Expansion Plans

In 1995 the Library, in conjunction with Library Planning Associates, Inc., conducted a space needs assessment to plan for the next 25 years. The following is an excerpt from the report:

The Fort Smith Public Library enjoys a positive reputation for service in the surrounding region and the state. Comparisons with libraries of comparable size bear this out, demonstrating that the library is in the vanguard according to many measures. Nevertheless, the library's facilities have been identified as one of the major impediments to continued growth and service improvements.

The study results indicated that in order to serve the citizens of Fort Smith adequately in the future, the library would need: a new central library building, closer to the geographic center of the community; a branch on the south side of town; a branch on the north side of town a branch on the east side of town; and a small branch in the downtown area, consisting mainly of electronic resources.

In October 1997 the voters of Fort Smith passed a sales tax to pay for several civic improvement projects, including the library project. With the help of architects Jeff Scherer of Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle and Larry McGowan of MAHG, the library project has been realized.

Community members were also involved, forming building committees for each branch library. The committee members provided valuable input into the design of the new library buildings, and we thank them for their efforts.

Construction has been completed on all four buildings. You can view photos of the construction process in the photo archive

Public Art Project for New Library Building

Part of the Fort Smith Public Library's building project included plans for a work of art located outside the new main library. The artist whose proposal was chosen, Douglas Warnock, is a sculptor working in Pocatello, Idaho where he teaches at Idaho State University. He has had numerous solo and collaborative public and private commissions and has exhibited widely including the Florida Center for Contemporary Art in Tampa and the International Design Center in New York.

Pictures of Warnock's sculpture can be seen here

Warnock's design for the library recognizes both the Native American's and the settler's roles in Fort Smith's history. Using bronze, ceramic, stone, falling water and light, he has developed a formal composition which harmonizes with and compliments the new library building's design. "The sculpture's overall form associates with, without specifically representing, an ax head standing on its edge. This choice of form visually identifies with the indigenous Mississippian culture's use of primitive tools and references displaced and local Native American and European settler's historical phases during which trapping and trading were predominantly practiced."

Water trickles down from the sculpture's interior toward a catch basin below. When designing the sculpture, Warnock took into consideration the various views of the work visitors will have. Those driving by can easily see the fourteen foot tall art work (eleven foot sculpture and three foot base) in a quick glance. From the library's parking lot they will be able to understand the sculpture within the context of its site design.

Please help us make additional long range plans by participating in the Library Survey.

This Page Last updated: 22 February 2002