Whitman Public Library

What Whitman Public Library does

Whitman Public Library is a municipal public library located at 100 Webster Street, Whitman, Massachusetts, serving residents of the Town of Whitman under Massachusetts state law and local municipal oversight. Established in 1879 with $500 in initial town funding and a 1,400-book donated collection housed in the Village Hall, the library currently occupies a purpose-built facility completed in 1988 on the former Dyer School site. It is governed by a Board of six elected Library Trustees serving three-year terms and operates with a lean staff of 8 (Director, Assistant Director, Youth Services Librarian, Circulation Supervisor, and four Library Technicians). The core product offering is free access to physical and digital library materials: traditional lending of books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and reference materials, supplemented by an extended "Beyond Books" collection of puzzles, games, toy kits, Tonies audio storytellers, and WiFi hotspots. Digital services are delivered through third-party platforms — OverDrive/Libby for e-books and audiobooks, Hoopla for on-demand media, Kanopy for streaming, Mango Languages, and Creativebug — alongside research databases from EBSCO and Gale (including Ancestry.com Library Edition for genealogical research).

The library's technology backbone is the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) integrated catalog, which provides a shared catalog across 35+ southeastern Massachusetts member libraries and supports interlibrary loan through the Commonwealth Catalog. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) coordinates state-level support. Distribution channels include the physical building, the OCLN online catalog, digital lending platforms, and a museum pass program that grants free or discounted entry to attractions including the Museum of Science Boston, New England Aquarium, MFA Boston, Heritage Museums & Gardens, Zoo New England, and Massachusetts State Parks. Programs target children (Read to a Dog, Skill Stations, playgroups), teens (dedicated Teen Room), and adults (gardening workshops, animal programs, author events), with structured summer reading programming across all K-12 schools in Whitman.

Revenue mechanics are non-commercial. Primary funding comes from the Town of Whitman municipal budget (annual appropriation), supplemented by state aid, the $300,000+ Carleton P. and Lillian F. Burrill trust fund (for technology and services), and donations funneled through the Friends of the Whitman Public Library volunteer organization. Direct fee revenue is minimal and includes printing ($0.20/page B&W/color), faxing ($1.00/page), and limited overdue charges for video games ($0.50/day), museum passes, and hotspots ($15.00/day); most materials are fine-free. Cards are free to all Whitman residents and are valid at any OCLN member library. The library is not a for-profit venture and operates under a community-led go-to-market model that depends on physical presence, school partnerships, and word-of-mouth rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Whitman Public Library

Legal name

Whitman Public Library

Website

https://whitmanpubliclibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whitman Public Library is a municipal public library in Whitman, Massachusetts that provides free physical and digital lending, research databases, museum passes, and community programming to Town of Whitman residents via OCLN network membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital lending platforms
• Research databases access
• Children's library programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitman

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Town Funding: Primary operational funding from the Town of Whitman municipal budget
2. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from community members, Friends of the Library fundraising events, and memorial contributions
3. Fee-based Services: Printing ($0.20/page black and white/color), faxing ($1.00/page), and late fees for video games, museum passes, and hotspots

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Whitman Public Library is a municipal public library providing free access to physical and digital library materials, including books, e-books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, music, and research databases. The library also offers museum passes, public computer access, WiFi hotspots, a community room for rent, and age-specific programming for children and teens. All services are provided to Whitman residents with a free library card, valid at 35+ OCLN network libraries.

Product overview

Whitman Public Library operates as a traditional public library offering a unified service model combining physical and digital resources. The core offering includes physical book lending, digital media platforms (Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy), language learning (Mango Languages), creative education (Creativebug), research databases, and community services. The Beyond Books Collection extends lending to puzzles, games, toy kits, Tonies, and WiFi hotspots. Facilities include public computers, a community room, teen space, and children's programming rooms. The library participates in the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) for interlibrary loan and shared catalog services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Library Collections Traditional library lending services including physical books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and reference materials available for checkout to library card holders.
• Libby/OverDrive Digital Lending Reading app for borrowing digital books, audiobooks, and magazines from the library's OverDrive collection through the OCLN shared platform.
• Hoopla Digital Media Free digital media service for streaming or downloading movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics with no wait times.
• Kanopy Streaming On-demand streaming of acclaimed movies and documentaries from award-winning filmmakers, with 18 free tickets per month per patron.
• Mango Languages Language learning platform offering courses in over 70 different languages and dialects, available free to library card holders.
• Creativebug Streaming platform offering thousands of fine art and handcrafting classes available free through the library.
• Research Databases Comprehensive collection of online research databases including Ancestry.com, Britannica, NoveList, Gale databases covering business, health, history, science, newspapers, and youth education.
• Beyond Books Collection Hands-on lending items including puzzles, games, toy kits, Tonies audio storytellers, and WiFi hotspots available for patrons to borrow.
• Museum Passes Discounted or free admission passes to local museums and attractions including Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, MFA Boston, Heritage Museums & Gardens, Zoo New England, and Massachusetts Parks.
• Public Computer Access Windows PCs and Chromeboxes for internet access and office functions, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Community Room Rental Meeting space available for local non-commercial groups for civic, educational, or cultural events, certified to hold 96 persons.
• Children's Programs Ongoing programs including Read to a Dog, Skill Stations, Little Nuggets, and Tiny Tots playgroups for children ages 0-6 and summer reading programs.
• Teen Space and Programs Dedicated space for students in grades 6-12 with cozy seating for studying, chilling, and reading, plus teen/tween programming.
• Readers' Advisory Services Resources and assistance to help patrons discover their next read, including links to Goodreads, NoveList Plus, and librarian consultations.
• Digital Yearbooks Archive Access to Whitman schools' digital yearbooks collection through the Internet Archive.
• Printing and Faxing Services Pay-as-you-go printing at $0.20 per page (black and white and color) and faxing at $1.00 per page. Scanning is free.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most materials are fine-free, removing barriers to library access

