The Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System (PBJCLS) is a

public library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are ...

system in

Jefferson County, Arkansas Jefferson County, Arkansas is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas in the area known as the Arkansas Delta that extends west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson County consists of five cities, two towns, and 20 townships. The county ...

, with the main library at Pine Bluff. It is housed in five buildings in Jefferson County. The library's functions are overseen by the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System Board of Trustees.

History

In 1979, an interlocal agreement was established between the City of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, creating the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System. A proposal to make a $16 million bond, funded by a 3 mill increase of property taxes for a 30 year period, was approved by voters in 2016. In 2020 a proposal to increase property taxes by .25-mill for the library branches was approved. It also established a system of curbside service for its branch libraries.

Main library

The Pine Bluff Public Library is located at 600 South Main Street and includes the Ann Lightsey Children's Library; it also maintains the Bill Carr Memorial Room. The main library has an extensive collection of genealogy materials, and more than 20 computers for the public to use, many with Internet access. The library was established in 1913 as a library association with the generous support of the Pine Bluff Chapter of the

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

. In 2016 a flood affected the old library building. Another flood occurred in 2017 due to a faulty pump. The new library opened in 2020 at a cost of $10,500,000. The library building has ~ of space.

Branches

Altheimer

The Altheimer Public Library is located at 222 South Edline in Altheimer. Established in 2001, it was built on a tract of land sold by the

Altheimer Unified School District Altheimer Unified School District No. 22, previously the Altheimer-Sherrill School District, was a school district headquartered in Altheimer, Arkansas. It served Altheimer, Sherrill, Wabbaseka, and other portions of Jefferson County, including ...

to Jefferson County for $3,784.Altheimer Unified School District No. 22 Jefferson County, Arkansas General Purpose Financial Statements and Other Reports June 30, 2001
" Legislative Joint Auditing Committee,

Arkansas Legislature The General Assembly of Arkansas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Arkansas Senate with 35 members, and the lower Arkansas House of Representatives with 100 ...

. Retrieved on August 2, 2017. page 3 (PDF p. 5/22). Identical to the Redfield Public Library, the library building has ~ of space.

Redfield

The Redfield Public Library, formally the Leenita Gober Cothran Memorial Library, is located at 310 South Brodie Street in Redfield. Established in 1999, it is named for Leenita Sue Gober Cothran, a local resident killed in a vehicle accident. The Redfield library building has ~ of space.

Watson Chapel

The Watson Chapel Public Library, formally the Dave Burdick Library, is located at 4120 Camden Road in the Watson Chapel neighborhood of Pine Bluff. It is named for David Burdick, a former library director.Watson Chapel Public Library
" Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Library System. Retrieved on August 2, 2017.

White Hall

The White Hall Public Library, formally the Dr. Cora Economos Library, is located at 300 Anderson Avenue in

White Hall White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

. Established in 1979, it is named for Cora Matheny Economos, a former library director.White Hall Public Library
" Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Library System. Retrieved on August 2, 2017.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1979 establishments in Arkansas Buildings and structures in Jefferson County, Arkansas County library systems in Arkansas Education in Jefferson County, Arkansas Genealogical libraries in the United States Libraries established in 1979 Library districts