Dougherty County Public Library

What Dougherty County Public Library does

Dougherty County Public Library is a public library system headquartered at 300 Pine Avenue in downtown Albany, Georgia, serving the residents of Dougherty County through five physical branches — Central, Northwest, Southside, Tallulah Massey, and Westtown — plus a mobile "Library On Wheels" service that extends access into underserved areas. All core services are free to county residents holding a PINES library card, with primary funding coming from Dougherty County government appropriations and Georgia state library funding, supplemented by donations and fundraising through the Friends of the Dougherty County Public Library (FODCPL) nonprofit and minor transactional fees such as per-page printing charges.

The technology stack is built around a Revize CMS website tightly integrated with the statewide PINES consortium catalog for shared collections and interlibrary loans. Digital content is delivered through third-party platforms: Overdrive/Libby for eBooks and eAudiobooks, eRead Kids for children's digital content, Hoopla for e-media, Kanopy for streaming video, Beanstack for the Summer Reading Program, and Princh for wireless printing across all branches via dedicated 6-digit printer IDs. Educational and research layers include Tutor.com for live homework help, ABCmouse for early literacy, Mango Languages, Learning Express Library, GALILEO's 100+ databases, Newsbank (with the Albany Herald archive), and Ancestry Library Edition. The library has no proprietary app and runs on a 41-employee operating footprint across persona segments spanning children and families, teens and young adults, adults, genealogy researchers, and patrons with print disabilities served via the Georgia Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled.

The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer: outreach through the docolib.org website, organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter), email newsletter, school partnerships, and community programming. Strategically, the library leans on its PINES ecosystem membership for content depth, its branch-plus-mobile distribution for geographic coverage, and its institutional partnerships with Albany State University, Albany Technical College, and the Dougherty County School System for educational alignment. As a government entity, it operates without commercial revenue, venture backing, or acquisition optionality, and is positioned as a community service platform whose value scales with patron engagement rather than market share.

Name

Dougherty County Public Library

Legal name

Dougherty County Public Library

Website

https://docolib.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dougherty County Public Library is a publicly funded, five-branch public library system in Albany, Georgia, offering free physical and digital resources — including eBooks, streaming, tutoring, and databases — to county residents via PINES consortium membership and mobile outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAO

Public Libraries & Information Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYEDAEAGAC

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYEDAAAFAA

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYEDAEAGAF

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYEDAEAGAL

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYBPAGAHAF

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital library resources
• Interlibrary loans
• Community education programs
• Library research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany, Georgia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Primarily funded through Dougherty County government budget allocations and Georgia state library funding.
2. Friends of the Library Donations and Fundraising: The Friends of the Dougherty County Public Library (FODCPL) nonprofit organization raises funds through book sales, grants, and donations to support library programs and equipment.
3. Printing and Material Fees: Nominal fees for printing services: $0.25 per black & white page, $0.50 per color page. Flash drives sold for $4.50 each. Interlibrary loan service provided to patrons without excessive overdue items or fines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dougherty County Public Library is a publicly-funded library system providing free access to physical and digital library materials, computer and WiFi services, study rooms, research databases, and community educational programs. The system operates five branches plus a mobile library service across Albany, Georgia, and is part of the statewide PINES consortium enabling interlibrary loans. Patrons obtain a free PINES library card to access books, eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video, educational platforms, genealogy resources, and tutoring services.

Product overview

Dougherty County Public Library operates as a multi-branch public library system (Central Library in Downtown Albany plus four branch locations) offering a unified portfolio of physical and digital services. The core digital offerings include multiple e-content platforms (Libby/Overdrive for eBooks and eAudiobooks, Hoopla for streaming media, Kanopy for video streaming, eRead Kids for children's digital content) that provide patrons with 24/7 access to digital materials. Educational platforms include Tutor.com/Live Homework Help for real-time tutoring, ABCmouse for early childhood learning, Mango Languages for language instruction, and Learning Express Library for test preparation and career development. Research database access is provided through the GALILEO state consortium, Newsbank newspaper archive, and Ancestry Library Edition for genealogy. Physical services include Study Rooms at multiple branches, Interlibrary Loans, the Library On Wheels mobile service, Library of Things lending, Seed Library, and Pass Programs. The Summer Reading Program uses Beanstack for tracking engagement. Technology services include Wireless Printing via Princh with dedicated printers at all five branches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Central Library: Main branch located at 300 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701 with six study rooms and extensive collections.
• Northwest Library
• Tallulah Massey Library
• Westtown Library
• Southside Library
• Friends of the Dougherty County Public Library (FODCPL)

