Marple Public Library

What Marple Public Library does

Marple Public Library is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public library (Tax ID# 23-2505031) operating from 2599 Sproul Road in Broomall, Pennsylvania, serving Marple Township and surrounding Delaware County communities. It is a chartered branch of the Delaware County Library System, sharing the Encore online catalog, MuseumKey museum-pass portal, and interlibrary loan capabilities with peer county libraries. The library is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Marple Township Commissioners under the Library Code of the State of Pennsylvania, with Library Director LaTanya Burno responsible for day-to-day operations.

The library's service portfolio spans traditional and non-traditional lending. Core offerings include physical and digital collections (books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, e-books via Libby/OverDrive, streaming via Kanopy, educational content via BookFlix and Power Library) plus differentiated programs such as the Library of Things (non-traditional items including electronics, tools, games, and recreational equipment), a Seed Library for open-pollinated seeds, pre-loaded Kindle lending, Roku streaming-device checkout, and MuseumKey museum passes to 17 local cultural institutions. Service delivery occurs across physical branch visits, scheduled curbside pickup, and free monthly at-home delivery for homebound residents. Ancillary paid services include mobile printing (Princh, $0.20–$0.30/page), meeting room rental ($75–$125), proctoring ($20–$30), and overdue fines across multiple material categories.

The revenue model is predominantly tax-funded: primary appropriations flow from Marple Township and Delaware County, supplemented by donations/memorial gifts, Amazon Wishlist contributions, the Donate-a-Book program ($35+), modest paid services (printing, room rental, proctoring), and overdue fines. No rental fees have been charged since January 2019. Marketing channels span Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, email newsletters, the marplelibrary.org website, and community events. Marple is the first library in Delaware County to earn the PA Forward Gold Star designation (2019) from the PA Library Association, recognizing excellence across basic, information, civic and social, health, and financial literacies.

Name

Marple Public Library

Legal name

Marple Public Library

Website

https://marplelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marple Public Library is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public library in Broomall, Pennsylvania, serving Marple Township and Delaware County residents with physical and digital lending, community programming, and non-traditional services like Library of Things and Seed Library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital library resources
• Children's literacy programs
• Museum pass lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Broomall

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal/Government Funding: Primary funding from Marple Township and Delaware County through public tax revenue. Library is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with tax ID# 23-2505031.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Financial donations from patrons, memorial/honorary gifts, event sponsorships, legacy giving, Amazon Wishlist contributions, and Donate-a-Book program ($35+).
3. Overdue Fines and Fees: Overdue fees for various materials (Adults $0.25/day, Children $0.10/day, DVDs $0.25/day, Library of Things $5/day, Kindles/Rokus $3/day, Museum Passes $10/day). No rental fees since January 2019.
4. Meeting Room Rentals: Marcy Abrams Meeting Room rental $125 (up to 100 people), Conference Room $75 (up to 15 people).
5. Library of Things Late Fees: $5 per day late fee for Library of Things items. $20 fee if returned outside Marple Library, $10 if returned to another library.
6. Proctoring Services: Exam proctoring services: $20 for Marple Township Residents, $30 for non-residents. $20/$30 cancellation fee for late cancellations.
7. Mobile Printing: Black and white printing $0.20 per page, Color printing $0.30 per page via Princh Print Release Terminal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Marple Public Library is a public, nonprofit 501(c)(3) library that lends books, digital media (e-books, audiobooks, magazines), DVDs, video games, and non-traditional items (Library of Things) to Delaware County residents. It provides free digital access to streaming, educational databases, museum passes, homebound delivery, and community programs for children, teens, and adults, supported by municipal funding and donations.

