What Pickaway County Public Library does

Pickaway County Public Library (legal name: Pickaway County District Public Library) is a public library district organized under the Ohio Revised Code and headquartered at 1160 North Court Street in Circleville, Ohio. Established in 1873 and serving approximately 60,000 residents of Pickaway County, the library operates two physical locations (Main Library in Circleville and Floyd E. Younkin Branch in Ashville) plus a bookmobile that visits 11 rural communities across the county. With 38 staff members and an annual operating budget of approximately $2.3 million, the library provides free access to physical and digital collections, research databases, meeting rooms, notary services, home delivery for homebound patrons, and technology training. The library is a member of the Central Library Consortium (CLC), enabling shared catalog access and interlibrary cargo deliveries via the Polaris integrated library system.

The library's product portfolio spans physical materials (books, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, audiobooks), digital collections through Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby/OverDrive, and LinkedIn Learning, and 40+ subscription research databases. Technology infrastructure includes OPLIN-provided databases, OpenDNS content filtering, a public-facing website at pickawaylib.org, and integrations with Beanstack for reading program tracking. Specialized services include Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free monthly books for children ages 0-5), Educator Cards with Teacher Collections, StoryWalk outdoor reading trail, and the Guiding Ohio Online technology training program. The library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees and operates as a government_state_entity with no parent company or subsidiaries.

Revenue is derived primarily from local public tax appropriations, with the library functioning as a non-profit public entity rather than a commercial operation. Card registration is free for all Ohio residents, with only nominal fees for specific services ($1 for lost card replacement, suggested donations for Friends of the Library used book sales). Go-to-market is community-led, combining in-person services at two locations and a bookmobile, online self-service for card registration and digital content, and outreach programs including Imagination Library, home delivery, and Guiding Ohio Online. Marketing channels include the library website, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, a Mailchimp newsletter, and partnerships with schools, the Pickaway County Park District, and local civic organizations.

Name

Pickaway County Public Library

Legal name

Pickaway County District Public Library

Website

https://pickawaylib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pickaway County Public Library is a tax-funded public library district serving approximately 60,000 residents of Pickaway County, Ohio, through two physical locations and a bookmobile serving 11 communities, providing free books, digital collections, research databases, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community education resources
• Digital lending collections
• Children's literacy programs
• Research database access

Headquarters

HQ city

Circleville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding / Government Appropriation: Pickaway County Library is a public library district supported by public funding. The library has an annual operating budget of approximately $2.3 million, funded primarily through local public appropriations rather than direct user fees. Library cards are free to Ohio residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pickaway County Public Library provides free physical and digital library materials, including books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, magazines, eBooks, eAudio, music, and movies, to Ohio residents through library cards. The library operates two physical locations, a bookmobile serving 11 communities, and offers programs including research databases, meeting rooms, home delivery, technology training, notary services, children's literacy programs, and educator support services.

Product overview

Pickaway County Public Library operates as a dual-location public library system with a Main Library in Circleville and Floyd E. Younkin Branch in Ashville, plus a Bookmobile serving 11 communities. The library provides a unified service portfolio combining physical materials (books, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, audiobooks) through traditional checkout with extensive digital collections accessible via integrated platforms including Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby/OverDrive, and LinkedIn Learning. Core services include research databases, meeting room rentals, home delivery for homebound patrons, technology training through the Guiding Ohio Online program, notary services, and the StoryWalk outdoor reading trail. Special programs include Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for young children, Educator Cards with Teacher Collections for local educators, multiple adult book groups, and an annual Summer Reading program. The library is a member of the Central Library Consortium for resource sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Card Services Free library cards providing access to physical and digital materials. Multiple card types available including Full Access, Minor Full Access, Restricted, Homebound, Educator, and School Cards to address different patron needs. Free for all Ohio residents.
• Physical Library Materials Physical collection including 100,000+ volumes comprising books, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, and audiobooks available for checkout with a library card.
• Digital Collections (eCollections) Electronic content including eBooks, eAudio, music, movies, magazines, and newspapers available through Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby/OverDrive, and LinkedIn Learning platforms for 24/7 remote access.
• Research Databases Subscription research databases including America's News, Circleville Herald, Ohio Newspapers, Consumer Health Complete, Business Source Premier, Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, EBSCO, and 40+ other databases for academic and general research.
• Meeting Rooms Meeting space rentals at Main Library (Koch Meeting Room up to 70 people, Crites-Hannan spaces, Conference Rooms) and Younkin Branch (up to 20 people). Available during library hours at no charge for qualifying community groups.
• Home Delivery Monthly delivery of library materials (books, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, and audiobooks) to homebound patrons who cannot visit the library due to age or medical conditions. Materials selected specifically for the patron.
• Bookmobile Service Mobile library service visiting 11 communities including Ashville, Atlanta, Circleville, Commercial Point, Darbyville, Derby, New Holland, Orient, South Bloomfield, Tarlton, and Williamsport. Offers books, music, DVDs, and crafts. Patrons can pick up holds, browse, checkout, and return materials.
• Technology Training (Guiding Ohio Online) One-on-one technology instruction program providing 50-minute sessions on topics including Android/iPhone apps, computers, eReaders, Windows/iOS skills, internet navigation, and Microsoft Office. Funded by State Library of Ohio grant from IMLS.
• Notary Services Free notary services available at both Main Library and Younkin Branch Library. Requires valid government-issued photo ID and unsigned documents signed in notary's presence.
• StoryWalk Trail Outdoor reading trail at Metzger Preserve in Williamsport featuring 16 stations displaying pages from children's books along a half-mile flat, mowed trail. Created in partnership with Pickaway County Park District.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Free book delivery program for children ages birth through five. Children receive age-appropriate books mailed monthly to their homes. Enrollment results in 60 books by age five at no cost to families.
• Educator Cards and Services Special library cards for preschool-12th grade teachers, day care providers, and homeschool providers in Pickaway County. Includes Teacher Collections with materials on specified topics gathered by library staff for classroom use.
• Book Groups for Adults Multiple book discussion groups including Main Library Book Group (4th Wednesday), Younkin Branch Book Group (2nd Tuesday), and Read It and Steep! Book Group at Main Library (1st Thursday).

