Ocean City Free Public Library

What Ocean City Free Public Library does

Ocean City Free Public Library (OCFPL) is a municipal public library located at 1735 Simpson Avenue in Ocean City, New Jersey. It serves Ocean City residents and the surrounding community through free access to physical and digital library materials, technology services, and educational programming. The library operates through the BiblioCommons platform for catalog management and patron engagement, with digital content delivered via partnerships with Libby (OverDrive), hoopla, Freegal Music, and Access Video, and research and learning resources provided through EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Brainfuse, Mango Languages, and Tutor.com.

OCFPL's service portfolio spans several core categories: physical collections (books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, graphic novels), digital library access (over 30,000 eBook and audiobook titles via Libby and hoopla), streaming media (movies, TV, music through hoopla and Freegal's 15+ million song catalog), research databases (news, genealogy, academic journals), online learning and test prep (SAT, GED, citizenship, language learning), and technology services including computer access, WiFi, 3D printing, hotspot and Chromebook lending, and remote printing. Community engagement is supported through Beanstack-managed reading challenges, the outdoor StoryWalk literacy program at Lake Memorial Park, museum pass lending to 20+ regional institutions, meeting room reservations, and a free homebound delivery service for eligible residents. Target segments include children (infants through 6th grade), teens (grades 6-12), adults, educators, and homebound patrons.

As a municipal nonprofit organization, OCFPL is funded primarily through public financing from local tax revenues, state library aid, and donations from the Friends & Volunteers of OCFPL supporting organization. It is also a member of the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC), which provides shared digital resources and a combined Libby eBook platform. All core services are provided free of charge to holders of a valid library card; nominal fees apply only to printing ($0.15/page). The library is privately classified as a private nonprofit entity that is not listed on any stock exchange. Specific operating budget, headcount, and patron count figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Ocean City Free Public Library

Legal name

Ocean City Free Public Library

Website

https://oceancitylibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean City Free Public Library is a municipal public library serving Ocean City, New Jersey residents and the surrounding community through free access to physical and digital collections, educational programs, technology services, and community resources via the BiblioCommons platform and partner digital services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAO

Public Libraries & Information Services

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

SECONDARYEDAEAGAC

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management

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

SECONDARYEDAAAFAA

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending
• Community programming
• Research databases
• Educational resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocean City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: As a municipal public library, OCFPL is primarily funded through public financing, likely from local tax revenues and government allocations. Services are provided free of charge to residents holding library cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ocean City Free Public Library is a municipal public library that provides free access to physical library materials (books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines) and digital content (eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video and music) through partnerships with OverDrive/Libby, hoopla, and Freegal Music. The library also offers research databases, online tutoring, computer and technology services, community programming, reading challenges, and museum pass lending. All services are provided at no cost to patrons holding a valid library card.

