North Olympic Library System

Public Library Servicesnols.org

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is a public library system operated by Clallam County, Washington, serving county residents through four branches and a bookmobile. It provides free physical and digital library services, research databases, educational programs, and community spaces funded by tax levies and donations.

Company typePrivate
Founded-
HeadquartersPort Angeles, United States
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What North Olympic Library System does

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is a public library system operated by Clallam County, Washington State, serving all residents of the county through four physical branches (Port Angeles headquarters, Sequim, Forks, and Clallam Bay) plus a bookmobile outreach service. NOLS provides free access to physical collections, digital lending, research databases, public computers, community programs, and meeting spaces, targeting personas including general residents, children and teens, educators, and technology-needing patrons. The technology stack centers on an Aspen Discovery catalog platform (powered by Grove for Libraries) supplemented by licensed third-party digital services including OverDrive/Libby for e-books and audiobooks, Hoopla and Kanopy for streaming media, Gale research databases, NewsBank, Consumer Reports, Heritage Quest, and LinkedIn Learning, with EZproxy providing authenticated remote access.

NOLS is funded primarily through local property tax levies, Washington State Library allocations, and donations channeled through the North Olympic Library Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) and four Friends of the Library community groups. Pricing is freemium — all standard library services are free to eligible residents through free library card registration. Additional programs include the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (free monthly books for children age four and under, co-funded with United Way of Clallam County), Summer Reading Program, Discovery Club for grades K-5, BookMatch personalized recommendations, and Tech Help. Recent operational moves include the 2025 opening of the new Sequim Library as part of an Expansion and Renovation Project, launch of a Bookmobile outreach service, and deepening of partnerships with eight tribal nations (Hoh, Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Quileute, Quinault, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish). Leadership is provided by Executive Director Noah Glaude.

North Olympic Library System firmographics

Firmographics

Name: North Olympic Library System
Legal name: North Olympic Library System
Website: https://nols.org
Company type: Private
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is a public library system operated by Clallam County, Washington, serving county residents through four branches and a bookmobile. It provides free physical and digital library services, research databases, educational programs, and community spaces funded by tax levies and donations.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

North Olympic Library System industry classification

Industry

Product category: Public Library Services
NAICS: Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
akta.pro secondary industries: Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

Public library services
Community library system
Digital lending platform
Early literacy programs
Research database access

Where North Olympic Library System is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Port Angeles
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

North Olympic Library System business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Public Funding / Tax Revenue: Primary funding source from tax-based revenue as a local government entity in Washington State, with periodic levies to support operations and capital projects.
Donations and Charitable Contributions: Accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support materials, technology resources, programs, and capital projects. Donations may be tax-deductible as NOLS is a local government entity.
North Olympic Library Foundation: A 501(c)(3) organization that accepts donations on behalf of the library system for donors requiring tax-deductible giving options.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Annual	Free library membership with standard borrowing privileges

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

North Olympic Library System product offering

Product offering

Core offering

North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is a public library system that provides free access to physical library materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, kits), digital lending content (e-books, audiobooks, magazines, streaming video), online research databases, public computers and Wi-Fi, and community programs for all ages. It operates four branch locations and a bookmobile serving Clallam County, Washington, with a unified Aspen Discovery catalog providing 24/7 discovery and account management.

Product overview

North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is a public library system serving Clallam County, Washington, offering a unified platform combining physical and digital library services. The core offering is the Aspen Discovery-powered catalog system, supplemented by digital lending through Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy. Key services include remote printing via SPOT Global Print, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, Bookmobile outreach, BookMatch personalized recommendations, Tech Help, and Discovery Club for children. The system provides access to research databases including Gale, NewsBank, Heritage Quest, and offers free New York Times access. NOLS operates physical branches in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks, and Clallam Bay, with the new Sequim Library currently under expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Library Catalog (Aspen Discovery) Online catalog system powered by Aspen Discovery (Grove for Libraries) that enables patrons to search, browse, and manage library materials including books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, and digital content.
Remote Printing (SPOT Global Print) Service allowing users to print from mobile devices or home computers to any NOLS branch using the SPOT Global Print app.
Summer Reading Program Annual reading incentive program for all ages featuring tracking, free events, and prizes, with online and in-branch participation options.
Imagination Library Dolly Parton's program that mails free books monthly to children age 4 and under in Clallam County.
Bookmobile Mobile library service increasing library awareness, access, and use among Clallam County residents through additional outreach.
BookMatch Personalized book recommendation service where library staff curate reading suggestions based on patron preferences.
Tech Help Technology assistance service helping patrons with digital literacy, device setup, and software questions.
Discovery Club Weekly activity program for kids in grades K-5 featuring varying activities such as author visits, art, and science.
Meeting Room Reservations Facility booking system allowing community members to reserve library meeting rooms for events and gatherings.
Computers & Technology Services Public computer access, Wi-Fi, and technology resources available at all library branches.
New Sequim Library

Companies that use North Olympic Library System

Customer profile

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

North Olympic Library System technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature3 records

North Olympic Library System partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.

