NAICS 519210 Quarterly Industry Report
Libraries and Archives
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 519210Sector: Information (51)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 519210 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes circulation metrics, program attendance, and digital service adoption rates to build benchmarks for library and archive operations. This report on NAICS 519210 is updated quarterly to reflect shifts in public funding, digital lending trends, and collection management practices.
Industry Definition & Overview
Libraries and Archives (NAICS 519210) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing library or archive services. These include public lending libraries, institutional libraries, reference libraries, and archives that collect, catalog, preserve, and provide access to documents, books, periodicals, audio and video materials, maps, photographs, and digital collections for research, education, and public use.
Public libraries funded by municipal and county governments represent the largest segment, serving communities through branch networks that offer book lending, digital media access, computer and internet stations, and educational programming. Academic libraries operate within colleges and universities, maintaining specialized research collections and providing interlibrary loan services. Corporate, law firm, medical, and government agency libraries serve internal users with curated collections tied to professional needs. Archives focus on preserving historical documents, institutional records, and cultural heritage materials.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services[4] provides federal grant funding and collects national statistics on public library operations, including circulation counts, program attendance, and digital service usage. Industry Census Bureau[5] tracks revenue for this code within the information sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] reports employment data for librarians, archivists, and library technicians. Digital lending and e-book circulation continue growing, while physical branch visits have stabilized in most metropolitan library systems across the country.
What's Included in This Industry
- Public lending library branch operations
- Academic and university library services
- Corporate and law library management
- Government document and records archives
- Historical society archive collections
- Digital lending and e-book circulation platforms
- Interlibrary loan coordination and fulfillment
- Reference and research assistance services
- Children's and adult educational programming
- Special collections preservation and cataloging
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Information | 51 |
| Subsector | Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | 519 |
| Industry Group | Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | 5192 |
| NAICS Industry | Libraries and Archives | 51921 |
| National Industry | Libraries and Archives | 519210 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 519290 | Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services | Web search portals and other information services provide digital alternatives to library reference functions for consumers and researchers |
| 611310 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | Colleges and universities house academic libraries that serve students and faculty, linking library budgets directly to institutional enrollment |
| 712110 | Museums | Museums share cultural preservation missions with archives and frequently partner on exhibitions featuring historical documents and photographs |
| 513130 | Book Publishers | Book publishers supply the physical and digital titles that public and academic libraries acquire through vendor purchasing agreements |
| 541690 | Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services | Scientific and technical consulting firms use specialized library and archive collections for research that supports client project deliverables |
| 813410 | Civic and Social Organizations | Civic and social organizations partner with public libraries on community programs including literacy campaigns and workforce development workshops |
SBA Lending Summary
24
Total SBA Loans
$10.0M
Total Loan Volume
$417K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.50%
Average Interest Rate
200
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[9] for NAICS 519210 is $12.5 million in average annual receipts, classifying establishments below this threshold as small businesses for federal programs. Private libraries and archives can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for technology upgrades, collection expansion, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[11] support facility construction and renovation. Most establishments in this code are government-funded public libraries rather than private businesses.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Byline Bank | 8 | $7.8M | $975K |
| 2 | Northeast Bank | 8 | $2.0M | $250K |
| 3 | Brookline Bank, a Division of Beacon Bank and Trust | 8 | $200K | $25K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of establishments fall under NAICS 519210?
NAICS 519210 covers public lending libraries, academic and university libraries, corporate and law libraries, government archives, historical society collections, and specialized research libraries. Both government-funded and privately operated facilities are included.
How is NAICS 519210 different from 712110?
NAICS 519210 covers libraries and archives focused on lending, reference, and document preservation, while 712110 covers museums focused on exhibiting collections to visitors. Libraries circulate materials; museums display them, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for libraries and archives?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 519210 at $12.5 million in average annual receipts. Establishments below this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal contracting and lending, per the SBA size standards table[9].
What NAICS codes are related to libraries?
Related codes include 519290 (information services), 611310 (colleges), 712110 (museums), 513130 (book publishers), 541690 (scientific consulting), and 813410 (civic organizations). Each connects through content supply, institutional hosting, or community programming.
What industries are closely related to libraries?
Closely related industries include digital information services (519290), higher education (611310), museums (712110), book publishing (513130), and software development (541511) for library management systems.
What activities are included in library operations?
Activities include book and media lending, digital e-book circulation, reference services, interlibrary loans, archival preservation, educational programming, and public computer access. The Institute of Museum and Library Services[4] provides federal grants and collects national statistics.
Can private libraries get SBA loans?
Where are libraries concentrated in the United States?
Public libraries exist in nearly every county nationwide, with the densest branch networks in populous states including California, New York, Texas, and Ohio. Academic library concentrations mirror higher education clusters in the Northeast, Midwest, and California, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]Institute of Museum and Library Services imls.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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