The Community Library

What The Community Library does

The Community Library is a public library organized under Ohio Revised Code §3375.15, serving the Big Walnut Local School District in eastern Delaware County, Ohio, since 1944. It operates from a single headquarters at 44 Burrer Dr., Sunbury, OH and provides free access to physical and digital collections, research databases, programming for all ages, meeting and study rooms, home delivery, mobile library services, and passport/notary services to residents of six townships and two municipalities.

The library's product surface spans a physical catalog (books, audiobooks, movies, music, multimedia), digital lending through Hoopla Digital and the Ohio Digital Library (Libby/Overdrive), Special Collections (Birding Backpacks, Mobile Hotspots, book club sets, maker equipment including Kodachrome film scanners and LED projectors), and 40+ research databases accessed via the Ohio Web Library (Academic Search Premier, Ancestry, Business Source Premier, Khan Academy, LinkedIn Learning, World Book). Technology is built on the Cool-Cat integrated library system (ILS), shared through the COOL Ohio Libraries Consortium of nine Ohio public libraries, and a Cool Catalog mobile app that functions as a digital library card. Patron engagement is augmented by Beanstack-powered reading challenges, NextReads email newsletters, the Delaware County Memory digital archive (Foundation-sponsored), and Culture Pass Plus partnerships with Central Ohio cultural institutions.

The library is a non-profit political subdivision, not a commercial enterprise, with revenue derived primarily from Delaware County property tax levies and State of Ohio allocations. Secondary income streams include fee-based services (printing, copying, faxing, notary, passport processing, and a $15 meeting room deposit), donations through Community Library Friends (founded 1975), and fundraising grants via the Community Library Foundation. Go-to-market is community-led: website (yourcl.org), social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat), NextReads newsletters, school district partnerships, and Culture Pass Plus referrals. The entity is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees led by President Mary Ellen McCullen, with Chauncey Montgomery serving as Executive Director and Fiscal Officer.

Name

The Community Library

Legal name

Community Library

Website

https://yourcl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Library is a tax-funded public library in Sunbury, Ohio, serving the Big Walnut Local School District with physical and digital collections, research databases, programming, and outreach services, operated by a Board of Trustees under Ohio Revised Code §3375.15 since 1944.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

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), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital media lending
• Community education programs
• Research database access
• Local history archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunbury

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Tax Revenue: As a public library, Community Library receives primary funding through local tax levies and government allocations from Delaware County and the State of Ohio. The library also accepts donations through the Community Library Friends organization and the Community Library Foundation.
2. Fee-Based Services: The library generates modest revenue through fee-based services including printing and copying ($0.15 per single-sided sheet, $0.25 per double-sided sheet), fax services ($1.00 for first page, $0.15 for subsequent pages), passport services, notary services, and meeting room rentals ($15 deposit).
3. Donations and Grants: The Community Library accepts monetary donations and grants through its Foundation and Friends organization to support programs, collections, and facility enhancements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Community Library provides free public library services to residents of the Big Walnut Local School District, including lending collections (physical books, audiobooks, movies, music, and multimedia), digital media access through Hoopla Digital and Ohio Digital Library (Libby/Overdrive), educational programs for all ages, special lending kits such as book club sets, birding backpacks, mobile hotspots, and maker equipment, research databases via the Ohio Web Library, public meeting and study rooms, and outreach services to homebound patrons. Most services are free with a library card; ancillary fee-based services include printing, copying, faxing, passport processing, notary services, and meeting room rentals.

Product overview

Community Library is a public library serving the Big Walnut area in Sunbury, Ohio. The library operates as a unified service providing physical and digital collections through its core Library Catalog, Stream & Download Services (Hoopla Digital and Ohio Digital Library/Libby), and Special Collections including lending equipment and book club sets. Patron services are organized across distinct segments including Adult Services, Teen Services, Children & Family Services, and Educator Services, each offering tailored programming and resources. The library provides Research Resources through over 40 integrated databases via Ohio Web Library, physical Library Services including lockers, drive-through, study rooms, outreach, and cultural programming through Culture Pass Plus partnerships with Central Ohio venues. The COOL Catalog mobile app serves as the patron-facing digital interface for the consortium of Ohio libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves the Big Walnut Local School District service area (6 townships and 2 municipalities)

