Eckhart Public Library

What Eckhart Public Library does

Eckhart Public Library is a public library system founded in 1910 and headquartered in Auburn, Indiana, serving the City of Auburn and Union Township in DeKalb County. The library operates a four-building campus — the Main Library (603 S. Jackson St.), the Teen Library (705 S. Jackson St.), the William H. Willennar Genealogy Center (700 S. Jackson St.), and the Willennar Administrative Annex (212 W. 12th St.) — supplemented by a library park and 24-hour curbside locker access. With 34 employees led by Executive Director Valerie Simmons and governed by a Board of Trustees, the institution provides traditional library services, digital content, genealogy research, home delivery, and community programming.

The library's technical foundation rests on the Evergreen Indiana integrated library system, a consortium platform that grants patrons access to over 7 million items across member libraries. The product portfolio extends beyond traditional media to include digital streaming via Kanopy, Hoopla, and Libby (OverDrive); a Library of Things circulating non-traditional items (electronics, assistive devices, museum passes, STEM equipment, professional attire); the EMOS home delivery service; 24-hour curbside pickup lockers; mobile printing; and exam proctoring. The Willennar Genealogy Center provides specialized local history and genealogical research infrastructure including Ancestry.com Library Edition, digitized photo archives, and oral history recording services.

Eckhart Public Library is funded primarily through public tax revenue from Auburn and Union Township residents and property owners, making it a governmental entity rather than a commercial enterprise. Non-residents access subscription cards at $61.50/6-month or $123/annual, with a $70 statewide Public Library Access Card option. The Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funds 100% of programming through grassroots fundraising, Dine2Donate events, a Bonfire merchandise store, and Kroger Community Rewards. Strategic partnerships span the Evergreen Indiana consortium, INSPIRE Indiana academic databases, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, Mango Languages, IUPUI, Schoolhouse.world, and AskRose tutoring. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Eckhart Public Library

Legal name

Eckhart Public Library

Website

https://epl.lib.in.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eckhart Public Library is a public library system in Auburn, Indiana, serving Auburn and Union Township residents since 1910 with traditional library services, digital content, genealogy research, and community programming through a four-building campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)

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), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Library consortium access
• Genealogy research resources
• Digital streaming library
• Community library programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Eckhart Public Library provides free library card-based access to physical and digital materials through the Evergreen Indiana consortium (over 7 million items), streaming media via Kanopy/Hoopla/Libby, genealogy research through the William H. Willennar Genealogy Center, a Library of Things circulating non-traditional items, mobile outreach and curbside pickup, educational databases, and community programming. Services are targeted at residents of Auburn and Union Township in DeKalb County, Indiana, with subscription tiers for non-residents.

