Glen Ellyn Public Library
Glen Ellyn Public Library is a municipal public library established in 1893 serving Glen Ellyn, Illinois, providing free books, digital resources, makerspace access, programming, and community services funded by public taxes and charitable donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1893
- HeadquartersGlen Ellyn, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Glen Ellyn Public Library does
Glen Ellyn Public Library (GEPL) is a municipal public library established in 1893, serving the residents of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, from its headquarters at 400 Duane Street. Operating as a government entity under Illinois library law and governed by a Board of Trustees (President Karen Volk, Executive Director Dawn Bussey), the library provides free access to physical and digital collections, community programming, makerspace facilities, and civic services to all cardholders. Core offerings include the SWAN Libraries catalog system, a comprehensive Digital Library portal (e-books, audiobooks, streaming via Libby/Hoopla/Kanopy, research databases), The Workshop makerspace, the Library of Things equipment lending program, mobile wallet library cards, and 24/7 holds pickup lockers at 65 S Park.
The library's technology infrastructure is built primarily on third-party platforms — SWAN Libraries for integrated library system functions, LibCal for booking, and various content providers — rather than proprietary systems. Unique service offerings include The Workshop (laser engraver, 3D printers, sublimation printer, large format printer, flight simulator), youth 3D printing services, a Seed Library, Dial-a-Story telephone service, passport services, exam proctoring, home delivery for homebound patrons, and the GEPL Anywhere outreach van. Distribution spans physical location, online catalog, lockers, mobile outreach, and home delivery within the single Glen Ellyn geography.
The revenue model is non-commercial: primary funding derives from municipal tax revenue, supplemented by charitable contributions from two affiliated 501(c)(3) organizations — the Friends of the Library (record $84,000 donation in 2026) and the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation (established 1998, endowment-funded, contributed $100,000 to The Workshop in 2023 and raised $250,000+ at Silver Ball 2023). Additional revenue includes community sponsorship of the Community Cupboard ($300+), gift books, naming opportunities ($250 to $5,000,000), and planned giving/charitable trusts. All library services are provided free to cardholders; the only retail activity is food service at The Cafe.
Glen Ellyn Public Library firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glen Ellyn Public Library
- Legal name
- Glen Ellyn Public Library
- Website
- https://gepl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1893
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Glen Ellyn Public Library is a municipal public library established in 1893 serving Glen Ellyn, Illinois, providing free books, digital resources, makerspace access, programming, and community services funded by public taxes and charitable donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Glen Ellyn Public Library industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (519210), 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), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Glen Ellyn Public Library is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glen Ellyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Glen Ellyn Public Library business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: Primary operational funding through public tax revenue, typical for public library systems in Illinois.
- Friends of the Library Donations: Annual giving campaign, used book sales, and Used Book Nook proceeds supplement the library budget for materials, programs, and literacy initiatives. Received $84,000 donation in 2026, the largest in organization history.
- Glen Ellyn Library Foundation Funding: Endowment-based fundraising organization that funds specific library projects and initiatives including Summer Reading sponsorship, The Workshop makerspace ($100,000 contribution in 2023), outreach van, and equipment purchases.
- Community Cupboard Sponsorship: Organizations can sponsor the free community cupboard for $300 or more in donations, with recognition on social media and with a sign during sponsorship month.
- Gift Books Program: Donations to purchase books in someone's name, with personalized bookplates.
- Naming Opportunities: Building naming opportunities ranging from $250 (brick paver) to $5,000,000 (building naming) through the Foundation.
- Planned Giving and Bequests: Accepts planned giving including charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, insurance policies, and qualified plan designations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Workshop equipment access - Free for cardholders |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Community Cupboard Sponsorship - $300+ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Library naming opportunities - $250 to $5,000,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Glen Ellyn Public Library product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glen Ellyn Public Library delivers free public library services to Glen Ellyn, Illinois residents through physical and digital collections, community programming for all age groups, makerspace equipment access, reservable meeting spaces, and specialty services including passport processing, exam proctoring, and Dial-a-Story telephone programming. The library operates as a municipal government entity with funding primarily from property taxes supplemented by donations from the Friends of the Library and the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation.
Product overview
Glen Ellyn Public Library provides public library services through an integrated system combining physical collections and spaces with digital resources. The core offerings include the SWAN Libraries Catalog for physical materials, a comprehensive Digital Library portal featuring third-party e-books, audiobooks, streaming services (Libby, Kanopy, Hoopla), and research databases. The library maintains physical spaces including The Workshop makerspace, meeting rooms, and the Cafe, alongside technology services such as computers, 3D printing, flight simulation, and mobile wallet library cards. The institution is supported by two charitable organizations: the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation (established 1998, maintains endowment) and the Friends of the Library (raises funds through book sales). Services extend to passport processing, home delivery, exam proctoring, and specialized collections including a Seed Library and Library of Things.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SWAN Libraries Catalog
Quantifiable outcome
- Largest donation in Friends of the Library history ($84,000 in 2026)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Glen Ellyn Public Library
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Glen Ellyn Public Library technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Glen Ellyn Public Library partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Glen Ellyn Library FoundationcoreIndependent nonprofit that builds an endowment and funds library projects. In 2026, funded the full cost of Summer Reading. Has contributed $100,000 for The Workshop makerspace (2023), $10,000 for outreach van contribution (2023), and ongoing project funding. Established in 1998.
