Blog Entries

April 6 - 12 is National Library Week, a time to celebrate libraries and library staff, and the services that they provide.  There are many ways to tell the story of the impact of a library on the community.  It could be the story of the man who used library computers to create a resume and apply for jobs, the woman who used library books to learn how to write the business plan that led to the creation of her small business, or the child who excelled in kindergarten because she attended storytime and listened to books throughout her young life.  One of the easiest ways to con...

National Library Week is April 6 - 12.  This year’s theme is “Drawn to the Library.”  What draws you to the library?  Perhaps one of our arts and crafts programs is just what you need to take a break from your everyday life.  A variety of programs for all ages are available at all of our FSPL locations this month. All programs are free with no library card required, but space may be limited at some.  For more details, visit our events page.

Take & Make Crafts: DIY Paper Succulent

April 2 – while supplies last – Main Library

Homeschool Enrichment: Wa...

Women’s History Month celebrates the vast contributions that women have made throughout history.  Beginning as a local festivity in California in 1978, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation in 1980 and made it a national celebration.  The week of March 8 was chosen to coincide with International Women’s Day.  In 1987, Congress decided to extend the celebration to a month, creating Women’s History Month. 

The theme for Women's History Month 2025 is Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.

The Fort Smith Public...

 

Has it really been 25 years already? Our three branch libraries will celebrate their 25th anniversaries in the next couple of months! 

The Dallas Street Branch Library anniversary is February 26,the Windsor Drive Branch Library anniversary is March 26,and the Miller Branch Library will celebrate on April 29. 

Each location is planning a celebration for commemoration, along with other related events. 

Come help celebrate with the Dallas Branch on March 5, with anniversary storytimes at 10 & 11 a.m., and a branch celebration from ...

The Library is excited to be a partner with the U.S. Marshals Museum for the NEA Big Read this March and April.  The museum and its community partners will host a series of engaging programs and events centered around this year's selected book, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, written by Kao Kalia Yang. The book chronicles the story of a family’s post-Vietnam War journey from Southeast Asia to the United States, similar to what many families in the River Valley area experienced coming to Fort Smith through Fort Chaffee after the Vietnam War. 

The Fort Smith Pub...

February is Black History Month, celebrating the achievements of African Americans and recognizing their central role in U.S. History. The library invites you to help in this celebration by attending one or more of our featured programs this month. 

Join us on Saturday, February 15, at 2 PM at the Main Library for a special performance of Reclaiming Your Roots, an interactive show for all ages performed by Rooted Movement Collective. A touring dance group, Rooted Movement Collective is dedicated to educating and spreading the radical joy of African American dance forms,...

February is National Library Lovers' Month. Do you have a crush on your library?  Here are 10+ ways you can show your library love.

1) Get and use your library card!

2) Visit your neighborhood library.  There is a FSPL location close to almost everyone!  Drop by after work or school, or during your lunch break.  If you haven’t been here in a while, you will be amazed in what we have to offer.

3) Follow the library on social media – you don’t want to miss the next book sale, stuffed-animal storytime, or author event! You can find the library on Face...

If you use hoopla through the Fort Smith Public Library, you’ll soon see a change to your monthly checkout limits.  Beginning January 1, the maximum number of checkouts per library card will change from six to five per month.

This change came after thoughtful deliberation and review.  As more library customers discover and use hoopla’s extensive collection of eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, and comics, the costs associated with providing this service also increase.  By slightly reducing the checkout limit, our goal is to continue offering access to hoopla f...

We had some great times at the library this year, and hope you did too!  We offer you these snapshots chronicling the seasons at the library, from the great eclipse, summer reading, retirements, the Chocolate Festival, Black Tie Bingo, fun with goats, and more.  We enjoyed sharing these memorable moments with our library customers and community, and look forward to another great year at the Fort Smith Public Library in 2025!  

To view full size photos, please see our Facebook post 

             &nb...

When we think about the history of the Fort Smith Public Library, the original Carnegie City Library at 318 North 13th Street may come to mind most often.  The story of Fort Smith’s first truly public library is an interesting one, and many people in our area have vivid memories of visiting the Carnegie Library with its magnificent stairs, impressive music room, and longtime library director Miss Gladys Krone. 

The belief by community leaders in the importance of the public library and their persistence in tirelessly advocating, first for its existence and then for its growt...

As we wrap up 2024, let's take a look at the young adult fiction books that circulated the most at the Fort Smith Public Library throughout the year!  Sarah Maas and Suzanne Collins were a couple of the favorite authors.  Take a look at the list below and if you would like to check availability on any of the items, simply click on the book cover to be taken to the library's online catalog.  What will you check out in 2025?          ...

As we wrap up 2024, let's take a look at the children's books that had the most circulations at the Fort Smith Public Library throughout the year!  Bluey, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, and Pete the Cat were some of the top favorites!  Take a look at the lists below and if you would like to check availability on any of the items, simply click on the book cover to be taken to the library's online catalog.  What will you check out in 2025?Top Picture Books 

 

         

 

Top Chapter Books    ...

Holiday Happenings

Holiday Open House – Sunday, December 8, 1 – 5 PM, Main Library!

We invite you and your family to celebrate the holiday season with us at our 22nd Annual Holiday Open House!  Join us at the Main Library for a festive afternoon of music, crafts, games, stories, holiday displays, light refreshments, and other entertainment for children and adults. There will be special activities to delight all ages throughout the entire afternoon. This Holiday Open House is free to all . . . don’t forget to bring a non-perishable food item for the Holiday Food Drive!

Read Full Blog

The history of the Fort Smith Public Library has been a hobby/passion/interest of mine since I became library director in 2004. Today’s FSPL began with the opening of the Carnegie City Library on January 1, 1908, the first of what would be four Carnegie libraries in Arkansas. The first librarian was named Starr Weaver. I know from reading the minutes of the library board meetings how hard she worked to open Fort Smith’s first public library.

One of the things I like to do is collect postcards of our library. I like them best when they have messages on them and have been sent throu...

November is DINOvember and the dinosaurs are invading the Fort Smith Public Library!  Join us for some fun dinosaur-themed events at the library during the month!

The dinosaurs are busy playing and making messes around the library.  Can you find them all on our Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt?  Let one of the library staff members know when you locate them all and get a fun dinosaur reROARd (reward)!  The Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt is available all month during library hours.

Bibliosaurus the Dinosaur will be visiting the Main Library on Sunday, November 10...