FRIENDS OF THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY

What FRIENDS OF THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY does

The Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation that supports the Pawtucket Public Library, a public library system serving the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The library operates from a historic dual-building complex at 13 Summer Street, comprising the 1902 Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library (Greek revival architecture) and the Gerald S. Burns Building (a former post office joined to the complex between 1979 and 1982); both structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The institution serves approximately 75,842 Pawtucket residents — a population notably more diverse than the Rhode Island state average, with 25% Hispanic/Latino, 17.2% Black/African American, and 25.8% foreign-born residents, and 40.8% of households speaking a language other than English at home. Service distribution combines the central facility, a bookmobile reaching 12 neighborhood stops weekly (daycares, schools, senior centers, apartment complexes, parks), curbside pickup, and digital platforms accessible via the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) consortium catalog.

Service offerings span physical lending (books, audiobooks, DVDs), digital content delivered through the Ocean State Ezone (aggregating Overdrive/Libby, Palace Project, Flipster, and World Book ebooks), streaming video (Kanopy, Hoopla), research databases (EBSCOhost, Ancestry Library Edition in-library, HeritageHub, NewsBank), educational platforms (Tutor.com, Mango Languages covering 60+ languages, Learning Express Library, Udemy with 4,000+ courses), technology lending (mobile 5G hotspots, 3D printing via the Intagly portal), mobile printing via Princh, and a library mobile application on iOS and Android. Specialized services include a Teen Center (Mon-Thu 3pm-8pm), dedicated children's programming (story classes for newborns through age 5, Summer Reading, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten), ESL and citizenship preparation classes (morning/afternoon via the Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, evening via the Rhode Island Institute for Labor Studies & Research starting Fall 2026), sensory-friendly library bags co-developed with The Autism Project, genealogy and local history resources including digitized Pawtucket Times newspapers (1886-1976) and the Elizabeth Johnson Pawtucket History Research Collection, and a U.S. passport acceptance office operated by appointment.

The business model is a publicly-funded, mixed-revenue nonprofit institution. The FY2026 operating budget totals $2,763,169, of which $2,179,253 (78.9%) flows from the City of Pawtucket municipal appropriation, $516,250 (18.7%) from the Rhode Island State Grant-In-Aid (a formula pegged at 25% of city expenditure from two years prior), and the residual from endowment budget ($57,622) and State Endowment Grant-In-Aid ($10,044). Core library services are free to Pawtucket residents, and library cards are issued without charge; supplemental fee-based services include passport processing ($135-$248.36 per transaction), black-and-white and color printing ($0.10-$1.00 per page), and faxing ($1.75-$3.95 per page). The Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library augments institutional funding through tiered memberships ($5-$50 annually), book sales, and direct donations, while partnerships with Ocean State Libraries, RIFLI, the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services connect the institution to statewide and federal library infrastructure.

Name

FRIENDS OF THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY

Legal name

Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library

Website

https://pawtucketlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the Pawtucket Public Library in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, serving approximately 75,842 residents through a historic dual-building complex, bookmobile outreach, and digital platforms, funded by municipal appropriations, state grants, endowments, service fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library resources
• Digital content lending
• Educational outreach programs
• Local history archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Pawtucket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from City of Pawtucket municipal funds ($2,179,253 in FY2026) and Rhode Island State Grant-In-Aid ($516,250). The library also receives 25% state match on endowment expenditures.
2. Endowment Revenue: Revenue from managed endowment funds dedicated to specific purposes: children's programs (Caidin Trust), teen programs (Gerald Burns Fund), adult programs (Community Service Fund), senior materials (Zucker Fund), and general operations.
3. Service Fees: Fees for passport processing, printing, faxing, and other value-added services. Passport fees range $135-$225; printing $0.10-$1.00 per page; faxing $1.00-$3.95 per page.
4. Donations and Membership: Friends of the Library raises funds through book sales, membership contributions (Individual $10, Family $20, Supporting $30, Patron $50, Student $5), and direct donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Pawtucket Public Library, supported by the Friends of the Pawtucket Public Library nonprofit, provides free public library services to Pawtucket, Rhode Island residents including physical and digital book lending, streaming media access, research databases, educational programs (ESL, tutoring, literacy), children's and teen services, passport acceptance, printing/faxing/scan services, 3D printing, mobile hotspot lending, and bookmobile outreach to underserved neighborhoods. Additional services include meeting room rentals, genealogy and local history research, museum passes, and community programming for all age groups.

