Alma Public Library

What Alma Public Library does

Alma Public Library is a branch of the Crawford County Library System (CCLS), a public library system serving Crawford County, Arkansas through five physical locations: Alma, Cedarville, Mountainburg, Mulberry, and Van Buren. The system was established on July 1, 1999, when five libraries separated from the Ozarks Regional Library System. Alma Public Library itself has roots dating to 1965 and operates from 624 Fayetteville Avenue, offering a dedicated children's area, patio, genealogy collection, microfilm/microfiche readers, and 3D printing services.

The library system's technology infrastructure is built on standard library-industry platforms: Polaris for catalog and patron management, OverDrive/Libby for 24/7 digital content distribution (e-books, audiobooks, magazines), and CIPA-compliant network filtering for public Wi-Fi. The system provides access to specialized subscription databases through the Arkansas State Library Traveler program (Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, ProQuest African American Heritage, EBSCO LearningExpress, World Book Online, ABC-CLIO, and others), which enables cost-efficient access to resources that would cost over $100,000 per library individually. The collection totals 245,317 items system-wide, with 180,648 materials circulated annually and 173,838 library visits.

CCLS operates as a government entity funded primarily by a 1.4 mill property tax passed in 1998 that has not been increased since. Services are provided free of charge to Crawford County residents, property owners, employees, and students. Non-residents may obtain library cards for $10 annually. Supplementary revenue comes from printing and copying services ($0.25/page) and faxing ($1.00 per 25 pages). The system employs approximately 28 people and serves all age groups through programs including storytime, summer reading, STEM/STEAM activities, genealogy workshops, and community events, with 75,060 program attendees annually.

Name

Alma Public Library

Legal name

Crawford County Library System

Website

https://crawfordcountylib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alma Public Library is one of five branches in the Crawford County Library System, serving Crawford County, Arkansas residents with free access to books, digital media, computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy resources, and educational programs. The government-funded system operates via a 1.4 mill property tax.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library resources
• Digital library access
• Genealogy research services
• Youth education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Funding: Primary funding source through a 1.4 mill property tax passed in 1998 that has not been increased since. This tax provides the operational budget for the entire library system including all five branches.
2. Non-Resident Library Cards: Annual fee of $10.00 for patrons who are not eligible for a resident card.
3. Printing and Copying Services: Prints and copies at 25 cents per page; faxing at $1.00 for every 25 pages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Alma Public Library is one of five branches of the Crawford County Library System, providing free access to public computers, CIPA-compliant Wi-Fi, physical and digital book collections, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs. The library offers comprehensive genealogy research services including Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, microfilm archives, and digitized local history collections. It also delivers educational databases, youth and family programs (storytime, summer reading, STEM/STEAM, art camps), meeting room facilities, mobile printing, and interlibrary loan services to Crawford County, Arkansas residents.

Product overview

The Crawford County Library System operates Alma Public Library and four other branches as a unified public library system providing essential community services. The core offering includes public computer access with CIPA-compliant Wi-Fi, digital collections via Libby/OverDrive for e-books and audiobooks, comprehensive genealogy research services with multiple databases and microfilm archives, educational databases for students and researchers, meeting room facilities, and diverse programming including youth storytimes, summer reading, STEM/STEAM activities, and adult programs. The system serves Crawford County, Arkansas residents with free library cards and maintains a 1.4 mill property tax-funded operation across five locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Computer Access and Wi-Fi Free public computer access at all five branches using a library card or guest pass, with CIPA-compliant filtered Wi-Fi providing protection against malware and adult content for patrons.
• Digital Collections (E-Books and Audiobooks) 24/7 digital library access through the Libby app and website, offering free e-books, audiobooks, and magazines for all ages, compatible with most devices including smartphones and tablets.
• Genealogy Research Services Genealogical research services providing access to over 4 billion records including census data, vital records, family directories, photos, U.S. Federal Censuses, Freedman's Bank Records, microfilm collections, digitized archives, and Crawford County Legacy Recordings with video interviews.
• Library Databases Educational and research databases including EBSCO LearningExpress, Pronunciator language learning, World Book Online, ABC-CLIO, CultureGrams, SIRS Discoverer, ProQuest Research Companion, and ProQuest One Business.
• Meeting Room Facilities Meeting room facilities including the Yeager Meeting Room at the Van Buren branch, which accommodates up to 150 individuals and features a wireless microphone, laser projector, and laptop for presentations. Available to non-profit and approved for-profit organizations.
• Mobile Printing Mobile printing service allowing patrons to send print jobs from any device for pickup at any library branch.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Interlibrary loan service sharing books and materials from participating libraries across the United States, expanding patron access beyond the local 245,317-item collection.
• Library Card Services Library card issuance program providing free resident cards to Crawford County residents, property owners, county employees, and enrolled students; non-resident cards are available for $10 per year.
• Youth and Family Programs Diverse library programming including storytime for preschool children, summer reading programs with parties and prizes, teen programs, art camps in partnership with the Center for Art in Education, STEM/STEAM programs, music programs, magic shows, science programs, exercise programs, and health seminars.
• Faxing and Copying Services Print and copy services at 25 cents per page, plus faxing at $1.00 per 25 pages, available at each library branch.
• Alma Branch Library Branch library located at 624 Fayetteville Avenue in Alma, Arkansas, offering a dedicated children's area, patio area, dedicated genealogy collection, microfilm and microfiche readers, and 3D printing services. Hours: Mon-Thur 8:30AM-5:30PM.

