The Library Membership Model

When most people think about starting a membership, they imagine running live sessions every week, constantly churning out fresh content, and being tied to their calendar forever.

It sounds exhausting. Because it is.

But what if there was a simpler way?

Let me introduce you to one of the most underrated, Light-Touch™ membership types: The Library Membership. (Also known as a Vault Membership or Content Hub.)

What is a Library Membership?

This kind of membership gives your members instant access to a collection of valuable, on-demand content. No set schedule. No waiting for drip-fed modules.

It’s a vault of resources that members can dip into whenever they need help with a particular problem or goal.

Your content might include:

• Video trainings

• Masterclasses

• Templates and toolkits

• Audio lessons

• Swipe files

• PDF guides

• Mini-courses

• Checklists and frameworks

Basically, anything you’ve created that solves a problem or moves your ideal client forward.

How I Accidentally Built One

My own membership, The Dream Business Academy, didn’t start as a library.
It started as a build-as-you-go membership. Every month, I’d create a new training or tool, based on what my members needed most. They’d show up live, or watch the replay, and I’d move on to the next.

It was brilliant for a couple of years, until I realised something…everything they needed was already there. I’d already created it. I didn’t need to keep creating new stuff because 90% of the questions I was getting had already been answered in existing trainings.

That’s when I made the switch to a Library Model.

Now, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel each month, I give my members full access to a growing vault of valuable resources. They also get:

• Twice-monthly co-working sessions

• A monthly Q&A call

• A fabulous, friendly Facebook group

Everything is already there, ready to go.

Tip: Don’t Start with a Library

Here’s a really important tip if you’re tempted to launch a library straight out the gate:

Don’t try to build a Library Membership from scratch. It’ll take ages to fill, you won’t get paid while you're building it, and it’s easy to burn out.

Instead, start with a build-as-you-go model. Deliver one new thing per month, based on what your members need most. Then, once you’ve created a solid bank of resources, pivot into a library model. That way, your content has already proven itself useful, and you get paid while building.

Inside The Recurring Income Academy, I teach exactly how to make that switch:

• How to communicate the change to your members

• How to repackage your content

• How to update your tech without a nightmare migration

• And how to make your new model feel even more valuable

Let’s Talk Tech (Because You Need It)

Unlike some low-tech, no-tech memberships, a Library Membership absolutely needs hosting.

You’ll need a secure platform that can:

• Host your videos, audio files, PDFs and templates

• Restrict access to paying members only

• Make it easy for people to log in and find what they need

This is not something you can run from a Google Drive folder. (Trust me, I’ve seen people try. It gets messy, fast.)

You need proper hosting—think platforms like:

• Simplero

• Systeme.io

• Kajabi

• Or even a solid WordPress membership plugin (if you're more tech-savvy)

These tools make it easy to manage subscriptions, revoke access if someone cancels, and deliver a smooth experience for your members.

Structure or Free-Range?

There are two common ways to lay out a Library Membership:

1. Structured Path
   This gives members a clear route through the content. It might be a “Start Here” section, then a recommended order of trainings. Great for members who want guidance and a plan.
   

2. Free-Range Vault
   This gives members full access to everything and lets them pick what they need. Great for more independent learners or a membership with a wide range of topics.

If you go the free-range route, you must have a well-labelled, easy-to-navigate system. At minimum:

• A Start Here section explaining what’s inside

• Categories, filters, or collections

• Clear titles and descriptions so members don’t get overwhelmed

Because the more helpful and findable your content is, the more your members will use it, and stay subscribed.

Repurpose What You’ve Already Got

One of my favourite things about Library Memberships is how easy it is to repurpose.

You’ve probably got old trainings, live videos, workshops, templates or PDFs sitting on your hard drive doing nothing.
Why not turn them into a vault that keeps working for you, and helping your audience?

This is exactly what I teach inside The Recurring Income Academy, a membership about creating recurring income the Light-Touch™ way.
We talk business model tweaks, member experience, pricing, automation, and keeping it sustainable for the long haul.

Because you can have a membership that works beautifully without taking over your life.