Product overview

Marple Public Library operates as a public library system serving Broomall, PA (Delaware County), offering a unified set of services organized around traditional library materials and innovative community programs. The core offerings include physical and digital collections accessible through the Digital Library (Libby, Kanopy, BookFlix), Museum Passes (via MuseumKey), Library of Things (non-traditional items), Seed Library, and technology services (Mobile Printing via Princh, Pre-loaded Kindles, Roku streaming). Service delivery mechanisms include in-person visits, Curbside Pickup, and At-Home Delivery for homebound residents. Programming spans all ages through Adult Programs, Teen Services (including RPG Club and Teen Zine), and Children's Programs (Storytime, Lego Club). The library achieved PA Forward Gold Star status in 2019, demonstrating commitment to five literacy initiatives. Meeting room rentals and proctoring services provide additional community access. The library participates in the Delaware County Library System, enabling interlibrary loans and shared digital resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Library Online access to eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, streaming video (Kanopy), and digital databases for adults, teens, and children through Libby, Kanopy, BookFlix, and Power Library.
• Library of Things Collection of non-traditional items available for checkout including recreational equipment (cornhole sets, bocce ball), technology (drawing tablets, green screens, ring lights), and hobby kits (bird watching, metal detecting, soldering tools). Loan period is 7 days.
• Museum Passes Free family museum passes available through the MuseumKey portal. Includes physical passes (checked out for 3 days) and Print & Go digital passes for 17 local museums and attractions including Academy of Natural Sciences, Penn Museum, Please Touch Museum, and National Constitution Center.
• Mobile Printing Services Print from laptops, mobile phones, or tablets via Princh app or web portal (print.princh.com). Printer ID 108474. Black/white prints $0.20 per page, color prints $0.30 per page. Payment at LPT:One Print Release Terminal.
• Curbside Pickup Contactless pickup service for library materials. Place holds online or by phone, schedule pickup appointment, and staff delivers items to your vehicle.
• At-Home Delivery Service Free monthly home delivery of library materials to homebound township residents due to illness, non-driver status (seniors), or physical challenges. Volunteer delivers materials monthly and picks up previous month's items.
• Pre-loaded Kindles 15 Kindle devices preloaded with fiction and nonfiction titles, available for 3-week checkout with renewal option. Three sets available with different title collections. Adjustable font size and type for accessibility.
• Seed Library Free seeds available for borrowing including vegetables, flowers, and herbs with open-pollinated, non-GMO varieties. Includes growing tips and seed saving resources. No library card required.
• Meeting Room Rental Two rentable spaces: Marcy Abrams Meeting Room (up to 100 people) at $125 and Conference Room (up to 15 people) at $75. Available for group or business meetings.
• Proctoring Services Test and exam proctoring by qualified librarians by appointment. Public access computer provided for online exams. Fee: $20 for residents, $30 for non-residents. Minimum one-week advance scheduling required.
• Roku Ultra Streaming Devices Roku streaming devices available for 2-week checkout to watch Netflix, Hulu, Brit Box, and other streaming services on TV. Requires HDMI port and wireless internet.
• On-the-Go Book Club Bags Book club kit containing multiple copies of selected titles, large-print editions when available, audiobooks, and discussion questions. Available for 8-week checkout with $3 per day late fee.
• Community Puzzle Collaborative jigsaw puzzle open to all patrons. Promotes anxiety reduction, patience, problem-solving skills, and brain functioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• First library in Delaware County to earn PA Forward Gold Star

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jacob H. and Troop 122minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Community partnership supporting the Seed Library program. Troop 122 contributed to establishing the seed lending program that provides open-pollinated vegetable, flower, and herb seeds to community members.
• Library Foundation of Delaware CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Foundation partnership supporting the Seed Library project and other library initiatives through funding and resources.
• Delaware County Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DCLS for integrated catalog (Encore), interlibrary loan, shared digital resources, museum passes (MuseumKey), and system-wide services including DCLS library card acceptance.
• MuseumKey (Delaware County Libraries)coreTechnology or IntegrationOnline portal for reserving museum passes from Marple Library and libraries across Delaware County, including physical and print-and-go passes to local cultural institutions.
• Brinker FinancialminorOthersCorporate sponsor that provided complimentary phone and tablet charging station for library visitors through a generous gift.
• Penn State Extension Master Gardener ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Seed Library support: Garden Hotline at 610-690-2671 for Delaware County residents with home gardening questions and pest problems.
• PA Library Association (PaLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide library association partnership through PA Forward Gold Star initiative, recognizing excellence in five literacy areas.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Free Library of Philadelphia: Large urban public library system serving Philadelphia. While far larger and more resource-rich than Marple, it is the most comparable Pennsylvania public library at scale, offering overlapping programming and digital services.

Direct peers

• Radnor Memorial Library: Public library serving Radnor Township in Delaware County, PA. Suburban township peer operating within the same DCLS system with similar resident-funded nonprofit model.
• Haverford Township Free Library: Public library serving Haverford Township in Delaware County, PA. Directly comparable suburban township peer with similar population size, nonprofit funding model, and DCLS system integration.
• Springfield Township Library: Public library serving Springfield Township in Delaware County, PA. Closest geographic and demographic peer to Marple — similar suburban township scale, comparable operating model, and shared DCLS membership.
• Upper Darby Township Library (Sellers Library): Public library serving Upper Darby Township in Delaware County, PA. Directly comparable DCLS member with similar governance, municipal funding structure, and community programming approach.

Regional players

• Delaware County Library System (DCLS): Federated library system coordinating services across Delaware County, of which Marple is a member. Provides Encore catalog, interlibrary loan, MuseumKey, and shared digital infrastructure — a parent/ecosystem entity rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MarpleLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/marplelibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/marplelibrary/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@marplelibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marple-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Marple Public Library