Rachel Kohl Community Library

What Rachel Kohl Community Library does

Rachel Kohl Community Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public library located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, founded in 1979 as the Community Township Library and serving five chartered municipalities: Bethel Township, Chadds Ford, Chester Heights, Concord, and Thornbury. Its core function is to provide free public access to physical and digital media, reference services, and community programming to the residents of those townships. The library has been a member of the Delaware County Library System since 1981, which connects it to 26 affiliated libraries for reciprocal borrowing and shared catalog infrastructure.

The library's operational technology stack is built entirely on third-party SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems. Patron-facing digital services include Libby and Hoopla for e-books and audiobooks, Kanopy (launched August 2024) for streaming video, Help Now by Brainfuse for virtual reference and tutoring, and Consumer Reports for research. Back-office and engagement tools include LibCal for room/booking management and Zeffy and InfiniteGiving for donation processing. The physical asset base consists of a library-owned building in Glen Mills, acquired in 2010, with a 30-year mortgage held jointly with Concord Township and refinanced in 2019 at a 3.5% fixed rate.

The business model is a hybrid of public-sector taxation and philanthropic funding. Approximately 64% of revenue is derived from municipal tax assessments across the five served townships, with the remaining 36% sourced from community donations and fundraising. Governance is exercised by a Board of Trustees with appointments distributed across the five municipalities, embedding the library within the local government structure. The library operates with a small staff (1–10 employees) and offers its services free at the point of use, consistent with the public-library model.

Name

Rachel Kohl Community Library

Legal name

Rachel Kohl Community Library

Website

https://kohllibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platform
• Community educational programs
• Library resource access
• Early literacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Mills

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, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Municipal Tax Funding: The library receives tax-based funding from three municipalities: Chadds Ford (0.012 mills), Concord (0.117 mills), and Bethel (0.05 mills). This represents approximately 64% of the total budget. Chester Heights and Thornbury do not have dedicated library taxes.
2. Community Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations contribute approximately 36% of the total budget. The library runs various donation programs including Birthday Book Program ($15+), bookplate memorials ($15+), general donations, stock donations, and bequests.
3. State and County Aid: Receives state and county aid as part of the Delaware County Library System.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rachel Kohl Community Library is a free public library that lends physical and digital materials (books, magazines, DVDs, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and streaming video) and delivers community programs including Summer Learning, book clubs, early literacy initiatives, the Seed Library, Library of Things, museum passes, and meeting room rentals. Services are delivered both on-site at its Glen Mills, Pennsylvania building and digitally through the Delaware County Library System, of which the library is a charter member.

Product overview

Rachel Kohl Community Library provides public library services to the communities of Bethel, Chadds Ford, Chester Heights, Concord, and Thornbury in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The library offers a unified set of services spanning physical collections (books, magazines, DVDs, museum passes) and digital resources (eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines via Libby; streaming video via Kanopy; Consumer Reports; and real-time homework help via Help Now/Brainfuse). Supporting programs include a Summer Learning Program, Book Club in a Bag kits, a Seed Library, Virtual Author Talks through LibraryC, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten early literacy program, and meeting room rentals. The library's digital services are delivered through the Delaware County Library System, with integrated platforms including LibCal for event registration and Zeffy/InfiniteGiving for donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Library Collections Books, magazines, DVDs, and other print and media materials available for borrowing at the library, with interlibrary loan services extending access beyond the local collection.
• Libby Digital Lending Digital lending service for eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines accessible with a Delaware County Library card; includes Law Depot access.
• Kanopy Streaming Video On-demand streaming video service offering films, TV shows, educational videos, and documentaries to library cardholders, with unlimited access to curated Plus Packs and Kanopy Kids content.
• Hoopla Digital Content Digital content platform available through the Delaware County Library System offering borrowable eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, comics, and streaming video.
• Help Now (Brainfuse) Homework Help Real-time homework help, adult learning, and skill building service available through the Delaware County Library System for students and adult learners.
• Consumer Reports Database Unbiased ratings and reviews database providing information on more than 9,000 products and services, accessible with a Delaware County Library card.
• Summer Learning Program Annual summer educational program for children and families featuring events, activities, and a Passport Log used to earn prizes.
• Book Club in a Bag Circulating kits each containing 8 regular print copies, 2 large print copies, and a folder with discussion questions for use by book club meetings.
• Museum Passes Free or discounted passes to local and regional museums available for borrowing by library patrons.
• Library of Things Lending program offering non-traditional items such as tools, equipment, or other objects for community use.
• Seed Library Volunteer-led initiative sharing donated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds for free, paired with garden-related workshops to foster gardening and sustainability within the community.
• Virtual Author Talks Online author events and virtual book discussions hosted through the LibraryC platform.
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Early literacy program encouraging young children and their families to read 1,000 books before starting kindergarten.
• Meeting Room Rental Rental of library meeting rooms for community groups, organizations, and individuals.
• Library Card & My Account Free library cards providing access to the physical and digital collections of Rachel Kohl Community Library and the broader Delaware County Library System, including online account management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 2 million+ print and online resources at no cost to patrons

