dbieb
dbieb (Stichting Bibliotheken Midden-Fryslân) is a Dutch public library foundation serving the municipalities of Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel in Friesland, operating six branches plus home delivery, with integrated digital lending, community programming, and tiered membership subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1903
- HeadquartersLeeuwarden, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What dbieb does
dbieb (Stichting Bibliotheken Midden-Fryslân) is a Dutch public library foundation serving residents of the Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel municipalities in the province of Friesland. The foundation operates six physical branch locations — anchored by the main library in the historic Blokhuispoort complex in Leeuwarden city center, with additional branches in Leeuwarden Oost, Burgum, Grou, Stiens, and Gytsjerk — supplemented by neighborhood connection points and a free home delivery service (max 5 items within 5 working days). Core services span physical lending (books, CDs, DVDs), digital lending, computer and WiFi access, printing and copying, room rental, and community programming (workshops, reading clubs, language learning).
The technology stack is built on a hosted library management system with an online catalog and member portal ('Mijn dbieb'), the Bibliotheek Wise App for iOS/Android, and the national Online Bibliotheek platform for digital lending. dbieb integrates content from national platforms — Muziekweb (500,000 CDs, 30,000 music DVDs, 300,000 vinyl), PressReader (newspapers), Passend Lezen (80,000 spoken books for reading limitations), Uittrekselbank (literary excerpts), WorldCat Discovery (academic content), Bereslim and De Voorleeshoek (children's picture books), Junior Einstein and Theorie.nl (educational practice), and Delper (historical archives). Members can borrow and return at any public library across Friesland province.
The business model is a nonprofit foundation structure combining likely municipal subsidies with diversified self-generated revenue: membership subscriptions (free for under-18s; €5.50 basic; €77.50–€78 comfort; digital-only; reduced youth 18–20), transaction fees for interlibrary loans outside Friesland (€5/request), printing (€0.10–€0.50/page), non-member computer use (€1.50 for 4 hours), room rental at Blokhuispoort, replacement charges for unreturned materials, and a Biebpas discount partnership network with local attractions. The customer base is a horizontal segmentation of residents — general public, children and youth, seniors needing digital literacy support, students, people with reading limitations, language learners, and community organizations.
dbieb firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- dbieb
- Legal name
- Stichting Bibliotheken Midden-Fryslân
- Website
- https://dbieb.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1903
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- dbieb (Stichting Bibliotheken Midden-Fryslân) is a Dutch public library foundation serving the municipalities of Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel in Friesland, operating six branches plus home delivery, with integrated digital lending, community programming, and tiered membership subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
dbieb 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
- Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
Keywords
Where dbieb is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeuwarden
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
dbieb business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees charged for library access and borrowing privileges. Multiple tiers available including basic, comfort, youth, and digital-only subscriptions.
- Late Fees and Replacement Charges: Fees charged when materials are not returned; replacement costs for lost or damaged items rather than traditional late fees.
- Interlibrary Loans: Fees for requesting materials from libraries outside Friesland province (€5 per request) and from scientific libraries (€5 per request)
- Music Media Loans: €4 fee per CD or DVD requested through Muziekweb from outside Friesland
- Printing and Copying: Fees for black-and-white and color printing and copying services (€0.10-€0.50 per page)
- Computer and WiFi Access: Fees for non-member computer use (€1.50 for 4 hours) and day passes
- Room Rental: Rental income from meeting rooms and spaces in the Blokhuispoort location
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Youth subscription (ages 0-17) - free membership with access to physical and digital collections |
| Subscription | Annual | Basic subscription - standard membership from €5.50 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Comfort subscription - premium membership at €77.50-€78.00 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Youth subscription (18-20 years) - reduced rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Digital-only subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Tariff subscription - for frequent computer users |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Day pass for computer use |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Printing services |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Interlibrary loan fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels9 records
dbieb product offering
Product offeringCore offering
dbieb provides public library services to residents of Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel municipalities through six physical branch locations, an online catalog and member portal (Mijn dbieb), mobile apps (Wise App and Online Bibliotheek App), and a free home delivery service. Its offerings include lending of physical books, e-books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and digital magazines, along with computer and Wi-Fi access, printing services, reading clubs, literacy programs, and meeting room rentals at the historic Blokhuispoort building.
Product overview
dbieb (Bibliotheken Midden Fryslân) operates as a public library network serving Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel in the Netherlands. The offering consists of physical library locations providing traditional lending services alongside digital platforms. Physical branches across 6 locations offer books, media, computer access, and community spaces, supplemented by a room rental service in the historic Blokhuispoort building. The core digital platform is the Online Bibliotheek, which provides e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines accessible via web or mobile app. Additional products include Mijn dbieb customer portal and the Bibliotheek Wise App for account management, Muziekweb/MuziekwebLuister for music lending, Passend Lezen for accessible reading, and Makkelijk Lezen Plein for easy-read materials. The Frysk Muzyk Argyf provides specialized Frisian music documentation. Membership tiers range from free youth memberships to premium comfort subscriptions offering extended loan periods and interlibrary privileges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Physical Library Locations
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 items simultaneous loan limit (comfort subscription)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use dbieb
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
dbieb technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature4 records
dbieb partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- MuziekwebcoreMuziekweb is the national music library of the Netherlands. dbieb provides access to a collection of 500,000 CDs, 30,000 music DVDs, and 300,000 vinyl records. Members can request items for €4 each or stream selected playlists from home. In-branch listening available via MuziekwebLuister.
