Library building marks 30th anniversary with patrons and 'Friends'
Friends of the Library members and officers attending the library building's 30th anniversary are from left, Mary Ann Hubertz, member; Betty Stivers, vice president; Ginger Turnbull, secretary and treasurer, Terry Edwards, member; Christy Cox, member; Norma Pruitt, member; Jasper Mayor Michael Thomas and front, Pat Dixon, president.
Jeff Dezort/Staff
Newton County Library staff and volunteers welcomed visitors to the 30th anniversary celebration of the library building held Wednesday, Nov. 20. Pictured from left are, Grace Pineiro, staff; Sondra Jones, staff, Kenya Windel, library director; Quinnell Land, board member; Christy Cox, native plant gardener; Pat Dixon, volunteer and Toinette Madison, board president and director of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce.
Jeff Dezort/Staff
Patrons and friends of the Newton County Library attending the 30th anniversary the library building Wednesday morning, Nov. 20. The Newton County Chamber of Commerce provided a business showcase offering tours of the building, served cookies and took memento photos of visitors. Activities were scheduled throughout the day.
The Newton County Library celebrated its 30th year in its current home at 230 South Stone Street in Jasper Wednesday, Nov. 20. The public was invited to join the celebration from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and participate in a day of scheduled activities. Festivities began at 10 a.m. with early arriving patrons.
The celebration presented by the Friends of the Library began with the Newton County/Jasper Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase. Tours of the building were given, cookies were served ed and memento photos of guests were taken. Also throughout the day were children crafts sessions, face painting, a calligraphy demonstration by Gina Booth and book readings by local author Gary Weibye. Door prizes were also awarded.
While the history of the Newton County Library goes back to 1931, the story about the current library building begins in 1991.
According to the library's published history:
"In 1991, the Friends of the Library organized, and in 1994, the old county shop building was transformed into the new Newton County Library. Community volunteers cleaned and worked on the interior of the building with great care and enthusiasm. Book shelves were built, and beautiful oak furniture was crafted. From 2000 to 2017, Teresa Hayes was the county librarian and the first Newton County librarian with a master's degree in library science.
"In 1997, a wildflower and native plant garden was landscaped in front of the building by Eric Olson and his sons. In 1998, the Gould-Jones Reservoir, which is on the library grounds, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1998, circulation became computerized, and in 1999, we offered the first public internet access. In 2000, the meeting room changed into the Genealogy Room. In 2005, a 16 x 16 program room and 8 x16 storage room were added to the back of the library. In 2006, two new public access computers, a WiFi system, and new shelves were added. We also created a comfortable environment for our younger readers, by adding children's furniture.
"Our programs were popular, and sometimes overcrowded. Staff had to move several book shelves in order to accommodate larger crowds and lug chairs back and forth from the storage room at the rear of the library. We had already outgrown our new program room! In 2009, through a grant from the Arkansas State Legislature administered through the Arkansas State Library and the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Library, we expanded our program room and storage space. We began using our new room right away.
"In 2014, volunteers came back to help give the Library a "facelift" for the 20th Anniversary of being in this location. The entire library's interior was repainted and new carpet was put in, with the help of volunteers to move books from one end of the library to the other.
"In 2017, Teresa Hayes retired, and Kenya Windel became the library director of the Newton County Library. In 2018, the library added a Seed Library, a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and Kids' Take & Make Craft Kits. In 2019, the library added a Little Free Panty to provide food and hygiene items to the community. By the beginning of 2020, the Newton County Library helped start the Newton County Imagination Library, and by mid-2024, 100% of Newton County kids ages 0 to 5 were signed up for the program.
"In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the temporary shutdown of many facilities, including the Newton County Library, in March of 2020. Our library director forwarded the library's calls to her house and continued to assist patrons by phone and online until staff could return to the library. During that time, she and her family constructed and installed plexiglass barriers at the library's circulation desk to help ensure the safety of staff and patrons when the library reopened. Things more or less were back to normal by mid-2021.
"In 2021, we started a library of things, which includes games, fishing poles and tackle, and telescopes, and we added a barn quilt square to our building, becoming part of the Newton County Quilt Trail. In 2024, we started hosting Narcotics Anonymous meetings and became an Opioid Rescue Station, with naloxone available anonymously to our community. Our library is a true community center for Newton County."
