Peabody Public Library
Peabody Public Library is a tax-supported public library district serving Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana. It provides free library cards, lending materials, digital resources, meeting rooms, technology training, and community programs to residents from a 27,500 sq ft facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersColumbia City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Peabody Public Library does
Peabody Public Library is a tax-supported public library district serving Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana. Founded in 1901 by Leigh Smith J. Hunt as the People's Free Library of Whitley County, it became a municipally funded institution in 1911 and has operated continuously for 125 years, currently from a 27,500 square foot facility on 14.25 acres of property that includes the only on-site wetlands in the Indiana library system. The library is governed by a seven-member appointed Board of Trustees and is primarily funded by property taxes levied across its service district, with ancillary revenue from non-resident library cards ($95/year Evergreen, $70/year PLAC), meeting room rentals, printing/fax services, donations, and proceeds from the Friends of the Peabody Public Library support organization established in 1997.
The library's core offering is a traditional lending and circulation model: free library cards for district residents provide access to physical books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-rays, magazines, and an unusually broad "Library of Things" collection including board games, pressure washers, sewing kits, and science kits. Its technology stack centers on the Evergreen Indiana integrated library system, with digital lending delivered through third-party platforms (Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy, iVox) and research access through subscription databases (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, NewsBank). Specialized internal assets include an Indiana Room housing microfilm, census records, and local history archives; a 100+ interview oral history collection documenting Whitley County; and a Community Seed Library. The library also operates 25 WiFi hotspots for patron checkout, wireless mobile printing via ePrintItSaaS, one-on-one technology training, and seven reservable meeting spaces including the 250-seat Robert E. Brittain Memorial Auditorium.
Its go-to-market is community-led, distributing services through the physical location, curbside pickup, homebound delivery on Wednesdays, school and community organization outreach via the Book Bike and Guest Reader programs, and digital channels including an events calendar, email newsletter, and YouTube programming. Customer segments are organized by age (Children/Youth, Teen, Adult) and use case (Genealogists/Local Historians, Underserved Community Members) rather than by commercial account size. Reciprocal borrowing agreements with Churubusco Public Library and free cards for WCCS district students and teachers extend reach outside the tax base. The library is fine-free for most materials, with the only charges applying to Library of Things items ($2/day) and hotspots ($5/day), and replacement costs for items unreturned after 28 days.
Peabody Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Peabody Public Library
- Legal name
- Peabody Public Library
- Website
- https://ppl.lib.in.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Peabody Public Library is a tax-supported public library district serving Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana. It provides free library cards, lending materials, digital resources, meeting rooms, technology training, and community programs to residents from a 27,500 sq ft facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Peabody Public Library industry classification
Industry- 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 User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)
Keywords
Where Peabody Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Peabody Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Property Tax Funding: The library is supported by property taxes from Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township. This constitutes the primary operational funding source.
- Non-Resident Library Cards: Non-resident cards sold at $95/year through Evergreen Indiana. PLAC (Public Library Access Card) offered at $70/year for those with valid Indiana library cards.
- Meeting Room Rentals: Fee-based rental of meeting rooms including Auditorium 1 ($32.10), Auditorium 2 ($32.10), Community A ($32.10), Community B ($21.40), Community A&B ($58.85), and Computer Lab ($90.95). Tax-supported institutions free; not-for-profits requested to donate.
- Printing, Copying, and Fax Services: Black-and-white printing at $0.10/page, color printing at $0.25/page. Fax service at $0.10/page. Scanning is free.
- Donations and Friends of the Library: Friends of the Peabody Public Library (established 1997) conducts book sales to support library programs. Accepts material donations and monetary contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Resident Library Card |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Printing Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fax Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting Room Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fines for Special Items |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Peabody Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Peabody Public Library provides free access to physical and digital lending materials (books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, Library of Things items), digital content via Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy, and community programming for all ages. The library delivers genealogy and local/military history research services, technology training, public computer and WiFi access, hotspot lending, meeting room rentals, notary services, and curbside pickup/homebound delivery to residents of Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana.
Product overview
Peabody Public Library is a public library system serving Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana. Founded in 1901 and occupying a 27,500 square foot facility (expanded in 2010) on 14.25 acres including designated wetlands, the library offers a traditional public library model with physical and digital materials and services. The core offering centers on library card and circulation services providing access to physical books, audiobooks, CDs, magazines (3-week checkout), Blu-Rays and DVDs (1-week, limit of 10), and Gaming/Library of Things items (2-week, limit of 5). The library's special collections include a Genealogy section with Ancestry, HeritageQuest, HeritageHub, obituaries index, and oral/local/military history videos; a Library of Things circulating household items; and an Indiana Room with microfilm, census records, and VHS-to-DVD dubbing. Services span Technology Training (one-on-one and mobile labs), meeting room rental (Auditorium, Community Rooms, Computer Lab), printing/copying/scanning/faxing, notary services, curbside pickup, free WiFi, hotspot lending (25 devices, 1-week), community seed library, homebound delivery, and children/teen/adult programming. Digital resources are provided through partnerships with Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy, and iVox, while a fine-free model applies to most materials with exceptions for Library of Things items and hotspots. The library's website integrates Aspen catalog search, and a wireless printing service connects to ePrintItSaaS.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Computer Access
- Hotspot Lending
- Printing, Copying, Scanning, and Faxing
- Technology Training
- Community Seed Library
- Homebound Delivery Service
- Notary Services
- Meeting Room Rental
- Library of Things
- Genealogy Research Services
- Local and Military History Collection
- Children and Youth Services
- Teen Services
- Adult Programs and Services
- Free WiFi
- Indiana Room
- Digital Media Platforms (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, iVox)
Quantifiable outcome
- 29,675 items circulated in first year of operation (1902)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Peabody Public Library
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Peabody Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Peabody Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Friends of the Peabody Public LibrarycoreNon-profit support organization established in 1997 to support library programs through book sales and volunteer efforts. Officers include Marsha Ruesch (President), Sandy Slone (Vice President/Secretary), Linda Marrs (Treasurer). Conducts Old Settler's Day annual book sale and monthly sales.
