Lisbon Public Library
Lisbon Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1936 that serves Lisbon, Iowa and rural Linn County residents from a historic 1875 building, providing free lending collections, digital resources, public technology access, and cultural and literacy programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersLisbon, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lisbon Public Library does
Lisbon Public Library is a municipal public library located at 101 East Main Street in Lisbon, Iowa, founded in 1936 by the town's graduating class as a senior project. Operating from a historic 1875 brick building that is part of a downtown district listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2019), the institution serves residents of Lisbon (population 2,233 per the 2020 Census) and rural Linn County, Iowa. Its core function is providing free public access to curated lending collections, digital resources, public technology, and educational and cultural programs through a single physical location and 24/7 digital channels.
The library's service stack combines traditional lending (books, magazines, a unique cataloged costume collection) with digital platforms integrated via state and vendor partnerships: Biblionix for catalog and account management, Bridges/OverDrive and Hoopla for e-books, audiobooks, comics, music, and video, Kanopy for streaming (31,000+ titles), and Mometrix eLibrary for test preparation. The library is a participant node in the statewide IA Shares interlibrary loan network (launched January 2020), which provides twice-weekly delivery across all 543 Iowa public libraries through seven hubs and 35 routes. Programs include Heritage Hall cultural events, Reading Friends adult book club, summer reading, story time, puppet theater, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (serving ~450 children ages 0-5 in ZIP codes 52253 and 52314), and the CultureALL Open Book Program (launched August 2024).
The business model is non-commercial: primary funding is local tax appropriation, supplemented by nominal transaction fees ($2.00 outgoing fax, $0.10 per copy/print page), community donations, and grants from Humanities Iowa and the State Library of Iowa's Enrich Iowa program. The library is accredited by the State Library of Iowa (valid July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029), placing it among 416 of Iowa's 543 public libraries with this designation and qualifying it for higher Enrich Iowa compensation. Operations are supported by a volunteer 501(c)(3) — Friends of the Lisbon Public Library, incorporated May 2009 — which conducts fundraising and programming augmentation. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees led by Maria Hagan (President) and staffed by Director Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez (appointed February 2024).
Lisbon Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lisbon Public Library
- Legal name
- Lisbon Public Library
- Website
- https://lisbon.lib.ia.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lisbon Public Library is a municipal public library founded in 1936 that serves Lisbon, Iowa and rural Linn County residents from a historic 1875 building, providing free lending collections, digital resources, public technology access, and cultural and literacy programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lisbon Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921)
- 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-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)
Keywords
Where Lisbon Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisbon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lisbon Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Funding (Tax Revenue): As a public library, primary funding comes from local government taxation to support core operations, collections, and services.
- Fee-Based Services: Charges for outgoing faxes ($2.00) and copies/prints (10 cents per page) for patrons.
- Donations and Grants: Accepts donations from community members and receives grants from organizations such as Humanities Iowa and the State Library of Iowa's Enrich Iowa program. Accredited libraries receive higher compensation through this program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Library Card - All patrons including children age 10+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fax and Copy Services |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lisbon Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lisbon Public Library is a municipal public library that lends physical books and media, provides free public computer and WiFi access, and offers a broad digital lending collection of e-books, audiobooks, streaming video, and test prep materials through third-party platforms. It supplements lending with educational and cultural programming including story time, summer reading, puppet shows, book clubs, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early-literacy program, and Heritage Hall cultural events, supported by interlibrary loan access across the Iowa library system.
Product overview
Lisbon Public Library offers a comprehensive suite of services from its historic 1875 building in downtown Lisbon, Iowa. The library provides traditional lending services alongside an extensive digital resource ecosystem including Kanopy streaming video, Bridges (Overdrive) e-books and audiobooks, Hoopla Digital, and Mometrix test preparation materials. The library distinguishes itself through unique programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for early literacy, a one-of-a-kind costume lending collection, Heritage Hall cultural events venue, and regular puppet theater performances. Additional services include interlibrary loan through the statewide IA Shares network, computer and WiFi access, fax/copy services, and government information resources. The library is accredited by the State Library of Iowa through June 2029.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Library Lending Services Core lending service providing books, magazines, curated physical collections, and public computer/WiFi access to library card holders. Cardholders also receive free access to fax and notary services and meet library staff for reference assistance.
- IA Shares Interlibrary Loan Statewide interlibrary loan service that connects Lisbon Public Library patrons to materials from all 543 Iowa public libraries. Materials are delivered twice weekly through a network of seven hubs and 35 routes at no charge to the library or patron.