Product overview

Eckhart Public Library is a public library system serving Auburn, Indiana and Union Township since 1910. The library operates a multi-branch campus with the Main Library, Teen Library, William H. Willennar Genealogy Center, and Administrative Annex. Its core offerings center on library card access to over 7 million items through the Evergreen Indiana consortium, streaming and digital services (Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby), and specialized services including the Library of Things (circulating non-traditional items), EMOS home delivery, curbside pickup, personalized staff recommendations, genealogy research, exam proctoring, and mobile printing. The library provides digital resources through databases including Mango Languages, Ancestry Library Edition, and INSPIRE, with the DeKalb County Mock Newbery program as a collaborative regional initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card & Catalog Access Library cards granting access to over 7 million items through the Evergreen Indiana consortium catalog, with separate card types for Auburn/Union Township residents, non-resident subscribers, Indiana students, and local educators.
• Streaming & Digital Services Digital content access via Kanopy (movies, documentaries, TV shows), Hoopla (music, movies, eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics), and Libby/OverDrive (eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines) for cardholders.
• William H. Willennar Genealogy Center Specialized genealogy and local history research center offering Ancestry Library Edition, digitized photo archives, newspaper microfilm dating to the 1800s, maps, oral history recording services, and one-on-one research assistance.
• Library of Things Circulating collection of non-traditional items including arts and crafts supplies, assistive devices, board games, electronics (WiFi hotspots, laptops, cameras), kitchen appliances, museum passes, outdoor activity equipment, reminiscence kits for dementia patients, STEM tools, and professional attire.
• EMOS (Eckhart Mobile Outreach Service) Free home delivery service providing curated library materials to homebound individuals and educators within DeKalb County every other Friday.
• Curbside Pickup Lockers 24-hour accessible locker system at the Administrative Annex allowing patrons to retrieve holds at their convenience.
• Personalized Staff Recommendations One-on-one recommendation service where library staff provide personalized reading, watching, and listening suggestions based on individual patron preferences and interests.
• Mobile Printing and Faxing Print release service with the first 10 pages free daily, then 15 cents per black-and-white page and 50 cents per color page; faxing provided at no charge. Printer ID 111498.
• Exam Proctoring Proctoring service for students needing to take exams in a supervised library setting.
• DeKalb County Mock Newbery Program Collaborative children's literature reading and discussion program among DeKalb County libraries (Butler, Eckhart, Garrett, Waterloo) where participants select their top Mock Newbery pick.
• Educational Databases and Digital Resources Access to Mango Languages (70+ languages), INSPIRE academic databases, NoveList Plus (reading recommendations), Chilton Library (auto repair), Craft & Hobby, Educate Station (K-5 worksheets), and other online research tools.
• Genealogy Resources Database Suite Online research tools including Ancestry Library Edition, FamilySearch, Fold3 Military Records, Heritage Quest, History Reference Center, Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana Memory, and Newspapers.com archive.
• Library Value Calculator Interactive calculator allowing patrons to estimate the monetary value of their library usage, demonstrating savings on materials and services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to over 7 million items through consortium
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evergreen Indiana Library ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationEckhart Public Library is a proud member of the Evergreen Indiana Library Consortium, providing patrons access to over 7 million items across member libraries including Garrett, Waterloo, Butler, and Kendallville public libraries.
• DeKalb County Mock Newbery PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Butler Public Library, Garrett Public Library, Waterloo Public Library, and Eckhart Public Library for children's literature discussion and selection of Mock Newbery award contenders.
• Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IUPUI to offer Auburn Automotive History Tour, a virtual tour of the history of Auburn, Indiana's automotive past.
• J. Kruse Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal career coaching and Career Quest interactive career assessment service available to patrons through the J. Kruse Education Center in DeKalb County.
• INSPIRE IndianacoreTechnology or IntegrationCollection of online academic databases and information resources supported by the Indiana General Assembly, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and partnership with Academic Libraries of Indiana.
• Eckhart Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation dedicated to supporting library infrastructure, growth, and outdoor space revitalization including the 'Community Gathers Here' campaign for outdoor spaces.
• Friends of Eckhart Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds 100% of the library's programming through grassroots fundraising, Dine2Donate events, book sales, and merchandise. Board led by President Steve Graber.
• Community Foundation DeKalb CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndowment partnership for long-term library support. Donations to the endowments at the Community Foundation must be designated to Eckhart Public Library.
• Ancestry.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationAncestry Library Edition available at library locations for genealogical research. Provides access to family history records and genealogical databases.
• FamilySearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationFree genealogical resource provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, housing records across various religions, cultures, and traditions.
• Mango LanguagescoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline language learning platform offering over 70 languages including ESL, ASL, and language translator services available through the library.
• Strawberries Around the Fountain Event SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsors for annual fundraiser including AMI Investment Management, Auburn Dental Associates, Bowen Health, Brightmark, Steel Dynamics, Walmart Distribution Center, and others. Contact Steve Graber at 260-908-0337.
• Schoolhouse.worldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit peer-to-peer tutoring service partnered with Indiana Department of Education offering free online tutoring for students in math, science, and test prep.
• AskRose (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree math and science tutoring service for Indiana students in grades 6-12, provided by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Butler Public Library: DeKalb County public library and Evergreen Indiana consortium member co-hosting the DeKalb County Mock Newbery with EPL. Closely comparable in size, tax-funded model, and small-town Indiana service footprint.
• Garrett Public Library: Small DeKalb County public library and fellow Evergreen Indiana consortium member, jointly participating in the DeKalb County Mock Newbery program with EPL. Directly comparable in scale, geographic scope (small-town Indiana), service mix, and consortium-driven catalog access.
• Kendallville Public Library: Northeast Indiana public library and fellow Evergreen Indiana consortium member referenced alongside EPL. Directly comparable consortium-driven catalog access, municipal tax funding, and community programming focus.
• Waterloo Public Library: DeKalb County public library and Evergreen Indiana consortium co-participant in the Mock Newbery partnership. Comparable as a small-town Indiana public library with shared consortium access and collaborative programming.

Regional players

• Indianapolis Public Library: Central Indiana's large urban public library system, also operating on the Evergreen Indiana consortium. Comparable as an Indiana public library serving residents through tax funding, catalog access, digital resources, and community programming, but at much larger scale and broader geography than EPL.
• Allen County Public Library: Northeast Indiana public library system serving Fort Wayne and Allen County. Comparable as a neighboring Indiana public library offering traditional library services, genealogy research support, digital resources, and community programming to a larger but similarly tax-funded municipal audience.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Flagship US public library system with extensive genealogy/local history divisions, digital lending, and community programming. Comparable as a public library serving patrons through tax and donor funding, but operating at a fundamentally larger scale and across multiple boroughs versus EPL's single-city footprint.
• Chicago Public Library: One of the largest US urban public library systems, offering physical and digital lending, genealogy/local history resources, streaming, and community programming. Comparable as a public library operator serving a broad municipal audience, but at vastly larger scale and with broader geographic and demographic reach than EPL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EckhartPL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdTuuhEMb09pbggYOGBVs_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/eckhartpubliclibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/eckhartpubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eckhart-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Eckhart Public Library