MAPsacks project created as part of the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Healthy Communities Partnership.
• Alzheimer Society of Lanark Leeds and GrenvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated memory kits for seniors and those with dementia containing exercises and activities to help fight effects of dementia.
• Ontario Library AssociationcoreOthersProfessional association membership. Library staff and leadership are committed to active participation in reconciliation through this membership, following CFLA-FCAB's Truth & Reconciliation Committee Recommendations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ottawa Public Library: Largest Ontario public library system with multi-branch network and deep digital lending capacity. Comparable as an Ontario municipal public library with shared catalog/overdrive infrastructure, but operates at materially larger scale than Brockville.
• Toronto Public Library: Canada's largest public library system and a benchmark for digital lending, makerspaces (with TD Maker Mobilelabs), and Experience-style lending. Relevant as an aspirational incumbent showcasing the upper-bound of services BPL could expand toward.
• Edmonton Public Library: Large Canadian public library system widely recognized for its makerspace program (EPL Makerspace). Comparable as a public library operating an advanced FabLab-style offering — a model BPL's smaller FabLab aspires to.

Direct peers

• Kingston Frontenac Public Library: Nearby Ontario public library serving a similar small-city community along the St. Lawrence corridor. Comparable Carnegie-era heritage, single-municipal funding model, and similar small-city Ontario patron base as Brockville.
• Belleville Public Library: Ontario mid-sized city public library operating a comparable multi-service model including meeting rooms, digital lending, and community programming. Comparable governance and accreditation profile as Brockville.
• Rideau Lakes Public Library: Joint partner with Brockville on the MAPsacks project. Small Ontario public library serving a rural township — directly comparable in scale, Carnegie/municipal heritage, and operating model to Brockville.

Regional players

• Cornwall Public Library: Eastern Ontario municipal library of comparable scale serving the Cornwall community. Same Ontario Public Library Guidelines accreditation framework and similar small-city operating profile as Brockville, though in a different immediate catchment.
• Smiths Falls Public Library: Small-town Ontario public library in the same Leeds-Grenville region. Highly comparable in scale, patron base, and rural/small-city service model to Brockville.

Others

• CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access): National nonprofit providing accessible-format library services across Canada, including a core strategic partnership with Brockville Public Library. Comparable as an enabling ecosystem partner delivering accessibility services that BPL extends to its patrons.
• Bibliocommons (by BiblioCommons): Catalog and discovery platform used by Brockville Public Library and hundreds of other public libraries. Relevant as the digital infrastructure provider underpinning BPL's online catalog and patron account services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BrockvillePublicLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/brockvillepubliclibrary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Brockville Public Library