Product overview

Pawtucket Public Library operates as a dual-building historic complex (Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library and Gerald S. Burns Building) offering a comprehensive suite of library services to the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The library provides physical collections and lending services alongside extensive digital content platforms including Ocean State Ezone (combining Overdrive/Libby, Palace Project, Flipster, and World Book), streaming video services (Kanopy, Hoopla), research databases (EBSCOhost, Ancestry, NewsBank), and educational platforms (Tutor.com, Mango Languages, Learning Express, Udemy). Technology services include 3D printing, mobile printing, mobile hotspot lending, and public computer/WiFi access. The library also offers specialized services including a Teen Center, children's programs, passport acceptance office, bookmobile outreach, meeting room facilities, ESL/literacy instruction, genealogy and local history collections, and seasonal reading programs. Digital access is provided through a mobile app and the Ocean State Libraries network catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog and Account Services Online catalog system allowing patrons to search, reserve, and manage library material borrowing including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other physical and digital collections through the Ocean State Libraries network.
• Ocean State Ezone Digital library platform combining Overdrive/Libby, Palace Project, Flipster magazines, and World Book ebooks in one searchable interface for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines.
• Kanopy Movies
• Hoopla Digital Media
• 3D Printing Service
• Mobile Printing
• Research Databases
• Genealogy and Local History Resources
• TumbleBooks
• Tutor.com
• Mango Languages
• Learning Express Library
• Udemy
• Mobile Hotspot Lending
• Passport Acceptance Office
• Bookmobile
• Fax, Copy, Print, and Scan Services
• Meeting Room Rentals
• Library Mobile App
• Summer Reading Program
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
• Teen Center
• ESL and Literacy Classes
• Sensory Friendly Library Bags

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,842 Pawtucket residents served (2020 Census)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ocean State Libraries (OSL)coreTechnology or IntegrationConsortium of Rhode Island public libraries sharing integrated catalog system (OSLRI.net), unified borrowing policies, interlibrary loan network, and statewide delivery. Pawtucket library participates in shared digital platforms including Libby/Overdrive, Palace Project, and research databases.
• Friends of the Pawtucket Public LibrarycoreOthers501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the library through advocacy, fundraising, and volunteer support. Sponsors programs, book sales, and the Michael Denneny Speaker Series. Raises funds for facility improvements, collections, and special programs.
• Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides morning/afternoon English as Second Language (ESL) classes and U.S. citizenship preparation classes at the library. Classes funded by Rhode Island Department of Education.
• Rhode Island Institute for Labor Studies & Research (IILSR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides evening English classes starting Fall 2026 for adult learners. Partnership expands language learning access beyond RIFLI morning offerings.
• The Autism Project (Johnston, RI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped develop sensory-friendly library bags for children with autism. Bags contain noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, communication cards, and other sensory resources available for in-library use.
• Providence Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Seeds in Motion program - hands-on family experience exploring seeds, plants, and nature. Brings museum resources to library for community educational events.
• Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)coreOthersState library agency providing grant-in-aid funding (25% of city expenditures), administers statewide summer reading program, and sets library standards for Rhode Island.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)coreOthersFederal agency providing funding for statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program through Library Services and Technology Act grants.
• City of PawtucketcoreOthersPrimary funder of the library with municipal budget appropriation of $2,179,253 (FY2026). City funding represents majority of library operating budget.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PawtucketPL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjdMj7toplpKsdwUwJbVjVw
• Facebookfacebook.com/pawtucketlibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/pawtucketpubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-the-pawtucket-public-library

Compliance1 record

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 FRIENDS OF THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY