Lorain Public Library System
Lorain Public Library System is a tax-funded public library system serving over 135,000 residents of Lorain County, Ohio, through six branches, a seasonal beach outpost, digital eLibrary, and outreach programs including makerspaces, tutoring, and passport services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersLorain, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lorain Public Library System does
Lorain Public Library System (LPLS) is a tax-funded public library system serving Lorain County, Ohio, established in 1901 and operating as a government entity. It serves over 135,000 residents through six permanent branches (Main Library in Lorain, plus Avon, Columbia, Domonkas, North Ridgeville, and South Lorain branches totaling 143,716+ square feet), one seasonal beach outpost (Little Library on the Lake at Lakeview Park), Books by Mail delivery to eleven communities, and an extensive school outreach program covering seven local districts. The system is integrated with the CLEVNET consortium for shared catalog, circulation, and digital resource access, and it maintains a self-service check-out mobile app, 24/7 exterior hold lockers, and curbside pickup at each branch.
The system's product portfolio spans traditional library lending (books, DVDs, audiobooks), an eLibrary digital collection (eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video, research databases via Ancestry, Kanopy, Hoopla, OverDrive, LinkedIn Learning), and a Library of Things program lending non-traditional items such as bikes, LEGO kits, and sporting equipment. Specialized offerings include the Toni Morrison Reading Room, Culinary Literacy Center, Create Space makerspaces (CNC, laser engraver, embroidery, long-arm quilting machines), Maker-in-Residence and Teen Maker-in-Residence programs, Level Up K-8 tutoring, genealogy services, passport acceptance at Avon and North Ridgeville branches, and telehealth room reservations.
The business model is primarily tax-funded: local public tax levies provide the bulk of operating revenue, supplemented by foundation grants from Nord Family Foundation, Norton Family Foundation, and Community Foundation of Lorain County; donations and endowments managed by The Foundation of LPLS, Inc.; and modest transaction fees for passport execution ($35), passport photos ($11), and printing/copying (10 cents/page). All library cards — Standard, eCard, Access, and Teacher — are free to eligible Ohio residents. Volunteer support is provided by seven Friends of the Library groups.
Lorain Public Library System firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lorain Public Library System
- Legal name
- Lorain Public Library System
- Website
- https://lorainpubliclibrary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lorain Public Library System is a tax-funded public library system serving over 135,000 residents of Lorain County, Ohio, through six branches, a seasonal beach outpost, digital eLibrary, and outreach programs including makerspaces, tutoring, and passport services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lorain Public Library System industry classification
Industry- 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
- Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
Keywords
Where Lorain Public Library System is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lorain
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Lorain Public Library System business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: Primary funding from local public tax levies supporting library operations, staffing, and collection development across all branches
- Foundation and Grant Funding: Supplemental funding from foundations including Nord Family Foundation, Norton Family Foundation, and Community Foundation of Lorain County for specific programs and facility improvements
- Donations and Endowments: The Foundation of LPLS, Inc. accepts donations and manages endowment funds to support library programs and services
- Passport Execution Services: Fees collected for passport application acceptance services at Avon and North Ridgeville branches ($35 execution fee, $11 photo fee)
- Printing and Copying Services: Fees for public printing, copying, and fax services at all branches (10 cents per page for B&W, color printing)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Standard Library Card - Free for Ohio residents |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | eCard - Free for Ohio residents |
| Freemium | Annual | Teacher Card - Free for educators |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Passport Execution Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Passport Photo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Public Printing - Black and White |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Public Printing - Color |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fax Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flash Drives and Ear Buds |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels11 records
Lorain Public Library System product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lorain Public Library System is a publicly funded public library system that lends physical and digital library materials free of charge to Ohio residents across six branches plus a seasonal beach location in Lorain County. It also operates community programs including makerspaces, culinary literacy classes, tutoring, genealogy research, passport acceptance, and maker-in-residence artistic programs, supported by an integrated CLEVNET catalog system.
Product overview
The Lorain Public Library System (LPLS) is a public library system in Lorain County, Ohio operating six branches plus outreach services. Its core offerings center on physical and digital library services including traditional material lending (books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks) through various card types (Standard, Access, Teacher, eCard), with key products including the eLibrary/eMedia digital collection for streaming and downloadable content, Library of Things for non-traditional loans like bikes and sporting equipment, Books by Mail for homebound residents, and specialized spaces like the Toni Morrison Reading Room and Create Space makerspaces. The system provides additional services including passport acceptance, meeting room reservations, tutoring programs, maker-in-residence artistic programs, and seasonal offerings like Summer Reading Challenges and the Little Library on the Lake beach outpost. All services are integrated through the CLEVNET consortium for catalog access and inter-library loan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Culinary Literacy Center: A demonstration kitchen at the Main Library in Lorain and the Norton Family Foundation Demonstration Kitchen at the Avon Branch, teaching community members how to cook and eat healthier foods.
