Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System

What Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System does

The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System (ARCPLS) is a government-owned public library system serving residents of Augusta and Richmond County, Georgia, with operational roots traceable to 1750. The system operates six physical branch locations — Headquarters (823 Telfair Street), Appleby, Diamond Lakes, Friedman, Maxwell, and Wallace — supplemented by a bookmobile that extends service into underserved areas. Each branch is staffed by a dedicated Branch Manager and offers core library services including physical material lending, public computers and WiFi, meeting and study room reservations, and age-segmented programming for children, teens, and adults.

The system's technology stack is built on third-party integrations rather than proprietary platforms. Core infrastructure is delivered through the statewide PINES consortium (catalog and interlibrary loan across 275+ Georgia libraries) and GALILEO (access to 100+ research databases). Digital content is sourced from OverDrive/Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, The Palace Project for children's eBooks, Ancestry Library Edition and MyHeritage Library Edition for genealogy, and a suite of educational platforms (LearningExpress, FinancialFit, ABCmouse). The Tech Hub at Headquarters provides public access to fabrication and creative equipment including FlashForge 3D printers, a GlowForge laser cutter, Cricut Maker, multimedia station, green screen, badge maker, and media conversion tools. The Georgia Heritage Room functions as a specialized genealogy and local history center, hosting digitized Augusta Chronicle vital records, historic newspapers, and archival materials contributed to the Digital Library of Georgia.

ARCPLS is funded primarily through Richmond County Government appropriations and state-level library support. All core services are provided free of charge to residents holding a valid library card. Supplementary revenue streams include Friends of the Augusta Library memberships at five tiers (Individual $20 through Corporate $500) providing discounts at the Book Tavern and partner businesses, plus modest fines and fees on overdue materials and equipment. The system is governed by a Library Board of Trustees and operates as a non-investment public service entity with no outside equity, no funding rounds, and no commercial revenue model.

Name

Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System

Legal name

Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System

Website

https://arcpls.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System is a government-owned public library serving Augusta and Richmond County, Georgia, operating six branches plus a bookmobile. It provides free physical and digital library services, maker technology, and genealogy resources via statewide PINES consortium membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community library programs
• Digital library resources
• Genealogy research services
• Maker space access

Headquarters

HQ city

Augusta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Library Services: Free library services funded primarily through Augusta-Richmond County government appropriations and state funding. Services include physical book lending, digital resources, computer access, WiFi, programs, and community services.
2. Friends of the Library Memberships and Donations: Annual membership program with multiple tiers (Individual $20, Family $40, Sustaining $75, Business $150, Supporting/Corporate $500) providing member benefits including discounts at local businesses and the Book Tavern. Additional donations solicited through the Friends organization.
3. Fines and Fees: Overdue material fines and equipment borrowing fees as permitted under library policies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System is a public library system serving Augusta and Richmond County, Georgia. It provides free access to physical and digital materials (books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, streaming video), public computer and WiFi access, age-specific programming for children, teens, and adults, genealogy and local history research through the Georgia Heritage Room, and a Tech Hub maker space featuring 3D printers, laser cutters, multimedia production equipment, and media conversion services. The system operates six branch locations plus a bookmobile and participates in the statewide PINES consortium for resource sharing.

