The Rodman Public Library Inc

What The Rodman Public Library Inc does

Rodman Public Library is a nonprofit public library system serving Alliance, Ohio and surrounding communities. It operates a Main Library at 215 East Broadway Street, a Branch Library at 1808 W. State Street in Marketplace Plaza, a Bookmobile covering the Alliance and Marlington school districts, and a Home Delivery Service spanning parts of Stark, Columbiana, and Mahoning counties. The library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees with a Director (Eric Taggart) leading operations.

The library's product surface spans traditional physical lending (books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, reference materials), digital media (Hoopla, Ohio Digital Library/OverDrive, TumbleBooks, Universal Class, Transparent Language Online), over 60 research databases (Ancestry, FamilySearch, EBSCOhost, Consumer Reports), free public computer and WiFi access, and a Makerspace equipped with 3D printers, Cricut, sublimation, and heat press tools. Adjacent programs include the Library Makerspace, Mobile HotSpot lending (25 units), early literacy stations, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, the Community Exploration Program (museum passes), One Book One Community annual reading initiative, multiple book clubs, Summer Reading Program, Teacher Services (classroom collections up to 150 items), Home Delivery for homebound residents, mobile printing via Princh, and Text-a-Librarian SMS support.

The library is funded primarily through local tax levies and public sources, with services provided free to cardholders and nominal fees collected for printing, faxing, makerspace materials, and overdue items. Distribution is community-led, combining fixed branches, mobile services, home delivery, digital platforms, and partnerships with the University of Mount Union, Friends of Rodman, Greater Alliance Foundation, Early Childhood Education Alliance, and local civic organizations.

Name

The Rodman Public Library Inc

Legal name

Rodman Public Library

Website

https://rodmanlibrary.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Rodman Public Library Inc is a nonprofit public library system serving Alliance, Ohio and surrounding communities through two branches, a bookmobile, home delivery, and digital platforms, offering free lending, research databases, a Makerspace, mobile hotspots, and literacy programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital media lending
• Early literacy programs
• Community education
• Research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Alliance

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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 Library Funding: As a public library, Rodman Public Library operates as a publicly funded institution. The primary funding comes from local tax levies and public funding sources. Services are provided free of charge to residents holding library cards. Some services generate nominal fees for printing, faxing, and replacement materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rodman Public Library provides free public access to physical and digital library collections, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, and video games; digital media through Hoopla, Ohio Digital Library, and TumbleBooks; over 60 research databases; free public computer, WiFi, printing, and faxing services; a Makerspace with 3D printing and creative equipment; and educational and cultural programming for children, teens, and adults through the Main Library, Branch, Bookmobile, and Home Delivery Service.

Product overview

Rodman Public Library is a public library system offering a unified suite of traditional and digital services. Core offerings include physical materials lending (books, DVDs, CDs, video games) across Main Library, Branch, and Bookmobile; digital media services via hoopla, Ohio Digital Library, and TumbleBooks; access to over 60 research databases; and free public computer and WiFi access. The library also operates a Makerspace with 3D printing and crafting equipment, lends mobile hotspots, and provides early literacy programs including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Additional services include community museum passes, book clubs, summer reading programs, teacher services, home delivery for homebound patrons, mobile printing, text-a-librarian support, and genealogy resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Materials Lending Traditional library lending services including books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, and reference materials available to library card holders across the Main Library, Branch, and Bookmobile.
• Digital Media Services Electronic downloads and streaming of ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, magazines, comics, animated children's books, online courses, language learning, and early childhood education, accessible to library card holders through Hoopla, Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive/Libby), TumbleBooks, Universal Class, and Transparent Language Online.
• Research Databases Access to over 60 research databases covering academic, genealogy, health, business, legal, literary, and educational topics, including Ancestry, FamilySearch, Consumer Reports, and various EBSCOhost databases, available to library card holders.
• Public Computers and Internet Access Free computer workstations with Microsoft Office 2016, internet browsing, printing services, and WiFi available to patrons at Main Library, Branch Library, and Bookmobile.
• Library Makerspace Creative makerspace featuring 3D printing, sublimation printing, Cricut Maker 4 cutting, button making, heat press, and mug press equipment, free to use with material supply costs charged per item.
• Mobile HotSpot Lending 25 mobile WiFi HotSpot units available for 14-day checkout at the Main Library Circulation Desk to patrons aged 18 and older, providing WiFi access for up to 10 devices; portable phone chargers also available for in-library use.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Free monthly book gifting program for children from birth to age five residing in the 44601 zip code, administered by Rodman Public Library in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation, Early Childhood Education Alliance, and Greater Alliance Foundation.
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Early childhood literacy initiative encouraging families to read 1000 books to children before kindergarten, with reading tracked via the Beanstack app or paper logs and milestone rewards.
• Community Exploration Program Free museum pass program providing Alliance-area library card holders with admission passes to Akron Zoo, Akron Art Museum, Akron Children's Museum, Beech Creek Botanical Garden, and McKinley Museum, managed through the MuseumKey reservation platform.
• One Book One Community Annual all-community reading initiative selecting one book for the entire Alliance community to read and discuss, featuring author visits and related programs in partnership with Friends of Rodman Public Library, University of Mount Union, Greater Alliance Foundation, and The Alliance Review.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading program with three divisions (children, teens, adults), featuring reading logs, bingo boards, prizes, and grand prize drawings; registration available in person at Main Library, Branch Library, and Bookmobile, or via the Beanstack app.
• Book Clubs Multiple book clubs for patrons of various ages and interests including Teen Book Club, I Read YA Discussion, Pizza and Pages, True Crime Junkies, Books and Coffee, Evening Book Discussion, Women's Book Group, DAR Book Group, and Cookbook Club.
• Bookmobile Service Mobile library serving Alliance and Marlington school districts with stops at preschools and community locations, lending books, magazines, audiobooks, and DVDs; disability accessible.
• Home Delivery Service Monthly delivery of library materials (large print books, paperbacks, audiobooks, music CDs, and magazines) to homebound residents in parts of Stark, Columbiana, and Mahoning counties who are unable to visit library locations due to illness, physical disability, or lack of transportation.
• Teacher Services Extended loan program providing teachers in Alliance and Marlington schools with classroom collections of up to 150 items for 8-week loan periods, with staff-assisted material selection available with one week notice.
• Museum Key Passes Free library-issued admission passes for Alliance-area library card holders to Akron Zoo, Akron Art Museum, Akron Children's Museum, Beech Creek Botanical Garden, and McKinley Museum.
• Genealogy and Local History Local history and genealogy research resources including Alliance Index, the Alliance Memory Project (over 3,000 images, interviews, and documents), digitized city ordinances, Stark County property records, and access to Ancestry Library Edition.
• Early Literacy Stations AWE Early Literacy Stations installed at the library featuring educational software for children ages 2-8 covering reading, phonics, math, science, and art, including bilingual Spanish computers.
• Public Fax Service Public fax service available at Main Library and Branch Library, sending to any location in the United States at $0.25 per page.
• Mobile Printing Print-from-anywhere service available at Main Library and Branch Library via email submission or the Princh app; B&W copies $0.10 each, color copies $0.50 each (11x17 paper counts as two copies).

