Baxter County Library Foundation Receives
$9.8 Million to Build a New Library

For three years, Baxter County Public Library Foundation has worked through a deliberative planning process for a new library.  These efforts were rewarded when the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation awarded a grant of $9.8 million to build, furnish and equip a 35,500 square foot, two-story library in Mountain Home.

“While the capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation will construct the new library, we need to ensure its sustainability.  The community has already committed over $1.1 million towards this effort and we will continue to ask for support for the community endowment for the library,” said Deborah Knox, Library Board Chair and Capital Campaign Chair, “Through the generosity of the community, we expect to raise over $2 million to support this unprecedented opportunity for Baxter County.”

Library leaders expect to break ground in the Fall of 2008 on the property at the intersection of the Sheid-Hopper Bypass and 201 South that is now fondly referred to as “Library Hill.” Baxter County Head Librarian Gwen Khayat stated, “For the first time, our county library will be easily accessible to the entire county.”

In 2007, there were 153,672 library visits and 251,259 items were checked out by patrons.  With a modern, more user-friendly facility, the library expects to more than double the number of books, and anticipates a 50 to 100 percent increase in patron visits.

The expansion will allow space for the collection to grow along with the county population, provide a dedicated children’s library, a teen library, reading areas, and provide access to more than 35 computers.  In addition, plans include a coffee shop, larger, well-equipped community meeting rooms, and a special genealogy section.  Space is also planned for the Twin Lakes Literacy Council,  the Friends of the Library, and the Library Foundation office.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named.  Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

The Baxter County Public Library Foundation (BCPLF), also known as the Library Foundation, is an Arkansas not-for-profit corporation recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) tax deductible charitable foundation.  The Library Foundation raises funds which support the programs and activities of the Baxter County Library through special events, planned giving, bequests, and special campaigns.  To support the Library Foundation, contact 508-8349 or foundation@baxtercountylibrary.org.