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio Web LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with the Ohio Web Library providing patrons access to numerous research databases including Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Consumer Health Complete, Legal Forms, genealogy resources (Ancestry, FamilySearch, Heritage Quest), and educational platforms (Khan Academy, LinkedIn Learning, World Book).
• Ohio Digital Library (Overdrive/Libby)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides patrons with access to ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines through the Ohio Digital Library platform and Libby app.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming service allowing patrons to access movies, music, audiobooks, comics, and ebooks through the Hoopla platform with library card.
• COOL Ohio Libraries ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationConsortium of Ohio public libraries sharing the Cool-Cat integrated library system and mobile app, enabling patrons to access materials across member libraries including Arcanum, Blanchester, Cardington-Lincoln, Community Library (Sunbury), J.R. Clarke, Selover, Wilmington, Worch Memorial, and Wornstaff Memorial libraries.
• Delaware County MemorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital archive project sponsored by the Community Library Foundation containing images documenting the history, settlement, and development of the Big Walnut area. Serves as a unique local history resource.
• Columbus Museum of ArtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering library cardholders free general admission passes for 2 adults and up to 4 children, plus discounts on parking and purchases.
• The Dawes ArboretumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner providing free general admission for up to 6 people (children under 5 free), valid through October 31, 2026.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering temporary membership passes valid for 1 visit for up to 2 adults and 6 children, good for up to 7 days after checkout.
• National Veterans Memorial and MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering general admission passes for 2 adults and 5 children, excluding special events and add-on exhibits.
• Columbus ClippersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering free tickets for 2 adults and up to 4 youth/seniors for Sunday home games during the regular season (April-September 2026).
• The Works (Newark, OH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering $1 off general admission or check-out passes for up to 4 general admissions, valid for 1 day.
• Buckeye Imagination MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulture Pass Plus partner offering check-out passes valid for up to 4 admissions for 1 day of play, valid through July 31, 2027.
• OhioMeansJobscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing job search resources, career skills development, and government benefits information through OhioMeansJobs.com, linking patrons to statewide employment and workforce development services.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing information about state government services including public assistance, workforce development, unemployment compensation, child care, and child support programs.
• County Veteran Service OfficecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing veterans and their families with emergency financial assistance, employment and compensation assistance, transportation services, memorial affairs, and VA benefits application support.
• SourcePoint (Delaware County)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Delaware County's primary resource for professional expertise, services, and programs for adults 55 and older, providing information and referral services for senior patrons.
• Community Library FriendscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer support organization founded in 1975 that raises funds, provides volunteer work, and maintains partnership between the library and community to enhance library programs, facilities, and services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Delaware County District Library: The primary public library system serving Delaware County, Ohio, operating multiple branches including locations in Delaware, Powell, and Ostrander. It is the most direct geographic peer, operating in the same county and serving overlapping central Ohio communities with comparable public library services.
• Westerville Public Library: A similarly sized suburban Ohio public library serving the Westerville community in Franklin County, just south of the Big Walnut area. It offers comparable physical collections, digital services, programming for all ages, and community partnership models.
• Worthington Libraries: A suburban central Ohio public library system serving the Worthington community with multiple branches, comparable services, and similar tax-based funding model. It provides a useful peer for understanding operations and programming in adjacent suburban Ohio markets.
• Upper Arlington Public Library: A similarly structured suburban Ohio public library serving Upper Arlington, a Franklin County suburb of Columbus. It offers comparable collections, programming, digital services, and outreach to a suburban community of similar demographic profile.
• New Albany-Plain Township Public Library: A public library serving New Albany and Plain Township in Franklin County, Ohio, immediately adjacent to the Big Walnut area. Comparable size, suburban customer base, and similar public-lending and digital service model make this a direct regional peer.
• Granville Public Library: A small public library serving Granville Township in Licking County, Ohio, east of the Big Walnut service area. Similar scale, single-location operating model, and broad programming across age groups make it a directly comparable small-Ohio public library peer.
• Plain City Public Library: A small Ohio public library serving the Plain City community in Madison/Union counties, northwest of Sunbury. Comparable scale, public funding model, and full-service suburban library mission including children, adult, and digital programs.
• Marysville Public Library: A public library serving Marysville and Paris Township in Union County, Ohio, northwest of the Big Walnut district. Similar suburban scale, levy-based funding, and comparable mix of physical collections, digital services, and community programming.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus Metropolitan Library: The largest public library system in central Ohio, operating 23+ locations across Franklin County. It serves as the broad incumbent in the region, offering overlapping capabilities but at substantially greater scale, serving as the primary regional benchmark for service expectations.

Regional players

• Pataskala Public Library: A public library serving Pataskala and surrounding Licking County communities east of the Big Walnut area. Similar small-scale suburban public library model with comparable collections, programming, and tax-based funding, though serving a different geographic market segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityLibrarySunbury
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunbury-community-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/communitylibrarysunbury

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 The Community Library