Sabah State Library
Sabah State Library is the official public library system of Sabah, Malaysia, providing free physical and digital library services through a headquarters and 20+ branch libraries statewide, serving residents, students, government employees, and researchers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSabah, Malaysia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sabah State Library does
Sabah State Library (Perpustakaan Negeri Sabah) is the official public library system of the Malaysian state of Sabah, established under Enactment 1988 and updated by Enactment 2007, and operating under the Sabah State Government. The institution serves Sabah's residents and visitors with free access to physical and digital library materials, maintaining a headquarters in Kota Kinabalu plus an extensive network of 20+ branch libraries spanning Kinabatangan, Beaufort, Kudat, Nabawan, Semporna, Sipitang, Membakut, Tanjung Aru, KKIA, Papar, Lahad Datu, Penampang, Ranau, Keningau, Sandakan, Tawau, and additional rural locations.
The technology stack centers on the WebOPAC 2.0 catalog for searching physical and digital holdings by title, author, subject, call number, or ISBN/ISSN, an ePlatform Digital Library for cross-device eBook and audiobook lending powered by OverDrive/Libby, and supplementary e-resources (e-Sentral, u-Pustaka via the National Library of Malaysia, Gale E-Resources) for academic and digital content. A Digital Integrity Repository, managed with BIGONS, archives government documents and integrity-related materials, while a Looker Studio dashboard provides operations analytics. Patron-facing support is offered through WhatsApp, and student internships are routed via sslinternship.com.
The library operates on a non-commercial, government-funded model: all membership, borrowing, reference, and digital resource services are provided free of charge to the public, with no subscription fees or paid tiers. Funding flows from the Sabah State Government's annual budget. Customer segments span the general public, students (primary to tertiary), government employees and researchers, and academics and historians working on Sabah's cultural and ethnic heritage. Director George Yih Ching Yaw oversees the institution.
Sabah State Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sabah State Library
- Legal name
- Sabah State Library
- Website
- https://library.sabah.gov.my
- Company type
- Public
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sabah State Library is the official public library system of Sabah, Malaysia, providing free physical and digital library services through a headquarters and 20+ branch libraries statewide, serving residents, students, government employees, and researchers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sabah State Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)
Keywords
Where Sabah State Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sabah
- HQ country
- Malaysia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Sabah State Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Funded by the Sabah State Government as a public library service. Membership and library services are provided free of charge to the public.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Public Library Services |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sabah State Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sabah State Library operates the public library system for the state of Sabah, Malaysia, providing free book lending, reference and information services, e-resource access, and government document preservation. It runs a network of more than 20 physical branch libraries across Sabah, supplemented by digital platforms including WebOPAC 2.0, ePlatform Digital Library, and third-party content platforms (OverDrive/Libby, e-Sentral, u-Pustaka, Gale databases) for eBooks, audiobooks, and academic research.
Product overview
Sabah State Library operates as a public library system offering both physical and digital resources. The core service includes the WebOPAC 2.0 catalog for searching the collection, supplemented by eResources platforms (OverDrive/Libby, e-Sentral, u-Pustaka, and Gale E-Resources) providing digital access to eBooks, audiobooks, and academic databases. The ePlatform Digital Library serves as a unified digital lending platform. The library maintains a Digital Integrity Repository for preservation, provides internal Intranet services for staff, and offers customer-facing tools including WhatsApp chat support and an online internship application system. The system comprises headquarters in Tanjung Aru and multiple branch libraries across Sabah including locations in Kinabatangan, Beaufort, Kudat, Nabawan, Semporna, Sipitang, Membakut, Tanjung Aru, Library@KKIA, Matred, Papar, Lahad Datu, Penampang, Ranau, Keningau, Sandakan, Tawau, and rural libraries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WebOPAC 2.0 Online Public Access Catalog
- ePlatform Digital Library Digital lending platform allowing registered members to borrow and read eBooks and listen to audiobooks anytime on any device, provided free of charge.
- Digital Integrity Repository Digital repository for preserving and providing public access to integrity-related government documents and information awareness content, managed in partnership with BIGONS.
- e-Resources (OverDrive/Libby, e-Sentral, u-Pustaka, Gale) Curated digital resources including OverDrive/Libby eBooks and audiobooks, e-Sentral digital content, u-Pustaka via National Library of Malaysia, and Gale academic databases for academic research and learning.
- Reference and Information Services Reference and information inquiry services provided by library staff to assist patrons in locating resources, answering research questions, and supporting information needs, available via online enquiry form and WhatsApp chat.
