Pines & Plains Libraries
Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district operating four branches across Elbert County, Colorado, providing residents with physical collections, digital content, community programs, and educational resources funded primarily through property taxes, government grants, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersElizabeth, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pines & Plains Libraries does
Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district operating under the legal name Elbert County Library District dba Pines & Plains Libraries, serving the residents of Elbert County, Colorado through four physical branches in Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Simla, with the Elizabeth branch functioning as the administrative headquarters. The district is a government special-purpose entity governed by a five-member Board of Trustees, with a District Director (Susan Simmons Byrne) and three branch managers (Sarah Coleman at Elizabeth, Kristen Monroe at Kiowa and Elbert, and Kathy Wilkinson at Simla). It delivers traditional library services — physical book and media lending, public computer access, 24/7 WiFi from branch parking lots, curbside pickup, printing, faxing, and meeting room rentals — alongside community programming that includes story times, book clubs, crafting groups, gardening clubs, author events, a GED preparation program, the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten early literacy initiative, and an annual Summer Reading Program tracked through Beanstack.
The underlying technology stack is built on the AspenCat shared integrated library system, which is part of the Colorado library consortium providing the public catalog and circulation backbone. Digital content is delivered through third-party platforms including OverDrive/Libby, CloudLibrary, Comics Plus, World Book Online, EBSCO databases (with sub-products such as NoveList, Consumer Reports, Auto Repair Source, and MyHeritage), FamilySearch, and a free all-access New York Times digital subscription. The website is hosted by Colorado Online Libraries, a program funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grants and administered by the Colorado State Library, providing shared technology infrastructure to member libraries.
The revenue model is non-commercial: the district is funded primarily by Elbert County property taxes, supplemented by state and federal grants (IMLS, Colorado State Library), donations through the Pines & Plains Libraries Foundation and four branch-specific Friends of the Library groups, and modest transaction fees for printing ($0.10/page B&W, $0.70/page color), faxing ($3.00 per 10 pages), and meeting room rentals ($15/hour for for-profit users). Donors can additionally receive a 25% Colorado state tax credit through the East Central Enterprise Zone program. Patron-facing services — library cards, digital content, programs, computer use, and most WiFi — are free. The district serves horizontal segments across the county including general community members, children and families, teens, adults and seniors, K-12 students and educators, local businesses and entrepreneurs, and the early childhood 0-5 cohort.
Pines & Plains Libraries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pines & Plains Libraries
- Legal name
- Elbert County Library District dba Pines & Plains Libraries
- Website
- https://pplibraries.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district operating four branches across Elbert County, Colorado, providing residents with physical collections, digital content, community programs, and educational resources funded primarily through property taxes, government grants, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pines & Plains Libraries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)
Keywords
Where Pines & Plains Libraries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elizabeth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Pines & Plains Libraries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Public Tax Funding: As an Elbert County Library District, the organization receives public funding through local tax revenue. The approved budgets (2022-2026) and audited financial statements indicate ongoing public financial support.
- Donations and Friends Groups: Friends of the Library groups at each branch (Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla) raise funds through book sales, donations, and events. The Pines & Plains Libraries Foundation supports district-wide initiatives.
- Service Fees: Fees collected for specific services: printing ($0.10/page black & white, $0.70/page color), faxing ($3.00 per 10 pages), and meeting room rental ($15/hour for profit-making groups).
- Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program: Through the East Central Enterprise Zone program, donors can receive tax credits (25% for cash donations of $250+) in exchange for contributions to the library foundation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Black & White Printing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Color Printing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fax Services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting Room - Nonprofit/Community |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting Room - For-Profit/Private |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pines & Plains Libraries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district operating four branch locations (Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla) that provides free access to physical and digital book collections, public computers, WiFi, printing/faxing, meeting rooms, and community programs including story times, book clubs, crafting groups, Summer Reading Program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, and GED preparation. The district also offers digital lending through OverDrive/Libby, CloudLibrary, Comics Plus, and research databases such as EBSCO and World Book Online.
Product overview
Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district serving Elbert County, Colorado through four branches (Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla). The core offering combines physical library services including book collections, public computers, meeting rooms, and community programs with digital content accessible through Libby, CloudLibrary, Comics Plus, and various databases. Key programs include the annual Summer Reading Program, Story Times, Book Clubs, Crafting Groups, GED Preparation, and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten early literacy initiative. The district also provides business services (printing, faxing, copying), curbside pickup, and meeting room reservations at the Elizabeth branch.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pines & Plains Libraries Branch Network
- Digital Content Lending Services
- 2026 Summer Reading Program – Unearth a Story
- Story Time Program
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Book Club Programs
- Crafting Groups
- GED Preparation Program
- Printing, Faxing, and Copying Services
- Meeting Room Reservations
- Curbside Service
- Used Books Sales
- New York Times Digital Access
- Genealogy Research Resources
- 24/7 Public WiFi Access
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages early literacy through reading 1,000 books before kindergarten entry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pines & Plains Libraries
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Pines & Plains Libraries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature3 records
Pines & Plains Libraries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Colorado Online Libraries (COLibraries)coreCOLibraries hosts the Pines & Plains Libraries website. It is a program made possible by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Colorado State Library, providing shared technology infrastructure for member libraries.
- Colorado State LibrarycoreAdministers IMLS grant funds for the Colorado Online Libraries program. Provides oversight and support for library services across Colorado.
- OverDrive/LibbycoreDigital content platform providing eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines. Libby is the app by OverDrive for accessing library digital collections.
- CloudLibrarycoreDigital platform for accessing eBooks and audiobooks through web, tablet, mobile device, or library discovery terminal.
