Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System

The Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System (PBJCLS) is a public library system in Jefferson County, Arkansas, with the main library at Pine Bluff. It is housed in five buildings in the county. Its functions are overseen by the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System Board of Trustees.[1]

Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System
Northeast façade of the Main Library
34°13′25″N 92°00′13″W
Location600 South Main Street,
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
TypePublic library system
Established1979 (1979)
Reference to legal mandateInterlocal Agreement between the City of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County creating the "Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System" (August 1979)
Service areaJefferson County, Arkansas
Branches
  • Altheimer Public Library
  • Cothran Memorial Libraryy
  • Dave Burdick Library
  • Dr. Cora Economos Library
Collection
Items collectedBooks, journals, newspapers, magazines, official publications, sheet music, sound and music recordings, databases, maps, postage stamps, prints, drawings, manuscripts and media.
Size100,000 (2016)
Access and use
Access requirementsReading rooms – free.
Population served77,000 (2016)
Other information
DirectorRicky Williams
Websitepineblufflibrary.org

History

In 1979, an interlocal agreement was established between the City of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, creating the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System.[2] A proposal to make a $16 million bond, funded by a 3 mill increase of property taxes for a 30 year period, was approved by voters in 2016. In 2020 a proposal to increase property taxes by .25-mill for the library branches was approved.[3] The proposal also established a system of curbside service for its branch libraries.[4]

Main library
See also: Bill Carr

The Pine Bluff Public Library is located at 600 South Main Street and includes the Ann Lightsey Children's Library; it also maintains the Bill Carr Memorial Room.[5] The main library has an extensive collection of genealogy materials, and more than 20 computers for the public to use, many with Internet access.[2]

The library was established in 1913 as a library association with the generous support of the Pine Bluff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.[2] In 2016 a flood affected the old library building. Another flood occurred in 2017 due to a faulty pump.[3] The new library opened in 2020 at a cost of $10,500,000.[6] The library building has ~35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) of space.[3]

Branches

Altheimer Public Library

The Altheimer Public Library is located at 222 South Edline in Altheimer. Established in 2001, it was built on a 1-acre (0.40 ha) tract of land sold by the Altheimer Unified School District to Jefferson County for $3,784.[7] Identical to the Cothran Memorial Library, it has ~3,500 square feet (330 m2) of space.[8]

Cothran Memorial Library

The Cothran Memorial Library, also known as the Redfield Public Library, is located at 310 South Brodie Street in Redfield. Established in 1999, it is named for Leenita Sue Gober Cothran, a local resident killed in a vehicle accident. The library building has ~3,500 square feet (330 m2) of space.[9]

Dave Burdick Library

The Dave Burdick Library, also known as the Watson Chapel Public Library, is located at 4120 Camden Road in the Watson Chapel neighborhood of Pine Bluff. It is named for a former library director.[10]

Dr. Cora Economos Library

The Dr. Cora Economos Library, also known as the White Hall Public Library, is located at 300 Anderson Avenue in White Hall. Established in 1979, it is named for a former library director.[11]

References
  1. "Pine Bluff Public Library". Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021. The Pine Bluff Library is Governed by a Board of Trustees, with six members appointed by the City of Pine Bluff, and five members appointed by the County Judge. The Mayor and the Judge each appoint one member each year.
  2. "Pine Bluff Public Library". Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. Ellis, Dale (January 13, 2019). "Pine Bluff readies state-of-the-art library". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. "Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System plans curbside service". Pine Bluff Commercial. July 16, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. "Carr Memorial Room". Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021. William Arthur (Bill) Carr was the first Arkansan to win two gold medals in the same Olympic games, setting new records for track and field in the 1932 Los Angeles, California, Olympics. At the age of twenty-one, he set an Olympic record of 46.2 seconds in the 400-meter sprint, which stood until 1948, when it was tied. In 1954, he was named to Sports Illustrated's All-Time Olympic Team.
  6. Ellis, Dale (December 1, 2020). "New $10.5M flagship library opens". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  7. "Altheimer Unified School District No. 22 Jefferson County, Arkansas General Purpose Financial Statements and Other Reports June 30, 2001." Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Arkansas Legislature. Retrieved on August 2, 2017. page 3 (PDF p. 5/22).
  8. "Altheimer Public Library". Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. "Redfield Public Library". Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. "Watson Chapel Public Library." Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Library System. Retrieved on August 2, 2017.
  11. "White Hall Public Library." Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Library System. Retrieved on August 2, 2017.
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