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of the Whitman Public LibrarycoreOthersA passionate volunteer organization dedicated to promoting, advocating for, and supporting the Library's mission. The group organizes book sales, special programs, and events to raise vital funds for children's and adult programs, museum passes, and special equipment and materials beyond regular Town funding.
• Old Colony Library Network (OCLN)coreOthersOCLN is a library network/cooperative that provides shared catalog, interlibrary loan, and digital resource platforms including OverDrive. Whitman Public Library cards are valid at all 35+ OCLN member libraries.
• Gale (Cengage Learning)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides access to multiple research databases including Gale OneFile (Health and Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy), Gale In Context (U.S. History, World History, Science, Elementary, Middle School), and other specialized collections.
• EBSCOhostcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides NoveList Plus and NoveList Plus K-8 readers' advisory databases for book recommendations, as well as Business Economics and Theory Collection.
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital reading platform for e-books, audiobooks, and magazines available through OCLN's shared collection.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationFree digital media service providing instant streaming or download of movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics with no wait times.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationOn-demand streaming of acclaimed movies and documentaries from award-winning filmmakers. Library patrons receive 18 tickets per month.
• Museum of Science, BostonminorOthersMuseum passes available as e-tickets through the library's museum pass program.
• New England AquariumminorOthersMuseum passes available as e-tickets through the library's museum pass program.
• Museum of Fine Arts, BostonminorOthersMuseum passes available as e-tickets through the library's museum pass program.
• Heritage Museums & GardensminorOthersMuseum passes available as e-tickets through the library's museum pass program.
• Zoo New EnglandminorOthersPhysical passes available for pickup at the circulation desk.
• Massachusetts State ParksminorOthersMassachusetts Parks Pass available for Whitman library card holders only. Physical passes for pickup.
• Self Help Inc.minorOthersPartners with library to provide Little Nuggets playgroup (ages 12-24 months) and Tiny Tots playgroup (ages 24-36 months) programs.
• Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners / MBLCcoreOthersState library agency supporting Massachusetts libraries with resources, databases, and interlibrary loan (Commonwealth Catalog).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• East Bridgewater Public Library: Closely comparable small-town Plymouth County public library, OCLN member, serving a similar demographic with the same core public library service profile. Useful peer for staffing, hours, and programming benchmarks.
• Halifax Public Library: Small Plymouth County public library serving a similarly sized Massachusetts town. OCLN membership and analogous service mix (books, digital lending, museum passes, children's programming) position it as a near-clone peer for benchmarking.
• Hanson Public Library: Adjacent small-town Massachusetts public library serving a similar population profile, also an OCLN member. Comparable scale, hours, fine-free posture, and summer reading / school partnership model make it a tight operational peer.
• Rockland Memorial Library: Nearby Massachusetts public library of similar municipal scale serving Rockland. Direct peer on staffing levels, town-appropriation funding model, OCLN digital resource access, and community programming scope.
• Abington Public Library: Neighboring small Massachusetts public library of comparable size and scope, serving Abington residents with a similar mix of physical collections, digital resources, and community programming. Same OCLN network membership makes operational and service comparison directly relevant.

Broad incumbents

• Plymouth Public Library: Significantly larger Massachusetts public library serving the broader Plymouth region; a wider collection, longer hours, and more programming. Comparable in service categories and OCLN membership, but operates at a fundamentally larger scale.
• Brockton Public Library: Larger urban Massachusetts public library serving Brockton. Comparable service model and OCLN ecosystem, but with materially larger staff, budget, and facility footprint, making it an upper-bound scale reference.

Others

• Old Colony Library Network (OCLN): The cooperative library network of which Whitman Public Library is a member. Provides the shared integrated catalog, interlibrary loan, and shared digital collections that define Whitman's service capabilities — an enabling ecosystem participant.
• Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC): State library agency providing state aid, resource coordination, and interlibrary loan infrastructure (Commonwealth Catalog) to Massachusetts public libraries including Whitman. A governing and enabling partner rather than a competitor.
• Digital Public Library of America (DPLA): National nonprofit aggregating digital library content across U.S. public libraries; thematically adjacent to Whitman's digital resource mission and a potential future partner for expanding access beyond the OCLN footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/friendsofthewhitmanpubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whitman-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Whitman Public Library