Wharton County Pct. 3

What Wharton County Pct. 3 does

Wharton County Library is a publicly funded library system operated under the governance of Wharton County, Texas, serving residents through four branch locations in Wharton (main), El Campo, East Bernard, and Louise. The system delivers traditional library services including physical collection lending, interlibrary loan, free WiFi, public computer access, printing and copying ($0.10/page B&W), and notary public services, alongside a digital lending platform provided through OverDrive's Libby app. Library cards are free to all Texas residents, with replacement cards costing $2.00.

The library's product surface extends beyond circulation into community programming: an annual Summer Reading Program (children and adults), weekly children's story times, adult programs including craft and exercise classes (notably 'Rhythm in Your Seat' with Angels Healthcare), a monthly Senior Wellness Hour, a Gulf Coast Reads community reading initiative, and various clubs (Chess, LEGO, Warhammer, Anime, Writers, Cozy Crochet). The system integrates with state and national platforms including TexShare databases, Ancestry Library Edition, ABCmouse.com, Transparent Languages, and Driving-Tests.org. Technology infrastructure comprises a standard online public access catalog, the OverDrive/Libby digital lending platform (migrated from the OverDrive app in May 2023), public computer workstations, and password-free WiFi at all branches.

The business model is tax-funded freemium: the overwhelming majority of services are provided at no cost to cardholders, with funding flowing from county appropriations. The sole commercial revenue stream is the Friends of the Library bookstore at the Wharton Main Branch, which sells donated materials at modest unit prices ($0.10–$2.00) and channels proceeds back into library materials and services. The library's GTM motion is community-led, relying on a public-facing website, an active Facebook page, local radio coverage (KULP 106.7 FM & 1390 AM), and grassroots referrals. Customer segments are persona-based (Children and Youth, Adults, Seniors) with horizontal segmentation across age groups, and named community partners include Angels Healthcare, CenterPoint Energy, Wharton City EMS, and the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging. Library Director Elene Gedevani leads the system.

Name

Wharton County Pct. 3

Legal name

Wharton County Library

Website

https://whartonco.lib.tx.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wharton County Library is a publicly funded library system serving Wharton County, Texas, with four branch locations offering free book lending, digital content via OverDrive/Libby, community programs for all ages, notary services, and computer/WiFi access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community programs
• Digital lending
• Children literacy
• Reference databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Wharton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Library Services: Wharton County Library operates as a publicly funded library system providing free services to residents of Texas. Core services including book lending, computer access, WiFi, and program participation are provided at no cost to cardholders. The Friends of the Library bookstore generates supplementary revenue through sale of donated books and materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wharton County Library is a publicly-funded public library system operating four branch locations across Wharton County, Texas. It lends physical and digital materials, including books, DVDs, CDs, e-books, and audiobooks, and provides community programs for all ages (story times, summer reading, clubs, fitness, author events). Supporting services include free WiFi, public computer access, notary public, printing/copying, interlibrary loan, and access to reference databases.

