TL;DR: The Fayetteville Public Library, also known as Blair Library, expanded to 170,500 square feet in 2021 and was named "Library of the Year" in 2005 by Library Journal (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026).
Location and Hours
The Fayetteville Public Library (also known as Blair Library, FPL) is at 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701, phone 479-856-7000 (faylib.org, the library's own site, checked Aug 2026). It's open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm (faylib.org, checked Aug 2026). Discover Fayetteville, Arkansas for more on the neighborhoods around downtown.
From a Courthouse Basement to a Landmark Building
The library's path from a two-room basement space to a 170,500-square-foot campus tracks Fayetteville's own growth over the past century, and each move reflected a city that had simply outgrown its previous building.
The library was first created in 1916, originally housed in two rooms in the basement of the newly built Washington County Courthouse (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026). It moved to the City Administration Building in 1937, and after local fundraising, a site on East Dickson Street was chosen in 1959 and dedicated June 4, 1962 by Senator J. William Fulbright (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). The current building opened in September 2004 at 88,000 square feet and a cost of $23 million, funded in part by a $3 million gift from Jim Blair in honor of his late wife, grandmother, and aunt (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).
An Award-Winning Green Building
These recognitions came years before green building certification became standard practice for public facilities, making Fayetteville an early mover among Arkansas cities on sustainable civic construction.
The library was the first building in Arkansas to register with the U.S. Green Building Council, in June 2001, and achieved LEED silver certification in 2006; it was named "Library of the Year" in 2005 by Library Journal and an "American Landmark Library" by TravelSmart (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). Its green features include a green roof, an underground cistern that reuses roof-collected water for irrigation (saving about 500,000 gallons a year), 10 waterless urinals piloted with the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, and 10 kW of rooftop solar panels installed in 2009 (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).
A 2021 Expansion Near the Historic Square
A master plan approved by the Library Board of Directors in 2013 led to an expansion completed in 2021, bringing the library's total size to 170,500 square feet and adding an event center seating more than 700 people, an innovation center, a teaching kitchen, and an art and movement room (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). The building was designed by Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. of Minneapolis and sits a few blocks from the Fayetteville Historic Square, putting it within easy walking distance of downtown dining and shopping (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). Browse featured listings near downtown.
A Regional System's Roots
Before the current building, the library's earlier facility on East Dickson Street grew to 31,500 square feet after the city purchased adjoining plots in 1966 and 1989, and for years it housed not just the Fayetteville Public Library but also the Ozark Regional Library System and the Talking Books service (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026). The Ozark Regional Library System split into the Washington County Library System and the Benton County Library System in 1999, and the Washington County system left the FPL building the following year (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). Fayetteville voters approved a sales tax increase in 2000 to fund the new building that opened in 2004.
More Than Books
The 2021 expansion's event center, seating more than 700 people, an innovation center, a teaching kitchen, and an art and movement room give the library a role well beyond a traditional book-lending facility (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026). Residents use the space for everything from community meetings and classes to public events that would otherwise require a separate venue downtown. Combined with its LEED silver certification and green-design features, the building reflects a deliberate choice by the city to build civic infrastructure meant to last.
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What is the Fayetteville Public Library's address and contact number?
The Fayetteville Public Library is at 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701, and can be reached at 479-856-7000 (faylib.org, checked Aug 2026).
When was the current Fayetteville Public Library building opened and what was the cost?
The current library building opened in September 2004 at a cost of $23 million (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026).
How large is the Fayetteville Public Library after the 2021 expansion?
The library's total size is 170,500 square feet following the 2021 expansion (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026).
What are the Fayetteville Public Library's operating hours?
The library is open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm (faylib.org, checked Aug 2026).
Who designed the Fayetteville Public Library building?
The library was designed by Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. of Minneapolis (Wikipedia, 'Fayetteville Public Library', checked Aug 2026).