The Malvern-hot Spring County Library
The Malvern-hot Spring County Library is all about Progress. The facility’s dedicated staff strive to inspire continual growth and a love of reading and learning in the minds of their patrons.
The local facility is the regional seat for the Mid-ark Regional Library Consortium, which also consists of libraries in Cleveland, Dallas, Grant and Saline counties. This partnership offers patrons and the facilities multiple benefits through sharing of materials, staff and resources, plus incorporating a Bookmobile that makes regular stops through all five counties.
Their Mission Statement: “It is the mission of Malvern - Hot Spring County Library to provide quality materials and services which fulfill educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the entire community in an atmosphere that is welcoming, respectful, and professional.”
HSC Library Director,
Clare Graham said the magic in the mix is having a “Team that is passionate about serving the community.” The facility is served by 10 employees who are friendly, knowledgeable, hard-working and always looking for creative, fun ways to promote learning through all the resources and activities they make available to visitors.
The biggest developments in the last year have been the added book locker in Bismarck, which will service the community well until the even bigger development is completed—a brand new Bismarck Library Annex.
Beginning in 2018, with the community development initiative “Hot Spring County Conversations,” led by Judge Dennis Thornton, citizens expressed the desire for a library annex in Bismarck.
From this effort, the Bismarck Library Friends were formed to promote and advocate for expanded library services in the Bismarck area.
Six acres of land has now been purchased on Millwood Lane in Bismarck, and plans for a Library in the Park, along with a playground and a walking path are being finalized. Currently, the western portion of the county is served by the book locker and the Bookmobile, which visits Bismarck, Point Cedar, and Bonnerdale every month.
For more information about the many services and resources available through the Malvern-hsc Library, call 501-332-5441 or visit them at 202 East Third St. in Malvern. You can also find a wealth of information and access to their extensive network of databases through their website, www.hsclibrary.arkansas.gov.