Laurel County Public Library

What Laurel County Public Library does

Laurel County Public Library is a government-funded public library system serving the residents of Laurel County, Kentucky, from a single physical location at 120 College Park Drive, London, KY. The library operates as a county-government entity, free at the point of service, with extended hours including weekday evenings until 8pm and Sunday afternoons. Its core function is providing free public access to information, educational resources, and community programming across all patron age groups, supported by a horizontal segmentation strategy that addresses children, teens, genealogists, job seekers, and the general public.

The library's technology and product surface combines a physical collection of over 1.5 million accessible items (with 1,000+ new items added monthly) and a substantial digital ecosystem. Patron-facing infrastructure includes a Bibliocommons-powered web catalog, a custom mobile app for iOS and Android with virtual library cards and barcode scanning, a Princh-integrated mobile printing service (10¢/page B&W, 15¢/page color), and a digital library card system available to local residents since July 2024. Digital content is delivered through integrated third-party platforms including Libby/OverDrive (via the Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium), Hoopla Digital, Kanopy, Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, MyHeritage Library Edition, Consumer Reports, FinancialFit, Brainfuse HelpNow and VetNow, BlueCareer, and The Great Courses. Specialty services include reader's advisory ("Find My Next"), interlibrary loans, study and meeting spaces, and dedicated children's and teen programming.

The library's revenue model is non-commercial. It is funded primarily through local tax appropriations and government allocations, with negligible usage-based revenue from printing (10¢/page B&W, 15¢/page color), refundable equipment deposits (up to $100 for multimedia projectors), and overdue fee balances. All core services are free to county residents. Its go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer and product-led: patrons self-register, self-browse the catalog, place holds, and access digital resources without staff intervention. The library markets itself through its website, multi-platform social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Goodreads), a quarterly email newsletter, in-library events, and school/community partnerships.

Name

Laurel County Public Library

Legal name

Laurel County Public Library

Website

https://laurellibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Government-funded public library in Laurel County, Kentucky, serving all community residents with free access to 1.5 million-plus physical and digital items, a mobile app, mobile printing, and integrated digital content platforms including Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, and genealogy and tutoring databases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Support Services (6117)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platforms
• Genealogy research databases
• Community education programs
• Mobile printing services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Implied): As a public library, Laurel County Public Library is primarily funded through local government appropriations and tax revenue. This is a recurring, stable funding source that enables free services to all community members.
2. Printing Services: The library charges nominal fees for printing services: 10 cents per black and white page and 15 cents per color page. This is a usage-based revenue stream that supplements operational costs.
3. Overdue and Damage Fees: Patrons with balances under $10 can check out materials. Overdue fees accumulate after the checkout period ends. Deposits are required for certain items like multimedia projectors ($100), test prep books ($10/$20), and CDL/Child Care Training DVDs ($25), refundable upon return.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Laurel County Public Library provides free public library services to Laurel County, Kentucky residents through physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs) and an extensive digital ecosystem of lending platforms, streaming services, research databases, and educational tools. Core offerings include library card services, catalog access via Bibliocommons, digital lending through Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy, genealogy research via Ancestry/HeritageQuest/MyHeritage, and community programs for children, teens, and adults. All services are funded by government appropriations and offered at no cost to patrons.

