eldredge public library

What eldredge public library does

Eldredge Public Library is a municipally funded nonprofit public library located at 564 Main Street in Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. It provides free access to physical and digital library materials, reference and genealogy research services, programs for children, young adults, and adults, assistive technologies for visually impaired patrons, museum passes, and meeting room facilities. The library operates as a member of the CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Material Sharing) regional network and the statewide Commonwealth Catalog, enabling inter-library loan and shared catalog access across Cape Cod, the Islands, and participating Massachusetts libraries. Digital content is delivered through third-party platforms including OverDrive/Libby, Commonwealth eBooks (LEA), and Hoopla.

The library's business model is publicly funded: core services are provided free of charge to library card holders, with revenue derived primarily from Town of Chatham municipal tax appropriations supplemented by donations (Annual Fund, Memorial/Honor gifts, Friends Membership contributions), proceeds from recurring Friends of the Library book sales, and suggested $10 donations for Learning Series educational courses. The organization is supported by the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library, a separate nonprofit that sponsors programs, equipment purchases, and fundraising events. A volunteer-based homebound delivery service extends materials access to residents unable to visit in person.

Customer segments span the general public of Chatham and surrounding Cape Cod communities, with targeted outreach to children and families, young adults, homebound and disabled patrons, and researchers/genealogists. Distribution channels include the physical library, the CLAMS online catalog, the OverDrive/Libby digital platform, and volunteer home delivery. Strategic partnerships with CLAMS, Commonwealth Catalog, OverDrive, Boston Public Library (Reference Department), Perkins School for the Blind, Brooks Free Library (VITAL program), and the Friends organization underpin both service breadth and accessibility.

Name

eldredge public library

Legal name

Eldredge Public Library

Website

https://eldredgelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Eldredge Public Library is a municipally funded nonprofit public library in Chatham, Massachusetts, providing free access to physical and digital materials, reference and genealogy services, programs, assistive technologies, and homebound delivery to Chatham residents and Cape Cod visitors via the CLAMS regional network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Library catalog systems
• Interlibrary loan services
• Digital media lending
• Community education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatham

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Funding: Public library funded primarily through municipal tax support, providing free services to all community members
2. Donations and Annual Fund: Accepts donations through Annual Fund, Memorial/Honor gifts, and Friends Membership contributions to support library programs and equipment
3. Book Sale Proceeds: Friends of the Library book sales generate revenue for library equipment and programs. Proceeds go directly to purchasing equipment and supporting programs for all ages
4. Learning Series Donations: Fall and spring educational courses open to public at suggested $10 donation per course, with net proceeds supporting the library

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eldredge Public Library provides free library materials, research resources, technology access, and educational programs to the Chatham, Massachusetts community. Its core offering is a unified catalog and lending system powered by the CLAMS regional network, providing patrons access to physical materials, eBooks, audiobooks, and digital downloads. Supporting services include reference and genealogy research assistance, homebound delivery, assistive technologies for the visually impaired, children's and young adult programming, museum passes, and meeting room facilities.

Product overview

Eldredge Public Library offers a unified suite of public library services centered around its physical location at 564 Main Street in Chatham, MA. The core offering is its catalog and lending system, powered by the CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Material Sharing) network, which provides patrons access to physical materials across regional libraries and digital content through Overdrive/Libby, Commonwealth eBooks (LEA), and Hoopla. Supporting services include reference and genealogy research assistance, homebound delivery for mobility-limited patrons, assistive technologies for the visually impaired, children's and young adult programming, an educational Learning Series, and meeting room facilities. The Friends of the Library support operations through book sales and fundraising, with proceeds funding equipment and programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog (CLAMS) Allows patrons to search items at any CLAMS library, check borrowed items, reserve materials, view fines, create reading history lists, and download free eBooks and audiobooks through the Cape Libraries Automated Material Sharing network.
• eBooks and Digital Audiobooks Digital content including eBooks and audiobooks available through OverDrive/Libby, Commonwealth eBooks (LEA), and Hoopla platforms for free with a library card.
• Reference Services Reference librarians help patrons find answers through on-site reference collections and online resources, with access to backup sources including the Boston Public Library's specialty collections and Kirstein Business Branch.
• Inter-Library Loan Service allowing patrons to request materials from other libraries through the CLAMS network and the Commonwealth Catalog, broadening access beyond local library resources.
• Homebound Delivery Service Volunteer-based delivery service for Chatham residents unable to physically visit the library due to illness, injury, or physical disability. Delivers books, large print materials, audiobooks on CD, music CDs, and DVDs.
• Assistive Technologies and Vision Aids Equipment including Optelec Clearview+ Speech closed circuit magnifier with voice capability, large print books, audiobooks on CD and Playaways, and MonoMouse portable magnifier. Access to Perkins School for the Blind's Braille and Talking Book Library program.
• Children's Programs Programs including storytimes, seasonal activities, and educational events for children ages 3-5 and their families.
• Young Adult Services Services and programs specifically designed for young adults, including YA programming and resources for teenagers and young adults.
• Learning Series Fall and spring educational courses sponsored by the Friends of Eldredge Public Library, open to the public at a suggested donation of $10 per course.
• Meeting Rooms Three meeting rooms including the Forgeron Room (front and rear) and Quiet Study Room (for 1-6 people), available at minimal to no cost to non-profit groups.
• Genealogy Department Research assistance for genealogy and family history research, available Tuesday 1pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-1pm.
• Museum Passes Discounted or free passes to local museums and cultural attractions available for loan with a library card.
• Digital Collections Digital Local History Collection and Digital Newspaper Collection for historical research on Chatham and Cape Cod.
• Friends Book Sale Recurring book sale with recent titles in fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, children's books, and more. Proceeds support library programs and equipment.
• Newsletters The Tidings eNewsletter (collaboration with Friends of the Library) and Youth Services Newsletter providing updates on library programs and events.

