Friends of the New Orleans Public Library

What Friends of the New Orleans Public Library does

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library (FNOPL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1957 to support the New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) system through fundraising, volunteer engagement, and direct program funding. It is the sole external entity that financially supplements the city's library budget, contributing $70,000 annually to NOPL programs and distributing grants to all 14 library branches. Each year the organization donates over 100,000 gently-used books to schools, hospitals, shelters, prisons, and senior centers, and enables participation of 15,000+ residents in the Summer Reading Program.

The organization's core products and services span four interconnected areas: (1) physical and online used book sales (Friends Book Sales at four New Orleans locations, plus eBay and Amazon storefronts, moving 10,000+ books per week); (2) a tiered membership program ranging from $20 individual subscriptions to $5,000 corporate Platinum sponsorships; (3) the New Orleans Little Free Library program coordinating 200+ community book exchanges; and (4) direct programmatic funding including the Seed Library at the Mid-City branch and free book donations to schools. There is no proprietary technology platform; the stack consists of standard e-commerce tools (Square, eBay, Amazon Smile, PayPal, Venmo) and organic social media channels.

Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring membership dues (subscription model), transactional used book sales across physical and online channels, and tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on volunteer labor, local book sales events (including the bi-annual Really BIG Book Sale), and grassroots awareness rather than paid marketing. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Jennifer Kitner and managed by Executive Director Shannan Cvitanovic, Development Director Louise Saenz, and Book Sale Manager Drew Brinkman.

Name

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library

Legal name

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library

Website

https://friendsnola.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 that financially and programmatically supports the New Orleans Public Library system through used book sales, membership dues, donations, and direct grants to all 14 library branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Support Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

Keywords

• Public library support
• Used book sales
• Literacy programs
• Community fundraising
• Membership nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at various tiers from Individual ($20-$1000) to Corporate ($500-$5000). Members receive newsletter subscription, sale updates, invitations to member-exclusive events, behind-the-scenes archive tours, and recognition in Annual Report.
2. Used Book Sales: Physical and online sales of donated used books, CDs, vinyl records. Sales conducted at multiple locations including Algiers Regional Branch Library, Mid-City Arts Market, Carriage House Bookshop, and through eBay and Amazon storefronts. Profits fund library programs.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting library programs and services.
4. Special Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including T-shirts ($20) through the online bookstore.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the New Orleans Public Library system through used book sales, membership dues, donations, and direct program funding. It underwrites the Summer Reading Program, adult literacy classes, creative writing workshops, librarian scholarships, and grants to all 14 NOPL branches, and donates over 100,000 books annually to schools, hospitals, shelters, and prisons.