Quantifiable outcome

• 173,838 library visits annually across all branches
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arkansas State Library / Traveler ProgramcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1998Provides free remote access to high-quality subscription databases for all Arkansas citizens through the Traveler program. Includes databases like ProQuest African American Heritage, EBSCO LearningExpress, and other educational resources. The program provides significant cost savings, spending approximately $750 per library versus the $100,000+ each library would pay individually.
• OverDrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing e-books, audiobooks, and magazines. Libby app available for smartphones and tablets, allowing 24/7 access to the digital collection.
• Arkansas Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Friends of the Crawford County Library System fund. Accepts online donations on behalf of the library foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
• Crawford County Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that benefits the Crawford County Library System. Raises funds and supports library programs and services.
• Crawford County Quorum CourtminorOthersApproved $10,000 grant for Alma Public Library in 2023 for ADA door replacement compliance. The county government provides funding oversight and occasional grants to support library infrastructure.
• Ancestry Library EditioncoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides access to over 4 billion records including census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more for genealogical research. Available for in-library use only.
• HeritageQuest OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationComprehensive genealogical database with U.S. Federal Censuses, local history books, Revolutionary War records, and Freedman's Bank Records. Accessible from home with library card.
• Friends of the Library GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity support groups at each branch including Alma Friends, Cedarville Friends, Mountainburg Friends, Mulberry Friends, and Van Buren Friends. Provide volunteer support, advocacy, and fundraising for their respective branches.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fort Smith Public Library: Public library system serving Fort Smith, Arkansas, the largest city adjacent to Crawford County. Comparable as a multi-branch Arkansas public library offering similar services (books, digital, programs, genealogy) with overlapping patron geography.
• Fayetteville Public Library: Public library in Fayetteville, Arkansas, also part of the Traveler state consortium. Comparable as a tax-funded Arkansas public library with digital lending, programming, and community meeting space offerings in Northwest Arkansas.
• Bentonville Public Library: Public library in Bentonville, Arkansas, part of the same Arkansas Traveler database consortium. Comparable as a similarly sized Arkansas municipal library offering books, digital media, events, and maker services to county residents.
• Springdale Public Library: Public library serving Springdale, Arkansas, in the Northwest Arkansas region. Comparable multi-branch public library offering digital collections, genealogy resources, and community programming funded through local tax revenue.
• Washington County Library System: County-level public library system serving Washington County, Arkansas — geographically adjacent to Crawford County. Comparable as a tax-funded, multi-branch county library system in the same state using similar consortia-based database access and digital lending platforms.
• Pulaski County Library System: County library system serving Pulaski County (Little Rock metro), Arkansas. Comparable as a multi-branch Arkansas county library system with comparable service mix including digital lending, programs, and reference services, though at larger scale.
• Saline County Library: Public library system serving Saline County, Arkansas. Comparable as a tax-funded Arkansas public library with similar offerings in books, digital media, programming, and community meeting space.

Others

• OverDrive: Digital content platform providing e-books and audiobooks to libraries worldwide through the Libby app. Not a peer in the public-library sense, but a core technology partner whose product enables the library's 24/7 digital collection — relevant for benchmarking digital lending infrastructure.
• Polaris Library Systems: Integrated library system vendor providing catalog and patron management software used by CCLS. Not a competing library, but a key technology infrastructure peer whose product capabilities shape the operational capacity of comparable small library systems.
• Arkansas State Library: State library agency administering the Traveler database consortium that provides affordable database access to all Arkansas public libraries. Not a direct competitor but a peer-level ecosystem participant whose funding and programs directly shape CCLS's service capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CCLSVB/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlmaPublicLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crawford-county-library-system

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Alma Public Library