Cardington-Lincoln Public Library

What Cardington-Lincoln Public Library does

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library (CLPL) is a publicly funded municipal library system in Cardington, Ohio, tracing its origins to a public library established in the village in 1830 and formally incorporated in 1897 after being reorganized as the 'Ladies' Public Library' in 1878. It operates as a nonprofit under Ohio law, governed by a Board of Trustees, and delivers service from a single location at 128 East Main Street serving the Cardington-Lincoln School District community. Core offerings include free library cards for all Ohio residents (with up to 25 physical items, 8 DVDs, and 20 digital items borrowable per card, no overdue fees), physical and digital lending through the COOL-Cat shared consortium catalog linking 251 Ohio library systems, and digital lending via Libby/OverDrive and the Ohio Digital Library. Differentiated collections include the 'Library of Things' (loanable tools and equipment) and a Seed Library, alongside accessibility services for blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled patrons through the State Library of Ohio Talking Book Program, VOICEcorps, American Printing House for the Blind (Braille Tales), and an on-site Merlin Low Vision Reader.

The library supports literacy and lifelong learning through structured youth programs (Little Pirate Readers / 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, Story Time following Every Child Ready to Read, Summer Reading Program, Teacher Packs for Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools) and adult programs (Adult Reading Challenge, BookTalk, Craft Society, Read Between the Wines). It extends physical reach through home delivery for homebound patrons and pop-up events at community parks (Heimlich Park, Lincoln Center Park), and offers community services including notary, voter registration, document services (copy/print/fax/scan/laminate), free public WiFi/internet access, and meeting rooms (free for non-profits; $20 fee for private parties). Marketing channels span Facebook, Instagram, X, the library website, RSS/email newsletters, and partnerships with local schools, Kroger Community Rewards, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Revenue is non-commercial: the $474,600 annual operational budget is funded approximately two-thirds (~$300,000) by Ohio's Public Library Fund (PLF), which itself is statutorily set at 1.7% of the state's General Revenue Fund ($479.7M FY26, $489.7M FY27), and one-third (~$158,000) by a 5-year, 1-mill local property tax levy through end of 2028. The library employs roughly seven staff (mix of full-time and part-time, including a posted part-time Youth Programming Coordinator role), has no parent company or subsidiaries, and operates as a community-led service organization rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library

Legal name

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library

Website

https://cardingtonlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library is a publicly funded municipal library in Cardington, Ohio, serving all Ohio residents with free physical and digital lending, youth and adult literacy programs, accessibility services, and community programs from a single Main Street location. Annual operational budget is $474,600, sourced from Ohio's Public Library Fund and a local property tax levy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Library card access
• Digital lending platform
• Early literacy programs
• Community meeting space

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Library Fund (PLF): State funding from Ohio's Public Library Fund, which received 1.7% of Ohio General Revenue Fund (now set at $479.7M FY26, $489.7M FY27). CLPL receives approximately $300,000 annually from PLF, representing about 2/3 of total operational budget.
2. Property Tax Levy: 5-year, 1-mill property tax levy passed by Cardington-Lincoln School District residents, generating approximately $158,000 annually. Levy in effect until end of 2028.
3. Meeting Room Rental: Meeting room rental free for non-profit and personal groups; $20 fee for private parties. Revenue-generating service for community use.
4. Notary Services: Free notary public services for community benefit, supporting patron access to essential legal services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library is a publicly funded municipal library that provides free library cards and borrowing access to all Ohio residents, including physical books and media, digital collections via Libby/OverDrive, and a shared catalog through the COOL-Cat consortium of 251 Ohio libraries. It supplements lending with early literacy and reading programs, community meeting space, accessibility services for disabled patrons, and ancillary services such as notary, voter registration, and document services.