- Physical Branch Library Services Physical library branch network across Sabah (headquarters in Luyang and branches in Tanjung Aru, KKIA, Penampang, Papar, Lahad Datu, Ranau, Keningau, Sandakan, Tawau, Kinabatangan, Beaufort, Kudat, Nabawan, Semporna, Sipitang, Membakut, and rural locations) offering free book borrowing, reading rooms, and reference services.
- Membership Registration Library membership program allowing registered members to borrow books, access e-resources, and use library services free of charge; available via online form or downloadable PDF.
- Internship Training Program Online portal at sslinternship.com where Malaysian students from public and private educational institutions can apply for industrial training placements at the library.
Companies that use Sabah State Library
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sabah State Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sabah State Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- OverDrive/LibbycoreOverDrive provides the Libby app platform for digital lending of eBooks and audiobooks. Sabah State Library offers thousands of titles through sabah.overdrive.com and the Libby app for members to borrow and read on any device.
- e-Sentralcoree-Sentral provides digital content platform access. Library subscribers access e-books and digital materials through this Malaysian digital library platform.
- u-Pustaka (National Library of Malaysia)coreAccess to u-Pustaka database through the National Library of Malaysia's online databases portal (u-library.gov.my) providing additional digital resources for patrons.
- Gale (Cengage)coreGale provides premium academic databases and research resources. Sabah State Library acquired Gale e-Resources in September 2024 to enhance research capabilities for patrons.
- Educational Institutions (Public/Private)corePartnership with Malaysian public and private educational institutions for student internship training programs. The library offers industrial training opportunities through sslinternship.com.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sabah State Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- British Library: UK national research library and a major public-access cultural institution with extensive digital lending and research services. Comparable as a government-funded library serving public research and reference needs at scale.
- National Library of Australia: Australia's national library responsible for collecting, preserving, and providing access to documentary heritage. Comparable mandate in national-level digital repository and bibliographic services supporting a federal library network.
- Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (National Library of Malaysia): Malaysia's national public library, providing the overarching policy and digital infrastructure (u-Pustaka) that Sabah State Library connects into. Directly comparable as a government-funded public library serving Malaysian patrons with overlapping digital collections and reference services.
Direct peers
- Sarawak State Library (Perpustakaan Negeri Sarawak): Another Malaysian state government public library with multi-branch network, digital lending, and depository functions. Closely comparable in scale, governance model, and service mandate within Malaysian Borneo.
- Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor (Selangor Public Library Corporation): Statutorily established public library corporation for Selangor state providing multi-branch and digital library services. Comparable governance structure and free public access model.
- Penang State Library (Perpustakaan Negeri Pulau Pinang): Malaysian state public library operating under state government funding with branch network and digital services. Highly comparable in operating model, though Penang's denser urban population differs from Sabah's rural-urban mix.
Regional players
- Hong Kong Public Libraries: Government-operated public library network serving Hong Kong with extensive branch footprint, digital lending, and multilingual collections. Comparable scale and breadth of services in an Asian metropolitan context.
- Singapore Public Libraries (National Library Board): Government-operated public library network in Singapore with extensive digital lending, multilingual collections, and integrated e-resources. Comparable as a Southeast Asian public library authority though operating in a city-state context.
- State Library of Queensland: Australian state-level public library with significant digital collections, heritage preservation role, and government backing. Comparable as a state-government-anchored library serving a similarly dispersed population across regional and remote areas.
- State Library Victoria: Major Australian state library combining public access, heritage collections, and digital platforms. Comparable in combining a public-facing lending function with cultural/archival stewardship backed by state government.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sabah State Library social profiles
Digital presenceSabah State Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sabah State Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sabah State Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sabah State Library M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sabah State Library
What does Sabah State Library do?
Sabah State Library operates the public library system for the state of Sabah, Malaysia, providing free book lending, reference and information services, e-resource access, and government document preservation. It runs a network of more than 20 physical branch libraries across Sabah, supplemented by digital platforms including WebOPAC 2.0, ePlatform Digital Library, and third-party content platforms (OverDrive/Libby, e-Sentral, u-Pustaka, Gale databases) for eBooks, audiobooks, and academic research.
Is Sabah State Library a public or private company?
Sabah State Library is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Sabah State Library founded?
Sabah State Library was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sabah State Library based?
Sabah State Library is headquartered in Sabah, Malaysia, in the Asia region.
How does Sabah State Library make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Sabah State Library's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are British Library, National Library of Australia and Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (National Library of Malaysia). Direct peers are Sarawak State Library (Perpustakaan Negeri Sarawak), Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor (Selangor Public Library Corporation) and Penang State Library (Perpustakaan Negeri Pulau Pinang). Regional players are Hong Kong Public Libraries, Singapore Public Libraries (National Library Board), State Library of Queensland and State Library Victoria.
Does Sabah State Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sabah State Library.
What industry is Sabah State Library in?
Sabah State 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.