Product overview

Ocean City Free Public Library operates as a traditional public library offering a unified platform of physical and digital services. The core offering combines physical material borrowing (books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines) with a comprehensive digital library accessible through BiblioCommons-powered online catalog. Digital services are delivered through partnerships with OverDrive/Libby, hoopla, Freegal Music, NewsBank, and Access Video. Research and educational needs are served through extensive database subscriptions including EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Ancestry, and specialized platforms like Brainfuse for tutoring and Mango Languages for learning. The library also provides technology services including computer access, 3D printing, WiFi hotspot and Chromebook lending, and remote printing. Community engagement programs include reading challenges managed via Beanstack, the outdoor StoryWalk literacy program, museum pass lending, meeting room reservations, and homebound delivery services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Library Collections Traditional library borrowing services including books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, and graphic novels available for checkout from the physical library location. Available free of charge to library card holders.
• Digital Library (eBooks & eAudiobooks) Electronic books and audiobooks accessible through the OverDrive/Libby platform, featuring over 30,000 titles. Also available via hoopla for additional digital content. Accessible to library card holders free of charge.
• Streaming Media (Movies, TV, Music) Digital entertainment including movies and TV shows via hoopla and Access Video, and music streaming and downloads via Freegal Music with access to 15+ million songs. Available free with library card; hoopla has a borrow limit of 20 items per month, Freegal offers up to 3 hours streaming and 5 downloads per week.
• Research Databases Comprehensive suite of online research resources including academic journals, newspapers, genealogy databases, business research tools, and educational databases through EBSCOhost, ProQuest, NewsBank, Access Video, and Ancestry Library Edition. Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use only.
• Online Learning & Test Prep Educational resources including Brainfuse online tutoring (with HelpNow, JobNow, and VetNow services), Mango Languages for language learning, LearningExpress Library for test preparation (SAT, GED, citizenship), and Tutor.com for homework help and career support.
• Computer Center Public computer access with printing services ($0.15 per page), WiFi connectivity on the OCFPL network, and computer workshops on Friday mornings.
• Technology Lending Loaner technology including WiFi hotspots and Chromebooks available for patron borrowing from the reference desk.
• 3D Printing 3D printing services available for patron use at the library.
• Remote Printing Print documents from the internet, phone, tablet, or laptop for pickup at the library Computer Center.
• Curbside Pickup Contactless library material pickup service available Monday-Friday 9am-6pm for patrons unable to enter the library.
• Museum Passes Free admission passes to regional museums and attractions including Battleship New Jersey, Museum of the American Revolution, Please Touch Museum, and 17 other institutions. Available to eligible library patrons.
• Meeting Rooms Reservable meeting spaces for community groups and events, including a Quiet Study Room for individual or small group work.
• Homebound Library Delivery Free delivery service for homebound patrons living in Ocean City with a library account in good standing.
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Early literacy program encouraging parents to read 1,000 books to children before kindergarten. Self-paced with milestones and rewards.
• Beanstack Reading Challenges Digital platform for tracking reading challenges including summer reading, winter reading, and special reading programs. Patrons earn badges and prizes.
• StoryWalk Outdoor literacy activity featuring picture book pages displayed on laminated signs along a walking trail at Lake Memorial Park. Combines reading with outdoor activity and includes QR code scavenger hunts.
• Classes & Events Library programming including storytimes, author talks, virtual author talks, concerts, wellness programs, computer workshops, teen activities, and Zentangle art workshops.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOCFPL is a member of the SJRLC, which provides shared digital resources including a combined Libby website for eBooks and audiobooks, offering a larger selection of older titles and series.
• Friends & Volunteers of OCFPLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Friends & Volunteers organization supports the library through donations, volunteer services, and fundraising efforts. They accept book donations and help fund library programs and materials.
• BiblioCommonscoreTechnology or IntegrationThe library uses BiblioCommons as its primary platform for online catalog, patron accounts, event registration, and community engagement features.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean County Library: Large multi-branch county library system covering Ocean County adjacent to OCFPL's service area. Comparable in services offered but operates at materially larger scale across many branches.

Direct peers

• Margate City Public Library: Small shore-town municipal library minutes from Ocean City with overlapping patron base and similar program offerings. Direct peer based on geography, scale, and service profile.
• Wildwood Public Library: Cape May County municipal library serving another shore community with overlapping patron demographics and programming approach. Directly comparable municipal peer.
• Stone Harbor Library: Small borough public library in a Cape May County shore community with comparable scale, programs, and reliance on tourism-season patrons. Direct peer in size and service profile.
• Long Beach Island Library (Ocean County): Shore-community public library serving Long Beach Island with similar seasonal-residential patron base and municipal funding model. Direct peer in mission and target community.
• Ventnor City Public Library: Neighboring Atlantic County municipal library serving a similar shore-resident population. Comparable in funding model, hours, and breadth of digital and physical services.
• Atlantic City Free Public Library: Municipal public library serving a New Jersey shore community with comparable physical and digital lending, programming, and museum pass offerings. Closest direct comparable to OCFPL in terms of community size, governance model, and service mix.
• Avalon Free Public Library: Borough-level public library in a nearby Cape May County shore community serving a similar mix of year-round residents and seasonal visitors. Direct peer based on scale and service mix.
• Somers Point Public Library: Neighboring Atlantic County municipal library serving a similarly sized shore-adjacent community. Comparable in physical infrastructure, digital lending, and community programming.

Regional players

• Cape May County Library: County library system serving Cape May County including several shore towns adjacent to Ocean City. Comparable because it offers the same categories of services (lending, programming, digital content) at a regional rather than municipal scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocean-city-free-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Ocean City Free Public Library