Product overview

Cardington-Lincoln Public Library operates as a traditional public library system offering a unified service model centered on physical and digital collections, community programs, and accessibility services. The core offering consists of library card membership providing access to the COOL consortium catalog (shared with 251 Ohio library systems), physical materials including the Library of Things and Seed Library, and digital resources via Libby/Overdrive and LearningExpress. The library's programmatic offerings include seasonal reading challenges (Summer Reading, Adult and Youth Reading Challenges), early literacy programs (Little Pirate Readers, Story Time), and adult programming. Supporting services include document services, notary public, voter registration, low vision assistance, and talking book services for patrons with disabilities. Meeting room facilities are available for community use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card Services Free library cards issued to Ohio residents enabling access to physical and digital collections (up to 25 physical items, 8 DVDs, and 20 digital items per cardholder), computer use, and library services. No late or overdue fees charged; only replacement cost for damaged or lost materials.
• COOL-Cat Catalog Online public access catalog (OPAC) for the COOL consortium of libraries, enabling patrons to search, reserve, and manage borrowed materials across member libraries. Shared catalog access across 251 Ohio library systems for inter-library loan.
• Home Delivery Service Library materials delivered to patrons who cannot visit the library in person, bringing the collection directly to their home. Serves homebound individuals and those with transportation barriers.
• Library of Things Unique collection of loanable non-book items including tools, equipment, and specialty items for community use beyond traditional books and media.
• Seed Library Free seeds and seed saving program enabling community members to grow their own produce and learn about gardening.
• Ohio Digital Library Digital collection of e-books and audiobooks accessible through OverDrive/Libby platform, with borrowing limits of up to 20 digital items per cardholder.
• Summer Reading Program Eight-week summer reading challenge for all ages with prizes, events, and activities celebrating literacy and preventing summer learning loss through reading tutoring and incentives.
• Story Time Weekly story time sessions for children ages 3-5 following the Every Child Ready to Read 2nd edition program, with story time squad rewards.
• Little Pirate Readers Early literacy program encouraging children to read 1,000 books before kindergarten, with prizes at milestones.
• 2026 Adult Reading Challenge Year-long reading challenge for teens and adults ages 15+, with prizes for every 25 books read.
• 2026 Youth Reading Challenge Year-long reading challenge for youth ages 7-14 tracking chapter books, e-books, graphic novels, and audiobooks.
• Notary Services Free notary public services available Monday through Saturday during library hours (ending 30 min before close) for community members.
• Voter Registration Official voter and absentee registration location where patrons can obtain and submit registration forms.
• Copy/Print/Fax/Scan/Laminate Services Document services including printing, copying, faxing, scanning, and laminating for patron use.
• Talking Book/VOICEcorps Reading assistance services for blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled patrons through the State Library of Ohio Talking Book Program and VOICEcorps Reading Service, providing free recorded books, magazines, and playback equipment.
• Low Vision Reader Merlin LCD Enhanced Vision Reader device available for partially-sighted patrons to read and write with adjustable magnification and color settings.
• Meeting Room Rental Meeting room spaces available for community groups including a Community Room holding up to 48 people and private study rooms. Free for non-profit groups; $20 fee for private parties.
• Internet Access Public computers and free WiFi available throughout the building and parking lot for patron use.
• Teacher Packs Curriculum-aligned educational resource kits available for teachers to borrow for classroom use through a partnership with Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25 physical items, 8 DVDs, and 20 digital items can be borrowed per cardholder
• +2 more outcomes

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

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• COOL-Cat ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOOL-Cat is the consortium or group of libraries that CLPL belongs to, allowing sharing of materials between member libraries to maximize collection access for patrons at the most economical price. This is a core infrastructure partnership enabling inter-library loans and shared catalog.
• KrogersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows supporters to fundraise for the library by linking their Kroger Shopper's Card. Kroger donates annually based on percentage of spending by linked community members. Library non-profit number: XP366.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of OhiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free books monthly to children from birth to age 5. The library promotes this program to families as a resource for early childhood literacy. Ohio children under 5 can receive free books mailed to their home.
• State Library of Ohio Talking Book ProgramcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with State Library of Ohio and Ohio Library for the Blind and Print Disabled to provide free recorded books, magazines, and playback equipment to blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled Ohioans through the Talking Book Program.
• VOICEcorps Reading ServicesupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing free 24/7 audio access to news and information for people who cannot read print. VOICEcorps reads printed material via radio, cable TV, television SAP, and internet, serving central and southern Ohio.
• CAP4KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCAP4Kids is a one-stop website for parents providing resources for housing, healthcare, mental health, special needs, and more. Library links to this resource on its Family Resources page.
• Ohio Families Engage (Family Engagement Center)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with OSU Extension providing tools and learning opportunities for Ohio families and schools to build effective family-school partnerships.
• American Printing House for the BlindsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with American Printing House for the Blind on Braille Tales Print/Book program, a free program providing braille and print books to children who are blind.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLibrary promotes the state's child care search resource to help families find early care and education programs, including licensing status and Step Up To Quality ratings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centerburg Public Library: Small Ohio public library serving Centerburg (Knox County). Directly comparable in rural Ohio context, fiscal scale, and full-spectrum public library services including children's programming and community space.
• Fredericktown Public Library: Small public library in Fredericktown, Ohio (Knox County). Comparable rural Ohio community profile, similar budget size, and overlapping programming (children's literacy, community meeting space).
• Galion Public Library: Public library in Galion, Ohio, serving a similar small/rural Crawford County community. Comparable operating budget, Ohio PLF funding model, and public-library service mix (physical lending, programs, meeting rooms).
• Loudonville Public Library: Public library in Loudonville, Ohio (Ashland County). Similar rural Ohio community, comparable operating scale, and overlapping service set including children's literacy programs and digital lending.
• Mount Gilead Public Library: Public library serving Mount Gilead, also in Morrow County, Ohio. Same county, comparable small-town demographic, similar funding model via Ohio PLF and local levy, and approximately comparable operating scale—making it the closest direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Major urban Ohio public library system. While much larger and metropolitan, it operates under the same Ohio PLF funding framework and offers the same fundamental service categories (lending, programs, digital access, community space).
• MidPointe Library System: Regional Ohio library system serving Butler and Warren Counties. Multi-branch system with significantly larger budget and digital infrastructure, but operates under the same Ohio PLF + local levy model.
• Marion Public Library: Public library in Marion, Ohio (Marion County). Larger but geographically nearby public library with overlapping Ohio PLF funding model and broader programming, representing a regional scaling peer.
• Mansfield/Richland County Public Library: Larger regional Ohio public library serving Richland County. Comparable mission and funding model but with materially bigger budget, staff, and collection breadth—illustrating the scale-up path for a smaller library system.

Others

• OPLIN (Ohio Public Library Information Network): Statewide library technology cooperative providing broadband, databases, and digital infrastructure to all Ohio public libraries. Cardington-Lincoln is a constituent member; OPLIN is a comparable ecosystem/technology-adjacent entity rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CLPL_Ohio
• Facebookfacebook.com/cardingtonlibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/cardingtonlibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardington-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Cardington-Lincoln Public Library