Fayetteville Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Fayetteville Public Library (also Blair Library and FPL) is a library
in Fayetteville
, Arkansas
. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) silver-certified library was named "Library of the Year" in 2005 by Library Journal
and an "American Landmark Library" by TravelSmart.
. The library was contained in two rooms in the basement of the building. The building became too small quickly, and the Fayetteville Public Library moved to the City Administration Building in 1937 along with several other city offices. This building became too small with Fayetteville's rapid post-World War II
growth and decided to build its own building.
Residents began fundraising for a new building, and a site on East Dickson Street
was tapped by the City of Fayetteville in 1959. A funding measure of $255,000 was approved for the site, with architect Warren Segraves in charge of the design. Built at the edge of the Washington-Willow Historic District, the site was dedicated on June 4, 1962 by Senator J. William Fulbright
. The plot to the east was purchased in 1966 and the plot to the west in 1989. The building on the west plot was connected to the library, forming a large facility of 31500 square foot. This large building held the FPL, the Ozark Regional Library System and the Talking Books service.
The Ozark Regional Library System split into the Washington County Library System (WCLS) and the Benton County Library System in 1999, and the WCLS left the FPL building the following year. Also in 2000 Fayetteville citizens approved a sales tax increase to build a new library. A significant contribution of $3 million from Jim Blair in honor of his late wife, grandmother, and aunt was announced in 2002, and ground was broken two months later. The 88000 square foot building was opened in September 2004 at a cost of $23 million.
Fayetteville Public Library was designed by Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. of Minneapolis and was opened in October 2004. The library was the first building in Arkansas
to register with the U.S. Green Building
Council, in June 2001, and achieved the silver LEED designation in 2006. To earn this designation the library employed many green-design techniques. The library was built a few blocks away from the Fayetteville Historic Square
, making it a textbook smart growth
project. During construction, any trees removed were harvested and used for furniture or donated to local parks. Throughout the project, almost 99% of the construction waste was recycled or reused. By incorporating a green roof
and using alternative roofing materials, the design team reduced heat island
effect by as much as 20 degrees. Water collected on the roof is reused for landscape irrigation through an underground cistern, saving about 500000 gal of water a year. The library's 10 waterless urinals served as a successful pilot project for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services
. In 2009, the library received a grant from the City / County Management Association to install 10kw solar panels for energy generation.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) silver-certified library was named "Library of the Year" in 2005 by Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
and an "American Landmark Library" by TravelSmart.
History
Fayetteville Public Library was first created in 1916 and was housed in the brand-new Washington County CourthouseWashington County Courthouse (Arkansas)
The Washington County Courthouse is a courthouse in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States, the county seat of Washington County, built in 1905. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The courthouse is the fifth building to serve Washington County, with the prior...
. The library was contained in two rooms in the basement of the building. The building became too small quickly, and the Fayetteville Public Library moved to the City Administration Building in 1937 along with several other city offices. This building became too small with Fayetteville's rapid post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
growth and decided to build its own building.
Residents began fundraising for a new building, and a site on East Dickson Street
Dickson Street
The West Dickson Street Commercial Historic District, known as Dickson Street is an area in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas just off the University of Arkansas campus. It is lined with multiple bars, restaurants, and shops unique to the area. Many large condo projects are now under construction as...
was tapped by the City of Fayetteville in 1959. A funding measure of $255,000 was approved for the site, with architect Warren Segraves in charge of the design. Built at the edge of the Washington-Willow Historic District, the site was dedicated on June 4, 1962 by Senator J. William Fulbright
J. William Fulbright
James William Fulbright was a United States Senator representing Arkansas from 1945 to 1975.Fulbright was a Southern Democrat and a staunch multilateralist who supported the creation of the United Nations and the longest serving chairman in the history of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee...
. The plot to the east was purchased in 1966 and the plot to the west in 1989. The building on the west plot was connected to the library, forming a large facility of 31500 square foot. This large building held the FPL, the Ozark Regional Library System and the Talking Books service.
The Ozark Regional Library System split into the Washington County Library System (WCLS) and the Benton County Library System in 1999, and the WCLS left the FPL building the following year. Also in 2000 Fayetteville citizens approved a sales tax increase to build a new library. A significant contribution of $3 million from Jim Blair in honor of his late wife, grandmother, and aunt was announced in 2002, and ground was broken two months later. The 88000 square foot building was opened in September 2004 at a cost of $23 million.
Building
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
to register with the U.S. Green Building
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
Council, in June 2001, and achieved the silver LEED designation in 2006. To earn this designation the library employed many green-design techniques. The library was built a few blocks away from the Fayetteville Historic Square
Fayetteville Historic Square
The Fayetteville Historic Square is a place in Fayetteville, Arkansas that includes the original Fayetteville post office built in 1911; the Old Bank of Fayetteville Building, the Lewis Brothers Building constructed in 1908, the Mrs. Young Building built in 1887, and the Guisinger Building...
, making it a textbook smart growth
Smart growth
Smart growth is an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a...
project. During construction, any trees removed were harvested and used for furniture or donated to local parks. Throughout the project, almost 99% of the construction waste was recycled or reused. By incorporating a green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
and using alternative roofing materials, the design team reduced heat island
Urban heat island
An urban heat island is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The phenomenon was first investigated and described by Luke Howard in the 1810s, although he was not the one to name the phenomenon. The temperature difference usually is larger at night...
effect by as much as 20 degrees. Water collected on the roof is reused for landscape irrigation through an underground cistern, saving about 500000 gal of water a year. The library's 10 waterless urinals served as a successful pilot project for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
. In 2009, the library received a grant from the City / County Management Association to install 10kw solar panels for energy generation.