The Gravette Public Library relocated to Main Street in 2016 and occupies two buildings. If you've lived in Gravette for many years, you may recall that the building at 117 Main St. SE that currently houses library books, KidSPACE and the Teen Zone were formerly the home of a blacksmith (OK, so that was in 1894), doctor's office, bank, pharmacy, realtor, tire store, insurance office and most recently Duffield's store.
The main entrance, as well as the Circulation Desk, GPL Learning Center, computer lab and offices, is located in the adjacent building at 119 Main St. SE which, throughout the years, has housed various hardware stories, two funeral homes, an accounting office, locksmith, grocery store, two cafes, and most recently Gravette City Hall.
With the addition of new library programs and activities plus updated book collections, the library has seen increased use. This is a good thing! The staff is aware, however, that the entry area can become congested as patrons await services at the Circulation Desk and can be particularly challenging for someone using a mobility device such as a wheelchair. And one can get a workout just opening the front door!
When there was an opportunity to apply for a Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, we jumped at the chance and are thrilled to announce that the Gravette Public Library has been awarded a $20,000 grant which we plan to use to address the door and remodel the front entry to provide a more accessible library for our community. A lowered counter will accommodate children, some who can barely reach the top of our current counter, as well as people seated in chairs or wheelchairs.
As we make plans, we are asking for input from you, our community members. A Community Conversation will be held at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 13th, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. This is open to the public and we look forward to hearing from you. Stay tuned for more information about remodel plans and construction dates.