2001 Annual Report

Our Mission

The mission of the Fort Smith Public Library is to serve the minds of the citizens in our community by providing easy access to resources that meet their informational and recreational needs.

Highlights

February 2001 opened new main library at 3201 Rogers Avenue
Over 400,000 visits made to the main library and three branches
Circulated over 750,000 items including books, CDs, videos, magazines and cassettes
Nearly 35,000 people have library cards
Over 2,000 children participated in Summer Reading Program
Library staff answered over 75,000 questions
Library computers were used 68,000 times
Meeting rooms were used regularly by over 100 groups

The Year in Review

From its inception in 1891 as the Fortnightly Library Association, the Fort Smith Public Library has striven to be a leader in the state in providing library service. 110 years later, we have gone from a room in the courthouse with a collection of 1,100 books to a library system with three branches and a collection of 200,000 books, magazines, videos, cassettes and CDs. As computers have become increasingly important to our daily lives, the library hs endeavored to maintain a balance between our heritage of the written word and our need for new technology.

More Than Just a Book Warehouse

With our lovely new facilities, the library does more than just provide books and access to computers. It’s a gathering place for everyone in the community from retirees to teenagers. Kids walk from school to their neighborhood branch to do homework. Mothers and their preschoolers cuddle with a book on the sofas in the children’s area. Business people bring their laptops in and work in quiet in a study room.

Who Needs a Library—Don’t We all Have a Computer?

Library staff serve as intermediaries between members of the community and the vast stores of information that are available in modern society—both in electronic and in print format. The library’s role is not shrinking, now that use of computers is so prevalent; rather, our role is expanding and we are expanding as well, in order to meet the needs of our new electronically-literate society.

A Year to Remember

There was a lot to celebrate in the first half of 2001. Then came September 11 and it’s aftermath. Like libraries across the state, we dealt with funding cuts which precipitated cuts in library hours and staff. Despite the cuts, we kept serving the community and found that in hard economic times we had an even bigger role to play.

2001 Board of Trustees

Luanne Weir, President
Greg Smith, Secretary
Jo Ann Campbell, Treasurer
Nick Lasker
Cleve McDonald
Lisa McGhee
Brad Truitt
The director of the library is Larry Larson.

Library Locations and Hours

Main Library
3201 Rogers Avenue
Fort Smith, AR 72903
479-783-0229 TDD 479-785-1413
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Miller Branch
8701 South 28th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72908
479-646-3945
Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Dallas Branch
8100 Dallas Street
Fort Smith, AR 72903
479-484-5650
Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Windsor Drive Branch
4701 Windsor Drive
Fort Smith, AR 72904
479-785-0405
Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This Page Last updated: 07 May 2002