Introducing a new column from the BVPL Foundation

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a regular column featuring news and information about the Bella Vista Public Library as presented by board members and guests of the Bella Vista Public Library Foundation. These columns will also contain book reviews and other items of interest relating to the library.

Bella Vista is fortunate to have a vibrant and vital public library. This library, currently located in the woods at 11 Dickens Place near Town Center, has served Bella Vista citizens since 1983. Like many amenities in Bella Vista, it started with a group of volunteers who valued literacy and community. These volunteers donated and organized books and even typed the cards to create a card catalog (this was long before computers became tools used to keep track of books in libraries).

The library was technically a private library, although it served the public. Money to purchase books and materials and pay for the space to house them came totally from donations. As Bella Vista’s population grew, the need for more space for books grew. After years of renting space to use, in 1989, a capital campaign was launched to erect a building dedicated as an official library. That building was completed in 1996.

With funds left over from that capital campaign, the Bella Vista Public Library Foundation was formed. The mission of the Library Foundation is to provide financial support to the library for educational programs, equipment and expansion of the facilities. The library building is owned by the Library Foundation, and is leased to the city of Bella Vista to manage and maintain.

What does this mean? It means from day one, this library has been supported by volunteers. It is, indeed, YOUR library. Your Foundation board works to improve and enhance your library and be good stewards of the funds you put in our care.

So, how has the Foundation improved and enhanced your library? The biggest accomplishment has been an expansion to the building itself. In 2010, it became obvious that Bella Vista was growing and changing, and more space was required to serve the population. A capital campaign was begun. Again, the people of Bella Vista stepped up to support their library.

Construction began in 2019 and was completed in April 2020 — just in time for the covid pandemic to keep the doors closed and people in their homes. When the pandemic finally ebbed, people came to the library and saw a much larger children’s area, study rooms, a reading room, a Conference Room, and a larger Community Room. There was a new, beautifully designed garden on the west side. And the views at the back of the library were absolutely stunning. It is still a thrill to see someone new to our library come in and literally gasp when they look back at that view

Of course, with more space available, more people came for more programming events. Our parking lot was too small for the number of people who came to those events. Again, thanks to the people of Bella Vista, we were able to expand the parking lot. That was completed just before the summer reading program began in 2023.

So, what’s next? Currently, we are working on getting night lighting installed in the expanded parking lot. In addition, we are working to enhance our outdoor spaces, both on the east side of the building and possibly in the West Side Garden.

While it is difficult to imagine at this time, studies done by the city of Bella Vista have indicated that as our population continues to grow, more library space may be needed soon.

In the coming weeks, we will bring you news of Foundation work, book reviews and potential events. Visit us at bvplfoundation.org.