Homer Public Library

What Homer Public Library does

Homer Public Library is a non-profit public library chartered to serve the Homer and broader Licking County, Ohio community, operating from a single 10,000+ square foot facility at 385 South Street NW in Utica, Ohio. Founded in 1895 as the Homer Library Association and relocated to its current site in 1970, the library has expanded through three building additions and the 2006 acquisition of the adjacent former Homer Volunteer Fire Department building. It holds a 35,000+ item physical collection (books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks), 7 public broadband computers, meeting room space, and maker resources including ukuleles, telescopes, and Wi-Fi hotspots, all provided free of charge to patrons.

The library's core technology stack is built on a SirsiDynix-based integrated library system (ohio.ent.sirsi.net) and integrates several third-party digital platforms: the Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive) for eBook and eAudiobook lending, Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning) for online skill development, the SEO Libraries mobile app (available on Google Play), and a suite of research databases including EBSCOhost (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier), Ancestry Library Edition, WorldBook, HeritageQuest, and Explora. It is a member of the SEO (Search Your Library) Consortium, providing interlibrary loan access to 100+ partner libraries, and operates specialty programming including the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library early-literacy program (in partnership with Friends of the Licking County Library), GetSetUp sessions for adults 55+, the Ukulele Association of Homer, LCAP monthly meals, and age-segmented summer reading challenges.

The library's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded by local tax revenue and government allocations, with all patron-facing services provided free of charge. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and operated by approximately 10 staff under Director Amie Hatfield. Distribution is through a single physical location, the SEO Libraries mobile app, and digital lending platforms, with no paid pricing tiers, advertising, or fee-based services. The GTM motion is community-led, with marketing conducted via website, monthly email newsletters, and four social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads).

Name

Homer Public Library

Legal name

Homer Public Library

Website

https://homer.lib.oh.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Homer Public Library is a non-profit public library in Utica, Ohio serving Homer and Licking County residents with free lending services, digital resources, research databases, and community programs. It operates a single 10,000+ sq ft facility with 35,000+ items, supported by SEO Consortium partnerships and tax-based funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Library Funding: Public library funded through local tax revenue and government allocations. Services are provided free of charge to community members. Library is part of the SEO (Search Your Library) Consortium which provides shared resources and digital content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Homer Public Library is a public, government-supported library that provides free access to physical and digital library materials, research databases, and online learning resources. It delivers community programming including early-childhood literacy initiatives (Dolly Parton's Imagination Library), storytimes, and educational events. Services are delivered in person at the library and through the SEO Libraries consortium mobile app, Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive), and web-based research and learning platforms.

Product overview

Homer Public Library offers a unified service platform centered on its physical library and digital catalog. The core offerings include the library catalog and borrowing services, a mobile app (SEO Libraries App) for on-the-go access, and the Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive) for eBooks and eAudiobooks. Supporting services include Research Databases (Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, WorldBook, Ancestry, HeritageQuest, and others), Lynda.com for online learning, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for early childhood literacy. The library also provides access to GetSetUp for adult online learning, community programs, and historical society resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Free monthly book gifting program for preschool children from birth until age five, sponsored in partnership with the Friends of the Licking County Library.

Products and services

• Library Catalog and Circulation Core lending service allowing patrons to borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, and other physical materials with a free library card.
• SEO Libraries Mobile App and Shared Catalog Mobile and online access to the SEO Libraries consortium catalog, allowing patrons to search collections and manage holds across member libraries.
• Ohio Digital Library (OverDrive) Digital lending of e-books, audiobooks, and digital media via the Ohio Digital Library powered by OverDrive.
• Research Databases Subscription research databases accessible with a library card for credible, authoritative research and learning.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Early-childhood literacy program mailing free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five in the service area.
• Online Learning Platforms (Lynda.com / GetSetUp) Free access for library cardholders to online learning platforms offering courses and skills training for adults and seniors.
• Community Programs and Storytimes In-person community programming including storytimes, educational events, and seasonal activities for children, families, and adults.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35,000 books and materials available
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of the Licking County LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Friends of the Licking County Library to co-sponsor Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program, providing free age-appropriate books monthly to preschool children from birth until age 5 in Licking County.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationFree book gifting program that mails a free age-appropriate book each month to enrolled preschool children from birth until their fifth birthday.
• SEO ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationSEO (Search Your Library) Consortium provides interlibrary loan services connecting Homer Public Library with 100+ other libraries, enabling patrons to access materials beyond local holdings.
• Ohio Digital Library / OverDrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Ohio Digital Library (powered by OverDrive) providing digital lending of eBooks and eAudiobooks accessible with library card.
• GetSetUpcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning community partnership for adults 55+ providing exercise and health topics. Weekly sessions held at library with Kathy. Free accounts available through library's recommended links.
• Licking County Aging Partners (LCAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly nutritious meal program held at the library on the 4th Friday of each month. LCAP provides lunch followed by Y on the Fly's fitness activity.
• Y on the FlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFitness activity partner providing exercise sessions at library following LCAP meal program on monthly basis.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• OverDrive: Digital content platform powering Ohio Digital Library, providing the eBook and eAudiobook lending infrastructure Homer patrons access. Functions as a vendor/enabler in Homer's service delivery rather than a peer, but is central to its digital offering.
• SEO Consortium (Serving Every Ohioan): Library consortium of which Homer is a member, providing shared catalog, interlibrary loan, and the SEO Libraries mobile app used by Homer. Functions as an enabling infrastructure partner rather than direct competitor, but central to the delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: Iconic public library system providing free lending, research, and community programming. Compares as a public library operator with similar core mission and free public access model, though operating at vastly greater scale and with research-tier special collections.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: Largest public library system in central Ohio. Comparable as a public library serving the broader Columbus region with overlapping SEO Consortium and Ohio Digital Library partnerships, but operates at much greater scale with multiple branches.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Major U.S. public library system offering lending, digital resources, and community programming comparable to Homer's service mix, though serving a vastly larger urban population with branch-network operations.
• Library of Congress: National library institution providing public access to collections, research databases, and historical materials. Compares on library operations and stewardship mission rather than scale, with overlapping cultural-heritage and research-database offerings.

Direct peers

• Pataskala Public Library: Small-town Ohio public library serving a similarly sized community in Licking County. Operates with comparable staffing scale, collection size, and Ohio Digital Library/SEO Consortium integration, making it a tight functional peer.
• Licking County Library: Operates public library branches throughout Licking County, Ohio—the same county Homer Public Library serves. Directly comparable as a county-level public library system with similar patron demographics, funding model, and consortium memberships.
• Granville Public Library: Small Ohio public library in a nearby Licking County-adjacent community. Comparable as a free public lending library with similar Ohio Digital Library participation, programming breadth, and tax-funding model.
• Newark Public Library (Ohio): Public library serving Newark, the seat of Licking County, in close geographic proximity to Homer. Operates similar collection lending, digital resources, and community programming as part of the same regional library ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HomerLibraryOH
• Facebookfacebook.com/HomerLibraryOH
• Instagraminstagram.com/homerlibraryoh

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 Homer Public Library