Thomaston Public Library

What Thomaston Public Library does

Thomaston Public Library is a quasi-municipal public library located in the historic Thomaston Academy Building at 60 Main St, Thomaston, Maine, serving local residents and surrounding peninsular communities in Knox County. Founded in 1834, the library operates with a five-person staff (Head Librarian, Assistant Head Librarian, Cataloging Librarian, Youth Programming Librarian, and Assistant Librarian) under governance of a Board of Trustees. Its core service is lending a physical collection of 25,000+ items (books, DVDs, audiobooks, large print, graphic novels, children's materials), supplemented by digital lending through cloudLibrary (ebooks/audiobooks) and access to 80+ electronic databases via Digital Maine Library. Infrastructure is built on standard library platforms: MILS and MaineCat for catalog and interlibrary loan, Polaris for patron account management, and Maine State Library/Maine InfoNet consortium participation.

The library's product surface extends beyond conventional lending into differentiated community programming, including the 12-year-running 40 Days of Summer (an 8-week free activities-and-lunch program addressing summer food insecurity for school-aged children), three monthly book clubs, Senior Exercise Class (co-led by a YMCA instructor), Family Movie & Pizza Night, Crafters' Club, Poets' Corner, Communi-TEA, and a Healthy Kids Playgroup. Specialized circulating Discovery Kits — Maine Audubon Nature Explorer Backpacks (Plants, Wildlife, Birds themes) funded by the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation and a Telescope/Astronomy Discovery Kit donated by Cornerstones of Science — represent curated, grant-funded add-on products that differentiate the collection. An Adopt a Library Cat satellite adoption program with Pope Memorial Humane Society (launched March 2025) extends engagement into animal welfare, and an Afterschool Program provides homework help and snacks. Distribution is place-based at the single Thomaston branch with curbside pickup, home delivery for patrons with disabilities, and interlibrary loan access statewide.

The business model is a hybrid tax-and-fee structure typical of small U.S. public libraries. Property tax revenue from Thomaston residents and property owners provides the primary operating subsidy, making services free for in-jurisdiction patrons. Non-resident cards generate fee revenue at $20/year standard, $18/year for ages 55+, and $10/6-month for part-time seasonal residents — restructured upward in January 2026 for the first time since 2003. Supplementary revenue comes from Friends of the Thomaston Public Library (a separate 501(c)-supporting nonprofit) via tax-deductible donations, two endowments, and bequests/planned giving. Free access is extended to RSU 13 and Knox County students 18 and under, teachers, and Coastal Senior College students. Marketing is community-led through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, a Mailchimp monthly newsletter, local media (WCSH 6, WMTW 8, WGME 13), and 16+ community partnerships with organizations including Knox Clinic, YMCA, RSU 13, Maine Audubon, and Pope Memorial Humane Society.

Name

Thomaston Public Library

Legal name

Thomaston Public Library

Website

https://thomaston.lib.me.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Thomaston Public Library is a quasi-municipal public library in Thomaston, Maine providing print and digital collections, educational programming, and community services to local residents, RSU 13 students, and surrounding peninsular communities. Funded by property taxes, donations, and endowments, and operated by a five-person staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Thomaston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: As a quasi-municipal public library, residents within jurisdictional boundaries pay taxes to partially support operations. No additional fee for resident library cards.
2. Non-Resident Library Cards: Fee-based library cards for individuals residing outside the library's jurisdictional boundaries. As of January 2026: $20/year standard, $18/year for ages 55+, $10 for 6 months.
3. Friends of the Library Donations: Tax-deductible gifts supporting programming (Senior Exercise Class, 40 Days of Summer), collection purchases (books, DVDs, Kindles), and facility amenities
4. Endowment Funds: Two endowments helping support operating costs and collection development, supplemented by town funding
5. Bequests and Planned Giving: Accepts bequests through wills, insurance policies, stocks/bonds, or trust funds as part of estate planning for supporters

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thomaston Public Library provides free public library services including lending of 25,000+ physical materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, children's materials), digital lending via cloudLibrary, access to 80+ databases through Digital Maine Library, interlibrary loan, public computers and WiFi, and a broad community programming calendar (40 Days of Summer, book clubs, senior exercise, family movie nights, Adopt a Library Cat, storytime). Free for Thomaston residents and property owners; tiered annual fees apply to non-residents.

Product overview

Thomaston Public Library is a public library providing community access to physical and digital materials, educational programs, and public services. The core offering centers on physical collection lending (books, DVDs, audiobooks) through in-person visits and curbside pickup, supplemented by digital services including cloudLibrary ebooks/audiobooks and Digital Maine Library database access. The library also circulates specialized Discovery Kits (Maine Audubon Nature Explorer Backpacks, Telescope and Astronomy Discovery Kit) and offers diverse programming including 40 Days of Summer, book clubs, Senior Exercise Class, Family Movie Nights, Crafters' Club, Poets' Corner, and Communi-TEA. Additional services include interlibrary loans, public computers, wireless internet, meeting room rental, and the Adopt a Library Cat program in partnership with Pope Memorial Humane Society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Library Collection Lending

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 Days of Summer operates Monday-Friday 11am-1pm for 8 weeks each summer
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maine AuduboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine Audubon provides Nature Explorer Backpacks themed around Plants, Wildlife, or Birds for patrons to borrow. Made possible by the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation. Includes field guides, nature journals, binoculars, and activity materials.
• Cornerstones of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated the Orion 4.5 Starblast Telescope to the library in honor of a retiring board member. Mission to work with libraries and communities creating science experiences that spark curiosity.
• Knox CliniccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Harry Potter Trivia event and Disney Trivia Night. Healthcare nonprofit serving the community.
• Cushing Public LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored Equestrian Jessie Dowling presentation on Gaucho Derby endurance racing.
• YMCA (Pen Bay YMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Senior Exercise Class instructor Sandy Bodamer, Senior Activities and RHY Wellness Director, leading classes Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am.
• Thomaston Recreation DepartmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsors Senior Exercise Class program with the library.
• Zero Waste MEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented virtual program 'Living a Life Less Wasteful' via Zoom on reducing household trash by 85%.
• Pope Memorial Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary is satellite adoption site for PMHS, fostering cats in the library to encourage adoption. Adopted multiple cats since March 2025 including Milo, Oreo, Marley, Boots, Cali, and others.
• RSU 13coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool district whose students 18 or under receive free library cards. Historical partnership through Intergenerational Book Club with Georges Valley High School teachers.
• Coastal Senior CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudents of Coastal Senior College eligible for free library cards.
• Solid Rock ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided temporary parking during library parking lot paving in September 2025.
• Thomaston Assembly of GodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided temporary parking during library parking lot paving in September 2025.
• Maine State LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Digital Maine Library access, interlibrary loan infrastructure, and holds book delivery service contract for Maine libraries.
• Maine InfoNetcoreTechnology or IntegrationConsortium providing MILS and MaineCat catalog systems enabling interlibrary loan and resource sharing across Maine libraries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThomastonLib
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRatBJ1wlvLBDETC3BLSFyw
• Facebookfacebook.com/thomastonpubliclibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/thomastonpubliclibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Thomaston Public Library