- Kanopy Streaming Video Streaming video service offering over 31,000 titles including movies, TV series, independent films, and documentaries from studios such as Warner Bros., MGM, BBC, Paramount Pictures, A24, The History Channel, A&E, The Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, and The Great Courses. Includes a Kanopy Kids section with parental controls. Accessible via Kanopy app on smart TVs and desktop to resident cardholders.
- Bridges Digital Collection (OverDrive) Digital lending service providing e-books, audiobooks, and magazines accessible through the Libby app on mobile devices or desktop browsers. Available to resident cardholders within city limits of Lisbon and rural Linn County, with library staff available to help patrons get started.
- Hoopla Digital All-in-one digital media platform providing access to e-books, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and television shows. Accessible via the hoopla app on phones, tablets, and televisions to resident cardholders.
- Mometrix eLibrary Online study resource providing flashcards, practice tests, and study guides for test preparation across foundational education, specialized trades, and advanced academic fields. Available to all Iowa residents; funded by Iowa Legislature appropriation.
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library Free book gifting program providing age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age five. Books are mailed directly to enrolled children in ZIP codes 52253 and Mt Vernon 52314 at no cost to families. Friends of the Library covers the cost of mailing, serving approximately 450 eligible children in the 0-5 age group in the service area.
- Costume Collection Lending collection of costumes cataloged and checked out to community members, unique among Iowa libraries. Available to library card holders.
- Summer Reading Program Annual literacy program for children during summer months featuring story time, reading logs, themed activities, and prizes designed to prevent summer learning loss ("summer slide"). Supported by Hills Bank, which has provided summer reading-themed tee shirts for over 25 years.
- Reading Friends Book Club Adult book discussion group meeting monthly on the fourth Monday, with copies of discussion books provided to participants. Open to adult community members.
- Puppet Shows Live puppet theater performances featuring professional puppeteers including Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, held at the library and community venues such as the Lincoln Square Park gazebo.
- Story Time Weekly story time sessions for children featuring reading, songs, and fingerplays, held at the library and outdoor locations including City Park and Lincoln Square gazebo.
- Heritage Hall Venue Second-floor performance and cultural event space in the historic library building, hosting concerts, theater productions, student recitals, and readings by local writers. Available for venue rental.
- Fax and Copy Services Patron service providing outgoing fax transmission at $2.00 per fax and copy/print service at 10 cents per page.
- Ask a Librarian Online question submission service allowing patrons to ask library staff questions and receive responses via the library's website.
- Human Library / Open Book Program Community storytelling program, in partnership with CultureALL, where individuals share personal experiences and life stories with participants in the style of The Human Library Project from Copenhagen. Program featured storytellers JJ Singh Kapur and Trevy Augustin; funded by a Humanities Iowa grant.
- eGovt Resources Curated online government information resources covering federal agencies, health, money/taxes, voting, immigration, jobs, and government assistance programs, accessible from the library's online resources page.
Quantifiable outcome
- Accreditation status valid July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 demonstrates compliance with State Library of Iowa standards in governance, staffing, collections, services, and facilities
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lisbon Public Library
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lisbon Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Lisbon Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- State Library of IowacoreState Library of Iowa administers the public library accreditation program and the Enrich Iowa program. Lisbon Public Library received accreditation valid July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Accredited libraries receive higher compensation through Enrich Iowa and a Certificate of Accreditation signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, State Librarian Brenda Hall, and Director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Mark Campbell.
- CultureALL (Open Book Program)minorPartnership to bring CultureAll's Open Book Program featuring storytellers JJ Singh Kapur and Trevy Augustin to the library. Program is inspired by The Human Library Project and creates connections through story sharing where 'people are books.' Funded by a Humanities Iowa grant.
- IA Shares (State Library of Iowa)coreIA Shares delivery service launched January 2020 by the State Library of Iowa. Provides free twice-weekly delivery of library materials to every public library in Iowa through a system of seven hubs and 35 routes. Each route serves 15-25 libraries. This enables Lisbon's interlibrary loan services at no charge to the library.
- Friends of the Lisbon Public LibrarycoreAll-volunteer nonprofit organization (501c3, EIN 271271468) organized in 2009 to promote the library through volunteerism, fundraising, and community outreach. Supports summer reading, Heritage Hall concerts, puppet shows, after school activities, Halloween Town, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Board members include Carol Daly (President), Cindy Light (VP), Marti Hurst (Secretary), Karen Kladivo (Treasurer), and others.
