Howe Library

What Howe Library does

Howe Library is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit library operating from a single location at 13 South Street in Hanover, New Hampshire, governed by the Howe Library Corporation (founded 1912 by Emily Howe's endowment gift). It serves the residents and property owners of Hanover plus the broader Upper Valley region, with 23 staff and no commercial revenue model — access is free via a library card, with operational support from the Town of Hanover's municipal appropriation and donations through the Howe Sustainers Circle and Emily's Legacy Society endowment.

The core product is a hybrid physical-and-digital lending and programming service built on the Evergreen open-source integrated library system, supplemented by an unusually broad set of third-party digital platforms: Libby/OverDrive (e-books, audiobooks, magazines), Hoopla (streaming media), Kanopy (film), LibraryPass (digital comics), LinkedIn Learning and Creativebug (online courses), Mango Languages (70+ languages), and research databases including Gale, Britannica, Ancestry, and HeritageQuest. Beyond traditional lending, the library operates a Library of Things program (tools, instruments, telescopes, sewing machines, 120+ art prints, 75+ puzzles), Books-To-Go book club bags, museum passes, meeting and study rooms, a Ledyard Gallery, and a wide calendar of programming including author talks, book clubs, writing workshops, summer reading, teen and children's services, and a Memory Cafe for dementia care partners.

Revenue is entirely non-commercial: municipal appropriations, individual donations and recurring giving, corporate sponsorships, and endowment income. Distribution is via a single physical storefront plus remote digital access through authenticated third-party platforms. The go-to-market is community-led: the library is the primary public-facing knowledge, culture, and programming hub in Hanover, anchored by long-standing partnerships with Dartmouth College, Hood Museum of Art, Hanover Historical Society, and Hanover Conservancy. No app, no developer API, and no AI capabilities are documented.

Name

Howe Library

Legal name

Howe Library Corporation

Website

https://thehowe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Howe Library is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit library serving Hanover, New Hampshire and the Upper Valley region. It provides free lending (books, digital media, Library of Things), programming, and study space, funded by municipal appropriation and donations through the Howe Library Corporation.

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)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital media lending
• Early literacy programs
• Research databases access

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

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. Donations and Fundraising: The Howe Library Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, accepts individual donations, monthly giving (Howe Sustainers Circle), corporate sponsorships, and endowment gifts. Gifts support collections and programs.
2. Municipal Funding: Public library receives funding from the town of Hanover, NH.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Howe Library is a public library serving the Hanover, NH community through free membership-based access to physical collections (books, DVDs, audiobooks, art prints, Library of Things), digital lending and streaming platforms, research databases, and a broad program of community events, book groups, writing workshops, and early literacy services. The library operates from a single physical location with extensive digital reach and is funded through municipal appropriations, donations, and endowment support.