North Olympic Library FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerA 501(c)(3) organization created to provide enduring support for NOLS. Accepts tax-deductible donations on behalf of the library system. Partners with United Way of Clallam County to fund Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Friends of the Library GroupscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFour community-based Friends groups (Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks, Clallam Bay) that raise money, volunteer time, and advocate for their local branches. Support programs, events, and special projects beyond public funding.
Washington State LibraryimportantOthersState-level library agency that helps make resources like Gale databases possible through funding and support.
Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram that mails free books monthly to children age 4 and under in Clallam County. Funded in partnership with North Olympic Library Foundation and United Way of Clallam County.
Hoh TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land. NOLS is strengthening relationships with tribal nations to provide inclusive spaces fostering innovation and collaboration.
Jamestown S'Klallam TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS. Their award-winning 'virtual museum' (House of Seven Generations) is available as a resource through NOLS.
Lower Elwha Klallam TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
Makah Indian TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS. NOLS provides resources through the Makah Museum for cultural and research purposes.
Quileute TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
Quinault Indian NationimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
Port Gamble S'Klallam TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
Skokomish TribeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
OverDrive/LibbyimportantTechnology or IntegrationDigital content platform providing e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital magazines accessible through the Libby app and NOLS website.
HooplaimportantTechnology or IntegrationStreaming platform for movies, TV, music, and audiobooks available through NOLS digital catalog.
KanopyimportantTechnology or IntegrationStreaming video service offering films and educational content available through NOLS.
Gale (Cengage Learning)importantTechnology or IntegrationDatabase provider offering research resources covering health, business, academic topics, and more. Made possible through Washington State Library.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

North Olympic Library System competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Kitsap Regional Library: Regional library system serving Kitsap County, Washington, with multiple branches and similar funding/governance model. Directly comparable in scale, geographic scope, and service mix to NOLS.
Pierce County Library System: Washington State county library system with similar branch network, digital lending platforms, and community programming focus. Directly comparable as a Washington public library peer.
Sno-Isle Libraries: Two-county (Snohomish and Island) regional library system in Washington with overlapping digital platform usage (Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla) and comparable levy-funded operating model.
Multnomah County Library: County library system serving the Portland, Oregon metro area. Comparable as a publicly funded library system with multiple branches, digital lending, and community programming — though at larger scale.
Timberland Regional Library: Five-county regional library system in western Washington serving a similar mix of rural and small-town communities. Comparable in mission, funding structure (property tax levies), and branch-plus-digital service model.

Broad incumbents

Seattle Public Library: Major urban public library system in Washington State. Overlaps in mission and digital platform usage, but operates at significantly larger scale within a single city rather than a county.
King County Library System: Largest library system in Washington State, serving unincorporated King County and partner cities. Same state regulatory environment and similar levy-funded operating model, but at substantially larger scale than NOLS.

Regional players

Jefferson County Library: Neighboring Washington State county library serving the Olympic Peninsula — geographically adjacent to NOLS but serving a separate county. Comparable small-scale rural library operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

North Olympic Library System financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

North Olympic Library System leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

North Olympic Library System funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

North Olympic Library System M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Olympic Library System

What does North Olympic Library System do?

Is North Olympic Library System a public or private company?

North Olympic Library System is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was North Olympic Library System founded?

North Olympic Library System was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is North Olympic Library System based?

North Olympic Library System is headquartered in Port Angeles, United States, in the North America region.

How does North Olympic Library System make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Public Funding / Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions and north Olympic Library Foundation.

Who are North Olympic Library System's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Kitsap Regional Library, Pierce County Library System, Sno-Isle Libraries, Multnomah County Library and Timberland Regional Library. Broad incumbents are Seattle Public Library and King County Library System. Jefferson County Library is listed as a regional player.

Does North Olympic Library System have an API?

No public API is recorded for North Olympic Library System.

What industry is North Olympic Library System in?

North Olympic Library System's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services, with a secondary code of EDAEAGAE, Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation). Its NAICS code is 519210 and its SIC code is 8200.