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered gold level sponsor, core, primary and secondary.

• Team Toyota of Glen Millsgold level sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Level Sponsor of the Summer Learning Program. Their generous support helps make enriching educational opportunities possible for children and families throughout the community.
• Delaware County Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined in 1981. Part of a network of 26 libraries enabling reciprocal access for patrons. The library is the library of record for its five service municipalities and receives county and state aid through this partnership.
• Concord TownshipcoreOthersHolds the mortgage for the library building and land. In 2010, Concord Township sold the building and land to the Library Board of Trustees for $363,000. Township financed the mortgage at 5% over 15 years, later refinanced to 3.5% over 30 years in 2019.
• Garnet Valley School DistrictprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local public school district serving the library's service area (Bethel, Concord, Chester Heights). Library services support student literacy and educational outcomes.
• Unionville-Chadds Ford School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes some residents of Chadds Ford and Thornbury. Secondary school district partnership for library services.
• Five Municipalities (Bethel, Chadds Ford, Chester Heights, Concord, Thornbury)coreOthersLibrary governance is overseen by a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by these five municipalities. Library is the library of record for all five municipalities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Free Library of Philadelphia: A large urban public library system serving Philadelphia County. Comparable in core mission of free public access, digital lending, and community programming, but operates at a much larger scale with city-level funding.
• Chester County Library: A county-level library system in adjacent Chester County, Pennsylvania. Operates a multi-branch system with shared digital resources and reciprocal borrowing, structurally similar but at a larger scale.

Direct peers

• Upper Darby Library & Literacy Center: A larger Delaware County public library serving a neighboring municipality. Comparable in mission and Delaware County Library System membership, though operating at a larger scale with broader programming.
• Springfield Township Library (Delaware County): A nearby Delaware County public library offering similar municipal-funded services, digital lending, and community programs. Directly comparable in structure and funding mix.
• Haverford Township Free Library: Another Delaware County public library with similar nonprofit governance, municipal funding model, and access to the same shared digital platforms (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy). Comparable in mission, programs, and resident-funded operations.
• Tredyffrin Public Library: Another suburban Philadelphia-area public library in Chester County with similar municipal tax funding, community programs, and digital lending through Libby/Hoopla. Comparable in resident-funded nonprofit model.
• Marple Public Library: A fellow public library within the Delaware County Library System serving a nearby municipality with reciprocal borrowing access. Directly comparable in scale, governance structure, and digital resource integrations through the same county network.

Regional players

• New Castle County Libraries (Delaware): A public library system serving neighboring New Castle County, Delaware. Comparable in providing free public library services with digital lending and programs, but operates across state lines rather than directly competing within Pennsylvania.
• Montgomery County Public Libraries (PA): A county-level public library system in adjacent Montgomery County, PA. Comparable in offering free public library services, digital lending, and community programming, but serves a different geography in the greater Philadelphia region.

Others

• Delaware County Library System: The umbrella consortium of 26 public libraries including Rachel Kohl. Functions as the shared digital infrastructure, catalog, and reciprocal access network that enables each member library to extend its effective resource base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rachel-kohl-community-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Rachel Kohl Community Library