- Create Space
- Maker-In-Residence Program
- Teen Maker-In-Residence Program
- Little Library on the Lake
- Toni Morrison Room
- Story Trails
Products and services
- eLibrary/eMedia Collection
- Library of Things
- Books by Mail Service
- Meeting Room Reservations
- Passport Services
- Level Up Tutoring Program
- Genealogy Services
- Create Space (Makerspaces)
- Culinary Literacy Center
- Maker-In-Residence Program
- Teen Maker-In-Residence Program
- Summer Reading Challenge
- Outreach Services
- Toni Morrison Reading Room
- Story Trails/StoryWalks
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Little Library on the Lake
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 135,000 residents served through library system service district
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lorain Public Library System
Customer profileSegments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lorain Public Library System technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Lorain Public Library System partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- CLEVNET ConsortiumcoreShared library consortium providing integrated catalog, circulation, and digital resource access across member libraries. Allows patrons to access materials, place holds, and return items at any CLEVNET location.
- Friends of the Library GroupsmajorSeven Friends of the Library groups supporting each branch through volunteer service, fundraising, and advocacy for library services.
- United Way of Lorain CountymajorPartnership for Diaper Drive collecting new diapers at all six branches for United Way's 211 First Call for Help hotline. Also partnered for United Way's Collect > Sort > Deliver Impact Initiative providing professional attire for job seekers.
- Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential CentermajorLPLS is an indexing partner for the Ohio Obituary Index, having contributed over 70,000 obituary records to the database maintained by the Hayes Presidential Center.
- FamilySearchmajorLPLS is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library providing access to digital genealogical collections not available outside libraries, including records from over 130 countries.
- Local School DistrictsmajorPartnerships with seven school districts: Lorain City Schools, Avon Local Schools, Clearview Local Schools, Columbia Local Schools, Firelands Local Schools, North Ridgeville City Schools, and Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools for outreach and educational programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Lorain Public Library System competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Akron-Summit County Public Library: Northeast Ohio county library serving Akron-Summit with multiple branches and community programs; directly comparable as an Ohio county-level public library system with similar branch network, educational programming, and digital lending focus.
- Toledo Lucas County Public Library: Northwest Ohio public library system serving Lucas County with multiple branches and CLEVNET participation; directly comparable Ohio multi-branch public library system with similar scale, school partnerships, and digital resource offerings.
- Geauga County Public Library: Northeast Ohio county library with four branches; directly comparable smaller county-level Ohio public library system with overlapping service geography, CLEVNET participation, and community programming focus.
- Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library: Southwest Ohio county public library operating the largest branch network in Ohio with extensive programming; directly comparable CLEVNET member library with similar tax-levy model, school district partnerships, and maker/creator programming.
- Columbus Metropolitan Library: Large Ohio metropolitan library serving Franklin County with ~23 branches, CLEVNET membership, and extensive programming; directly comparable CLEVNET-affiliated public library system with similar tax-levy funding model and maker-space/maker-in-residence programs at scale.
- Delaware County District Library: Central Ohio county library with multiple branches serving a fast-growing suburban county; directly comparable Ohio public library system with community programming, makerspace offerings, and tax-levy funding structure.
- Dayton Metro Library: Southwest Ohio multi-branch public library serving the Dayton metro region; directly comparable as a county-tier Ohio public library system operating multiple branches with community programming, makerspaces, and digital lending.
- Cuyahoga County Public Library: Northeast Ohio suburban county library system operating 27 branches serving ~860,000 residents; directly comparable multi-branch public library with shared CLEVNET consortium membership, digital lending, and community programming model in an adjacent Ohio county.
- Cleveland Public Library: Urban Ohio public library system also part of CLEVNET, serving Cleveland with a flagship plus multiple branches; directly comparable as another CLEVNET member library with shared catalog, similar civic-population scale, and urban-serving programs.
- Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County: Northeast Ohio public library system serving Youngstown/Mahoning County with multiple branches and CLEVNET affiliation; directly comparable Ohio county library with similar industrial-city tax-base dynamics and multi-branch operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lorain Public Library System social profiles
Digital presenceLorain Public Library System financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lorain Public Library System leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Lorain Public Library System funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lorain Public Library System 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 Lorain Public Library System
What does Lorain Public Library System do?
Lorain Public Library System is a publicly funded public library system that lends physical and digital library materials free of charge to Ohio residents across six branches plus a seasonal beach location in Lorain County. It also operates community programs including makerspaces, culinary literacy classes, tutoring, genealogy research, passport acceptance, and maker-in-residence artistic programs, supported by an integrated CLEVNET catalog system.
Is Lorain Public Library System a public or private company?
Lorain Public Library System is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Lorain Public Library System founded?
Lorain Public Library System was founded in 1901. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lorain Public Library System based?
Lorain Public Library System is headquartered in Lorain, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lorain Public Library System make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Grant Funding, donations and Endowments, passport Execution Services and printing and Copying Services.
Who are Lorain Public Library System's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Akron-Summit County Public Library, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Geauga County Public Library, Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Delaware County District Library, Dayton Metro Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library and Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Does Lorain Public Library System have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lorain Public Library System.
What industry is Lorain Public Library System in?
Lorain Public Library System's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAA, Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries). Its NAICS code is 51921.