Product overview

Laurel County Public Library offers a unified public library service combining physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs) with an extensive digital ecosystem. The core digital lending platforms are Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla Digital, supported by Kanopy for streaming video. Specialty databases include Ancestry/HeritageQuest/MyHeritage for genealogy, Consumer Reports for product reviews, and Brainfuse services for tutoring and veteran assistance. The library also provides mobile printing via Princh, career resources through BlueCareer and FinancialFit, and educational tools like The Great Courses and Educate Station. A proprietary mobile app integrates catalog search, account management, and virtual library cards. All services are accessed via physical library cards or digital cards linked to the Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card Services Physical and digital library cards providing access to 1.5M+ items. Patrons may check out 40 items (including 15 media items) with 21-day checkout periods. Free for all Laurel County residents.
• Libby / Overdrive Digital Lending Digital lending platform for e-books, audiobooks, and magazines. Part of Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium offering unlimited monthly borrows and skip-the-line titles. Supports Kindle sending.
• Hoopla Digital Digital media service offering e-books, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV shows with no holds required. Features Hoopla Kids Mode and Bonus Borrows. Supports Airplay and Chromecast streaming.
• Kanopy Streaming Streaming service for award-winning films, documentaries, and educational videos. Includes Kanopy Kids Mode with parental controls and play credits system.
• Ancestry Library Edition Comprehensive genealogical research platform with access to over 20 billion records including census, military, immigration, and vital records. In-library access only.
• HeritageQuest Online Genealogical research database with 500+ searchable databases and 5+ billion records including U.S. Federal Censuses (1790-1950) and Freedman's Bank records. Remote access with library card.
• MyHeritage Library Edition Genealogical research service offering historical records from dozens of countries, family tree building tools, and tombstone photos. Remote access via EBSCO.
• Mobile Printing (Princh) Convenience service allowing patrons to print documents from laptops, tablets, and mobile phones via Princh platform. Jobs are picked up at the front desk. Prices: 10¢/page black and white, 15¢/page color.
• LCPL Mobile App Official library mobile application for iOS and Android. Features catalog search, account management, virtual library card, barcode scanning, and staff recommendations.
• Brainfuse HelpNow On-demand e-learning platform with tutoring and academic assistance for all ages and levels.
• Brainfuse VetNow Veterans assistance service providing help with VA benefits, community resources, job assistance, and academic tutoring for veterans and families.
• Consumer Reports Nonprofit product-testing organization providing expert, unbiased reviews and ratings on appliances, electronics, cars, health products, and more. Accessed via EBSCO.
• FinancialFit Financial literacy platform offering 160+ microlessons covering budgeting, credit, mortgages, and taxes. Mobile-first design with interactive lessons and worksheets.
• BlueCareer Career exploration platform for skilled trades, training resources, and employer connections. Launched July 2024.
• Educate Station Standards-aligned curriculum materials for Pre-K through 5th grade covering ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Learning.
• The Great Courses Educational video/audio courses taught by expert professors covering history, science, philosophy, literature, and more. Accessed through Libby, Hoopla, or Kanopy.
• Stingray Classica Classical music streaming featuring concerts, operas, ballets, and documentaries from world-renowned performers. Accessed via Libby Extras.
• Qello Concerts On-demand concert streaming platform featuring full-length performances from iconic artists, music documentaries, and live concerts. Accessed via Libby Extras.
• iNDIEFLIX Independent film streaming service with over 8,000 films from 85+ countries. Focuses on social justice, mental health, and environmental documentaries. Accessed via Libby Extras.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 million items available to borrow across physical and digital collections
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kentucky Libraries Unbound (KLU) / OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationKentucky Libraries Unbound is a digital library service powered by OverDrive, provided by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) in partnership with a consortium of libraries across the state. KLU offers Laurel County Public Library patrons access to a shared collection of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines, with priority access to locally curated materials.
• PrinchcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinch provides cloud-based mobile printing technology enabling patrons to send print jobs from any device (laptop, tablet, phone) remotely and pick up at the library. The library's printer ID is 106977.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationKanopy provides streaming access to thousands of films, documentaries, and educational videos including Kanopy Kids mode for child-safe content. Patrons receive monthly play credits to access content.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationHoopla Digital provides streaming access to e-books, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV shows. Includes BingePass for unlimited access to curated collections and Kids Mode for family-friendly content.
• Ancestry Library Edition (ProQuest)coreTechnology or IntegrationAncestry Library Edition provides access to over 20 billion genealogical records from multiple countries, including census records, vital records, military records, and immigration records. Available for in-library use only.
• HeritageQuest OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationHeritageQuest Online provides genealogical resources including U.S. Federal Census records (1790-1950), vital records, Freedman's Bank records, and historical books. Accessible both in-library and remotely with a library card.
• MyHeritage Library EditioncoreTechnology or IntegrationMyHeritage Library Edition provides access to billions of historical documents, census records, and tools for building family trees. Records span dozens of countries for international genealogical research.
• Consumer ReportscoreTechnology or IntegrationConsumer Reports provides unbiased product reviews, ratings, and buying guides across appliances, electronics, cars, health products, and more. Accessible in-library or remotely with a library card, saving patrons $40-$60 annually.
• FinancialFitcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancialFit provides financial literacy education with over 160 microlessons covering budgeting, credit building, debt management, taxes, and career planning. Mobile-friendly platform with personalized learning.
• Educate StationcoreTechnology or IntegrationEducate Station provides standards-aligned curriculum materials for Pre-K through 5th grade covering ELA, math, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning. Features weekly learning plans with worksheets and assessments.
• The Great CoursescoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Great Courses provides hundreds of educational video and audio courses taught by expert professors covering history, science, philosophy, literature, economics, and more. Accessible through Libby Extras, Hoopla BingePass, and Kanopy.
• Kentucky Virtual LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationKentucky Virtual Library provides access to a wide range of databases for educational and research needs, available through the library's digital resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Louisville Free Public Library: Louisville Free Public Library is Kentucky's largest public library system, serving Jefferson County with many branches. It is a broad incumbent peer operating under the same statewide framework but with substantially greater scale, branch footprint, and programming breadth than LCPL.
• Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County: The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is a large multi-branch urban/suburban library system in a neighboring state. It is a broad incumbent peer offering an overlapping service mix (physical lending, digital, genealogy, educational programming) but at materially greater scale and geographic reach than LCPL.

Direct peers

• Boone County Public Library: Boone County Public Library is a Kentucky-based county public library system serving a comparable suburban/rural population. It is a direct peer given shared state funding framework, KLU consortium membership, and similar mix of physical collections, digital lending, and community programming.
• Lexington Public Library: Lexington Public Library is another Kentucky public library system serving a comparable constituency (Fayette County). It is a direct peer as both operate under the same KDLA oversight, participate in the Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium, and offer similar physical/digital lending, programming, and educational services.
• Madison County Public Library: Madison County Public Library is a Kentucky public library system serving a similarly sized county. It is a direct peer operating within the same KDLA/KLU framework and serving an analogous community demographic with comparable physical and digital services.

Others

• OverDrive / Libby: OverDrive (and its consumer brand Libby) is the technology vendor that powers the Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium and provides LCPL's core digital lending platform. It is a critical infrastructure/ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but its pricing and roadmap directly determine LCPL's digital service economics.
• Bibliocommons (Biblionix): Bibliocommons is the web catalog and mobile app platform used by LCPL for patron account management, search, and discovery. It is a vendor/enabler whose product capabilities and roadmap directly affect LCPL's digital patron experience.

Regional players

• Johnson County Public Library (Indiana): Johnson County Public Library in Indiana is a regional public library system operating in a neighboring state with a comparable service mix and community demographic. It is a regional peer that does not directly compete with LCPL but operates a similar single-county model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laurellibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/laurellibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/laurellibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/laurellibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laurel-county-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Laurel County Public Library