Product overview

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the New Orleans Public Library system through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include book sales (Friends Book Sales at multiple locations and online via eBay and Amazon), a membership program with individual and corporate tiers, and the New Orleans Little Free Library program managing over 200 community book exchanges. Additional services include the Seed Library at Mid-City branch, free book donations to schools, and direct funding for library programs including the Summer Reading Challenge. Revenue generation comes from book sales, memberships, and donations, all directed toward supporting NOPL's 14 branch locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Friends Book Sales Weekly used book, music, and movie sales held at multiple New Orleans locations including Algiers Regional Library, Mid-City Arts Market, and City Park Arts Market, offering more than 10,000 books each week.
• Carriage House Bookshop Physical used bookstore located behind Latter Library at 5120 St. Charles Avenue, open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.
• Online Bookstore Online sales channels featuring antiquarian and collectible book listings on eBay, an Amazon Smile storefront, and branded T-shirt merchandise.
• Membership Program Annual membership with individual tiers ranging from Librarian/Teacher ($20) to Conservator ($1,000) and corporate sponsorship tiers from Bronze ($500) to Platinum ($5,000), providing newsletter access, sale notifications, member-only events, archive tours, and annual report recognition.
• New Orleans Little Free Library Program Program coordinating over 200 Little Free Libraries throughout New Orleans, providing mapping, installation guidance, build support, and community filling events to promote literacy and free book exchanges.
• Seed Library Free seed checkout program at the Mid-City branch offering more than 400 varieties of heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds along with gardening reference materials.
• Library Program Funding Direct financial support for the Summer Reading Program, Adult Programs, Creative Writing Workshops, librarian scholarships, and grants to all 14 New Orleans Public Library branches, contributing $70,000 to library programs in the past year.
• Free Books for Schools Program Donation program that distributes free gently-used books to local schools for classroom and library use, serving Kindergarten through young adult students across the Greater New Orleans area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 books donated annually to schools, shelters, prisons, hospitals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Every LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Assisted Friends of the New Orleans Public Library in conducting a survey of mayoral and city council candidates regarding their positions on public libraries.
• LittleFreeLibrary.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016National nonprofit organization providing Little Free Library structures. FNOPL promotes literacy through building and maintaining over 200 LFLs in the New Orleans area.
• STAIRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides FREE reading tutors for 1st-3rd grade public school students in parishes within the Greater New Orleans area. FNOPL promotes their services as part of literacy initiatives.
• YMCA Adult LiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides FREE literacy education to adults at the New Orleans Public Library Main Branch. FNOPL supports their services and helps spread awareness.
• Literacy Alliance of Greater New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides development for adult literacy programs and advocates for resources in support of these programs in the Greater New Orleans area.
• New Orleans Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only entity that FNOPL financially supports. Since 1957, FNOPL has been contributing generously and providing vital volunteer service to fill gaps where city funding ends.
• The Green ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Orleans resource for recycled and found materials. Recommended as a source for building materials for DIY Little Free Libraries.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the New York Public Library: Direct peer: long-established nonprofit supporting NYPL through membership, book sales, and major fundraising. Same operational structure but at significantly larger scale with a more developed online store and event programming.
• Friends of the San Francisco Public Library: Direct peer: nonprofit support organization for the San Francisco Public Library that operates the Friends of the SFPL bookstore, membership program, and grants to library programs. Mirrors FNOPL's book-sale-funded-membership-and-grants model in a larger urban context.
• Friends of the Seattle Public Library: Direct peer: nonprofit arm supporting the Seattle Public Library with membership, used book sales at the Friends Shop, and direct funding for library programming. Comparable structure, revenue mix, and mission.
• Friends of the Los Angeles Public Library: Direct peer: nonprofit support organization for the Los Angeles Public Library running used book sales, membership, and program grants. Operates a multi-location book sale model similar to FNOPL but at greater scale.
• Friends of the Boston Public Library: Direct peer: independent nonprofit that raises funds and operates the Friends Shop bookstore supporting the Boston Public Library. Closely comparable book-sale-and-membership model with branch-level program grants.
• Little Free Library: Direct peer for the LFL program: national nonprofit that provides Little Free Library structures and coordinates the global LFL network. FNOPL partners with this organization and operates one of the densest city-level LFL networks in the country.
• Friends of the Chicago Public Library: Direct peer: 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Chicago Public Library system through membership, used book sales, and grants. Operates a similar model of recurring book sales, membership tiers, and direct funding of branch-level programs, making it the closest analog in scale and structure.

Emerging players

• ThriftBooks: Commercial competitor: large online used book retailer with extensive inventory. Competes for the same budget-conscious online book buyers that FNOPL targets via its online storefront.
• Better World Books: Commercial competitor and channel partner: large-scale online used book seller that also funds literacy programs globally through a portion of proceeds. Competes with FNOPL's eBay/Amazon online storefronts for online used-book buyers.

Broad incumbents

• American Library Association: Broader industry incumbent: national professional organization representing libraries and library advocates. Sets library policy and funding advocacy direction that affects how FNOPL and its NOPL partner operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FriendsNOLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendsnola
• Instagraminstagram.com/friends_NOPL

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the New Orleans Public Library