Garden City Public Library

Public Library Servicesgardencitylib.org

Garden City Public Library is a public library district in Garden City, Michigan, serving residents with free physical and digital lending, circulating educational kits, youth and adult programs, and community support services, funded by a voter-approved property tax millage and donor support.

Company typePublic
Founded1923
HeadquartersGarden City, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Garden City Public Library does

Garden City Public Library is a public library district headquartered at 31735 Maplewood Street in Garden City, Michigan, established in 1923 as a Wayne County Library outlet and now operating as a Michigan special district library governed by a six-member elected Library Board. The library serves all residents of Garden City with free access to physical materials (59,289 items, including books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks) and digital collections (710,727 downloadable titles), supplemented by an expanding portfolio of circulating educational kits covering STEM (Science Kits), literacy (Literacy Kits, Reading Booster Packs), early childhood (Storytime To Go kits, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten), health (Fitbits), and connectivity (T-Mobile WiFi Hotspots).

The technology stack is built around third-party library infrastructure rather than proprietary systems: a Streamline-powered website, Libby/OverDrive and Hoopla for digital lending, a TLN shared catalog (catalog.tln.lib.mi.us) enabling reciprocal card use across member libraries, and BARD/National Library Service accessibility offerings. One-on-one technology help, public computing, printing, copying, and faxing are delivered on-site, while digital lending is available 24/7 globally through any web browser.

The operating model is tax-funded rather than commercially revenue-driven. Primary funding flows from a voter-approved property tax millage capped at 2 mills under Michigan law, with supplementary revenue from minor transaction fees (printing at $0.15 B&W/$0.50 color per page, fax at $1.00/$0.50 per page), merchandise sales, and a $5 suggested Friends of the Library membership. Capital projects are supported by a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Future Library Fund, and by grants from federal partners including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LSTA funding), IEEE Chicago Section, and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. A new 12,000-square-foot replacement building is in development, projected to open September 2030 at a total cost of $7,165,000, financed principally by an accumulated building millage balance of $3,269,877 as of June 30, 2025, augmented by an additional $500,000 Operating Fund commitment approved in November 2025.

Garden City Public Library firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Garden City Public Library
Legal name: Garden City Public Library
Website: https://gardencitylib.org
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1923
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Garden City Public Library is a public library district in Garden City, Michigan, serving residents with free physical and digital lending, circulating educational kits, youth and adult programs, and community support services, funded by a voter-approved property tax millage and donor support.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Garden City Public Library industry classification

Industry

Product category: Public Library Services
NAICS: Libraries and Archives (51921)
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), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

Public library services
Community library programs
Digital lending services
Library education resources
Community resource services

Where Garden City Public Library is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Garden City
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

Garden City Public Library business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Millage Tax Revenue: Established under Michigan law with tax levy not exceeding 2 mills on the dollar for library support and maintenance. Primary funding source for library operations.
Public Library Services (Free): Free services to Garden City residents including books, movies, music, computers, Wi-Fi, and online resources. Revenue not generated directly but through tax support.
Fee-based Services: Printing, copying, faxing, and merchandise sales generate minor revenue. Copier: $0.15 B&W, $0.50 color per page. Fax: $1.00/page sent, $0.50/page received.
Donations and Grants: Building millage accumulated $3,269,877 as of June 2025. Additional funding through Future Library Fund nonprofit, Friends of the Library donations, and grants from IMLS, IEEE, and others.
Digital Content Partnerships: Access to digital content through OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla provided through library network memberships, not directly monetized.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Multi-year contract	Free library services for Garden City residents
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Printing and copying services
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Fax services
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	Library merchandise
Subscription	Annual	Friends of the Library membership

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Garden City Public Library product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Garden City Public Library provides free public library services to Garden City, Michigan residents, including physical and digital material lending (books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, eBooks via Libby/OverDrive), public computers and Wi-Fi, programs for all ages, circulating educational kits (Science, Literacy, Reading Booster, Storytime To Go), and unique community resources such as WiFi hotspots, Fitbits, Narcan distribution, and a Community Closet. The library is funded primarily by property tax millage approved by voters and operated as a special district library under Michigan law.