Product overview

The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System is a public library system serving Augusta, GA and surrounding Richmond County. The system operates as a unified platform with multiple branch locations offering physical library services combined with an extensive digital library portfolio. The core offerings include traditional library lending (books, materials), a flagship Tech Hub providing creative technology equipment (3D printing, laser cutting, multimedia production), and digital resource platforms for eBooks, video streaming, genealogy research, and educational databases. The Georgia Heritage Room serves as a specialized genealogy and local history center, while the Kids and Teens departments provide age-specific programming. All services are integrated through the PINES consortium for statewide material sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tech Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 275+ libraries statewide through PINES consortium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Foundation for the CSRAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous funding from the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area enabled the library to provide free access to Candid's Foundation Directory Online and Guidestar at the Headquarters Library, supporting local nonprofits and grant seekers.
• GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online)coreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide virtual library providing access to over 100 databases including thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals through the University System of Georgia. PINES catalog system enables resource sharing across 275+ libraries.
• PINES (Georgia's Public Library Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationStatewide consortium providing unified catalog, interlibrary loan, and shared resources across 275+ Georgia public libraries. Mobile apps for iOS and Android extend access.
• OverDrive / Georgia Download DestinationcoreTechnology or IntegrationRegional hub for OverDrive/Libby eBook and audiobook platform serving Augusta library cardholders. eRead Kids collection through Palace Project provides 15,000+ children's digital titles.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming video partnership providing free access to thousands of movies with library card. Available at arcpls.kanopy.com
• Ancestry Library EditioncoreTechnology or IntegrationIn-library access to Ancestry's genealogical database. Available at headquarters and all branch locations when connected to library computers or WiFi.
• MyHeritage Library EditioncoreTechnology or IntegrationFree remote access to MyHeritage's genealogy database with billions of records from 70+ countries. Available off-site with library card. Contains over 8 billion family tree records.
• Morris Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMornings with Morris Museum program brings art classes to Friedman and Diamond Lakes branches on rotating schedule, promoting art appreciation in the community.
• Georgia Public Library ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationState library agency providing ArchivesSpace access enabling searchable finding aids for Georgia Room collections. Part of initiative including 17 library locations.
• Digital Library of GeorgiacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to digitize and provide online access to local historical collections including The Augusta-News Review, historic newspapers, and Georgia Heritage Room materials.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuicide Awareness Education program offered monthly at Headquarters Library, providing mental health resources and training to the community.
• AJC Second Chance DeskminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREE resource helping citizens of Burke and Richmond Counties clear eligible criminal records, hosted monthly at library locations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chattanooga Public Library: Mid-sized Southeast US public library system recognized for innovative technology programming including maker spaces and 4th-floor innovation labs. Highly comparable to ARCPLS on Tech Hub strategy, digital equity focus, and forward-looking service design.
• East Central Georgia Regional Library System: Regional library system that ARCPLS is affiliated with through PINES and shared access credentials. Directly comparable as a multi-branch public library consortium serving East Central Georgia with similar digital resource offerings and interlibrary loan infrastructure.
• Richland Library: Mid-sized Southeast US public library system (Columbia, SC) recognized for digital innovation, community engagement, and modern facility design. Comparable to ARCPLS on operational scale and forward-looking service philosophy.
• Athens-Clarke County Library: Mid-sized Georgia public library system with multiple branches, special collections, and educational programming. Comparable to ARCPLS in size, urban-rural mix, and statewide PINES participation.
• DeKalb County Public Library: Metro Atlanta public library system with comparable multi-branch footprint, digital collections, and community programming focus. Directly comparable as a Georgia public library system serving a diverse urban-suburban population.
• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: Georgia's largest public library system with the most extensive branch network, special collections, and digital programming in the state. Provides a strategic benchmark for ARCPLS on scaling services, technology adoption, and capital planning.
• Cobb County Public Library System: Suburban Atlanta-area public library system operating multiple branches with extensive digital collections and community programming. Comparable to ARCPLS as a multi-branch Georgia system with PINES integration and similar community engagement programming.
• Charleston County Public Library: Southeast US public library system comparable to ARCPLS in scale, branch footprint, and historical/genealogy research focus through the Charleston History Room. Similar mission and operational structure as a county-administered system.
• Savannah-Chatham County Public Library System: Comparable Georgia public library system serving a mid-sized urban-county population with multiple branches, digital collections, and community programming. Provides a relevant benchmark for ARCPLS on operational scale, funding structure, and program design within the same state.
• Gwinnett County Public Library: Large Georgia public library system and PINES participant with extensive digital resources and branch network. Provides a relevant benchmark for ARCPLS on how regional library systems scale programming, technology adoption, and community partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/augustagalib
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/arcpls
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARCPLS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/augusta-richmond-county-public-library-system

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System