- PressReadercorePressReader provides access to foreign and Dutch newspapers. In-branch access is available via the PressReader app. Members can download newspapers at dbieb locations and read them at home for up to seven days.
- Passend LezencorePassend Lezen provides solutions for people with reading limitations. dbieb members get free access to 80,000 spoken books. Additional paid memberships offer audio, Braille, letter-reading, and combo-reading options.
- UittrekselbanksupportingThe Uittrekselbank provides over 2,700 excerpts from Dutch and foreign literature plus 360 author portraits. Accessible in-branch and from home for dbieb members.
- SeniasupportingSenia supports reading groups by providing a literature guide, reading guides, and facilitates joining existing reading groups. dbieb connects members with Senia for reading group participation.
- Stadsschouwburg De HarmonieminorLocal theater partnership providing dbieb members with discounts on selected performances. Part of the biebpas benefit program offering discounts at various local businesses.
- Local Businesses and Attractions (Biebpas)minorPartnership network including Pannekoektrein, Ballorig, Escaperoom Drachten, Kameleondorp, and Het Hersenhuis offering discounts to dbieb members throughout Friesland province.
- WorldCat Discovery / University LibrariessupportingAccess to academic and research libraries worldwide through WorldCat Discovery. Members can request scientific books from university libraries, museums, and research institutions for €5 per request.
- Café De BakminorCafé located within the dbieb Blokhuispoort building, providing refreshments for library visitors. Part of the customer convenience offering.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
dbieb competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Online Bibliotheek: National Dutch digital lending platform for e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines used by all Dutch public libraries including dbieb. National-scale incumbent operating in the same digital lending category at the platform layer.
- NBD Biblion: Dutch library services organization supporting collection development, media advice, and librarian tooling. Adjacent industry peer serving all Dutch public libraries including dbieb.
Direct peers
- OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam): Largest public library network in the Netherlands serving Amsterdam. Direct peer operating physical branches, digital lending, and community programming under a similar stichting model serving municipal residents.
- DOK Delft: Innovative concept library in Delft blending traditional lending with study spaces, events, and food/beverage. Notable as a Dutch public library pioneer in hub-style positioning that dbieb's Blokhuispoort approach resembles.
- Bibliotheek Eindhoven: Eindhoven public library serving residents of that municipality with multi-branch lending and digital services. Comparable Dutch municipal library foundation of similar mid-size scale.
- Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Rotterdam's public library foundation offering multi-branch lending, e-books, and community programming. Closest functional analogue to dbieb in scale and service mix within a single Dutch metropolitan area.
- Bibliotheek Den Haag: The Hague public library network operating branches, digital services, and cultural programs for municipal residents. Directly comparable in operating model and funding structure.
- Bibliotheek Utrecht: Utrecht public library offering physical branches, online lending, and educational programming. Compares directly on multi-branch stichting structure and mixed physical/digital model.
Emerging players
- Storytel: Commercial audiobook and e-book subscription service operating in the Netherlands. Competes for the same digital reading time and wallet share as dbieb's Online Bibliotheek, but with a paid, commercial-only model.
Others
- Biblionet: Shared IT infrastructure provider for Dutch public libraries, hosting the Wise catalog platform dbieb uses. Comparable as enabling technology partner rather than competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
dbieb social profiles
Digital presencedbieb compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
dbieb financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
dbieb leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
dbieb funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
dbieb 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 dbieb
What does dbieb do?
dbieb provides public library services to residents of Leeuwarden and Tytsjerksteradiel municipalities through six physical branch locations, an online catalog and member portal (Mijn dbieb), mobile apps (Wise App and Online Bibliotheek App), and a free home delivery service. Its offerings include lending of physical books, e-books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and digital magazines, along with computer and Wi-Fi access, printing services, reading clubs, literacy programs, and meeting room rentals at the historic Blokhuispoort building.
Is dbieb a public or private company?
dbieb is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was dbieb founded?
dbieb was founded in 1903. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is dbieb based?
dbieb is headquartered in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does dbieb make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are late Fees and Replacement Charges, interlibrary Loans, music Media Loans, printing and Copying, computer and WiFi Access and room Rental.
Who are dbieb's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Online Bibliotheek and NBD Biblion. Direct peers are OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam), DOK Delft, Bibliotheek Eindhoven, Bibliotheek Rotterdam, Bibliotheek Den Haag and Bibliotheek Utrecht. Storytel is listed as an emerging player. Biblionet is listed as an others.
Does dbieb have an API?
No public API is recorded for dbieb.
What industry is dbieb in?
dbieb'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 EDAEAGAF, Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing). Its NAICS code is 51921.