East Lansing Public Library
East Lansing Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, providing free physical and digital lending, online learning, community programs, and makerspace services to patrons of all ages, funded primarily by city tax revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersEast Lansing, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What East Lansing Public Library does
East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) is a municipal public library established in 1923 and operated by the City of East Lansing, Michigan. Headquartered at 950 Abbot Road, ELPL serves the East Lansing community from a single physical branch, supported by an 18-person staff and a Board of Trustees. The library celebrated its centennial in March 2023 and provides free access to information, education, and community programming for patrons of all ages — from birth-to-5 storytimes and children's literacy programs through teen after-school services (Teen Time attracts 60-100 teens daily), adult learning resources, and senior technology support.
ELPL's core offering is organized around four product pillars: a physical collection (books, audiobooks, DVDs, music, graphic novels), a Digital Library spanning eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming video, and online learning, a program portfolio (Summer Reading, MiLibraryQuest, Teen Action Group, Community Journals, Boredom Buster Boxes), and a service portfolio (Maker Studio, Books by Mail, Library on the Go mobile service, 24/7 lockers, study and meeting rooms, one-on-one tech help, Ask a Librarian, Seed Library, Library of Things). The technology backbone is the BiblioCommons catalog and patron-engagement platform, integrated with digital content partners including cloudLibrary, hoopla, Kanopy, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages (70+ languages), Tutor.com, and The Great Courses. Distribution is multi-channel: the main branch, mobile library, curbside pickup, lockers, Books by Mail, the statewide MeLCat interlibrary loan across all 83 Michigan counties, and a 24/7 online portal.
ELPL operates as a non-commercial public service institution. All core services are provided free of charge to library cardholders; funding flows primarily from City of East Lansing tax revenue, supplemented by private donations raised through the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library (a separate nonprofit that runs the Friendshop used-book store and the annual Books, Bites & Bids fundraiser). Strategic and operational partnerships — including Michigan Humanities, the Michigan Electronic Library, the Institute of Museum and Library Services/Library of Michigan MI-83 Project, the MSU Community Writing Center, MSU Extension 4-H, and the East Lansing High School Black Student Union — extend programming reach without commensurate cost burden.
East Lansing Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- East Lansing Public Library
- Legal name
- East Lansing Public Library
- Website
- https://elpl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- East Lansing Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, providing free physical and digital lending, online learning, community programs, and makerspace services to patrons of all ages, funded primarily by city tax revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
East Lansing Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)
- 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)
Keywords
Where East Lansing Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Lansing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
East Lansing Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Free library services |
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
East Lansing Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
East Lansing Public Library is a municipal public library that provides free access to physical and digital collections (books, e-books, audiobooks, streaming media), digital learning platforms, and community programming for residents of East Lansing, Michigan and surrounding communities. The library also operates a Maker Studio with 3D printers and sewing machines, a mobile library (Library on the Go), library lockers, Books by Mail, a Seed Library, a Library of Things, and study and meeting rooms.
Product overview
East Lansing Public Library operates as a comprehensive public library system offering a unified service model centered on traditional and digital lending. The core physical collection includes books, audiobooks, movies & TV, music, and graphic novels. The Digital Library serves as the umbrella for cloudLibrary, hoopla, Kanopy, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, Tutor.com, and The Great Courses. Supporting services include Books by Mail, Library on the Go, Library Lockers, Meeting Room and Study Room Reservations, Maker Studio, One-on-One Tech Help, Seed Library, and Library of Things. Programming spans Teen Time, Summer Reading, MiLibraryQuest, and Teen Action Group. Research resources include MeLCat, databases, and reference services through Ask a Librarian. The BiblioCommons platform powers patron accounts and the online catalog.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boredom Buster Boxes
- Community Journals
- MI-83 Project
- cloudLibrary
- hoopla
- Kanopy
- LinkedIn Learning
- Mango Languages
- MeLCat Interlibrary Loan
- Library on the Go
- Library Lockers
- Books by Mail
- Maker Studio
- Seed Library
- Library of Things
- One-on-One Tech Help
- Meeting and Study Rooms
Companies that use East Lansing Public Library
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
East Lansing Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
Feature5 records
East Lansing Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Michigan HumanitiescorePartnership for the Great Michigan Read program. Michigan Humanities selected Mary Doria Russell's 'The Women of the Copper Country' as the 2021-2022 Great Michigan Read. The library hosted a virtual author event with Russell on October 7, 2021.
