Allentown Public Library
Allentown Public Library is a municipal library in Allentown, Pennsylvania providing residents free access to books, digital media, public computers, WiFi, and adaptive technology, alongside educational programming for children, teens, and adults.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAllentown, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Allentown Public Library does
Allentown Public Library is a municipal public library serving the residents of Allentown, Pennsylvania, from a single headquarters location at 1210 Hamilton St. The library offers free access to physical and digital collections, public computing resources, wireless internet, and a full calendar of educational programming for children, teens, and adults. Core technology infrastructure includes public access computers (in adult, children's, and YA areas), WiFi (the "Allentown Wireless" network), printers/copiers/scanners/faxes, mobile hotspot lending, microfilm readers housing historical archives such as the Allentown Morning Call (1895–present) and city directories, and a designated adaptive technology workstation for visually impaired patrons equipped with Topaz Desktop Magnifier, MAGic Large Print Keyboard, Dolphin Guide v.6, Jaws 12.0, and Magic 11.0. Content filtering is delivered through OpenDNS to block inappropriate content, with stricter filtering applied to children's workstations. Digital services include a SparkPA online catalog, downloadable eBooks and audiobooks via Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, online databases (Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest), museum passes, interlibrary loan, Chat with a Librarian reference, and online account management.
The library operates multiple distribution channels: walk-in service (Mon–Thu 8am–8pm, Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 9am–5pm), a contactless drive-up window accessible from 12th Street (Mon–Sat 10am–4pm), 24/7 digital access via allentownpl.org, and Books by Mail delivery for homebound patrons. Revenue generation is not the primary purpose — core services are free with a valid library card — with limited fee-based services including black-and-white and color printing ($0.25 and $0.50 per page respectively), outgoing faxing ($1.00 per page), microfilm printing ($0.25 per page), and meeting room rentals (two rooms: a large room seating ~100 and a conference room seating 15–18, with rates set by the Library Board of Directors). Funding flows from municipal budgets, state aid, and donations through the Friends of APL.
Programming is organized across three audience segments. Children's services include Storytime (Thursdays and Saturdays), Music Mondays, Art Club, Nature Club, STEM Club, Art Exploration, and a Free Summer Lunch partnership with Allentown School District. Teen services feature a Teen Advisory Board, Dungeons & Dragons sessions, murder mystery events, origami workshops, escape rooms, movie screenings, and volunteer opportunities. Adult programming encompasses Tech Tuesdays computer classes, Adult Craft Club, painting classes, DIY workshops, genealogy sessions, and career/employment assistance. Strategic partnerships extend the library's role into social services (Free Summer Lunch with the school district) and cultural enrichment (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Lehigh Valley Zoo, Allentown Fire Department). Recent product launches — Library of Things expansion (cooking and music kits, January 2026), ParentTV online parenting resource (December 2025), and Library Book Auto Renew (March 2025) — indicate ongoing service surface expansion within the library's municipal mandate.
Allentown Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Allentown Public Library
- Legal name
- Allentown Public Library
- Website
- https://allentownpl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Allentown Public Library is a municipal library in Allentown, Pennsylvania providing residents free access to books, digital media, public computers, WiFi, and adaptive technology, alongside educational programming for children, teens, and adults.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Allentown Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- 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), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
Keywords
Where Allentown Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Allentown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Allentown Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free services with library card |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Printing services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Faxing service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Microfilm printing |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Allentown Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Allentown Public Library provides free public access to a broad collection of physical and digital materials, including books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, and microfilm. It offers public computer and WiFi access, printing/scanning/faxing services, adaptive workstations, meeting rooms, museum passes, interlibrary loan, books-by-mail, drive-up window service, and a Library of Things collection. It also delivers community programming for all age groups, including children's storytimes, teen events, adult learning, and one-on-one librarian consultations.
