North Dakota State Library

What North Dakota State Library does

The North Dakota State Library is a state government agency established in 1907, currently operating as a division of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, headquartered in the Liberty Memorial Building on the Capitol Grounds in Bismarck. It provides free statewide library services to all North Dakota residents, state government agencies, and the state's public, school, academic, tribal, and special libraries across all 53 counties. Its service portfolio is organized into three primary functions: direct patron services (physical and digital collections, e-books via OverDrive/Libby, interlibrary loan, library cards, Talking Book Program for the blind and print disabled, nine automated library lending machines in rural communities, and Beanstack-based reading challenges); library development services for North Dakota libraries (grants administration including Library Vision Grants, professional development, marketing support, consulting, cataloging assistance, and continuing education via Niche Academy and WebJunction); and state agency services (reference, state document cataloging, and employee book discussions). The library maintains statutory roles as the North Dakota State Document Depository and a Federal Depository Library, and curates over 850 ND-specific Talking Book recordings and digital collections contributed to Digital Horizons and the Digital Public Library of America.

The underlying technology stack consists of the Polaris library catalog and patron management system, OverDrive/Libby for digital content lending, Beanstack for reading challenges, Niche Academy for tutorial delivery, LibGuides for research support, Microsoft Teams for webinars, Google Analytics for web analytics, and WordPress for content management. Distribution is multi-channel: physical service at the Bismarck headquarters, free mail delivery outside the Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln area, nine rural lending machines, online catalog access, and digital lending via mobile apps. All services are provided free of charge.

Funding is derived from state legislative appropriations and federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). There is no fee-for-service revenue; pricing is entirely freemium with zero-cost access for all eligible users. The agency holds compliance certifications including WCAG 2.1 Level AA, ADA Title II, Section 504, and PCI DSS, and is governed by the North Dakota Library Coordinating Council (NDLCC), with the State Librarian serving ex officio.

Name

North Dakota State Library

Legal name

North Dakota State Library

Website

https://library.nd.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The North Dakota State Library is a state government agency providing free statewide library services to all North Dakota residents, state agencies, and libraries through physical collections, digital lending, a Talking Book accessibility program, rural lending machines, grants administration, and library development support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services (State Government)

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Administration of Education Programs (923110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• State library services
• Government document depository
• Interlibrary loan services
• Talking book program
• Library development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bismarck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a state government agency, the North Dakota State Library operates under state appropriations and federal grants, including Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding administered through IMLS. Services are provided free of charge to eligible users.
2. Free Public Services: All core library services are provided free of charge to North Dakota residents, including library cards, material loans, interlibrary loan, reference services, e-resources, Talking Book services, and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The North Dakota State Library is the state library agency of North Dakota, operating as a division of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. It provides free library services to North Dakota residents, state government employees, and to public, school, academic, and tribal libraries across all 53 counties of the state. Core offerings include shared physical and digital collections, interlibrary loan, reference services, talking books for print-disabled residents, state and federal depository programs, online research databases, continuing education, library consulting, and competitive grants for library development.

