Westerville Public Library (inc)

What Westerville Public Library (inc) does

Westerville Public Library is a nonprofit public library system located at 126 South State Street in Uptown Westerville, Ohio, founded in 1926 and operating under a Board of Trustees. It serves the Westerville community and broader Ohio residents through a comprehensive suite of services that includes physical and digital lending (books, audiobooks, eBooks, movies, music), an extensive research and database offering (Ancestry, FamilySearch, Fold3, HeritageQuest, HeritageHub, Creativebug, LinkedIn Learning, Hoopla, OverDrive/Libby, Kanopy), and a network of 17 partner libraries enabling cross-borrowing across Central Ohio. The library is a community hub with multiple physical and digital channels, including a main building, drive-thru, home delivery van, school deliveries to Westerville City Schools, Little Free Libraries, and Story Trails.

The library operates an Innovation Lab with 3D printing, a Memory Lab for digital preservation of physical media, a Computer Lab with free Wi-Fi and assistive technology, and the Westerville History Museum, which preserves one of the world's largest collections of Temperance and Prohibition records (500,000+ digitized pages, partnered with Ohio History Connection, ProQuest, University of Michigan, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union Archives). The catalog and digital account platform is powered by BiblioCommons. Programming spans all age groups, anchored by the annual Wizards & Wands Festival and the Agnes the Dragon permanent art installation created in partnership with Otterbein University.

The library is funded primarily through Franklin County property tax levies, including a 0.75-mill additional operating levy passed by voters in November 2024. Supplementary revenue sources include the Westerville Library Foundation (a 501(c)(3) endowment and fundraising entity), the Westerville Library Friends (used book sales and gift shop), donor contributions, replacement fees for lost materials, and sustainability grants such as the Westerville Electric Division BusinessWISE and Plug Smart incentives. All basic services are free to Ohio residents; the library has been fines-free since August 2017. Strategic priorities center on community engagement, historical preservation, literacy, and digital inclusion.

Name

Westerville Public Library (inc)

Legal name

Westerville Public Library

Website

https://westervillelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Westerville Public Library is a nonprofit public library in Westerville, Ohio, providing free physical and digital lending, research databases, community programming, educational services, and the Westerville History Museum to Ohio residents of all ages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending programs
• Digital media lending
• Historical archive preservation
• Educational outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Levy Funding: Primary operating funding from Franklin County tax levy - 0.75-mill additional operating levy passed November 2024
2. Donations and Grants: Funding from Westerville Library Foundation through endowment management and special projects; grant funding for specific initiatives
3. Friends of the Library: Proceeds from used book sales and gift shop operated by volunteer organization
4. Replacement Fees: Replacement costs for lost or damaged materials (no overdue fines since August 2017)
5. Grant Funding: Environmental and sustainability grants including Westerville Electric Division BusinessWISE incentive program and Plug Smart incentives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Westerville Public Library is a nonprofit public library system that lends physical and digital media (books, audiobooks, eBooks, movies, music) and provides subscription-based research databases, genealogy resources, streaming content, maker-space technology, meeting spaces, and educational programming to Ohio residents. The library also operates the Westerville History Museum, an Innovation Lab with 3D printing, a Memory Lab for digital preservation, mobile outreach services (home and school deliveries, drive-thru, Little Free Libraries), and community programs such as author visits, storytimes, and an annual Wizards & Wands Festival.

Product overview

Westerville Public Library operates as a public library system offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around knowledge access, community engagement, and local history preservation. The library provides physical and digital media lending through its core Books, Movies & More collection, supported by extensive Research & Databases including genealogical resources (Ancestry, FamilySearch, HeritageQuest, Fold3), streaming platforms (Hoopla, OverDrive/Libby, Kanopy), and specialized collections like the Temperance and Prohibition digital archive. Beyond traditional lending, the library maintains an Innovation Lab with maker technology and 3D printing, operates the Westerville History Museum documenting local history, and offers community programming including the annual Wizards & Wands Festival featuring the Agnes the Dragon art installation. Additional services include Memory Lab for digital preservation, accessibility tools, business services, and the Westerville Voices oral history initiative. The library is supported by the Westerville Library Foundation and Friends of the Westerville Public Library volunteer organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westerville History Museum: Museum located within the library premises that preserves and displays the history of the temperance movement, the 18th Amendment, Prohibition era, and Westerville local history. Houses the Anti-Saloon League collection.
• Wizards & Wands Festival