Product overview
Allentown Public Library operates as a single-location public library system offering a unified portfolio of physical and digital services centered on information access, educational programming, and community engagement. Core technology offerings include public access computers, wireless internet, printing/copying/scanning/faxing services, mobile hotspot lending, microfilm archives, and an adaptive technology workstation for visually impaired patrons. The digital collection encompasses an online catalog (allentown.sparkpa.org), downloadable eBooks and audiobooks via Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, museum passes, and interlibrary loan. Educational services include Tech Tuesdays technology classes, computer training, one-on-one Book a Librarian sessions, proctoring, and online chat reference. Programming spans children's (Storytime, Music Mondays, Art/Nature/STEM Clubs), teen (TAB, D&D, workshops), and adult (Craft Club, DIY workshops, genealogy) audiences. The Library of Things circulates cooking and music kits, while drive-up window service and Books by Mail extend access beyond physical visits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Computer Access
Companies that use Allentown Public Library
Customer profileSegments4 records
Allentown Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Allentown Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Allentown School DistrictcoreCollaborative partnership providing Free Summer Lunch program at the library, serving children Monday-Friday 12:30-1:30pm beginning June 29th. The Allentown School District offers the meals while the library provides the venue in the community room.
- Pennsylvania Shakespeare FestivalminorPartnership to present Shakespeare for Kids programming at the library, bringing professional theatrical performances to children in the community.
- Lehigh Valley ZoominorAnimals at the Library program featuring Lehigh Valley Zoo representatives bringing animals to the library for educational programming.
- Allentown Fire DepartmentminorFire Truck at the Library event featuring firefighters reading storytime and providing tours of real fire trucks for children.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Allentown Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Richland Library (Columbia, SC): Municipal public library recognized for innovative programming and digital services. Comparable to APL as a similarly-mandated institution experimenting with non-traditional lending and tech-forward patron engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Free Library of Philadelphia: Large Pennsylvania municipal library system with a multi-branch network. Operates the same core mission — public lending, programming, digital literacy — at materially greater scale, serving as a regional reference point and benchmark for APL's offerings.
- Brooklyn Public Library: Major multi-branch public library system offering lending, programming, and community services. Comparable to APL as a municipal public library pursuing an expanded civic-hub role, but at much larger scale and footprint.
- New York Public Library: Iconic multi-branch public library system offering lending, research collections, programming, and digital services. While far larger and more research-oriented, NYPL defines the modern public library service model that APL aspires to at a smaller scale.
- Cuyahoga County Public Library: Large multi-branch public library system in Ohio recognized for community programming and technology access. Comparable in the breadth of services (technology lending, digital literacy classes, community events) APL is building at a smaller scale.
Others
- OverDrive / Libby: Digital content platform whose Libby app powers APL's eBook and audiobook lending. Functions as a technology partner and ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but shapes patron expectations for digital library service.
- Hoopla: Digital lending platform integrated with APL for downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and streaming. Comparable as a supporting infrastructure provider for the library's digital collections rather than a direct service competitor.
Direct peers
- Easton Area Public Library: Municipal public library serving Easton, PA — another Lehigh Valley peer of similar scale and mandate. Comparable in offering public access computing, children's/teen/adult programming, and community meeting space to Allentown.
- Bethlehem Area Public Library: A municipal public library serving nearby Bethlehem, PA. Closest geographic and demographic peer to Allentown Public Library, offering the same mix of lending, programming, technology access, and community partnerships within the Lehigh Valley.
Regional players
- Lehigh Valley Library System: Regional library cooperative serving Lehigh Valley libraries including APL. Comparable in supporting interlibrary loan, shared technology infrastructure, and coordinated programming at a regional rather than municipal level.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Allentown Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceAllentown Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Allentown Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Allentown Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Allentown Public Library 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 Allentown Public Library
What does Allentown Public Library do?
The Allentown Public Library provides free public access to a broad collection of physical and digital materials, including books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, and microfilm. It offers public computer and WiFi access, printing/scanning/faxing services, adaptive workstations, meeting rooms, museum passes, interlibrary loan, books-by-mail, drive-up window service, and a Library of Things collection. It also delivers community programming for all age groups, including children's storytimes, teen events, adult learning, and one-on-one librarian consultations.
Is Allentown Public Library a public or private company?
Allentown Public Library is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Allentown Public Library founded?
Allentown Public Library was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Allentown Public Library based?
Allentown Public Library is headquartered in Allentown, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Allentown Public Library's main competitors?
Richland Library (Columbia, SC) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Free Library of Philadelphia, Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library and Cuyahoga County Public Library. Others are OverDrive / Libby and Hoopla. Direct peers are Easton Area Public Library and Bethlehem Area Public Library. Lehigh Valley Library System is listed as a regional player.
Does Allentown Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Allentown Public Library.
What industry is Allentown Public Library in?
Allentown Public Library'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 EDAEAGAL, Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support). Its NAICS code is 51921.