Products and services

• Libby/Overdrive eBooks and eAudiobooks Digital lending platform providing patrons with access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines through the Georgia Download Destination, accessible on PCs and portable devices.
• eRead Kids Free digital collection of eBooks and audiobooks for children in pre-K through 4th grade, featuring fiction and nonfiction titles downloadable to computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Hoopla Digital media platform providing instant access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, movies, TV shows, and music with no waiting lists; limited to 5 checkouts per month.
• Kanopy Streaming Service Streaming service for movies and TV shows with instant access and no waiting lists; limited to 5 checkouts per month.
• Tutor.com Live Homework Help On-demand homework help service connecting patrons with live tutors for K-12, college intro, and adult learners available seven days a week, plus Proof Point document review by English tutors.
• ABCmouse Early Learning Early learning platform for young children available on library public computers; personal devices may use the app while at the library.
• Mango Languages Online language-learning system covering Spanish, French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Greek, Italian, and many other languages for patrons learning new languages.
• GALILEO Research Databases Georgia Library Learning Online consortium providing access to over 100 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals, with over 2,000 full-text journal titles, encyclopedias, business directories, and government publications.
• Ancestry Library Edition Genealogy research platform powered by Ancestry.com, providing billions of records including census data, vital records, directories, and photos; available exclusively within the library.
• Newsbank Newspaper Archive Access to the world's largest repository of newspaper articles including the Albany Herald (2009-current) and other regional and national publications covering local and national news, community information, business, education, government, and sports.
• LearningExpress Library Comprehensive interactive learning platform offering practice tests and tutorial courses for test preparation including AP, ASVAB, CDL, GED, SAT, ACT, and professional certifications.
• Princh Wireless Printing Wireless printing solution allowing patrons to send print jobs from mobile phones, tablets, or laptops remotely or at the library, using 6-digit printer IDs specific to each branch.
• Library On Wheels Mobile library service bringing books and resources to underserved areas and communities without nearby branch access across Dougherty County.
• Library of Things Collection of loanable items beyond traditional books and media available to library cardholders.
• Seed Library Program allowing patrons to borrow seeds for gardening and growing food or plants.
• Pass Programs Program providing library cardholders with passes to local attractions and venues in the Albany, Georgia area.
• Study Rooms Reserved rooms available at multiple branches with wireless internet access; Central Library has six rooms, Northwest has five rooms (A-E), with various capacities from 2 to 10 people; reservable up to one month in advance for up to 3 hours.
• Interlibrary Loans Service obtaining materials not available locally or through the PINES consortium; available to patrons with current PINES cards without 10+ overdue items or $10+ in unpaid fines/fees.
• Summer Reading Program Annual reading challenge tracked via Beanstack platform, offering digital badges and prizes for children (ages 0-17) and adults; reading period May 18 through July 19.
• Test Proctoring Test proctoring service for patrons and area residents taking exams remotely; subject to institutional guidelines and scheduling at the library.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free educational resources for all county residents with library cards
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• PINES (Georgia Public Library Consortium)coreTechnology or IntegrationPINES is Georgia's public library consortium enabling shared catalog access, interlibrary loans, and unified library card systems across the state. Dougherty County Public Library participates as a PINES member, allowing patrons to access materials from libraries throughout Georgia.
• GALILEOcoreTechnology or IntegrationGALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online) provides access to over 100 databases, indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 2000 journal titles are available in full-text, along with encyclopedias, business directories, and government publications.
• Gale (Cengage Learning)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides multiple databases including Gale Directory Library, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Gale PowerSearch, Biography In Context, Literature Resource Center, and Academic Search Complete with access to over 6,100 full-text periodicals and 5,100 peer-reviewed journals.
• NewsbankcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides America's News database and Albany Herald archive (2009-current) offering access to local and national news coverage, community information, business, education, government, and sports reporting.
• Overdrive/LibbycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital lending platform for eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines through Georgia Download Destination. Patrons can download content to PCs or portable devices.
