Early Library History in Mountain Home
Before Baxter County Library officially opened in 1953, volunteer organizations maintained a small library collection in Mountain Home. During the 1930s, the 20th Century Club started a volunteer-run library housed in the courthouse. In the early 1940s, the BPW (Business and Professional Women's Club) managed a volunteer-run library that was originally in the courthouse and then moved to a larger space above the city hall and the fire station.
The Baxter County Library Officially Opens
In 1952 the BPW worked to seek a one-mill tax to support a county library. The tax was approved and the Baxter County Library officially opened in July 1953. Baxter County Library was governed by the following library board:
Nell Powell Wright, Chairman
Bill Thompson
Nemo Norman
Orpha Copelin
Marshall Getchell
LaVern McVey
Expansion Projects of the Baxter County Library
In December 1964, Baxter County Library moved to a new 3,166-square-foot building on 7th Street. The library was built on government-donated land and financed with a $17,500 federal grant and matching funds. In 1969, a 1,000-square-foot library addition was completed with the help of a $5,000 gift and a $7,500 federal grant.
In 1980 the Friends of the Baxter County Library was established as a volunteer organization to help raise funds and public awareness for Baxter County Library. Their first major project was raising funds for the 4,800-square-foot library addition completed in 1983. This addition was dedicated to the late Anna Ward, whose family donated $30,000 and a parcel of land. The Arkansas Room was dedicated to the late Judge Nell Powell Wright, who served as Chairman of the library board from 1953 to 1981. Mrs. Wright was Baxter County Chancery Court Judge at the time of her death in 1981.
From 1988 to 1993, Baxter County Library opened three new branches. The Norfork branch, opened in 1988, houses some 1,200 books. The Gassville branch, opened in 1993, houses some 2,100 books. From 1988-1994, Baxter County Library provided a branch in the local community college, the Norma E. Wood College Branch Library. In March of 1994 this collection was handed over to ASU.
In October 1993, a 3,024-square-foot library expansion was completed. This $175,000 project was financed by $112,000 in private donations and a $63,000 federal grant. The city of Mountain Home contributed over $20,000 for furnishings and equipment.
Since 1953, the Baxter County Library has been administered by the following head librarians:
Margie Dahlke (1953-1981)
Lenora Peoples (1981-1989)
Gwen Khayat (1989-present)