Product overview

The North Dakota State Library is a government agency providing comprehensive library services through three main channels: direct patron services (library cards, physical and digital collections, interlibrary loan, Talking Book Program), support for libraries statewide (grants, training, technology assistance, marketing, programming consultation), and services for state agencies (reference, cataloging, employee book discussions). The portfolio includes core physical/digital collections with materials about North Dakota, government document programs (state and federal depository), digital lending through OverDrive/Library2Go, specialized accessibility services via the Talking Book Program, Library Lending Machines for rural access, reading challenges through Beanstack, educational databases and resources, kit lending (book club, STEM, outdoor games), and professional development via Niche Academy and WebJunction. The service is provided free of charge to North Dakota residents and libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State Library Collection Cataloged collection of books, eBooks, audiobooks, and other materials curated by the North Dakota State Library and lent to North Dakota residents, state employees, and partner libraries.
• Digital Collection Digital lending collection providing North Dakota patrons access to eBooks, audiobooks, and digital media via the library's catalog and partner platforms.
• OverDrive / Library2Go Online eBook and audiobook lending service accessible via the OverDrive platform and Libby mobile app for North Dakota library cardholders.
• Newspaper Collection Cataloged collection of North Dakota newspapers maintained by the State Library for patron reference and historical research.
• Talking Book Program Free audio and Braille book lending program for North Dakota residents who are unable to read standard print due to visual, physical, or reading disabilities, delivered via postal mail.
• State Document Depository Program Program that catalogs, preserves, and provides public access to publications issued by North Dakota state government agencies.
• Federal Depository Library Program Partnership with the U.S. Government Publishing Office under which the North Dakota State Library catalogs and provides public access to federal government publications.
• Library Lending Machines Self-service lending kiosks deployed at partner locations across North Dakota that dispense library materials to patrons without requiring a trip to a full-service library.
• Online Reading Challenges (Beanstack) Online reading challenge program hosted on the Beanstack platform that engages North Dakota patrons in reading goals, logging, and themed reading programs throughout the year.
• Kit Lending Program Lending program that circulates specialized kits (such as early literacy, STEM, or themed kits) to North Dakota libraries and patrons.
• Interlibrary Loan Service Resource sharing service that locates and delivers library materials between North Dakota libraries and beyond, supporting statewide and national resource sharing.
• Library Development Services Consulting and support services provided by NDSL to public, school, academic, and tribal libraries across North Dakota covering operations, planning, and program development.
• Continuing Education for Library Staff Training and professional development programming for North Dakota library staff, delivered via webinars (Microsoft Teams) and in-person sessions.
• Library Vision Grants Competitive grant program administered by NDSL that funds North Dakota library projects aligned with state library priorities and vision goals.
• State Agency Services Dedicated library services provided to North Dakota state government agencies, including research assistance, reference support, and resource access tailored to agency needs.
• Online Research Resources (Databases) Subscription-based online research databases (EBSCO, Gale, Britannica, Digital Horizons, DPLA, FedScan) licensed statewide and made available to North Dakota residents, state employees, and libraries.
• Library Tutorials (Niche Academy) Online tutorial and training platform (Niche Academy) used by NDSL to teach patrons and library staff how to use library resources and research tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving all North Dakota residents, state employees, and libraries across 53 counties through multiple access channels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at Library of CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe North Dakota State Library partners with NLS to provide Talking Book services to North Dakota citizens unable to read standard print materials. NLS provides the collection of audio books, Braille books, magazines, and equipment; NDSL serves as the regional library administering these services to eligible North Dakotans.
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide State Park Passes available for checkout through the State Library. Passes are good for daily admittance into North Dakota state parks and are also available at local public libraries.
• Digital HorizonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Horizons is a digital archive featuring thousands of images, documents, video, and oral histories depicting life on the Northern Plains from the late 1800s to today. The State Library contributes North Dakota historical materials to this collection.
• Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe State Library contributes digitized historic images, documents, and materials relating to North Dakota to the DPLA, making them searchable alongside collections from the Smithsonian, National Archives, and other institutions nationwide.
• Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Dakota participates in CSLP, a nonprofit organization that supports literacy and summer reading events in public libraries across the United States. CSLP develops themed summer reading manuals and programs used nationwide.
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides downloadable e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-magazines through the Libby app and Library2Go website. The State Library offers a shared collection with North Dakota public libraries.
• North Dakota State University Library (Fargo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the depository libraries receiving state document distributions. Copies of state publications are distributed to libraries at NDSU, UND, Minot State University, and Valley City University.
• University of North Dakota Library (Grand Forks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the depository libraries receiving state document distributions. Copies of state publications are distributed as part of the State Document Depository Program.
• North Dakota Library AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NDLA President serves on the North Dakota Library Coordinating Council, which assists in planning, coordinating, and evaluating library services and programs statewide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wyoming State Library: Wyoming's state library provides statewide library services, federal depository access, and grants administration for one of the least populous U.S. states — a near-twin to NDSL in scale and mandate.
• Montana State Library: Montana's state library agency delivering physical/digital collections, talking book services, and library development support to a similarly rural, low-population state. Comparable mission and service mix.
• Nebraska Library Commission: Nebraska's state library agency, organized as a commission, provides statewide library development, talking book services, and database licensing to Nebraska libraries — closely parallel structure to NDSL.
• South Dakota State Library: State library agency serving South Dakota with a comparable mandate of providing statewide library services, Talking Book program, and support to local libraries. Closest comparable in scale and rural-state context.
• Idaho Commission for Libraries: Idaho's state library agency commissions provides library development, talking book services, and e-content distribution to Idaho libraries — a closely analogous small-state agency mandate.
• Iowa State Library: Iowa's state library agency provides statewide library services, including library development, Open Access (state depository), and special services — closely comparable state agency function.
• Minnesota State Library Services: Minnesota's state library agency provides library development services, statewide resource sharing, and direct library services to state government — similar coordinating role within a neighboring state.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress: National library operating the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, which partners with NDSL to deliver Talking Book services; also operates the Federal Research Division and national depository programs that intersect with NDSL's federal depository role.
• OCLC: Global library cooperative providing shared cataloging (WorldCat), interlibrary loan infrastructure, and discovery services used by NDSL — a broader-scale incumbent in the same library-services ecosystem.
• OverDrive: Dominant digital content platform (Libby app) that powers NDSL's e-book, e-audiobook, and e-magazine lending — a broad incumbent and key technology partner in the same service category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubebit.ly/NDSLPodcast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ndstatelibrary

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about North Dakota State Library