• Hoopla DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital media platform providing eBooks, audiobooks, eComics, music, TV shows, and movies with immediate access. Checkouts limited to 5 per month.
• KanopycoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming service for movies and TV shows with instant access and no waiting lists. Checkouts limited to 5 per month.
• Tutor.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationLive homework help service available 7 days a week for K-12, college intro level, and adult learners. Includes Proof Point document review by live English tutors.
• BeanstackcoreTechnology or IntegrationReading tracker platform used for Summer Reading Program, enabling online registration and tracking of reading progress with digital badges for both children and adults.
• Mango LanguagesstandardTechnology or IntegrationOnline language-learning system covering Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Greek, Italian and many more languages for patrons learning new languages.
• ABCmousestandardTechnology or IntegrationEarly learning website for young children available on library public computers. Personal devices may use the app while at the library.
• Ancestry Library EditionstandardTechnology or IntegrationGenealogy research platform powered by Ancestry.com, distributed exclusively by ProQuest. Provides billions of records including census data, vital records, directories, and photos. Available only within the library.
• PrinchstandardTechnology or IntegrationWireless printing solution enabling patrons to print from mobile phones, tablets, or laptops remotely or on-site. Each branch has a unique 6-digit printer ID.
• Georgia Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled (GLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide service providing reading materials and assistive technology for patrons who are blind or have print disabilities. Dougherty County Public Library serves as a local access point.
• Friends of the Dougherty County Public Library (FODCPL)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit volunteer organization that supports the library through fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, and funding library needs not covered by the local budget. Helps sponsor programs and purchase equipment.
• Albany State UniversitystandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal historically black university (HBCU) providing educational resources and information about higher education opportunities for library patrons.
• Albany Technical CollegestandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal technical college offering over 40 diploma, 25 degree, and 70+ certificate programs. Partnership provides educational resources and career pathway information.
• Dougherty County School SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district serving 16,844 students across 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school. Library provides homework help, resources, and educational partnerships.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DeKalb County Public Library: Georgia PINES member serving DeKalb County with a multi-branch system, digital content platforms, and similar community programming. A close functional peer as another county-level Georgia public library of comparable scope.
• Chattanooga Public Library: Mid-sized southeastern U.S. public library known for robust digital and community programming. Comparable in mission, geographic scale, and service mix to Dougherty County.
• Cobb County Public Library System: Georgia public library system operating multiple branches with PINES consortium access, comparable digital platforms (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy), and community programming. Same statewide funding/operational context.
• Middle Georgia Regional Library System: Regional Georgia public library system serving multiple counties through PINES. Provides a regional comparison point for shared-services delivery models.
• Live Oak Public Libraries: Regional Georgia public library system serving Savannah and surrounding counties via the PINES consortium. Comparable in offering mixed digital and physical services to a mid-sized community.
• Houston County Public Library: Georgia county public library offering comparable PINES access, digital lending, and community programming. Similar-sized county system in the same state.
• Lee County Library System (Georgia): Neighboring Southwest Georgia county library within PINES. Closest geographic peer with comparable scale and service mix.
• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: Large Georgia public library system also participating in the PINES consortium. Operates multiple branches serving Fulton County with comparable educational programs, digital lending, and community services — directly comparable public library peer in the same state.
• Athens-Clarke County Library: Georgia county library affiliated with PINES that supports a university community (UGA). Comparable in offering academic-adjacent services and broad community programming.

Regional players

• Pinellas Public Library Cooperative: Florida regional library consortium offering similar multi-branch digital and community services. Provides a regional peer benchmark for service delivery models outside Georgia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http://docolib.org
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://docolib.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dougherty-county-public-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Dougherty County Public Library