Fall/Spring Hours:
  September 6

  Mon - Wed: 9am-6pm
  Thurs: 9am-5pm
  Friday: 9am-2pm
  Saturday: 9am-1pm   Sunday: Closed

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  Contact Information:

  Phone: (870) 633-5646
  Fax: (870) 633-5647
  Email:
    forrestcitylibrary.org
            Map:
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Library History

The Forrest City Public Library was established in 1921 when a group of local women, known as the Community Service Circle, gathered together a total of five hundred donated books.  These women found support through the Forrest City Elks Club, whose members offered a storeroom in their clubhouse to amass the books.  The ladies were allowed to lend books on the condition that they keep the "library" open six days a week, so that bathroom facilities could be maintained for rural women during their trips to town.  A small tea was served daily, and for twenty-five cents, you could purchase tea and sandwich or a slice of cake.  This first library was forced to close after a couple of years due to a lack of funding.

The library opened again in 1927, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Sam Mann (pictured), a prominent local judge and attorney.  Mr. Mann offered a donation of five hundred dollars per year for five years to purchase new books, but only if the city would pay a librarian and utilities.  At this time, the community residents were asked to pay a yearly subscription fee of eight dollars to help cover expenses.  These stipulations were met, the Elks Club again offered their storeroom, and the library opened under the direction of Miss Louise Turley.

Mr. Mann's interest in the library grew, and he renewed his five hundred dollar pledge for another five years.  He was also the driving force behind the construction of the library building.  In 1936, Mr. Mann had architects develop plans.  Mr. J. M. Dennis had already willed his home place to the city for a community park.  With plans developed and land to build on, Mr. Mann went to Washington, D.C., seeking funds from the Public Works Administration (PWA).  It took many trips, but in 1938, funds were finally allocated for 45% of the building costs.  Sadly, neither Mr. Mann nor his wife lived to see the funds allocated or the library built.  Mrs. Mann (pictured) passed away in 1936; Mr. Mann died in 1937.  A library committee was formed, headed by Mr. A. L. Hutchins.  Also serving on that first committee were: Mrs. Oliver N. Warren, W.W. Campbell, S. J. Dean, Mrs. McClinton Norton, A. C. Bridewell, and Gazzola Vaccaro.

The Forrest City Public Library moved to its new home on Washington Street in April of 1939 at a cost of $25,000.  PWA funded their 45%, with the rest financed by local bonds with a twenty-year maturity.  The Forrest City Garden Club landscaped the grounds, a full quarter block. The building was and still is owned by the city.  Employee salaries, utilities, and maintenance were the responsibility of the city under a contract that lasted until 1994.  Books and library equipment were purchased from donations, memorials, and patron subscriptions.  Some were
also given as gifts from private citizens or civic organizations, a custom that exists to this day.

The library grew, due to the direction and dedication of some very fine women:  Mrs. Charles Buford, Mrs. F. L. Proctor, Mrs. Mervyn Ragland, Ms. Marie Routon, and Mrs. Pat Long.  There is a long list of assistant staff members and an even longer list of volunteers.  The governing body of the library has been a rotation list of civic-minded patrons, plus the librarians.  This group of people make up the Board of Trustees.  Perhaps the most-noted board member was Mrs. Alice Harrison (pictured), grand-daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Sam Mann.  Mrs. Harrison served as treasurer on the library board for thirty-five years.

One of the most notable ladies was Mrs. F. L. (Annie B.) Proctor (pictured), who served as librarian from 1931 until her semi-retirement in 1958.  During that time, the library grew from 500 volumes to over 12,500.  Mrs. Proctor had a pet project called The Arkansas Collection - over 1300 separate listings, all claiming a portion of Arkansas History.  No one knows where all these materials were obtained - Mrs. Proctor always said it was "better not to ask." There are some very rare volumes, some under lock and key, but all are available to library patrons.  It is considered one of the most valuable collections in the state.

In 1976, after forty years of collecting materials, the library boasted some 24,000 books, furnishings, and office equipment - it was time to expand.  A new addition was built across the back of the existing structure.  This addition, which doubled the square footage, provided complete rooms for children's fiction, adult fiction, non-fiction, and The Arkansas Room.  Library subscription fees were still required, and they were raised to $15 per year.

There was more growth in 1986.  A large office pod was constructed behind the circulation desk for the technical assistants, and a smaller pod was built for the librarian's private office.  With these additions, extra shelf space was developed for the video department and the audio collections.  These improvements were made available through donations, funding from The United Way, and strict budgeting by the library staff.  These were still years of relatively slow growth.  Books were bought from donations, memorials, and book rentals. Then, in 1993, the citizens of Forrest City passed a 2-mil property tax to finance the library.  That same tax issue was voted down by St. Francis County residents, which is why they still must pay an annual user fee of fifteen dollars.

Today, the library is open over forty hours per week. The original 1939 building is still in use, though there is now some 4200 square feet of space.  We now have over 30,000 circulating materials, computers with Internet access, video and audio collections, and many other services.  Most importantly, we come to work each day with the knowledge of dedicated ancestors whose determination and ambition was to see Forrest City and its library grow and prosper, and with the responsibility to see their dreams continue to come true.