Flenniken Public Library

What Flenniken Public Library does

Flenniken Public Library is a nonprofit public library headquartered at 102 East George Street, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, operating as a member of the 20-library WAGGIN consortium that provides reciprocal borrowing across Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties. It serves general community members, children and families, teens, adults, and seniors through free library cards for county residents, traditional lending of physical materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs), and a broad digital service stack that includes POWER Library databases, Hoopla and Libby/Overdrive for e-books and media, Freegal Music, Brainfuse online tutoring, Beanstack reading tracking, and Pennsylvania's statewide 24/7 chat reference service. The library also runs children's programming (Story Time, Toddler Time, Grab and Go Crafts), a summer reading program, a monthly book club, museum pass lending, 3D printing, and IdentoGO fingerprinting services.

The business model is fundamentally public-sector, with the library funded primarily by government appropriations, donations, and modest fee-based revenue streams: late fees of $0.20 per day per book (capped at $5.00), a $2.00 card replacement fee, the 'Own the Day' tribute program at $25 per day, an annual golf tournament fundraiser at $300-$350 per team, and entry fees for the Tiny Art Show. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on Facebook, an email newsletter, the flenniken.org website, and partnerships with the Greene County Historical Society, United Way, EQT Foundation, Community Foundation of Greene County, Greene County Parks and Recreation, and PA CareerLink. Day-to-day operations are run by a small staff of approximately seven employees plus a Board of Trustees; Nicole Mesich Mitchell serves as Executive Director. The library is currently executing a 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and an active 'Pages in the Park' capital campaign to build a new facility in Carmichaels.

Name

Flenniken Public Library

Legal name

Flenniken Public Library

Website

https://flenniken.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Flenniken Public Library is a nonprofit public library in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, serving residents of Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties through the WAGGIN network of 20 member libraries with free lending, digital resources, children's and adult programming, and career services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Children literacy programs
• Digital media access
• Research database access

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmichaels

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: Funded through public/government funding, donations, and various fee-based services including late fees, replacement card fees, and special program fees.
2. Special Programs and Events: 'Own the Day' tribute program at $25 per day for birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, and celebrations. Golf tournament fundraising at $300 per team.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual golf tournament and other fundraising activities to support library services and 'Pages in the Park' building campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Flenniken Public Library is a community public library that provides free lending of physical books, DVDs, audiobooks, and music CDs, plus access to digital resources (e-books, audiobooks, music, movies) via partner platforms. It offers community programming including children's Story Time, Summer Reading challenges, book clubs, museum passes, 3D printing, fingerprinting services, and online tutoring, all supported through a free WAGGIN network card available to residents of three Pennsylvania counties.

