GRAVETTE — The Gravette Public Library has served as a cornerstone of the community since 1976, offering access to books, resources, and services made possible through the ongoing support of the city of Gravette, local organizations, businesses, foundation grants, and dedicated volunteers. The impact of this small rural library has extended beyond the community, earning recognition at both the regional and national levels.

The library has been honored with a silver award in 2024 and a bronze award in 2025 in the Best of Northwest Arkansas awards. Staff members have presented at national conferences hosted by the Public Library Association and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, showcasing the library’s digital literacy training, youth STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming, and space science education. The library was one of three libraries nationwide invited by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy to participate in a pilot program focused on adult digital skills training and was later invited by the Foundation to collaborate on a children’s literacy initiative.

In 2017, the library adopted a logo featuring a book and a Wi-Fi signal, symbolizing its commitment to both print and digital access. A reorganization of the fiction collection by genre that same year resulted in an 82% increase in circulation of physical materials. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when may programs were suspended, the library raised checkout limits to better serve patrons, resulting in increased usage. The library also provides a telescope, Wi-Fi hotspots, and Discover kits for checkout. Patrons enjoy free ebooks and audiobooks through the Arkansas Library 2 Go consortium, a regional partnership serving libraries across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Today, the library offers a wide range of programs and services, including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, ABCmouse, Little Lions Story Time for preschoolers, summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults, STEAM activities for youth, and the Reading Between the Lions book club for adults. A StoryWalk along a quarter-mile walking trail is available at Hiwasse Park with the book changed monthly, and the library partners with the Amazeum to support homeschool education. Due to a more than 300% increase in children’s summer reading program participation between 2018 and 2021, the program was relocated to the Gravette Civic Center to accommodate attendance that exceeded the library’s 80-person occupancy limit, even with back-to-back sessions.

Community events include Moon Over Main Street, an annual event held in partnership with the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society. The library has held gardening programs including seed exchanges as well as nutrition and food preservation workshops. It has hosted local author book signings and, in 2024, was selected as one of three libraries in Arkansas to host award-winning author Patti Callahan Henry, known for The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

Lamarise Carrier has served as library director since 2024, working alongside long-time library assistants Artemis Edmisten and Brittany Mangold. The Library Advisory Board replaced the Library Commission in 2018 and current members include Terry Roberts, Susan Holland, LaShawna Sims, Frankie Stephens, and Mike Walker. A Teen Advisory Board was established this year with members Georgia H., Abi S., Kristyn H., Isaac S., Karl S. II, Katherine Q., and Samuel H.

The community is invited to celebrate the library’s 50th anniversary at an open house hosted by the Friends of the Gravette Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at the library, located at 119 Main St. SE.

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