North Olympic Library System
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
Where North Olympic Library System is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- 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 offeringCore 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 profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
North Olympic Library System technology and API
TechnologyTechnology 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 signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.
- North Olympic Library FoundationcoreA 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 GroupscoreFour 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 LibraryimportantState-level library agency that helps make resources like Gale databases possible through funding and support.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryimportantProgram 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 TribeimportantIndigenous 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 TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS. Their award-winning 'virtual museum' (House of Seven Generations) is available as a resource through NOLS.
- Lower Elwha Klallam TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
- Makah Indian TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS. NOLS provides resources through the Makah Museum for cultural and research purposes.
- Quileute TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
- Quinault Indian NationimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
- Port Gamble S'Klallam TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
- Skokomish TribeimportantIndigenous sovereign nation acknowledged by NOLS as original stewards of the land.
- OverDrive/LibbyimportantDigital content platform providing e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital magazines accessible through the Libby app and NOLS website.
- HooplaimportantStreaming platform for movies, TV, music, and audiobooks available through NOLS digital catalog.
- KanopyimportantStreaming video service offering films and educational content available through NOLS.
- Gale (Cengage Learning)importantDatabase 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 assessmentDirect 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 social profiles
Digital presenceNorth Olympic Library System financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North Olympic Library System leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
North Olympic Library System funding detail
Funding detailFunding 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 investmentM&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?
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.
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.