Product overview

Garden City Public Library is a traditional public library offering a diverse portfolio of physical, digital, and community services. Core services include physical material lending (books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks), public computing and internet access, and program delivery. The library has developed an extensive circulating collection of educational kits including Science Kits, Literacy Kits, Reading Booster Packs, and Storytime To Go kits for youth education. Digital services include Download Destination (Libby/OverDrive) for eBooks and eAudiobooks, MEL online databases, Michigan Activity Pass cultural access, and GetSetUp senior learning. The library also provides unique community resources such as a Seed Library, Yarn Exchange, Community Closet, WiFi Hotspot lending, Fit Bit activity tracker lending, Narcan distribution, One-On-One Tech Help, and functions as a cooling station. A major new library building project is currently in development with projected completion in 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Future Library Fund: A non-profit organization (formerly Garden City Library Building Fund, Inc.) that raises money to construct a new building to house the Garden City Public Library.
Friends of the Garden City Public Library
Download Destination

Products and services

Download Destination (Libby)

Quantifiable outcome

Library visits increased from 35,800 (2014) to 69,195 (2018)
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Garden City Public Library

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Garden City Public Library technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Garden City Public Library partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Kiwanis Club of Garden CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the library to create Storytime to Go kits, each containing five books plus instructions and supplements for ages 0-5. Part of Kiwanis ongoing service program Young Children: Priority One.
The Library Network (TLN)coreTechnology or IntegrationMember library network providing shared catalog system, allowing Garden City library card holders to use their cards at member libraries. Provides access to shared digital resources.
Taylor Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal provider for Braille and Talking Library services for residents unable to read or use regular print materials due to visual or physical disabilities.
KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to support Friends of the Garden City Library through their grocery purchases.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Garden City Public Library competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Allen Park Public Library: Michigan municipal public library serving Allen Park, a Downriver suburb comparable to Garden City in scale, governance model, and traditional library service offerings.
Redford Township District Library: Michigan district library serving adjacent Redford Township—comparable suburban municipal library with similar tax-millage funding model and community service scope.
Dearborn Public Library: Municipal public library serving Dearborn, Michigan—a comparable Michigan suburban city library offering similar lending, programming, and digital services to a similar demographic base.
Canton Public Library: Suburban Michigan public library serving Canton Township of similar population scale, operating with comparable tax-millage funding and community programming structure.
Inkster Public Library: Michigan municipal library serving Inkster, a nearby Wayne County community with a comparable small-city public library district structure and tax-based funding model.
Livonia Public Library: Michigan municipal public library serving the adjacent city of Livonia, with comparable suburban population, library district governance, and traditional lending plus programming model.
Plymouth District Library: Michigan district library serving Plymouth, with similar municipal library district structure, comparable community programming, and overlapping patron demographics in the western Wayne County area.
Taylor Public Library: Michigan municipal public library serving Taylor, directly comparable to Garden City in size and structure; already partners with Garden City for Braille and Talking Library services for visually impaired patrons.
Wayne Public Library: Michigan municipal public library serving the City of Wayne—comparable small Wayne County public library district with similar municipal library governance and community-focused programming.
Westland Public Library: Adjacent Michigan city public library serving Westland—a near-neighbor peer with similar municipal library district structure, demographic profile, and service scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Garden City Public Library financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Garden City Public Library leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Garden City Public Library funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Garden City Public Library M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garden City Public Library

What does Garden City Public Library do?

Is Garden City Public Library a public or private company?

Garden City Public Library is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Garden City Public Library founded?

Garden City Public Library was founded in 1923. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Garden City Public Library based?

Garden City Public Library is headquartered in Garden City, United States, in the North America region.

How does Garden City Public Library make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Millage Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are public Library Services (Free), fee-based Services, donations and Grants and digital Content Partnerships.

Who are Garden City Public Library's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Allen Park Public Library, Redford Township District Library, Dearborn Public Library, Canton Public Library, Inkster Public Library, Livonia Public Library, Plymouth District Library, Taylor Public Library, Wayne Public Library and Westland Public Library.

Does Garden City Public Library have an API?

No public API is recorded for Garden City Public Library.

What industry is Garden City Public Library in?

Garden City 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 and its SIC code is 8200.