Product overview

Flenniken Public Library offers a comprehensive suite of public library services centered around traditional lending (books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs) combined with extensive digital resource access through partner platforms including Beanstack for reading tracking, Hoopla and Libby/Overdrive for digital media, Brainfuse for tutoring, and POWER Library databases. The library provides children's programming (Story Time, Toddler Time, crafts), a Summer Reading Program with incentive-based challenges, museum pass access, 3D printing, fingerprinting services, and 24/7 chat reference support. The WAGGIN network enables cross-library borrowing across 20 member libraries. Special programs include Own the Day sponsorship and the Pages in the Park capital campaign for a new facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Book and Material Checkout Traditional library lending services including hardcover and paperback books for children, teens, and adults; DVDs; audiobooks on CD; and music CDs with standard 14-day loan periods for eligible residents.
• Computer and Internet Services Public computer access and internet services available to library patrons at the Carmichaels branch.
• Research and Database Access Access to research databases and online resources including POWER Library, NewsBank, Consumer Health Complete, and Business Source Main Edition for library patrons.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading challenge running June-August with activities for all ages including story times, craft sessions, entertainment events, and reading challenges with prizes. The 2025 theme was "Unearth a Story."
• Children's Programs Regular programming including Story Time (Ages 3-5) on Tuesdays, Toddler Time (Ages 0-3) on Fridays, Grab and Go Crafts, and book clubs aimed at early literacy and family engagement.
• Book Club Monthly book club meeting on the 2nd Tuesday at 5:30pm offering book/large print, audio on CD, and digital format options for adult readers.
• Museum Pass Program Museum passes and virtual experience kits available for checkout to families. Includes passes to Senator John Heinz History Center, McKeesport Regional History Center, Lincoln Highway Experience, and other regional museums.
• 3D Printing Services 3D printer access for library patrons with associated policy guidelines for use.
• Fingerprinting Services Identity-related services through IdentoGO by IDEMIA including secure electronic fingerprint capture for employment, certification, and licensing verification.
• 24/7 Chat with a Librarian Pennsylvania's statewide 24/7 live chat reference service free to all state residents, providing quick answers and research assistance.
• Book-a-Librarian Personalized research sessions available by phone or email appointment with a librarian.
• Own the Day Tribute Program Day sponsorship program allowing patrons to dedicate a library day for $25 for birthdays, anniversaries, tributes, or memorials. Featured on social media and displayed in library.
• WAGGIN Network Card Free library card providing access to 20 member libraries across Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties with reciprocal borrowing privileges.
• Tiny Art Show Community art contest celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Entry fee $5, creates 4x4 inch canvas artwork with community voting.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WAGGIN NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationMulti-county library consortium (20 member libraries) covering Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties in Pennsylvania. Enables resource sharing, reciprocal borrowing, and shared policies across member libraries.
• Greene County Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent library system providing support and coordination for Greene County libraries including Flenniken. Part of reading competitions and system-wide initiatives.
• Pennsylvania POWER LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide library resource network providing databases, digital content, and 24/7 chat reference service available to all Pennsylvania residents.
• Greene County Historical SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for historical resources and local history programming.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership supporting local community services and referrals.
• Greene County Parks and RecreationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint programming partner for summer reading programs held at local parks.
• PA CareerLink Greene CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer services partnership providing job search resources, employment assistance, and training referrals for library patrons seeking employment.
• BeanstackcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeb and mobile application for tracking reading time and earning virtual badges. Used for summer reading program management and reading challenges.
• BrainfusecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline tutoring platform offering live homework help, writing assistance, skill building, and adult learning resources. Free with library card.
• HooplacoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital media platform for streaming and downloading music, books, movies, and audiobooks. Integrated with library card access.
• Libby/OverdrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationE-book and audiobook platform for downloading popular titles. Compatible with iPad, Kindle, and other eReaders.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: Mid-size U.S. public library system recognized for strong digital and maker-space programming. Comparable service mix (digital lending, tutoring, community programs) at larger regional scale.
• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Major Pennsylvania public library system serving Allegheny County. Comparable core public-library mission but at much larger urban scale, with broader collections, programming, and branch footprint.
• Allegheny County Library Association: Federated library consortium serving Allegheny County, PA with similar cooperative resource-sharing model to WAGGIN. Overlaps with Flenniken in mission, governance, and program types at larger scale.
• Free Library of Philadelphia: Pennsylvania's largest urban public library system. Comparable mission in lending, digital access, and community programming, though operating at metropolitan scale with many more branches.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Major U.S. public library system offering analogous combinations of physical lending, digital content (e-books/audiobooks), workforce services, and community programming across many branches.
• New York Public Library: Large U.S. public library providing the full suite of services Flenniken offers (lending, research databases, children's programming, digital access) at metropolitan scale. Useful benchmark for breadth of programming.

Direct peers

• Eva K. Bowlby Public Library: Direct neighbor and named community partner of Flenniken Public Library. Also serves Greene County, PA residents with comparable small-town public library services, children's programming, and WAGGIN consortium membership.
• Greene County Library System: Parent library system of which Flenniken is a member; oversees county-wide coordination, reading competitions, and shared services across Greene County public libraries in Pennsylvania.

Regional players

• Jefferson County Library Cooperative: Rural Pennsylvania regional library cooperative offering comparable resource-sharing and small-town library services; structurally analogous to WAGGIN but operating in a different geographic region.
• Mid-Hudson Library System: New York-based regional library cooperative serving a similar small/rural community footprint with reciprocal borrowing, digital lending, and member-library support. Geographic analogue to WAGGIN's cooperative model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/NLzusCVAOSQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flenniken-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Flenniken Public Library