- Friends of the LibrarycoreVolunteer organization dedicated to raising funds to supplement the library's annual budget for materials, programs, and literacy initiatives through annual giving campaigns, used book sales, and the Used Book Nook. Presented record $84,000 donation in May 2026. President: Katie Pielsticker.
- Go Green Glen EllynminorCommunity partner that donated an induction cooktop to the Library of Things. The donation supports the library's sustainability goals and allows cardholders to try induction cooking technology. Co-Founder and President Jacqueline Casazza and Director of Operations Angela Powell presented the gift to Executive Director Dawn Bussey.
- Metra UP-W Line Public LibrariesminorCollaboration of public libraries on the Union Pacific West line for The Next Stop: The Library advertising campaign on Metra train cars. Design created by Gabriela Denton, graphic designer at Oak Park Public Library.
- Glen Ellyn Park DistrictminorPartner for Storytime in the Park series, bringing library programming to park locations throughout the summer.
- Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA)minorReceived $1,000 Summer Reading Contribution from the Foundation in 2025 as part of community outreach.
- Ten Thousand VillagesminorReceived $1,000 Summer Reading Contribution from the Foundation in 2024.
- Dan Anderson (The Silver Ball Honoree)majorHonored at The Silver Ball 2023 fundraiser which raised over $250,000 for the library. The Silver Ball is the Foundation's signature annual fundraising event.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Glen Ellyn Public Library competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wheaton Public Library: Neighboring DuPage County public library with overlapping patron demographics and service mix, including community programming and maker services.
- Schaumburg Township District Library: Large suburban Illinois library district with comparable makerspace, multilingual programming, and digital resource investments; strong functional peer.
- Des Plaines Public Library: Nearby suburban Illinois public library with comparable demographics, community programming, and a recently expanded facility with maker/digital resources.
- Arlington Heights Memorial Library: Suburban Illinois public library of similar scale offering The Maker Place and digital services; serves as a strong comparator for GEPL's Workshop and Library of Things model.
- Naperville Public Library: Comparable Illinois public library serving a similar affluent suburban community with digital, maker, and community programming; directly comparable in scale and mission.
- Oak Park Public Library: Direct peer Illinois public library; collaborated with GEPL on the Next Stop: The Library Metra UP-W advertising campaign and shares a comparable suburban-municipal operating model with makerspace-style programming.
- Evanston Public Library: Illinois public library with a strong fundraising foundation, makerspace, and innovative programming; comparable in services breadth and donor-driven project funding.
- Skokie Public Library: Illinois public library recognized for innovation, makerspace offerings (DIGITAL Lab), and robust community programming; comparable in modernizing the public-library mission.
- Elmhurst Public Library: Neighboring DuPage-area public library with a similar suburban Illinois service profile, comparable funding model, and digital/maker offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Chicago Public Library: Largest Illinois public library system; overlaps with GEPL on digital lending, maker programming (Maker Lab at Harold Washington), and serves as the broader-incumbent benchmark for the state.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Glen Ellyn Public Library social profiles
Digital presenceGlen Ellyn Public Library financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glen Ellyn Public Library leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Glen Ellyn Public Library funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glen Ellyn 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 Glen Ellyn Public Library
What does Glen Ellyn Public Library do?
Glen Ellyn Public Library delivers free public library services to Glen Ellyn, Illinois residents through physical and digital collections, community programming for all age groups, makerspace equipment access, reservable meeting spaces, and specialty services including passport processing, exam proctoring, and Dial-a-Story telephone programming. The library operates as a municipal government entity with funding primarily from property taxes supplemented by donations from the Friends of the Library and the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation.
Is Glen Ellyn Public Library a public or private company?
Glen Ellyn Public Library is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Glen Ellyn Public Library founded?
Glen Ellyn Public Library was founded in 1893.
Where is Glen Ellyn Public Library based?
Glen Ellyn Public Library is headquartered in Glen Ellyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Glen Ellyn Public Library make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are friends of the Library Donations, glen Ellyn Library Foundation Funding, community Cupboard Sponsorship, gift Books Program, naming Opportunities and planned Giving and Bequests.
Who are Glen Ellyn Public Library's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wheaton Public Library, Schaumburg Township District Library, Des Plaines Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Naperville Public Library, Oak Park Public Library, Evanston Public Library, Skokie Public Library and Elmhurst Public Library. Chicago Public Library is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Glen Ellyn Public Library have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glen Ellyn Public Library.
What industry is Glen Ellyn Public Library in?
Glen Ellyn 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 519210 and its SIC code is 8200.