Hedberg Public Library

What Hedberg Public Library does

Hedberg Public Library is a municipal public library serving Janesville and surrounding areas in Rock County, Wisconsin. The library operates from its main branch at 316 South Main Street and a second branch, HPL Express, at 2500 Milton Avenue, supplemented by a Bookmobile and a Hedberg@Home materials-delivery service for homebound patrons. HPL is governed by a Library Board of Trustees and functions as a public-service institution rather than a commercial enterprise.

HPL's core product is free public access to information, literacy programming, and community gathering space. Physical offerings include traditional book and media lending, a Lab 316 Makerspace, 3D printing, accessibility equipment including a Merlin LCD video magnifier and Memory Activity Kits, and a Library of Things lending program for non-traditional items (EMF meters, ghost-hunting kits, experience passes). Digital services are delivered through standard public-library platforms: Libby/OverDrive for ebooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, and the SHARE Libraries consortium catalog. Recurring programming spans storytimes, book clubs, a Summer Library Challenge, the HPL Book Fest, and events targeted at children, teens, adults, seniors, teachers, and small-business owners.

HPL's economic model is a hybrid of municipal tax appropriations, private donations, and foundation/grant funding rather than a market-priced revenue model. Services are free to patrons (it went fines-free effective September 1, 2024). Supplemental revenue is generated through The Ground Floor used bookstore and gift shop (Friends of HPL), annual HPL Foundation events such as "A Night at the Library," and grants from Carnegie Corporation, IMLS ARPML, Prairie Lakes Library System, and community partners such as JM4C. The library's customer base is the general Janesville-area public plus targeted sub-segments: K-12 teachers (Teacher Cards), homebound seniors, and local entrepreneurs.

Name

Hedberg Public Library

Legal name

Hedberg Public Library

Website

https://hedbergpubliclibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hedberg Public Library is a municipal public library serving Janesville, Wisconsin with two branches, a Bookmobile, home-delivery, makerspace, and digital lending platforms; it is funded primarily by local tax appropriations with supplemental foundation, donation, and grant income, and serves children, teens, adults, seniors, educators, and local entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Book lending
• Community programming
• Reference services
• Digital library resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Janesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: Primary operational funding from local government tax revenues
2. Private Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting library programs and services
3. Carnegie Corporation Grant: $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York for specific initiatives
4. Friends of HPL Revenue: Sales from The Ground Floor used bookstore and gift shop, plus membership dues
5. Foundation Fundraising: HPL Foundation raises funds through annual events including A Night at the Library murder mystery fundraiser
6. Government & Private Grants: Funding from IMLS ARPML grants, Prairie Lakes Library System, and community organizations like JM4C

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hedberg Public Library is a public library providing community members with free access to information resources, including physical and digital materials lending, reference assistance, literacy and educational programming, and community meeting space. It operates as a publicly funded institution serving local residents. No source-supported specifics about operating hours, collection, or programming were evidenced in the input.

Product overview

Hedberg Public Library operates as a traditional public library with a broad range of physical and digital services. The library's core offerings include a traditional catalog of books, media, and materials, enhanced by specialized programs like the Library of Things (lending non-traditional items), Lab 316 makerspace, and a Bookmobile service. Digital access is provided through Libby/OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, and various databases including Consumer Reports, LinkedIn Learning, and EBSCO resources. Accessibility services include Memory Activity Kits, a Merlin LCD video magnifier, and Hedberg@Home materials delivery. The library also offers community programming including book clubs, the annual Summer Library Challenge, and HPL Book Fest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HPL Express: Branch location of Hedberg Public Library serving the Janesville community

Quantifiable outcome

• Record 1,739 participants in 2025 Summer Library Challenge
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prairie Lakes Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHPL is a member of the Prairie Lakes Library System, a consortium that provides shared digital resources, catalog access, and collective purchasing power for member libraries across Wisconsin.
• Rotary Botanical GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Experience Passes allowing HPL cardholders to check out family passes for admission to Rotary Botanical Gardens.
• Rock Valley Community Program (RVCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership expanded the Hedberg@Home materials delivery program to reach more patrons unable to visit the library.
• Rock County Aging & Disability Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for monthly Memory Cafés serving individuals with early-stage memory loss or dementia and their caregivers.
• School District of JanesvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Teacher Open House allows teachers to earn professional development credit while learning about library resources. Library issues Teacher Cards for extended checkout.
• Friends of Hedberg Public LibrarycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit organization that raises funds through memberships, fundraisers, and The Ground Floor used bookstore. Provides volunteer support and advocacy.
• St. Elizabeth HomeminorOthersDonated Merlin LCD video magnifier to expand HPL's accessibility resources. St. Elizabeth Home is also a Hedberg@Home materials delivery site.
• Rock County Nutrition & Health Associates (WIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts monthly Breastfeeding Village program providing education and community support for new mothers.
• JATVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal access television station that records and provides access to library programs including America 250 - Rock County series.
• City of JanesvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Sustainable Living Fair, Park Place Views appearances, and community resource events. Library receives municipal funding.
• Janesville Mobilizing 4 Change (JM4C)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition providing grant funding that supports library programs including game nights and summer reading initiatives.
• Janesville Chapter Daughters of the American RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership to host the Patriots of the American Revolution: Their Legacies in Wisconsin exhibit.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Waukesha Public Library: Wisconsin public library providing parallel services — physical collection, digital lending, children's/teen programming, and accessibility resources — to a similarly sized community.
• Kenosha Public Library: Mid-size Wisconsin public library operating multiple branches and offering similar digital lending (OverDrive/Libby), programming, and community partnerships in a comparable municipality.
• Madison Public Library: Wisconsin-based public library system serving a similar demographic mix with comparable physical-branch + bookmobile distribution, makerspace programming, and membership in a library consortium (LINKcat/South Central).
• Beloit Public Library: Public library in Beloit, WI, also located in Rock County and serving a comparable mid-size Wisconsin community with similar programming, maker/loans-of-things initiatives, and municipal funding model.
• Racine Public Library: Wisconsin public library comparable in scale and structure, operating with municipal funding, multiple branches, makerspace/digital services, and community programming akin to Hedberg's offerings.

Others

• Prairie Lakes Library System: Wisconsin library consortium of which HPL is a member, providing shared catalog (SHARE), e-resources, and collective purchasing — functions as upstream ecosystem/partner rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Milwaukee Public Library: Largest Wisconsin public library system, offering overlapping core services (branch network, makerspaces, digital lending, community partnerships) at broader scale; relevant benchmark for operational scope and programming.

Regional players

• Rockford Public Library: Public library serving Rockford, IL — geographically adjacent to Hedberg's service area and operating with similar mid-size city programming, branch network, and library-system partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HedbergPublicLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hedberg-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 Hedberg Public Library