Product overview

Howe Library is a public library serving Hanover, New Hampshire, operating as a single physical location with an extensive digital presence. The library provides traditional lending services through its Evergreen-powered online catalog, interlibrary loan, and a unique Library of Things collection featuring non-traditional items like tools and instruments. Its digital ecosystem spans multiple third-party platforms for e-books (Libby/OverDrive), streaming media (Hoopla, Kanopy), digital comics (LibraryPass), online learning (LinkedIn Learning, Creativebug, Mango Languages), and research databases (Gale, Britannica, Ancestry, HeritageQuest). Programming includes ongoing book groups, writing workshops, the annual Summer Reading Program, early literacy services for children birth-to-kindergarten, dedicated teen services, and recorded program videos. The library is governed by the Howe Library Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1912, and maintains an affiliated supporter organization, the Howe Corporation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Evergreen Online Catalog Library's online catalog system built on the Evergreen platform, enabling members to search, browse, place holds, renew items, and access digital collections through their account.
• Library Card Membership Free annual membership providing Hanover residents and property owners with access to all physical collections, digital resources, programs, and services.
• Library of Things Non-traditional lending collection including tools, musical instruments, telescopes, sewing machines, games, puzzles, metal detectors, and over 120 framed art prints available for checkout.
• Museum Passes Library-issued passes providing discounted or free admission to local museums and cultural institutions for cardholders.
• Books-To-Go Bags Curated sets of 10 paperback copies of current titles, classic works, or plays for book group discussions, available for checkout by book clubs.
• Interlibrary Loan Service enabling members to request materials not available in the local catalog from other libraries with occasional fees for out-of-state requests.
• Digital Media Streaming (Hoopla, Kanopy) Digital streaming services providing on-demand access to movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, and comics through Hoopla and Kanopy partnerships.
• E-books and Audiobooks (Libby/OverDrive) Digital lending service for e-books, audiobooks, and magazines via Libby/OverDrive, with OverDrive Advantage providing additional copies of high-demand titles.
• Digital Comics and Manga (LibraryPass) Digital comics, graphic novels, and manga lending service accessible via web browser, smartphone, or tablet with a library card.
• Online Learning Platforms (LinkedIn Learning, Creativebug, Mango Languages) Educational digital platforms including LinkedIn Learning for professional skills, Creativebug for arts and crafts, and Mango Languages for over 70 languages.
• Research Databases (Gale, Britannica, Oxford English Dictionary) Academic and reference databases including Gale resources for scholarly research, Britannica for general knowledge, and Oxford English Dictionary for vocabulary.
• Genealogy Resources (Ancestry, HeritageQuest) Family history and genealogical research tools including Ancestry Library Edition for in-library use and HeritageQuest for remote access.
• Meeting Rooms and Study Rooms Reserved spaces for community gatherings, study groups, and programs, including proctoring services for standardized exams.
• Technology and Printing Services Public computer access, printing, scanning, and other technology services for library members.
• Ledyard Gallery Art exhibition space within the library featuring rotating displays by local and regional artists.
• Book Groups Ongoing book discussion groups including Books & Lunch, Horror Stories, Poetry Book Club, Reading Nature, Reading Upwards, Sci-Fi Book Club, and Tomes of Magic with hybrid in-person and virtual attendance.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading initiative with age-specific tracks for kids (ages 0-12), teens (ages 12-19), and adults, featuring reading challenges, game boards, prizes, and community events.
• Howe Writing Workshops Seasonal writing workshop series taught by published authors and poets covering poetry and prose techniques with limited enrollment and hybrid attendance.
• Early Literacy Programs (Birth to Kindergarten) Early literacy development services for children from birth through kindergarten, including storytimes, play groups, and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge.
• Teen Space and Services Dedicated space and services for teens in grades 7-12, including a YA collection, comfortable seating, study tables, and board games.
• Memory Cafe Program Program in partnership with Dartmouth Medical School Aging Resource Center supporting individuals with dementia and their care partners through social, cognitive, and physical activities.
• Howe Program Videos Recorded library programs and speaker presentations shared via YouTube, including author talks, historical discussions, and community conversations.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Still North Books & BarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly collaboration bringing adults together for literary events including book arts, literary trivia, writing workshops. Hosted at Still North Books & Bar, 3 Allen St, Hanover, NH. Happy hour pricing available for attendees.
• Hanover ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors the Reading Nature book group focused on natural world topics. Discussions led by combination of Barry Matthews of Hanover Conservancy and library staff.
• Dartmouth CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDartmouth professors regularly present lectures and programs at the library. Topics include history, anthropology, political science, and more. Also hosts academic events and collaborates on programs like the 250th anniversary celebrations.
• Hood Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Hood @ The Howe collaboration provides adult art kits from the Hood Museum for patrons to take home or complete at the library.
• Hanover Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors historical programs and events including the 250th anniversary celebration of American Revolution.
• Dartmouth Medical School / Aging Resource CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Memory Cafe program supporting individuals with dementia and their care partners with social, cognitive, and physical activities.
• Hanover Conservation CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored various programs including trail access discussions and conservation-themed events.
• Upper Valley Trails AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on outdoor accessibility programs and trail development discussions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Baker-Berry Library (Dartmouth College): Baker-Berry Library is Dartmouth College's main academic library, located in Hanover, NH. It is an emerging/overlapping player because, while it primarily serves Dartmouth affiliates, it shares the same town, hosts some public-facing programming, and competes for the attention of the same college-affiliated demographic in Hanover.

Direct peers

• Enfield Public Library: Enfield Public Library in Enfield, NH serves a small Grafton County community near Hanover. It is a direct peer because it operates as a town-funded public library offering similar lending, storytime, and digital resource services to a comparable population in the same regional library network.
• Lebanon Public Libraries: Lebanon, NH operates a public library system serving the largest municipality adjacent to Hanover. It is a direct peer because it offers comparable public lending, digital resources, and community programming to a similarly sized Upper Valley community, and the two libraries share regional consortia for digital lending and interlibrary loan.
• Norwich Public Library: Norwich, VT is directly across the Connecticut River from Hanover and serves a comparable small-town, college-adjacent population. It is a direct peer because it runs a small public library with similar lending, programming, and digital resource offerings, and it competes for the same Upper Valley patron base.
• Lyme Town Library: Lyme Town Library serves Lyme, NH, an affluent small town in the Upper Valley adjacent to Hanover. It is a direct peer because it operates a small public library with similar programming, digital lending, and community space offerings, and shares the same donor and patron demographics.
• Plainfield Public Library: Plainfield Public Library in Plainfield, NH is a small public library serving a comparable rural New Hampshire community. It is a direct peer because it provides overlapping physical and digital lending, children's programming, and operates on a similar small-staff nonprofit model anchored by town funding.
• Hartford Public Library (Wilder, VT): Hartford Public Library in Wilder, VT serves a nearby Upper Valley community just across the river from Hanover. It is a direct peer because it offers comparable public library services, digital collections, and adult/children's programming to a similarly sized population.
• Kilton Public Library: Kilton Public Library in West Lebanon, NH is a public library serving a community of comparable size to Hanover in the same Upper Valley region. It is a direct peer because it offers overlapping physical collections, digital lending, and children's and adult programming, and is part of the same New Hampshire library ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/howelibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/howelibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/Howe-Library-157632934169
• Instagraminstagram.com/howelibrary/?ref=badge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howe-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Howe Library