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million minutes of community reading recorded for Summer Reading
• +2 more outcomes

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

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickaway County Library administers Dolly Parton's Imagination Library locally, providing free monthly books to Pickaway County children ages 0-5. The program is funded through the Imagination Library Fund at the Pickaway County Community Foundation and local donors including Well Being Fund of PCCF, Friends of the Library, The Savings Bank, Noon Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, and South Central Power Foundation. The program sends one book per month per child at $26.50/year per child.
• Pickaway County Community Foundation (PCCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickaway County Library partners with the Pickaway County Community Foundation for fundraising and long-term financial stewardship. The Library Fund at PCCF accepts donations for long-term projects with strategic investment. The Imagination Library Fund at PCCF coordinates funding for the Imagination Library program. In January 2022, the library entered a 25-year lease with PCCF for space at 1170 N. Court Street for children and family educational purposes (Inspiration Station STEM facility).
• Pickaway County Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickaway County Library collaborated with the Pickaway County Park District to create a StoryWalk at Metzger Preserve in Williamsport. Funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The StoryWalk features the book 'We're Going on a Nature Hunt' displayed at 16 stations along a half-mile trail.
• Central Library Consortium (CLC)coreTechnology or IntegrationPickaway County Library is a member of the Central Library Consortium (CLC), sharing library cards and materials with other member libraries. The consortium's Polaris integrated library system (catalog.clcohio.org) enables shared catalog access, interlibrary cargo deliveries, and expanded digital collections via OverDrive. This enables patron access to overdrive content from CLC member libraries.
• Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)coreTechnology or IntegrationOPLIN provides technology infrastructure and databases for Ohio public libraries, including research databases (World Book, What Tree Is It?, What's That Snake?, What's the Point?, NoveList, Salem Press), internet filtering services (OpenDNS), and other shared digital resources accessible to Pickaway County Library patrons.
• Friends of the Pickaway County LibrarycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Friends of the Pickaway County Library is a volunteer organization that supports the library through book sales, memberships, and fundraising. They raise funds to sponsor library programs and provide volunteers. Used book sales are held June-September at Main Library. The library donates unsold or weeded materials to the Friends for resale.
• Berger Health System / OhioHealth Berger HospitalminorOthersFormer space-sharing arrangement. Berger Health System leased space in the library's Court Street building from 1998-2021, initially 17,000 sq ft of the 46,000 sq ft building, later returning 8,000 sq ft in 2010 and the remaining ~9,000 sq ft in October 2021. This return of space enabled library expansion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Clinton County Public Library (OH): Southwestern Ohio county library of comparable size and rural-suburban composition. Comparable in service mix, digital platform integrations, and community outreach programming.
• Madison County Public Library (OH): Central Ohio county library of comparable size and demographic profile. Shares Central Library Consortium membership and similar rural community service orientation.
• Fairfield County District Library: Adjacent Ohio county library district serving a similar population size and rural-suburban mix. Directly comparable in service portfolio, governance under Ohio Revised Code, and reliance on the Central Library Consortium.
• Fayette County Public Library (OH): Small Ohio county library system with similar scale of staff, budget, and service area. Directly comparable in operating model and community programming focus.
• Perry County District Library: Small Ohio district library with similar rural service area and population scale. Comparable in branch count, bookmobile operation, and tax-funded operating model.
• Ross County Public Library: Southern Ohio county library of comparable size and rural character. Comparable in physical branch footprint, bookmobile service, and digital collections model.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Largest library system in central Ohio, serving Franklin County with a much larger budget and footprint. Same state, same CLC consortium, and overlapping service geography with Pickaway County.
• Dayton Metro Library: Major Ohio metropolitan library system with broader service area and resources. Comparable in service portfolio (digital collections, events, outreach) but at substantially larger scale.
• Delaware County District Library: Adjacent central Ohio county library system with a larger budget and multiple branches. Shares CLC consortium membership and serves a similarly affluent commuter demographic.
• Cuyahoga County Public Library: One of the largest public library systems in the US, serving the Cleveland metro area. Shares Ohio public library governance model and provides a benchmark for scale and program depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pickawaylibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pickaway-County-Library-118668938159415
• Instagraminstagram.com/pickawaylibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Pickaway County Public Library