Goshen Public Library

What Goshen Public Library does

Goshen Public Library (GPL) is a non-profit municipal public library established in 1903 and located at 601 South 5th Street in Goshen, Indiana. It provides free lending collections, digital resources, educational programs, and community services to residents of Goshen and Elkhart Township. The library operates a single physical location with standard public library hours and serves all age groups through programs including early childhood literacy (Little Wonders, Baby & Me Lapsit, Literacy Lab tutoring for ages 3-8), teen services (Teen Cafe, Anime Club, Read That Book Club), and adult offerings (book clubs, digital learning classes, virtual author events, homebound delivery). The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and is primarily funded through local government tax revenue, with supplementary income from non-resident library card fees, donations, and Friends of GPL fundraising.

GPL's core technology stack consists of conventional library infrastructure rather than proprietary technology. It runs the Polaris integrated library system (shared across Elkhart County), and integrates with a portfolio of third-party digital content and learning platforms including OverDrive/Libby (via the Indiana Digital Library consortium of 200+ libraries), Hoopla, Kanopy PLUS, Brainfuse HelpNow for tutoring, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, LOTE4Kids, Chilton Library, and Beanstack for reading program tracking. The library does not develop proprietary technology and has no AI/ML capabilities. Products include the physical and digital catalog, free Literacy Lab tutoring, storytime programs, the Summer Reading Program, Teen Cafe, Anime Club, Adult Book Club Kits, board game lending, virtual author events, homebound services, meeting room rentals, and interlibrary loan.

GPL's business model is a tax-funded public service model rather than a commercial revenue model. Library services are free for Goshen and Elkhart Township residents; non-residents may purchase library cards at a fee. Go-to-market is community-led: the library reaches constituents through its physical location, a 24/7 online catalog, mobile-accessible digital platforms, a multi-channel social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Goodreads), email newsletters, community partnerships (Oaklawn PATH, Goshen Community Schools, Council on Aging), and grassroots outreach including book giveaways at parks during free school lunches. Customer segments span five horizontal personas — children, teens, adults, homebound individuals, and educators — with no enterprise concentration.

Name

Goshen Public Library

Legal name

Goshen Public Library

Website

https://goshenpl.lib.in.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Goshen Public Library is a non-profit municipal public library in Goshen, Indiana, founded in 1903. It provides free lending collections, digital resources, tutoring, and community programs to Goshen and Elkhart Township residents of all ages, funded primarily by local tax revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Educational Services (611)

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), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Digital Reading Content & eBooks (Leveled Readers, Libraries) (EDAFACAH), Language Content Libraries & Digital Readers (Leveled Readers, Graded Content) (EDAFAOAM)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital media lending
• Children's literacy programs
• Community education outreach
• Reference and research resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Goshen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: As a public library, Goshen Public Library is primarily funded through local government tax revenue and is free to use for residents. Non-residents may purchase library cards for a fee. The library also accepts donations from the public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Goshen Public Library is a municipal public library system that provides free lending of physical and digital media collections, educational programs, tutoring, and community resources to residents of Goshen and Elkhart Township, Indiana. Core offerings include a physical catalog, digital media platforms (OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy), children's literacy programs such as the Literacy Lab and Little Wonders storytime, the annual Summer Reading Program, teen programs, adult book clubs, virtual author events, meeting room rentals, interlibrary loan, and homebound delivery services.

Product overview

Goshen Public Library provides public library services as a single-location library system in Goshen, Indiana. The library offers a unified core service combining physical and digital collections, with digital content accessed through multiple platforms including OverDrive/Libby (Indiana Digital Library consortium), Hoopla, and Kanopy PLUS. Educational programs include the free Literacy Lab tutoring for young readers, storytime programs (Little Wonders, Baby & Me Lapsit), and seasonal Summer Reading Program using Beanstack tracking. Teen services feature Teen Cafe and Anime Club, while adults access book clubs, Adult Book Club Kits, Virtual Author Events, and genealogy resources. Additional services include board game lending, meeting room rentals, print/scan/fax services, interlibrary loan, and homebound delivery. The library integrates with external platforms including Brainfuse HelpNow for tutoring, LinkedIn Learning for courses, Mango Languages and LOTE4Kids for language learning, and Chilton Library for automotive reference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog (Polaris)