- Evergreen IndianacoreMember of the Evergreen Indiana consortium, a shared integrated library system (ILS) providing unified catalog, circulation, and patron management across Indiana public libraries. Enables interlibrary loan and reciprocal borrowing.
- Northern Indiana Computer Consortium for Libraries (NICCL)coreConsortium membership providing shared technology infrastructure and resources for member libraries.
- Northeast Indiana Libraries Serving CommunitiescoreRegional consortium of Northeast Indiana libraries for collaborative services and resource sharing.
- Indiana Library FederationminorState library association membership providing professional development, advocacy, and networking.
- American Library Association (ALA)minorNational library association membership. Endorses and is guided by ALA's Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement.
- Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL)minorMembership organization supporting small and rural libraries with resources and professional development.
- Whitley County Chamber of CommercecoreActive chamber membership connecting the library with local business community. Library has received multiple recognitions from the chamber including Jewel of the Community (2014) and Business of the Month (2016).
- Indiana State LibrarycoreState library agency providing LSTA grant funding, annual report recognition, and oversight. Manages Evergreen Indiana and provides resources including Inspire and Research Indiana Indexes.
- Whitley County Historical MuseumcoreCollaborative partner on Indiana Memory digital collections project. Jointly created Historical Whitley County digital collection preserving county and library history, Mr. Peabody imagery, and artwork.
- Allen County Public Library Genealogy CenterminorReference to premier genealogical library resource. Patrons directed to access for extensive genealogy research materials.
- Allen County Genealogical SocietyminorGenealogical society resource linked for family history researchers.
- Churubusco Public LibrarycoreReciprocal borrowers agreement allowing Churubusco library cardholders to receive free Peabody Public Library cards and vice versa.
- The Woodlands Senior Activity CenterminorOff-site book club location for Adult Services programming, bringing library services to senior community members.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Peabody Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lake County Public Library: Indiana public library system serving Lake County in Northwest Indiana with multiple branches. Operates in the same state regulatory and consortium environment as Peabody.
- Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library: Multi-branch Indiana public library system serving the Evansville-Vanderburgh area. Comparable mission and service categories but operates across multiple branches and a larger urban service area.
- Indianapolis Public Library: Larger Indiana public library system serving Indianapolis-Marion County with multiple branches and a wider service portfolio. Comparable in mission and service mix but operates at materially greater scale than Peabody.
- Indiana State Library: State-level library agency that provides LSTA grant funding, oversight, and shared services (including managing Evergreen Indiana) to public libraries across Indiana. Adjacent regulator and infrastructure provider for Peabody.
Regional players
- Northeast Indiana Libraries Serving Communities: Regional consortium of Northeast Indiana libraries for collaborative services and resource sharing, of which Peabody is a core member. Comparable in mission to support smaller/rural Indiana libraries and provides infrastructure overlap.
Direct peers
- Allen County Public Library: Major Indiana public library system headquartered in Fort Wayne, providing traditional lending, digital resources, and genealogy services to a similar Indiana population. Peabody already directs genealogy patrons to ACPL's Genealogy Center, confirming operational and service overlap.
- Monroe County Public Library: Indiana public library serving Bloomington and Monroe County with comparable lending, programming, and community engagement mission. Comparable in structure and offerings, though serving a larger and more academic community.
- Churubusco Public Library: Small Indiana public library with an active reciprocal borrowing agreement allowing card-holders to use Peabody and vice versa. Closest direct operational peer given shared service geography and partnership.
Others
- Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL): National membership organization supporting small and rural libraries. Peabody holds an ARSL membership and benefits from peer learning networks serving similarly scaled public libraries.
- Whitley County Historical Museum: Local cultural heritage organization and Peabody's collaborative partner on the Indiana Memory digital collections project. Comparable in historical-preservation mission and direct overlap on Whitley County heritage materials.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Peabody Public Library social profiles
Digital presencePeabody Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Peabody Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Peabody Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Peabody Public Library M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Peabody Public Library
What does Peabody Public Library do?
Peabody Public Library provides free access to physical and digital lending materials (books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, Library of Things items), digital content via Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy, and community programming for all ages. The library delivers genealogy and local/military history research services, technology training, public computer and WiFi access, hotspot lending, meeting room rentals, notary services, and curbside pickup/homebound delivery to residents of Columbia City, Columbia Township, and Thorncreek Township in Whitley County, Indiana.
Is Peabody Public Library a public or private company?
Peabody Public Library is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Peabody Public Library founded?
Peabody Public Library was founded in 1901. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Peabody Public Library based?
Peabody Public Library is headquartered in Columbia City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Peabody Public Library make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Property Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are non-Resident Library Cards, meeting Room Rentals, printing, Copying, and Fax Services and donations and Friends of the Library.
Who are Peabody Public Library's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lake County Public Library, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Indianapolis Public Library and Indiana State Library. Northeast Indiana Libraries Serving Communities is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Allen County Public Library, Monroe County Public Library and Churubusco Public Library. Others are Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) and Whitley County Historical Museum.
Does Peabody Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Peabody Public Library.
What industry is Peabody Public Library in?
Peabody Public Library's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.