Product overview

Wharton County Library is a public library system serving Wharton County, Texas with four branch locations (Wharton, El Campo, East Bernard, and Louise). The library provides traditional circulation services for physical materials, digital lending through Libby/OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks, and community programs including Summer Reading Programs, children's story times, adult programs, and various clubs. Additional services include interlibrary loan, notary services, printing/copying, and free Wi-Fi. The library operates as a single unified system offering access to its physical and digital collections through library cards, with special programs and events scheduled throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card Services Free library card and circulation services enabling Texas residents to borrow physical materials including books, DVDs, and CDs from any of the four branch locations.
• E-books and Audiobooks (Libby/OverDrive) Digital lending service for e-books and audiobooks accessible through the Libby app by OverDrive, with no late fees as items automatically return on their due date; available to library cardholders with PIN access.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Interlibrary loan service allowing patrons to request materials from other libraries, with items mailed to Wharton County Library for pickup.
• Notary Services Free notary public services provided at Wharton Main Branch and El Campo Branch for county residents.
• Print and Copy Services Printing and copying services including black and white prints at $0.10 per page, color copies, and self-serve coin-operated photocopier.
• WiFi Free Wi-Fi access available at all four branch locations without password requirements.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading program with themes, activities, and prizes for children and adults during June and July, with events across all four branches.
• Children's Programs Weekly story time sessions and crafts for children, including preschool storytime and seasonal special events.
• Adult Programs Educational and recreational programs for adults including crafts, author visits, and fitness programs like Rhythm in Your Seat chair exercises.
• Gulf Coast Reads Monthly community reading initiative in October promoting simultaneous reading of a selected title across the Texas Gulf Coast region.
• Friends of the Library Bookstore Annual fundraiser selling donated books and materials with proceeds supporting library materials and services.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Angels HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngels Healthcare collaborates with Wharton Main Library on the 'Rhythm in Your Seat' adult exercise program. This weekly chair exercise class runs every Monday from 1:15pm-2:15pm, providing low-impact fitness activities for adults in partnership with the healthcare organization.
• CenterPoint EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenterPoint Energy hosts a 'Community Connect' event at Wharton Main Library focused on informing residents about electric system improvements, hurricane season preparedness, and energy services. The library serves as venue partner for this community education initiative.
• Friends of the LibrarycoreOthersThe Friends of the Library is a volunteer support organization operating the bookstore at Wharton Main Library. Provides financial assistance for library materials, equipment, and services through bookstore sales, membership dues, and donations. Officers include President Elizabeth (Beth) Fain, with annual meetings in November and May.
• Wharton City EMS and Houston-Galveston Area Agency on AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Senior Wellness Hour program. Christy Gonzales of Wharton City EMS and Alex Rischan from Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging present on senior health topics including Advanced Directives.
• KULP 106.7 FM & 1390 AM (The Texas Legend)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station that interviewed Library Director Elene Gedevani about Summer Reading Programs. Provides promotional coverage for library events and programs.
• OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing e-books and audiobooks through the Libby app. Library cardholders access thousands of digital titles through this integration.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Texas State Library and Archives Commission: State-level library and archives agency coordinating library services across Texas. Comparable as a public-sector library entity, but with state-wide mandate rather than single-county focus.
• Houston Public Library: Major Texas municipal library system with broad collection, programming, and digital services. Larger geographic reach and population, but operates the same public library model in the same state and Gulf Coast region.
• Austin Public Library: Large Texas municipal library system offering comprehensive lending, programming, and digital resources. Comparable public library model, but with substantially larger scale and urban footprint.

Direct peers

• Fort Bend County Libraries: Adjacent Texas county library system offering similar multi-branch lending, programming, and digital services. Highly comparable in scale, mission, and governance as a county library.
• Harris County Public Library: Texas county-operated public library system serving Harris County. Comparable as a multi-branch county library providing lending, programming, and digital services to a Texas community.
• Brazoria County Library System: Texas county library system in the Gulf Coast region offering multi-branch lending and community programming. Comparable in scale, regional positioning, and public-sector governance model.
• Montgomery County Memorial Library System: Texas county-operated public library system with multiple branches and community programming. Directly comparable as a multi-branch Texas county library serving a similar demographic catchment.

Regional players

• Corpus Christi Public Libraries: Municipal library system serving the Texas Gulf Coast. Comparable as a public library in the same Gulf Coast region, though operating as a city rather than county entity.

Others

• TexShare: Texas statewide consortium database program providing shared digital resources to library cardholders across Texas. Comparable as an ecosystem-level enabler of library digital services.
• OverDrive: Digital content platform (Libby) that provides the library's e-book and audiobook lending infrastructure. Comparable as the enabling technology partner supplying the core digital collection capability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WhartonCountyLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wharton-county-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wharton County Pct. 3