Quantifiable outcome

• Free tutoring for children ages 3-8 in reading skills
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OaklawncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATH (Projects for Assistance in the Transition from Homelessness) program partnership providing weekly walk-in hours at the library for people experiencing homelessness with mental illness and/or substance use issues. The library provides space and collaborative environment for outreach services.
• Library Speakers ConsortiumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to provide virtual author talks with bestselling authors and thought leaders. The library offers these events free to the community through this consortium.
• Indiana Digital Library (IDL)coreTechnology or IntegrationGPL is a member of Indiana Digital Library (IDL), a statewide OverDrive collection offering ebooks, eaudiobooks, digital magazines, and videos from 200+ Indiana libraries.
• Local Business Sponsors (Summer Reading)minorGTM or Marketing Partner30+ local businesses donate prizes and sponsorship for Summer Reading program including gift cards, books, LEGO sets, and experience prizes. Includes Catitude Cafe, Coffee Depot, Fables, Jimmy John's, and many others.
• Elkhart County Parks DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Family Nature Night program bringing local creatures and wildlife education to library events.
• Goshen Community SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership for Summer Reading book giveaways at Pringle Park during free school lunches, reaching children ages 0-18.
• Goshen Printmakers GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for printmaking workshops and crafts, with the guild's studio located nearby at 213 S Main St.
• Nest and Grow Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization co-hosting Dad Group and Working Mom Group support gatherings at the library.
• Council on Aging of Elkhart CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly social gatherings for older adults at the library, providing community connection and information resources.
• BrainfusecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline homework help and tutoring platform available 24/7 with Spanish-speaking tutors available. GPL card holders get access to personalized homework help in core subjects.
• Friends of Goshen Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer organization that supports library programs and book sales. Major sponsor of Summer Reading prizes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• OverDrive: Digital lending platform provider that supplies Goshen Public Library's core ebook/eaudiobook infrastructure via the Indiana Digital Library consortium. Not a competing library but a foundational technology peer and ecosystem dependency.
• Hoopla: Digital media lending platform integrated into GPL's collection offering ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and comics to library cardholders. Direct technology supplier rather than a competitor.
• Kanopy: Streaming video service used by Goshen Public Library to provide patrons access to films and documentaries. Comparable curated-content positioning within a library context.
• Brainfuse: Online tutoring and homework-help platform that powers Goshen Public Library's Brainfuse HelpNow service. Comparable capability offering to one of GPL's core educational programs.

Regional players

• St. Joseph County Public Library: South Bend-area Indiana public library system with multiple branches. Larger geographic footprint but analogous community-library mission, programming model, and Indiana Digital Library consortium membership.
• Allen County Public Library: Fort Wayne, Indiana public library system, the largest in the state by collection size. Comparable public-library funding model, similar digital platform stack (OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy), and parallel programming emphasis.

Direct peers

• Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library: Nearby Indiana public library of similar scale serving Penn Township and Mishawaka. Comparable program breadth (children's, teen, adult), digital platform offerings, and municipal tax-funding model.
• Elkhart Public Library: Elkhart County, Indiana public library sharing the same Polaris catalog system and consortium (EPL serves as Goshen's catalog host at pac.elkhart.lib.in.us). Comparable size, single-location model, similar demographics and digital platform mix.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Public Library: Major U.S. urban public library with the same core mission (free public access, digital lending via OverDrive, educational programming, community partnerships) but at metropolitan scale with 80+ branches.
• Indianapolis Public Library: Large multi-branch urban public library in Indiana offering similar core services (circulation, digital lending, tutoring partnerships, community programs) but at substantially greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/293781190324
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goshen-public-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/goshenpl
• TikToktiktok.com/@goshenpl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Goshen Public Library