Products and services

• Books, Movies & More (Physical and Digital Media Lending) Lending of books, audiobooks, eBooks, movies, music, and other items to Ohio residents holding a Westerville Public Library card.
• Research & Databases Access to subscription research and educational databases covering academic research, genealogy, local history, business, and creative learning for library card holders.
• Innovation Lab (3D Printing and Maker Space) Technology and maker space providing 3D printing, creative technology tools, and hands-on learning experiences for patrons.
• Westerville History Museum Museum exhibits focused on Westerville history and the Anti-Saloon League / Temperance movement, available for public viewing on the library premises.
• Computer Labs and Technology Services Public computer access, laptop lending, free Wi-Fi, and printing/copying/faxing/scanning services for library patrons.
• Home Deliveries and Outreach Services Mobile library services bringing materials and programming to patrons who cannot visit the building, including home delivery, drive-thru pickup, school deliveries, Little Free Libraries, and outdoor Story Trails.
• Meeting Rooms and Study Spaces Reservable meeting and study spaces available to community groups and individual patrons.
• Memory Lab Do-it-yourself digitization service allowing patrons to convert photos, documents, and VHS/audio media to digital formats using library-supplied equipment.
• Temperance and Prohibition Digital Collection Online digital archive of 500,000+ digitized pages from the Temperance and Prohibition movement, accessible to researchers and patrons.
• Westerville Voices Oral History Program Community oral history initiative using the StoryCorps platform to record and preserve personal stories from Westerville residents.
• Storytimes and Early Literacy Programs Early-literacy programs for children ages 0-5, including storytimes and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge.
• Teen Services Programs and dedicated spaces for teens, including Teen Kits (homework tools, yoga, driving practice), volunteer opportunities, and creative resources.
• Business and Career Services Resources and assistance for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and small business research, including business databases and career counseling.
• Assistive Technology and Accessibility Tools Accessibility services and equipment for patrons with disabilities, including motorized scooters, rollators, sensory kits, audio-described media, and interpretation services.
• African American Heritage Database Genealogy research tool providing access to census, vital, Freedman's Bank, and African American historical records.

Quantifiable outcome

• Volunteers contribute 2,000+ hours annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Point at Otterbein UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024University maker space that created dragon art installations (Hilda and Agnes) for the library. Students from various majors (art, engineering, graphic design, zoology, psychology) collaborated on project-based learning creating fiberglass dragon sculptures.
• Westerville Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Nonprofit board of trustees focused on securing the library's future through endowment management and special projects supporting emerging technologies, civic resources, 21st century learning, and literacy. Board members serve three-year terms and participate in fundraising efforts.
• WeRISE for Greater WestervillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2024Nonprofit dedicated to eradicating individual and structural racism. Partnership on WeREAD community-wide reading initiatives including the 2024 New Kid by Jerry Craft program with author visit and discussion sessions.
• Friends of the Westerville Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer organization raising funds through book sales and a gift shop. Sponsored dragon art installations and various library initiatives. Recognized as 2025 Organization of the Year.
• City of WestervillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnership on community initiatives including WeREAD program, community partner funding, and Westerville Voices oral history initiative.
• Westerville City SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool delivery program bringing free books, movies and music directly to students and teachers. Also partner on Black History Month educational projects.
• Westerville Area Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on community initiatives including Westerville Voices oral history program.
• Ohio History ConnectioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in digitization of Temperance and Prohibition Movement collection (500,000+ pages), one of the largest such collections in the world.
• ProQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for digitization of historical collections, enabling online access to temperance and prohibition archives.
• University of MichigancoreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in digitization of historical collections related to temperance and prohibition movement.
• Women's Christian Temperance Union ArchivescoreTechnology or IntegrationArchive partner providing materials for the digitized collection of temperance movement records.
• 17 Neighboring LibrariesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBorrowing consortium including Alexandria, Bexley, Columbus Metropolitan, Delaware County, Fairfield County, Grandview Heights, and other Central Ohio libraries allowing mutual borrowing and returns.
• Visit WestervilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism organization partnership recognizing the library's contributions to showcasing the community.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Worthington Libraries: Consortium partner public library serving a neighboring Central Ohio suburb with similar community programming, digital lending, and local history focus.
• Bexley Public Library: Consortium partner public library of similar size and demographic, offering core lending, digital resources, and community programs comparable to Westerville's suite.
• Grandview Heights Public Library: Small Central Ohio public library in the borrowing consortium with comparable community-scale lending, programming, and outreach services.
• Upper Arlington Public Library: Neighboring Central Ohio public library in the borrowing consortium; comparable affluent-suburban demographic and similar programming depth.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Central Ohio consortium partner offering the same public library services (lending, digital resources, community programming) at significantly larger scale; directly comparable operating model and target audience.
• Delaware County District Library: Adjacent Central Ohio public library within the same 17-library borrowing consortium; comparable community-scale public library with similar digital and programming offerings.

Others

• OverDrive / Libby: Dominant digital book, audiobook, and magazine lending platform integrated into the library's catalog; comparable ecosystem participant rather than competitor.
• BiblioCommons: Technology platform powering Westerville's online catalog, events, and digital resource access; library-specific SaaS provider whose roadmap and pricing materially affect library operations.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Library: Large urban public library system providing lending, maker spaces, digital resources, and community programming; operates at metropolitan scale versus Westerville's community scale.
• New York Public Library: Massive U.S. public library system with extensive physical and digital collections, special collections, research libraries, and community programming; same public library mission at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/westervillehist
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WestervillePLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/westervillelibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westerville-public-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/westervillelibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Westerville Public Library (inc)