Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System
The Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System is a public library system in Jefferson County, Arkansas, with the main library at Pine Bluff. It is housed in five buildings in the county. Its 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. The proposal 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. 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.