In the US, private libraries tend to be non-circulating, archival, specialist, or owned by private schools.

None of the libraries in New York City are publicly owned. NYPL, BPL, and QPL are all private nonprofits that receive public funding. It’s an odd arrangement.

> The most interesting thing in the article to me is that there was a dual library/bookstore...

At least in California, libraries often have a community run used bookstore whose proceeds are used to help the library run community programming.

Claiming Takeo City Library is a private operation is factually incorrect because it is strictly "publicly owned" by the city government. In fact, the city owns the land and building, and pays the private company, Culture Convenience Club (CCC), a management fee from local tax revenues to run the public library. Conversely, CCC pays monthly rent to the city to operate the Starbucks and bookstore inside. Since the entire facility is publicly owned and funded by taxpayers, CCC has zero ownership and is merely a contracted operator.