Lincoln County Public Library

What Lincoln County Public Library does

Lincoln County Public Library (LCPL) is a tax-supported public library system serving residents of Lincoln County, Kentucky, headquartered at 201 Lancaster Street in Stanford. Founded in 1914 by the Stanford Woman's Club, the library has operated continuously as a component of county government and currently maintains a Board of Trustees, a six-person professional staff, and an Advisory Board that includes representatives from Lincoln County Schools, Lincoln County Homemakers, and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Its primary constituency is the general population of Lincoln County, with specific programmatic emphasis on children and families (via Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Preschool Storytime), adults and job seekers (via public computing, printing, and resume support), homebound residents (via bi-weekly home delivery), and genealogists and local historians (via a curated Lincoln County oral history and archive collection).

The library's product surface combines physical and digital service layers. Physical services include book and media lending, public computers (8 stations), 24/7 free Wi-Fi, and equipment lending (laptops, hotspots, Chromebooks, typewriters, projectors). Digital services are delivered through third-party integrations: the Booksys catalog system, Libby/OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks, Hoopla Digital for streaming media and BingePass content, Freading for always-available eBooks, Kanopy for documentary streaming, and TumbleBook Library and Teen Book Cloud for age-segmented content. A digital resource suite (Ancestry Library Edition, Heritage Quest, Newspapers.com, FamilySearch, LearningExpress, Britannica, Chilton Library, KYVL) supports genealogy, education, and automotive research. Outreach distribution extends beyond the main building via a bookmobile (under development), home delivery, five Tiny Libraries at parks and a clinic, and two Born Learning Trails.

LCPL's revenue model is fundamentally non-commercial. The institution is funded primarily through a dedicated public library tax approved by Lincoln County voters in November 1967, administered via the Lincoln County Fiscal Court. Library cards are free for residents, students, and workers. Supplementary transactional revenue is generated through nominal fees for printing ($0.10–$0.40/page), faxing ($1.00), lamination ($0.50–$3.00), copying ($0.15–$1.00/page), and the sale of pre-printed local history booklets ($3–$15). No commercial revenue, advertising, or private-equity funding is involved.

Name

Lincoln County Public Library

Legal name

Lincoln County Public Library

Website

https://lcplinfo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lincoln County Public Library is a tax-funded public library in Stanford, Kentucky, serving county residents with physical and digital lending, free Wi-Fi and computers, genealogy and local history resources, outreach services, and educational programs for all ages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community education resources
• Digital lending platform
• Children literacy programs
• Local history archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: As a public library, LCPL is primarily funded through taxpayer support including a public tax voted on in 1967. Library cards are free for Lincoln County residents.
2. Fee-Based Services: The library generates supplementary revenue through nominal fees for printing ($0.10-$0.40/page), faxing ($1.00), laminating ($0.50-$3.00), copying ($0.15-$1.00/page), and equipment lending. Divorce packets sold for $9.00, Driver's Manual for $3.00, and local history booklets for $8.00-$15.00.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lincoln County Public Library is a public county library that lends physical books, audiobooks, and DVDs and provides free access to digital content (eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video, and music) through partner platforms. It also offers public computers and Wi-Fi, equipment lending (laptops, hotspots, Chromebooks), printing/copying/faxing/lamination services, outreach services (bookmobile, home delivery, Tiny Libraries), educational programs for all ages, and genealogy and local history research resources.

Product overview

Lincoln County Public Library operates as a traditional public library with an integrated digital services platform. The core offerings include physical material lending (books, audiobooks, DVDs) through the library catalog, supplemented by extensive digital content through partner platforms (Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla Digital, Freading, Kanopy). The library provides specialized collections including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for early childhood, genealogy and local history research databases, and government/legal resources. Outreach services extend access via home delivery, a developing bookmobile, and Tiny Libraries throughout the county. Technology services include public computers, Wi-Fi, and equipment lending (laptops, hotspots). The library also offers essential office services (printing, copying, faxing, scanning, lamination) and educational programs for children, teens, and adults. The digital catalog and online account management provide access to physical and digital materials, while the resources section aggregates third-party research databases for cardholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: A program that provides free, age-appropriate books monthly to children under age 5 in Lincoln County. LCPL partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to administer this program locally.