- Comics PlussupportingDigital comic and graphic novel platform available through three collections: Full, Teen, and Children, providing access to visual storytelling content.
- World Book OnlinesupportingOnline encyclopedia and research tool available to patrons for educational and reference purposes.
- EBSCO Information ServicessupportingProvides multiple databases including EBSCOhost selection page, Auto Repair Source, Small Engine Repair Source, Newspaper Source Plus, NoveList, Consumer Reports, and MyHeritage genealogy database.
- FamilySearchsupportingAs a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, provides enhanced genealogy resources to patrons while inside the library.
- BeanstackcoreReading challenge and tracking platform used for the Summer Reading Program, allowing patrons to log reading, earn badges, and enter prize drawings.
- Baby Bear Hugs of Elbert CountysupportingCommunity partner providing in-home child development information, Nurturing Parenting classes, parenting resources, and connections to community services for early childhood development.
- Elbert County Early Childhood CouncilsupportingCouncil focused on ensuring Elbert County is a community of well-rounded, healthy, educated children and families, with members from community organizations including principals, preschool directors, nurses, and early childhood specialists.
- Nurse-Family PartnershipsupportingNon-profit providing first-time moms with nurse home visiting support starting early in pregnancy and continuing through the child's second birthday, referenced as a community resource.
- Local Schools (Agate, Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla, Legacy Academy, Independence Classical Academy)corePartnerships with local K-12 schools and school districts for student outreach, homework help, and coordinated educational services.
- East Central Enterprise ZonesupportingEnterprise Zone program allowing donors to receive Colorado state tax credits (25% for cash donations of $250+) when contributing to the Pines & Plains Libraries Foundation.
- Colorado Office of Economic DevelopmentsupportingState agency providing business development resources referenced for local entrepreneurs and businesses served by the library.
- SCOREsupportingNon-profit providing free mentoring to small businesses through a network of volunteer business experts, with local branch in Colorado Springs.
- Small Business Development Center (Colorado)supportingState agency providing free confidential consulting and low-cost training programs for existing and new businesses, with comprehensive Colorado Business Resource Book.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pines & Plains Libraries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Boulder Public Library: A municipal public library serving Boulder, Colorado. Comparable as a tax-funded Colorado public library with extensive programming, digital services, and community partnerships, though operating in a more affluent and urban market.
- Denver Public Library: The largest public library system in Colorado, serving Denver. Comparable as a tax-funded municipal library with extensive programming, digital services, and community partnerships, though operating at significantly greater scale.
- Arapahoe Libraries: A Colorado library district serving Arapahoe County with multiple branches and extensive digital content offerings. Comparable as a neighboring Colorado public library district with similar tax-based funding and consortium participation.
- Jefferson County Public Library: A large Colorado public library system serving Jefferson County. Operates multiple branches with extensive programming, digital lending, and community partnerships, comparable in service model though larger in scale.
- Pikes Peak Library District: A large Colorado library district serving the Colorado Springs metro area. Comparable as a tax-funded public library district in Colorado with multi-branch operations and digital lending, though significantly larger in scale and budget.
- Aurora Public Library: A municipal public library serving the city of Aurora, Colorado. Comparable as a tax-funded Colorado public library with multi-branch operations, digital lending, and community programming, though serving a more urban population.
Direct peers
- Rangeview Library District: A Colorado library district serving Adams County communities. Operates multiple branches with similar tax-based funding, digital content access, and community programming models, making it a closely comparable peer in structure and scale.
- Douglas County Libraries: A Colorado public library district serving Douglas County, a neighboring county to Elbert County. Operates multiple branches with similar consortium-based digital content access and community programming models, making it a directly comparable peer in scale and structure.
Regional players
- High Plains Library District: A rural northeastern Colorado library district serving Weld County communities. Comparable as a tax-funded multi-branch library district serving geographically dispersed rural populations, with similar operational and funding challenges.
- Mesa County Public Library District: A rural Colorado library district serving Mesa County on the Western Slope. Comparable as a tax-funded Colorado library district serving a geographically dispersed rural population, with similar challenges around scale and branch operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pines & Plains Libraries social profiles
Digital presencePines & Plains Libraries compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Pines & Plains Libraries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pines & Plains Libraries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Pines & Plains Libraries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pines & Plains Libraries 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 Pines & Plains Libraries
What does Pines & Plains Libraries do?
Pines & Plains Libraries is a public library district operating four branch locations (Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla) that provides free access to physical and digital book collections, public computers, WiFi, printing/faxing, meeting rooms, and community programs including story times, book clubs, crafting groups, Summer Reading Program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, and GED preparation. The district also offers digital lending through OverDrive/Libby, CloudLibrary, Comics Plus, and research databases such as EBSCO and World Book Online.
Is Pines & Plains Libraries a public or private company?
Pines & Plains Libraries is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Pines & Plains Libraries founded?
Pines & Plains Libraries was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pines & Plains Libraries based?
Pines & Plains Libraries is headquartered in Elizabeth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pines & Plains Libraries make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Tax Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Friends Groups, service Fees and enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program.
Who are Pines & Plains Libraries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Boulder Public Library, Denver Public Library, Arapahoe Libraries, Jefferson County Public Library, Pikes Peak Library District and Aurora Public Library. Direct peers are Rangeview Library District and Douglas County Libraries. Regional players are High Plains Library District and Mesa County Public Library District.
Does Pines & Plains Libraries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pines & Plains Libraries.
What industry is Pines & Plains Libraries in?
Pines & Plains Libraries's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of BPAIACAO, Public Libraries & Information Services. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.