Hoover Public Library

What Hoover Public Library does

Hoover Public Library is a municipal public library operated by the City of Hoover, Alabama, and operating as a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative — a 42-library system that enables shared catalog access and reciprocal borrowing privileges across Jefferson County. The library delivers traditional lending services, digital content access, community programming across all age groups, performing arts, and government services, primarily to residents of Hoover and Jefferson County (with non-resident cards available for an annual $50 fee). It is the only single-unit library in Alabama ranked among the top four for circulation, holding the single highest circulation rate within the cooperative.

The library's service stack rests on a digital platform anchored by a custom mobile application (iOS/Android) that supports catalog search, account access, holds, program registration, meeting room reservations, and self-checkout, integrated with the IIIVEGA catalog system and Communico event management. Third-party digital content is delivered through Libby/OverDrive (ebooks and audiobooks), Hoopla (over 800,000 titles across ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, comics, and TV), Kanopy (streaming video), Mango Languages (87 languages), and Beanstack (Summer Reading tracking). Physical service infrastructure includes the main building (200 Municipal Dr.), the Lee Branch at East 59 Cafe (701 Doug Baker Blvd #103, Birmingham), six book drops, 14 Little Free Libraries, curbside pickup, accessibility services (Kulture City certified, ADA Title II compliant), and a SmartAlec print release system.

The library's revenue model is predominantly funded by public/government sources as a non-taxable non-profit government entity; free membership for Hoover and Jefferson County residents is the dominant offering. Ancillary revenue streams are transactional and immaterial in scale: passport acceptance services ($35 fee plus optional $15 photo and $31.06 express mail), copy and print services ($0.10 black-and-white per side, $0.50 color per side), microfilm scans ($0.10 per page), and quarterly book sales conducted by the Friends of the Library that fund programming and acquisitions. Operating costs are supported by the City of Hoover and through the Hoover Library Foundation and Friends organization, with Amanda Borden serving as Library Director.

Name

Hoover Public Library

Legal name

Hoover Public Library

Website

https://hooverlibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hoover Public Library is a municipal library in Hoover, Alabama, providing free lending collections, digital media, community programs, performing arts, and government services to residents as part of the 42-library Jefferson County Cooperative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEAGAC

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)

SECONDARYEDAEAGAL

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support)

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

SECONDARYBPAIACAO

Public Libraries & Information Services

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

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community education programs
• Digital media lending
• Research databases
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Hoover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Services: Free public library services funded by public/government sources. Free membership for Hoover and Jefferson County residents. Non-resident annual cards available for $50.
2. Passport Services: U.S. Department of State passport acceptance facility. Charges $35 acceptance fee plus optional $15 passport photo and $31.06 express mail.
3. Copy and Print Services: Black and white copies at $0.10 per side, color copies at $0.50 per side. Microfilm scans at $0.10 per page.
4. Friends of the Library Book Sales: Friends group conducts quarterly book sales. Proceeds fund library programming and material acquisitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hoover Public Library is a municipal public library that provides free lending of physical and digital materials (books, ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music), research databases, programs for all ages (storytimes, book clubs, author events), study and meeting room reservations, curbside pickup, performing arts at The Library Theatre, an annual Southern Voices Conference, gallery exhibitions, passport acceptance services, copy/print services, and accessibility services for patrons with disabilities. Services are delivered via a main library, a satellite Lee Branch location inside East 59 Cafe, mobile apps, and community outreach across Hoover and Jefferson County.

Product overview

Hoover Public Library is a public library system offering a comprehensive digital and physical service ecosystem. The core digital infrastructure centers on a mobile app (iOS/Android) for catalog access, account management, and self-checkout, integrated with multiple third-party content platforms including Libby (ebooks/audiobooks), Hoopla (streaming media), Kanopy (streaming video), and Mango Languages (language learning). The library also provides Beanstack for reading challenges and SmartAlec for remote printing. Physical services include traditional borrowing, meeting/study rooms, curbside pickup, passport services, and community outreach. Specialized offerings include the Library Theatre performing arts venue, Southern Voices Conference, HPL Galleries exhibitions, multiple book clubs, and comprehensive accessibility services. The library operates as part of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative with a Lee Branch remote location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Library Theatre: World-class performing arts center presenting music, drama, dance and eclectic events, located on the Lower Level of the Hoover Library
• Southern Voices Conference
• HPL Galleries
• Lee Branch Library in a Café

