Utica Public Library

What Utica Public Library does

Utica Public Library is a municipal public library serving the City of Utica, New York and surrounding areas. The library operates as a government-funded non-profit entity providing free access to physical and digital collections, research resources, community programming, and ancillary civic services. Patron segments are organized horizontally by age group (children, teens, adults, seniors), with dedicated programming for each including storytimes, summer reading, author talks, wellness and craft workshops, tech help, and senior socials. The library is the sole branch in its jurisdiction (303 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13501) and operates standard public-service hours.

The service portfolio spans traditional library offerings (SirsiDynix catalog and patron management, interlibrary loans, notary services, meeting room reservations, library card issuance) and digital/curated offerings (Overdrive/Libby eBooks and audiobooks, online databases including NewsBank, Consumer Reports, Credo Reference, NoveList Plus, Comics Plus, Mometrix eLibrary, Creative Bug tutorials). Distinctive non-traditional lending includes museum and park passes (sponsored by First Source Federal Credit Union) and a garden tools lending program. Technology infrastructure is delivered primarily through third-party platforms: SirsiDynix via the Mid York Library System consortium, Princh for cloud-based wifi printing, Constant Contact and Wowbrary for email communications, Google Forms for program registration, and PayPal for donation processing. The library also maintains a rotating art gallery in partnership with the Utica Art Association.

Revenue derives almost entirely from municipal budget appropriations and state aid, supplemented by donations processed through PayPal and annual fundraising appeals. All core services are free at the point of use; ancillary revenue consists of late fees, replacement fees for lost museum/park passes ($40-$200), and gift/e-rate programs. Distribution is via a single physical location supplemented by an event calendar website, the Overdrive/Libby app, the SirsiDynix online catalog, and Facebook/Instagram outreach. The library is a member of the Mid York Library System consortium, providing shared catalog access, pooled digital content, and bulk purchasing leverage that materially expands effective collection size.

Name

Utica Public Library

Legal name

Utica Public Library

Website

https://uticapubliclibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Utica Public Library is a municipal public library in Utica, New York that provides free books, digital media, research databases, museum passes, and community programming for residents of all ages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

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), Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital lending platform
• Research databases access
• Museum pass lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Government-funded public library receiving municipal/public funding as a community institution serving the general public.
2. Donations and Support: The library accepts donations via PayPal and runs annual appeals and fundraising campaigns.
3. Late Fees and Replacement Fees: Loans and late fees are charged for overdue materials. Replacement fees apply for lost museum and park passes ranging from $40-$200 depending on the pass.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Utica Public Library is a municipal public library providing free access to physical and digital book collections, eBooks/audiobooks, online research databases, museum and park passes, technology assistance, notary services, meeting rooms, interlibrary loans, and community programming for children, teens, adults, and seniors. As a member of the Mid York Library System, it offers shared catalog access and digital resources. The library also runs a summer reading program, gallery exhibitions, garden tool lending, and public wifi printing services, all free to the public with late/replacement fees as the only direct charges.

Product overview

Utica Public Library operates as a community public library offering a unified service model combining physical and digital resources. The core offerings include the library catalog and account management system (SirsiDynix) for accessing physical collections, the Overdrive/Libby digital lending platform for eBooks and audiobooks, museum and park passes (sponsored by First Source Federal Credit Union) for discounted or free admission to regional attractions, online research databases (NewsBank, Consumer Reports, Credo Reference, Comics Plus, NoveList Plus, Mometrix eLibrary), and technology assistance services including Tech Help @ The Library and eReader Help. Additional services include Creative Bug for craft tutorials, meeting room reservations, interlibrary loans, notary services, genealogy research resources, and a comprehensive event calendar featuring programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors including storytimes, yoga, author talks, and summer reading activities. The library also provides wifi printing via Princh, garden tool lending, and rotating art gallery exhibitions in its community gallery space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog and Account Management
• eBooks and Audiobooks via Overdrive/Libby
• Museum and Park Passes
• Online Research Databases
• Tech Help @ The Library
• Public Printing (Princh)
• Meeting Room Reservations
• Interlibrary Loans
• Notary Services
• Genealogy and Local History
• eReader Help
• Library Card Services
• Summer Reading Program
• Event Calendar and Community Programs
• Garden Tools Lending
• Gallery Exhibits

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• First Source Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Source Federal Credit Union sponsors the library's museum and park passes program, providing funding that enables the library to offer these passes to cardholders free of charge. This partnership enhances community value of library services.
• Mid York Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtica Public Library is a member of the Mid York Library System, a consortium that provides shared catalog access, digital resources including Overdrive/Libby, interlibrary loans, and collaborative purchasing power for databases and materials across member libraries.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Large multi-branch New York public library with overlapping service categories including catalog, e-resources, programming, and community partnerships, operating at significantly larger scale as a benchmark for service and funding.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Large Ohio metropolitan public library system offering catalog, digital, programming, and community pass services directly paralleling Utica's offerings at much greater scale.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Multi-branch public library system serving Brooklyn with comparable services (catalog, e-lending, programming, museum/community passes) operating at substantially larger scale.
• Enoch Pratt Free Library: Major urban public library in Baltimore offering catalog, digital lending, programming, and free public services—functionally comparable as a benchmark for a small-city free public service model.
• Mid York Library System: Regional consortium of which Utica Public Library is a member, providing shared catalog, ILL, digital lending, and collaborative purchasing across central New York libraries—directly relevant as both peer and infrastructure partner.
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: Multi-branch public library system in Ohio offering catalog, digital lending, programming, and community partnership services paralleling Utica's portfolio at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Rochester Public Library: Rochester's municipal public library offering a parallel portfolio of catalog, e-resources, programming, and community services anchored in a single regional city—an apt operational comparator to Utica Public Library within New York State.
• Onondaga County Public Library: A New York State county public library serving Syracuse and surrounding communities with similar catalog, digital lending (Overdrive), interlibrary loan, and age-segmented programming under a comparable municipal model. Closest functional peer given similar Upstate NY service footprint and population scale.
• Buffalo & Erie County Public Library: Multi-branch public library serving the Buffalo, NY region with programming, digital lending, and community partnerships that closely parallel Utica's offering category and funding model.
• Albany Public Library: Municipal public library serving Albany, NY with comparable catalog, digital, programming, and partnership-based community service model anchored in a single mid-size New York city.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLibrary.UticaPublicLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/uticapubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utica-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Utica Public Library