All library locations will be closed March 29th and March 31st for Easter.

Blog Entries

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Are you ready for the April 8, 2024 eclipse?

You most likely already know that there will be a solar eclipse in our area on April 8.  Arkansas has only been in the path of totality for an eclipse two other times in history - in 1834 and in 1918. The next total solar eclipse in the state will be in 2045.  Don’t miss this one! Here are some details that can help make your viewing experience more successful.

FAQs

YES! The Library will be handing out free eclipse glasses beginning March 1 while supplies last (read on for more details).

YES! You need ISO certified eclipse glasses or shades to sa...

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From the Director's Desk: "Find Yourself at the Library" in 2024

Happy New Year from all of us at the FSPL!  To me, beginning a new year is much like starting a new book.  As we turn to the first page, we are full of anticipation and excitement for how the story will unfold.  New year, new stories to be told! Whether you are the resolution-making type or not, I hope the Fort Smith Public Library will find a place on your 2024 to-do list.  Visit one of our libraries, attend a program, check out a book.  Spend some time on our website, discover something new, download a movie, search old Fort Smith newspapers, learn a new language!...

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Read More in '24!

 

Whether you are a fan of New Year’s resolutions or not, we think you might agree that you would like to read more this year.  Has your reading habit gotten away from you? Do you have trouble finding the time to read, or are you too distracted by today’s world to concentrate?  Reading is an effective way to quiet and focus your mind, while being entertaining as well.  It also offers health benefits, such as keeping your mind sharp, lowering your heart rate, and even improving the quality of your sleep.  Here are a few reading-related suggestions that may ...

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Oceans of Possibilities for Teens

Hey Teens! 

Ready to read for fun and prizes?  Whether you like to read books, e-books, or audio books (or all three!) AND like to win stuff, the Teen Summer Reading Program is for you! There are oceans of possibilities for you at the Fort Smith Public Library beginning June 1st, so make plans to participate.

SRP is Online

Like last year, the teen summer reading program is online! One book equals 100 points.  For every 100 points you earn, you'll be entered into a weekly drawing for a gift card AND earn an entry into the end-of-summer grand prize drawing....

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Oceans of Possibilities for Kids!

Are you ready to read for fun and prizes?  

Are you ready for the Oceans of Possibilities summer reading program?  Dive in and sign up for the library's online reading program!  It's easy and fun!  Starfish Listeners can earn points by listening to books, and Dolphin Readers can earn points for time spent reading.  Register, track your reading progress, play games, and earn badges online at https://fortsmithlibrary.readsquared.com/.  Download the READsquared app (available for iOS and Android devices).

For more information,...

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ABCmouse

The Fort Smith Public Library now offers home access to ABCmouse.com.

ABCmouse.com offers the most comprehensive online curriculum for children ages 2-8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music. 

The ABCmouse curriculum is designed to help young children (ages 2-8+) build a strong foundation for future academic success. ABCmouse is 100% educational, with more than 10,000 learning activities across all major subject areas: reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music—including more than 1,200 of those le...

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Tails & Tales for Kids

Are you ready to read and earn prizes?  

Are you ready for the Tails & Tales summer reading program?  It's time to sign up for the library's online reading program!  It's easy and fun!  Kids 12 and under can earn points for time spent reading.  Register, track your reading progress, and earn badges online at  https://fortsmithlibrary.readsquared.com/.  You will also be able to download the READsquared app (available for iOS and Android devices). For more information, watch this Tails & Tales video!

Log the ti...
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Celebrate Black History Month with Concrete Rose

Concrete Rose, the prequel to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, is ready for you to check out!  Concrete Rose takes place seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give and tells the story of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter.  He knows that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad's in prison.

Life's not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav's got ...

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Arkansas Teen Book Award - It's Your Vote that Counts

Last year, teens across Arkansas voted I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall as the winner of the Level 1 (Grades 7-9) Arkansas Teen Book Award.  The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was the runner-up.  The Level 2 winner (Grades 10-12) was Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, and the runner-up was On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.  Voting opened for the 2020-2021 nominees on September 25, 2020 and will run through August 31, 2021.  Any Arkansas teen can vote for Level 1, Level 2, or both!

For more information or to nominate a book for a future list, click here. &...

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November is Picture Book Month!

Let's Celebrate!

Let’s celebrate Picture Book Month by reading at least one picture book a day.  Here are some your librarians’ and library staff member's favorite picture books to get you started. 

If YOU have a favorite picture book, let us know.  We would like to read your favorites too!

The Color Kittens and Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by David Catrow

The Five-Dog Night by...

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2020 Teens' Top Ten Announced!

The Teens' Top Ten Award, sponsored by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year.  Members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country help nominate the titles to be voted on.  The nominations are posted on the Thursday of National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen vote online between August 15 - October 15 on the Teens' Top Ten  si...

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Imagine Your Story - - Summer Reading Program!

Are YOU ready to read for fun and prizes?  

I hope so because the summer reading program is ready for you! The theme of our program is Imagine Your Story. This year, it's all online beginning on June 1 and ending on August 14!  We have a really neat program called READsquared, and all you have to do is go to the READsquared website, register, and start reading (or listening!).   For every minute you spend reading or listening, you will earn one point.  Before you know it, you will have 1,000 points!  When that happens, you will have earne...

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Hoopla

Welcome to hoopla, a digital media service that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. There are hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily. Hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere.

Fort Smith Public Library customers will need their library card (in good standing; no fines of $2...

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Library Closed

The safety of our library customers, staff, and community is our top priority.  To support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, all four locations of the Fort Smith Public Library will close at the end of the day Monday, March 16, and remain closed until further notice.  Please check our Facebook page or the library website for updates.

Due dates for all materials currently checked out will be extended, and no overdue charges will accrue while the library is closed.  Library staff will be available by phone and email to assist with family history and general r...

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UAMS Coronavirus Resource Guide

The Education & Research Services team at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) has put together a resource guide with information about Coronavirus Disease 19 (2019-nCoV). The pages provide authoritative, up-to-date information for clinicians, laboratories, researchers and the public. 

Included in the resource guide is the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE, an interactive web-based dashboard hosted by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, to visualize and track reported cases of 201...

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