Products and services

• Library Card Services Free library cards for Lincoln County residents, students, and workers providing access to physical and digital materials, computers, and services.
• Hoopla Digital Lending Streaming and download service for eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, and magazines with no waitlists for library cardholders.
• Libby by OverDrive Digital Lending Digital lending platform for thousands of eBooks and audiobooks. Patrons can read in browser or download the Libby app for iOS and Android.
• Kanopy Video Streaming Video streaming service featuring documentaries, indie films, and educational content. Patrons can stream up to 10 videos per month free with library card.
• Home Delivery Service Library materials delivered to doors of Lincoln County residents who cannot visit the library due to mobility limitations, illness, or caregiving responsibilities.
• Bookmobile Service Mobile library service expanding access to library materials and programs across Lincoln County communities.
• Tiny Libraries Network Network of outdoor book-sharing boxes at 5 locations throughout Lincoln County where anyone can borrow or leave a book 24/7.
• Born Learning Trails Outdoor learning trails for young children and families featuring 10 interactive signs at First Southern Veterans Park and Logan-Hubble Park.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program providing free, age-appropriate books mailed monthly to Lincoln County children from birth to age five through partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
• Laptop and Hotspot Lending Loan program for laptops and mobile hotspots for patrons age 18+ with qualifying borrowing history. 28-day loan period with up to 2 renewals.
• Printing and Copying Services Black and white printing at $0.10/page and color printing at $0.40/page; copying available in letter, legal, and tabloid sizes.
• Fax Services Send or receive faxes at the library. Sending costs $1.00 per fax; receiving up to 40 pages for $1.00.
• Genealogy Research Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• Children can build a personal library of up to 60 books through Imagination Library
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Lincoln County Public Library partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age 5 in Lincoln County. The worldwide program mails over 2.5 million books monthly and has gifted over 250 million books since 1995. LCPL helps enroll eligible children and promotes the program locally.
• Heart of Kentucky United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Heart of Kentucky United Way to create and maintain Born Learning Trails at First Southern Veterans Park and Logan-Hubble Park. Each trail features 10 interactive signs that turn walks into learning adventures for young children and families.
• Lincoln County Fiscal CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLC Fiscal Court partnered with LCPL on the Born Learning Trails project and provides ongoing financial support for library operations through tax funding approved by voters in 1967.
• Lincoln County Parks & RecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in hosting Born Learning Trails at First Southern Veterans Park and Logan-Hubble Park.
• Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDLA provides regional consultant support (Caleb Conover) and has historically supported the library with grants, bookmobiles, and demonstration programs. LCPL participates in Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) for digital resources.
• OverDrive / LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with OverDrive to provide Libby platform for borrowing thousands of eBooks and audiobooks. Read in browser or download Libby app for iOS and Android.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing instant access to eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, music, and magazines with no waitlists. Available through Hoopla app for Apple, Android, and Kindle Fire.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• OverDrive / Libby: A core technology vendor powering LCPL's eBook/audiobook lending through the Libby app; an upstream infrastructure provider whose pricing and product decisions directly shape LCPL's digital value proposition.
• Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA): The state agency providing consulting, grants, and shared infrastructure (KYVL) to LCPL; an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor but central to LCPL's operating model.

Direct peers

• Lexington Public Library: A Kentucky public library system serving a similarly state-funded population with comparable lending, digital, and programming offerings; the most direct in-state peer for benchmarking LCPL's operations.
• Boone County Public Library: A Kentucky county library of comparable size and tax-funded structure, providing a directly comparable operational benchmark in a similar suburban/rural Kentucky context.
• Pulaski County Public Library: A Kentucky county library system serving a similarly rural county with comparable lending and digital access models.
• Madison County Public Library (KY): Another Kentucky county library system operating a main branch plus outreach services in a comparable rural-adjacent community, relevant for benchmarking outreach programs like bookmobiles.
• Kenton County Public Library: A multi-branch Kentucky county library with similar tax funding model and community programming approach, useful for comparing scale and outreach economics.
• Boyle County Public Library: A small Kentucky county library in a geographically and demographically similar county; highly comparable to LCPL on scale, tax structure, and service mix.

Regional players

• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: A major regional library system in neighboring Ohio with extensive digital and outreach offerings; a useful adjacent benchmark for what LCPL's digital and home-delivery services could scale toward.

Broad incumbents

• Louisville Free Public Library: The largest public library system in Kentucky, offering a much broader portfolio (branches, special collections, maker spaces); a useful scale benchmark for what a mature Kentucky public library can become.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lincolncountypubliclibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolncountypubliclibrary/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Lincoln County Public Library