- KanopycoreStreaming video partnership providing instant access to over 31,000 popular videos, TV series, independent films, documentaries. Features titles from Warner Bros., MGM, BBC, Paramount Pictures, A24, The History Channel, A&E, The Criterion Collection. Kanopy Kids section available with parental controls. Library card holders create accounts to access content.
- OverDrive/BridgescoreDigital collection partnership providing e-books, audiobooks, and magazines through the Bridges platform. Accessible via Libby app on all devices. Library staff assist with getting started. Available to resident cardholders within city limits of Lisbon and rural Linn County.
- Hoopla DigitalcoreAll-in-one digital media platform providing access to over 1.5 million e-books, audiobooks, comics, music, movies and television shows. Accessible via app on phones, tablets, and televisions. Available to resident cardholders.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreFriends of the Library partnership to provide high-quality age-appropriate books to children from birth until age five. Children in 52253 and 52314 ZIP codes are eligible. Books are mailed monthly at no cost to families. Friends cover the cost of mailing. Approximately 450 children in the 0-5 age group are eligible in the service area.
- Hills BankminorLocal bank has provided summer reading-themed tee shirts for over 25 years to support the library's summer reading program.
- Eulenspiegel Puppet TheatreminorProfessional puppet company (founded 1975) headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa. Brought live puppet shows to Lisbon including performances at the Lincoln Square Park gazebo. Monica Leo founded the company and continues performing, inspiring library puppet programs.
- Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)minorFederal agency that supports the library under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lisbon Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Iowa City Public Library: A larger Iowa public library offering lending, robust digital collections, community programming, and meeting spaces. Comparable as an Iowa public-library operator on the same IA Shares network, though with materially larger scale and budget.
- Cedar Rapids Public Library: The largest public library in Linn County, Iowa, serving the Cedar Rapids metro area. Directly comparable as an Iowa public library offering lending, digital resources, interlibrary loan via IA Shares, children's programming, and community event spaces; relevant because it anchors the same IA Shares network Lisbon relies on and sets the regional benchmark for service standards.
- Anamosa Public Library: A small eastern-Iowa public library serving Anamosa and Jones County with similar scale, lending focus, and community-programming model. Comparable as a small Iowa public library competing for similar Enrich Iowa accreditation and IA Shares participation.
- Marion Public Library: A small-to-mid Linn County public library offering comparable lending, digital, children's programming, and IA Shares interlibrary loan services. Most directly comparable peer given shared county, shared IA Shares hub, and similar small-town operating model.
- Solon Public Library: A small Johnson/Linn-area Iowa public library of comparable size serving a similarly small rural-suburban community. Directly comparable in operating model, programming depth, and reliance on the IA Shares interlibrary loan network.
- Mount Vernon Public Library: A small Iowa public library in neighboring Mount Vernon (co-located in the same regional Imagination Library ZIP 52314). Comparable in scale, rural-community service profile, and program mix including children's and adult programming.
Others
- State Library of Iowa: The state agency that administers Iowa public library accreditation, Enrich Iowa, and IA Shares. Relevant as the umbrella governing body and primary funding/program partner for Lisbon, but not a direct competitor.
- OverDrive / Libby (Bridges Consortium): The digital-lending platform powering Lisbon's Bridges e-book and audiobook collection via the Libby app. Relevant as the underlying technology/vendor enabling Lisbon's digital services rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lisbon Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceLisbon Public Library compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Lisbon Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lisbon Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Lisbon Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lisbon 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 Lisbon Public Library
What does Lisbon Public Library do?
Lisbon Public Library is a municipal public library that lends physical books and media, provides free public computer and WiFi access, and offers a broad digital lending collection of e-books, audiobooks, streaming video, and test prep materials through third-party platforms. It supplements lending with educational and cultural programming including story time, summer reading, puppet shows, book clubs, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early-literacy program, and Heritage Hall cultural events, supported by interlibrary loan access across the Iowa library system.
Is Lisbon Public Library a public or private company?
Lisbon Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Lisbon Public Library founded?
Lisbon Public Library was founded in 1936. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lisbon Public Library based?
Lisbon Public Library is headquartered in Lisbon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lisbon Public Library make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Funding (Tax Revenue) is the primary driver. The others are fee-Based Services and donations and Grants.
Who are Lisbon Public Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Iowa City Public Library, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Anamosa Public Library, Marion Public Library, Solon Public Library and Mount Vernon Public Library. Others are State Library of Iowa and OverDrive / Libby (Bridges Consortium).
Does Lisbon Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lisbon Public Library.
What industry is Lisbon Public Library in?
Lisbon 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.