What Champaign County Library does

Champaign County Library is a public library system operated by Champaign County, Ohio government, headquartered at 1060 Scioto Street in Urbana. It serves Champaign County residents through two physical branches — the main Urbana location and the North Lewisburg Branch — plus an integrated set of digital services. The organization provides free, card-based access to physical library materials (books, periodicals, media), digital content (ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video and music via OverDrive/Ohio Digital Library, hoopla, Kanopy, Freading, and Freegal), research databases, youth programming (storytimes, summer reading, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library affiliate), genealogy and local-history resources, online study and meeting room reservations, remote printing via Princh, and a cultural-pass program called Imagine Passes.

The library's proprietary offering of note is the Imagine Lab, a makerspace established in 2017 with a $50,000 memorial gift that provides public access to fabrication and digital tools including 3D printers, heat press, wide-format printer, sewing equipment, coding robots, hands-on technology kits, and media conversion equipment. The library has also digitized Urbana-area newspapers from 1822 to 1931, exposing them with search and browse functionality online. Marketing and outreach are conducted through the library website, monthly email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), RSS feeds, and community partnerships including North Star Digital Literacy Assessment.

The business model is government-funded and non-commercial: services are provided at no charge to Champaign County residents who obtain a free library card, with operating support drawn from local tax dollars and government appropriations. The GTM motion is community-led — physical branches, free programming, and digital outreach — with no paid subscriber tiers, paywalled content, or pricing decisions to manage. The entity is structured as a county government operation with a Board of Trustees providing governance oversight; it has no parent company, private equity involvement, or ownership changes on record.

Name

Champaign County Library

Legal name

Champaign County Public Library

Website

https://champaign.lib.oh.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Champaign County Library is a county-operated public library system in Ohio serving residents of Champaign County through two physical branches, free digital content platforms, a makerspace called the Imagine Lab, youth and genealogy programming, and tax-funded community services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Special Libraries (Law, Medical, Corporate, Government) Operations (EDAEAGAD)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital library access
• Community programming
• Maker space access
• Youth literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: As a public library system, services are primarily funded through local tax dollars and government appropriations. Services are provided free of charge to residents holding library cards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Champaign County Library is a public library system that provides free access to physical and digital library materials (books, ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video and music), research databases, an Imagine Lab makerspace with fabrication technology, community meeting and study spaces, cultural excursion passes, and educational programs for all ages. Services are funded by local taxes and delivered through two physical branches in Urbana and North Lewisburg, Ohio, plus an extensive digital presence.

Product overview

Champaign County Library is a public library system offering a unified portfolio of services across physical and digital formats. The core offerings include traditional library catalog access, digital media streaming and downloads (eBooks, audiobooks, video, music), the Imagine Lab makerspace with fabrication equipment, cultural pass programs, room reservations, genealogical research resources, youth programming, and research databases. The library serves the Urbana area with its main branch and the North Lewisburg Branch, providing community access to information, technology, and educational programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Imagine Lab: Makerspace established in 2017 offering public access to technology and do-it-yourself equipment including 3D printers, heat press, wide format printer, sewing equipment, coding robots, hands-on technology kits, and media conversion equipment.

Products and services

• Library Catalog Online catalog system allowing users to search and browse the library's physical and digital collections. Available to Champaign County residents with a library card.
• Digital Downloads and Streaming Services Electronic media services including eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, comic books, movies, concerts, TV shows, and music, available free to library cardholders through partner platforms.
• Imagine Lab Makerspace Makerspace offering public access to technology and DIY equipment including 3D printers, heat press, wide format printer, sewing equipment, coding robots, hands-on technology kits, and media conversion equipment.
• Imagine Passes Cultural passes program providing free access to excursions and attractions around Ohio, similar to Discover or Culture Passes programs.
• Online Study Room and Meeting Room Reservations Online reservation system allowing users to book meeting rooms and study spaces up to 6 months in advance.
• Newspaper Microfilm Digitization Online access to digitized Urbana area newspapers from 1822-1931, searchable by name or keyword or browsable by date.
• Youth Services Programs and services designed for children and youth, including storytimes, reading programs, and educational activities such as summer storytime sessions and reading challenges.
• Genealogy and Local History Research resources and databases supporting genealogical research and local historical information for the Champaign County community.
• Research Databases Subscription research databases providing access to academic journals, periodicals, and specialized reference materials for library cardholders.
• Princh Remote Printing Mobile and remote printing service allowing users to send print jobs from personal devices to library printers from any internet-connected location.
• Monthly Newsletter Digital newsletter delivering news, events, new collection items, and library announcements to subscribers.
• Library Card Registration Online registration system for obtaining a free library card that grants access to all library services and digital resources.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• North Star / Digital Literacy AssessmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampaign County Library participates in the North Star Digital Literacy Assessment program, providing residents with free digital literacy assessment and learning resources.
• 1000 Books Before KindergartenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly literacy initiative partnered with the library to encourage families to read 1000 books to children before kindergarten. The library hosts the program through Beanstack.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampaign County Library serves as the local affiliate for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program, which provides free books to children from birth until they begin school.
• Ohio Digital Library / OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines to library cardholders through the Ohio Digital Library platform powered by OverDrive.
• hooplacoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital streaming and download service available to library cardholders offering movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, ebooks, and comics.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo streaming platform available to library cardholders featuring indie films, documentaries, and educational content.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Franklin County, Ohio public library system serving the Columbus metro area. Comparable as an Ohio public library offering physical branches, digital content, makerspace programs, and youth/early-literacy services — though at materially larger scale.
• Logan County Libraries: Small Ohio county library system operating branches, digital downloads, and community programming. Closely comparable in scale, staffing, and rural-Ohio service profile.
• Dayton Metro Library: Montgomery County, Ohio public library system offering branches, digital downloads, community programming, and maker/tech resources. Directly comparable in service mix and Ohio operating context.
• Miami County Public Library: Ohio county library system serving Troy and surrounding areas with branches, digital content, and community programs. Similar small-to-mid Ohio county library footprint and service model.
• Clark County Public Library: Adjacent Ohio county library (Springfield area) operating physical branches with digital services, programming, and youth initiatives. Closest geographic and scale peer to Champaign County Library.

Others

• OverDrive: Digital content platform powering Ohio Digital Library and many U.S. public libraries' ebook/audiobook lending. Technology/infrastructure partner whose platform Champaign County Library depends on for core digital services.

Broad incumbents

• State Library of Ohio: State-level library agency that coordinates funding, digital infrastructure (including Ohio Digital Library/OverDrive), and programming support for Ohio's public libraries — directly enabling many of Champaign County Library's digital services.
• Toledo Lucas County Public Library: Northwest Ohio regional library with branches, makerspaces, digital collections, and youth services. Comparable public-library service portfolio, scaled up to a metro context.
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: Large Ohio public library serving Hamilton County with branches, digital collections, makerspaces, and community programming. Overlapping capabilities with Champaign County Library across the full library service mix.
• Cleveland Public Library: Major Ohio urban public library with extensive digital catalog, branches, and specialized programming. Comparable library service portfolio, though at much larger scale and within a city context rather than a rural county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/70677603840
• Instagraminstagram.com/champaigncountylibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/champaign-county-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Champaign County Library