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Material Sharing)coreTechnology or IntegrationCLAMS is the regional library network serving most libraries on Cape Cod and the Islands. Provides automated catalog, circulation, and inter-library loan services. Allows patrons to search, reserve, and return materials at any CLAMS library.
• Commonwealth CatalogcoreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide catalog broadening search beyond local library resources. Allows patrons to request items from participating libraries across Massachusetts for pickup at Eldredge Public Library.
• Perkins School for the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrons can access Perkins Library program for Braille and Talking Book Library services through the Perkins School for the Blind website, providing additional accessibility resources.
• Brooks Free Library (VITAL Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVITAL (Vision Impaired Technology Assistance at the Library) program at Brooks Free Library in Harwich offers free one-on-one instruction in access software for individuals with sight loss.
• Friends of the Eldredge Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit support organization that sponsors programs, book sales, and fundraising events. Friends support the Learning Series, purchase equipment, fund programs for all ages, and advocate for the library.
• OverDrive / LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing free eBooks and audiobooks through the CLAMS Digital Download Catalog. Accessible via CLAMSnet website and Libby app by OverDrive.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brooks Free Library: Public library in Harwich, MA on Cape Cod and a fellow CLAMS network member. Operates the VITAL program for vision-impaired patrons, directly comparable in scale, geography, and service mix to Eldredge.
• Cotuit Library: Independent public library in Cotuit, MA on Cape Cod. Comparable small-town library operating model with community programming, lending, and CLAMS-style regional cooperation.
• Brewster Ladies' Library: Public library in Brewster, MA on Cape Cod offering similar circulation, programming, and museum-pass services to Chatham residents. Closely comparable in scale and Cape Cod community positioning.
• Wellfleet Public Library: Public library in Wellfleet, MA on Cape Cod providing standard public-library services in a similar small seasonal-community context. Operates as a comparable municipal library on the Cape.
• Hyannis Public Library: Public library serving Hyannis within the Town of Barnstable. Comparable Cape Cod public library with similar patron demographics and service offerings including digital lending and programming.

Broad incumbents

• Providence Public Library: Long-established urban public library in Providence, RI. Comparable as a New England public library with reference, genealogy, and community programming functions, but operating at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Boston Public Library: Major municipal public library system in Boston. Eldredge's reference department already taps BPL specialty collections (Kirstein Business Branch), and BPL serves as a relevant scale comparable for service breadth and digital infrastructure.
• New York Public Library: Largest public library system in the U.S. Comparable only at the service-mix level (lending, reference, programming, digital access); included as the archetypal broad incumbent for service-line benchmarking.

Others

• CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Material Sharing): Regional library consortium of which Eldredge is a member. Included as an ecosystem/infrastructure peer since it provides the catalog, circulation, and ILL backbone that Eldredge relies on.
• OverDrive / Libby: Digital content platform powering Eldredge's eBook and audiobook lending. Included as an enabling vendor peer; relevant for understanding the digital-lending layer the library depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EldredgeLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/eldredgelibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/eldredgelibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 eldredge public library