Yolo County Library

What Yolo County Library does

Yolo County Library is a public county library system established in 1910 and operating under the supervision of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, which appoints the County Librarian (Diana Lopez, who also serves as Chief Archivist) and the County Library Advisory Board. The system serves more than 215,000 residents across seven branch locations in Clarksburg, Davis, Esparto, Knights Landing, West Sacramento, Winters, and Yolo, with Library Administration and the Shipley Walters Center for Yolo County Archives and Library Services based in Woodland. An eighth branch, the Walnut Park Davis Library (12,000+ square feet), is scheduled to open in November 2026 to serve the previously underserved South Davis area.

The library's core product is a network of physical and digital collections including books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, early learning kits, Chromebooks, and hotspots, distributed through an Integrated Library System (ILS) with an online catalog (web-iii.yolocounty.org) supporting 24/7 self-service holds, renewals, and account management. Supporting services include automatic renewal (up to three renewals), LINK+ interlibrary loan consortium access, SMS text notifications for holds pickup (since June 2023), public computer and Wi-Fi access, meeting room reservations, pay-as-you-go printing (20¢/page black & white, 50¢/page color) and faxing ($1.00 per outgoing fax), and curated online databases including PebbleGo (K-2), Novelist Plus, and free New York Times Online access. Programs include the year-round "52: a Reading Journey" and the seasonal Summer Reading Program (e.g., 2026's "Unearth A Story" running June 1-August 15).

Yolo County Library is funded primarily by property taxes and supplemented by California state library funds, special parcel taxes (Measure T in Davis, approved November 2024, at $175.66 per single-family parcel and $87.83 per multi-family unit for FY 2026-27), city contributions from West Sacramento and Winters, donations via Library Friends and Foundation, and minor transactional fees (printing, copying, faxing, card replacement, and collection referrals). The library charges no late fees. The City of Woodland independently operates its own public library and is therefore outside the County Library's service area. As a public government entity, Yolo County Library does not generate profit, raise venture capital, or compete in a commercial market; it operates as a community-funded information and literacy service provider within a fixed geographic service area.

Name

Yolo County Library

Legal name

Yolo County Library

Website

https://yolocountylibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yolo County Library is a public county library system established in 1910, operating seven branch locations plus a new Walnut Park branch opening November 2026, serving over 215,000 Yolo County, California residents with physical and digital collections, programming, and public computer access.

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEAGAC

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYEDAEAGAL

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYEDAEAGAF

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYBPAIACAO

Public Libraries & Information Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital library resources
• Community reading programs
• Interlibrary loan services
• Branch library network

Headquarters

HQ city

Davis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

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. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source from property taxes supporting general library operations throughout Yolo County.
2. State Funds: California state funding for public library services.
3. Special Parcel Tax (Davis): Davis voters approved Measure T in November 2024, increasing special tax for library facilities expansion and services. Parcel tax is $175.66 for single-family residence and $87.83 per unit for multi-family (FY 2026-27).
4. Library Fees and Fines: Fees for lost/damaged items, collection referrals, returned checks, and printing/copying services. Note: Library no longer charges late fees.
5. Donations: Support through Library Friends and Foundation, and general donations.
6. City Contributions: West Sacramento and Winters contribute additional funds for enhanced library services in their jurisdictions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yolo County Library provides free public access to physical and digital library materials, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, Chromebooks, and hotspots, through a network of seven branch libraries and an online catalog. It offers public computer and internet access, meeting room reservations, and community programs such as the Summer Reading Program and "52: a Reading Journey." Digital resources include PebbleGo (K-2 database), Novelist Plus, and free access to The New York Times Online for patrons.