Products and services

• Hoover Public Library Mobile App Mobile application for Android and iOS enabling patrons to search the catalog, download digital content, renew items, place holds, register for programs, reserve meeting rooms, access accounts, and self-checkout materials.
• The Library Theatre World-class performing arts center located on the Lower Level of the Hoover Public Library presenting music, drama, dance, and eclectic events featuring Grammy-winning artists and National Tour productions.
• Passport Acceptance Services Official U.S. Department of State passport acceptance facility providing passport applications, photos, and express mail processing with $35 acceptance fee, optional $15 passport photo, and optional $31.06 express mail return.
• Study and Meeting Rooms Individual and group study rooms available for reservation up to 2 hours per day, plus larger meeting rooms for educational, cultural, and civic events hosted at the library.
• Curbside Pickup Contactless pickup service allowing patrons to reserve materials online and schedule appointments for contactless collection at the library entrance.
• Southern Voices Conference Annual celebration of writing, music, and art bringing together artists, writers, editors, and public figures for dialogue on Southern culture and the arts.
• HPL Galleries Visual arts exhibition and education program connecting the library community with artists and arts educators through rotating gallery displays.
• Book Clubs Multiple book discussion groups including Beyond Words, NovelTea, True Crime Book Club, and Insatiable Readers, serving a range of reading interests and age groups.
• Accessibility Services Comprehensive accessibility offerings including wheelchair/walker lending, large print books, audiobooks, hearing loops in the Library Theatre, Kulture City sensory certification with sensory tools and Family Room, and partnership with Alabama Regional Library for the Blind for special-format materials.
• Culture Pass Program Partnership program with Alabama Symphony Orchestra providing free vouchers to Masterworks and Coffee Concert series performances at the Alys Stephens Center, with 10 vouchers available per performance for the 2025-26 season.
• Copy and Print Services Self-service black and white copies at $0.10 per side and color copies at $0.50 per side (8.5x11 letter and 11x14 legal sizes), plus microfilm scans at $0.10 per page. Includes mobile printing via SmartAlec Print Release Stations.
• Remote Services Off-site library services including six book drops throughout Hoover (Inverness Fire Station #7, Greystone Elementary, Public Safety Center, Bluff Park, Ross Bridge Fire Station #10, and Hoover MET), the Lee Branch pickup location at East 59 Cafe, and 14 Little Free Libraries at apartment complexes and green spaces citywide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 4th in circulation among Alabama libraries (single highest rate in Jefferson County Cooperative of 42 libraries)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jefferson County Library CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoover Public Library is part of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, a system of 42 libraries. This partnership enables shared catalog access, inter-library loans, and reciprocal borrowing privileges across the county.
• Friends of the Hoover LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer support organization established in 1982 that provides funding for library projects, activities, and acquisitions. Conducts quarterly book sales and sponsors Summer Reading programs and Southern Voices Conference.
• Alabama Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulture Pass partnership providing 10 vouchers per Masterworks and Coffee Concert series performance at the Alys Stephens Center for the 2025-26 season. Vouchers available two weeks before performances.
• Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically HandicappedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with APLS in Montgomery to provide special format reading materials and playback equipment for patrons with visual or physical disabilities.
• FIDOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that trained Libby, the facility dog working at the library to provide comfort and positive interactions with patrons.
• CommunicocoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent management platform provider powering the library's events calendar, room reservations, and event registration system.
• East 59 CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLee Branch location operating within the cafe space at 701 Doug Baker Blvd #103, offering holds pickup and grab-and-go book selections.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Montgomery City-County Public Library: Combined city-county public library system serving Alabama's capital region. Comparable as a public-sector library offering traditional lending, digital platforms, and community programming in the same state.
• Huntsville-Madison County Public Library: Regional public library system serving another major Alabama metro area. Comparable as a county-level library system offering lending, digital content, and community programming, though geographically distinct from Hoover's service area.
• Birmingham Public Library: The principal public library system serving neighboring Birmingham, Alabama. Directly comparable in mission, scale of services, and municipal funding structure, but operating in the adjacent city within the same Jefferson County region.

Others

• Digital Public Library of America: A nonprofit aggregator that connects patrons to digital collections across U.S. libraries. Comparable as a peer in the public library ecosystem, especially relevant to Hoover's digital lending strategy, though it does not directly compete for patrons.
• Jefferson County Library Cooperative: The 42-library consortium that Hoover Public Library belongs to. Directly comparable as the umbrella governing body providing shared catalog, reciprocal borrowing, and inter-library loan services that shape Hoover's offering.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: One of the largest public library systems in the U.S., offering lending, research, exhibitions, and community programs. Comparable as a broad public library incumbent, though at vastly larger scale than Hoover.
• Los Angeles Public Library: Large U.S. public library system with extensive branch network, digital services, and cultural programming. Comparable in mission and service mix (lending, digital, cultural, civic services), though significantly larger and more urban.
• Seattle Public Library: Large U.S. public library system recognized for digital innovation, programming, and modern facilities. Comparable in blending traditional library services with strong cultural and technology offerings.
• Chicago Public Library: Major U.S. urban public library system with deep digital, cultural, and educational programming. Comparable in breadth of services including digital lending, makerspaces, and community engagement, but at metropolitan scale.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Major borough-level public library system offering lending, education, and cultural programming. Comparable as a community-anchored public library with strong digital and cultural programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HooverPublicLibrary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hoover Public Library