- Michigan Electronic Library (MeL)coreStatewide consortium providing access to databases, MeLCat interlibrary loan, and digital resources available to all Michigan residents. ELPL connects patrons to MeL's comprehensive online resources.
- MI-83 Project (Institute of Museum and Library Services / Library of Michigan)coreStatewide initiative providing increased digital eContent from Overdrive and technology tools to help libraries facilitate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding from IMLS through Library of Michigan.
- East Lansing High School Black Student UnionminorCollaboration for Natural Haircare Drive to collect donations for afro-textured hair products for community organizations including Haven House, Hannah's House, Women's Center for Greater Lansing, and EVE.
- MSU Community Writing CenterminorPartnership to develop Community Journals program themes and writing prompts. The Writing Center consultants created initial content and prompts for the circulating journal program.
- MSU Extension 4H Clubminor'After the Bell' club hosted at the library focusing on mental health and wellness with activities and themes like Build a Book, Meditation, Pride!, and Mixtape.
- Friends of the East Lansing Public LibrarycoreVolunteer organization that raises money to support library programs and collections. Operates the Friendshop for used book sales and manages fundraising including the annual Books, Bites & Bids event.
- Overdrive/LibbycoreDigital content platform providing eBooks and eAudiobooks through the cloudLibrary interface.
- hooplacoreDigital media platform providing streaming video, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, and comics with no wait times.
- KanopycoreStreaming video service providing access to independent films, documentaries, and educational content.
- LinkedIn LearningcoreOnline learning platform with professional development and technology courses available free with library card.
- Mango LanguagescoreLanguage learning platform offering over 70 foreign languages and 17 English as a Second Language courses, including Mango Premiere film-based learning.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
East Lansing Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lansing Public Library: Direct peer as the adjacent capital-city public library in the Lansing metropolitan area, serving a similar population with comparable traditional and digital library services under municipal governance.
- Capital Area District Libraries (CADL): Regional multi-branch library system serving Ingham County with shared digital infrastructure (MeLCat) and overlapping services to ELPL patrons.
- Okemos Public Library: Nearby Ingham County public library serving a comparable suburban Michigan community with overlapping patron base and similar municipal funding model.
Others
- Overdrive / Libby: Digital content platform that supplies eBooks and eAudiobooks to ELPL via cloudLibrary; represents the upstream vendor in the public library digital lending value chain.
- Kanopy: Streaming video service for libraries providing documentaries, indie films, and educational content to ELPL patrons; a comparable public-library digital content provider.
- Tutor.com: Online tutoring and homework help provider integrated with ELPL services; comparable as an EdTech service accessed via public library subscriptions.
- BiblioCommons: Library technology platform provider powering ELPL's catalog and patron account system; comparable as the underlying SaaS infrastructure that modern public libraries depend on for service delivery.
- Mango Languages: Language learning platform integrated with ELPL services offering 70+ languages; comparable as an EdTech vendor serving public library patrons.
- hoopla digital: Streaming media platform used by ELPL for digital lending of movies, music, audiobooks, and comics — comparable as a digital content ecosystem player serving public libraries.
- Michigan Electronic Library (MeL): Statewide library consortium providing interlibrary loan and database access; comparable as the statewide infrastructure layer that ELPL both consumes and contributes to.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
East Lansing Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceEast Lansing Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
East Lansing Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
East Lansing Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
East Lansing Public Library M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about East Lansing Public Library
What does East Lansing Public Library do?
East Lansing Public Library is a municipal public library that provides free access to physical and digital collections (books, e-books, audiobooks, streaming media), digital learning platforms, and community programming for residents of East Lansing, Michigan and surrounding communities. The library also operates a Maker Studio with 3D printers and sewing machines, a mobile library (Library on the Go), library lockers, Books by Mail, a Seed Library, a Library of Things, and study and meeting rooms.
Is East Lansing Public Library a public or private company?
East Lansing Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was East Lansing Public Library founded?
East Lansing Public Library was founded in 1923. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is East Lansing Public Library based?
East Lansing Public Library is headquartered in East Lansing, United States, in the North America region.
Who are East Lansing Public Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lansing Public Library, Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) and Okemos Public Library. Others are Overdrive / Libby, Kanopy, Tutor.com, BiblioCommons, Mango Languages, hoopla digital and Michigan Electronic Library (MeL).
Does East Lansing Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for East Lansing Public Library.
What industry is East Lansing Public Library in?
East Lansing Public Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management. Its NAICS code is 51921.