Product overview

Yolo County Library is a public library system serving seven communities and rural areas of Yolo County, California. The organization operates a network of branch libraries (Clarksburg, Davis, Esparto, Knights Landing, West Sacramento, Winters, and Yolo) with Library Administration located in Woodland. The core offering centers on physical and digital library materials, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays, early learning kits, Chromebooks, and hotspots available for checkout. Digital services include an online catalog with automatic renewal capabilities, holds management, SMS notifications for holds pickup, and various online databases such as PebbleGo (K-2 resource) and Novelist Plus (book recommendations). The library also provides public computer access, meeting room reservations, and community programs including the year-round 52: a Reading Journey and seasonal Summer Reading Program. A major expansion is underway with the Walnut Park Davis Library opening in November 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yolo County Library Catalog Online catalog system for searching and managing library materials, including holds, renewals, and account management, available to Yolo County Library patrons.
• Yolo County Library Card Free library card providing borrowing privileges at all Yolo County Library branches for California residents.
• Branch Libraries Network Network of seven branch libraries serving Clarksburg, Davis, Esparto, Knights Landing, West Sacramento, Winters, and Yolo communities, with Library Administration in Woodland.
• Automatic Renewal Service Automatically renews checked-out books, DVDs, and CDs up to three times, four days before the due date (two days for DVDs), provided no holds have been placed by other customers.
• Summer Reading Program Annual summer reading program encouraging reading during summer months for all ages, with the 2026 program titled "Unearth A Story" running June 1 - August 15, 2026.
• 52: a Reading Journey Year-round reading program offering reading suggestions through prompts throughout the year, distinct from traditional seasonal reading challenges.
• PebbleGo Database resource specifically geared toward K-2 students to support early literacy and research skills.
• Novelist Plus Book and genre recommendation database to help readers discover new books.
• Read Around Yolo (RAY) Book club bags program sponsored by Friends of the Yolo County Libraries for community reading groups.
• Chromebook and Hotspot Lending Patrons may borrow one Chromebook and one hotspot with limited loan periods, supporting digital inclusion and internet access for residents without home technology.
• Copy, Printing, and Faxing Services Fee-based auxiliary services including black & white copies (20¢ per page), color copies (50¢ per page), and outgoing fax ($1.00 for up to 10 single-sided or 5 double-sided pages).
• Lucky Day Items High-demand items with limited copies available for quick checkout with no holds allowed, providing fast access to popular materials.
• LINK+ Interlibrary Loan Catalog system allowing patrons to request items not owned by Yolo County Library through consortium borrowing from partner libraries.
• New York Times Online Access Free 72-hour access to The New York Times Online for library patrons, including NYTimes InEducation with curated reading lists across 12 disciplines.
• Walnut Park Davis Library New 12,000+ square foot library branch at 2660 Lillard Drive, Walnut Park, Davis, scheduled to open in November 2026, featuring community room, study rooms, children's/young adult/adult collections, children's programming spaces (indoor and outdoor), teen space, computers and Wi-Fi, private lactation area, dedicated parking, and a Community Resiliency Center.
• Public Computer Access Public access computers connected to the internet available at all library branches, supporting digital inclusion for residents without home connectivity.
• Meeting Room Reservations Meeting room facilities available for reservation at Stephens-Davis, Turner West Sacramento, Winters, Esparto, Yolo, and Clarksburg branches.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 215,000 county residents across 7+ communities
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• WMB ArchitectscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Design contract awarded to WMB Architects for Walnut Park Library. Provided video fly-through (November 2023) and architectural presentation.
• Yocha Dehe Wintun NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous land acknowledgment. Library acknowledges they are on the traditional territory and homelands of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Relationship reflects commitment to diversity and inclusion of indigenous communities.
• SCI Consulting GroupminorOthersHandles Davis parcel tax exemption applications and processing. Located at 4745 Mangels Blvd., Fairfield, CA 94534. Contact: (707) 430-4300, attention: Susan Barnes.
• Friends of the Yolo County LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit support organization. Sponsors Read Around Yolo (RAY) book club bags. Also manages meeting room at Clarksburg Library. Part of broader community support network including Library Friends and Foundation.
• Trauma Informed Network of CaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary is part of the Trauma Informed Network of Care, reflecting commitment to trauma-informed service delivery for patrons.
• Yolo County Board of SupervisorscoreOthersAppoints the County Librarian and the County Library Advisory Board. Oversees library operations under general supervision.
• New York TimesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree access to The New York Times Online provided to library patrons for 72 hours, with option to redeem. Also includes NYTimes InEducation with curated reading lists across 12 disciplines.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Contra Costa County Library: California county library system operating multiple branches across Contra Costa County. Closely comparable structure: branch-based public library, county government oversight, similar funding mix (property tax + Measure/pass-through funding), and comparable digital/physical collections.
• Sacramento Public Library: Neighboring California county-equivalent public library serving the Sacramento metropolitan area. Directly comparable as a California public library system offering similar collections, digital resources, branch networks, and free public access to a population of comparable size.
• San Mateo County Libraries: California county library system serving San Mateo County with a similar branch network and digital resource strategy. Comparable in governance (joint powers authority), funding structure, and the mix of digital inclusion / community programming.
• Alameda County Library: One of California's larger county library systems serving Alameda County. Comparable in operating model (county governance, property tax funding, branch network) though somewhat larger in scale; useful as a scaled-up version of Yolo's model.
• Marin County Free Library: California county-administered public library serving Marin County. Comparable as a county library with branch network, free public access, and similar community programming focus — operates at somewhat smaller scale but with similar governance.
• Napa County Library: Northern California county library system of comparable scale and rural/small-city service mix. Directly comparable as a county government-operated library providing similar collections and digital services to a similar-sized population.
• Solano County Library: Adjacent Northern California county library system serving Solano County. Highly comparable in scale, branch model, county-government governance, and mix of rural/small-city service areas similar to Yolo County.
• Santa Clara County Library District: Independent library district serving Santa Clara County with a comparable branch-based operating model and strong digital resource portfolio. Closely comparable as a California public library system at similar or larger scale.
• San Joaquin County Library: California county library system serving San Joaquin County. Comparable in scale and rural/suburban county service mix, with similar branch model, county oversight, and free public-access collections including digital resources.
• Placer County Library: California county library system with branch network in the Sacramento region. Directly comparable as a county-administered public library offering similar physical and digital services to a comparable population base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZPpyfI8HwsR4nsDaU82-ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/yolocountylibrary.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/yolocountylibrary
• Pinterestpinterest.com/YoloCountyLib
• TikToktiktok.com/@yolocountylibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yolo-county-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 Yolo County Library