Quantifiable outcome

• Free WiFi, Hot Spots, and computer access provided to all patrons
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Alliance FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Local foundation partnering with Rodman Public Library to sponsor Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and One Book One Community programs. Provides funding for community literacy initiatives and museum pass program.
• Early Childhood Education AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Local early childhood education organization partnering to administer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program for children in the 44601 zip code area.
• Friends of Rodman Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2004Nonprofit support organization that sponsors library programs including summer reading prizes, Makerspace programs, community events, and the annual One Book One Community author visit. Provides financial support for children's literacy initiatives including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
• University of Mount UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Local university collaborating on the One Book One Community program since its founding in 2004. Hosts the annual author visit at Brush Recital Hall on campus. Faculty members contribute programming including virtual field trips and educational presentations.
• The Alliance ReviewminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2004Local newspaper as co-sponsor of the One Book One Community initiative since 2004, providing media coverage and promotion of community reading programs.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (The Dollywood Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995International early childhood book gifting program providing free monthly books to children from birth to age five in the 44601 zip code. Rodman Public Library partners with Early Childhood Education Alliance and Greater Alliance Foundation to administer the local program.
• Alliance and Marlington School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school districts served by the Bookmobile and home delivery services. Teacher Services program provides classroom collections to schools including Alliance Early Learning, Alliance Middle School, B.L. Miller, Beloit Elementary, and other local schools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dayton Metro Library: Ohio metropolitan public library system with comparable services including Makerspaces, digital lending, and community exploration-style programming. Relevant peer for operational model benchmarking.
• Cleveland Public Library: Urban Ohio public library system with comparable core offerings (branch network, digital content, community programming, special collections). Useful scale benchmark, though serving a much larger urban footprint.
• Akron-Summit County Public Library: Regional public library system serving Summit County, Ohio. Directly comparable as a neighboring Ohio public library offering similar core lending, digital, and community programming services, including museum pass partnerships Rodman also leverages.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library: One of the largest Ohio public library systems, serving Cuyahoga County. Comparable in core service model (branches, digital lending, programming, partnerships) and a useful larger-system benchmark for operational scale and capability.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Major Ohio public library system with comparable programming (Makerspace, digital lending, community engagement). Represents an established large-system benchmark for the same core service categories Rodman operates.
• Stark County District Library: Public library district serving Stark County — the same county where Rodman's main service area sits. Comparable in scope (multi-branch, Maker/STEM programming, digital lending, community partnerships) and a natural geographic benchmark.
• Kent Free Library: Smaller Ohio public library with a comparable community-anchor service model, including programming, makerspace-style offerings, and digital lending. Closest scale-comparable peer to Rodman.
• Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County: Public library system serving Mahoning County, Ohio — one of the three counties Rodman's Home Delivery service reaches. Similar service mix including bookmobile operations, digital media, and community programming.

Others

• Library Ideas (TumbleBooks): Vendor of the TumbleBooks children's digital reading platform that Rodman licenses for early literacy services. Adjacent ecosystem participant — supplier rather than peer, but useful reference for the digital content infrastructure layer.
• Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK): Statewide academic and library consortium providing shared digital infrastructure, including the Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive) that Rodman leverages. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkBzES68eE2sakEWXtTYv2Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/RodmanLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/rodmanpubliclibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rodman-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Rodman Public Library Inc