Newton County Library
🏢 Newton County Library · Jasper, Arkansas
Newton County Library
Rooted in a tradition of community self-reliance going back to a Wilderness Library homesteaded on Mt. Sherman in 1931, the Newton County Library serves rural Arkansas Ozarks residents from its Jasper home — a 1994 community-built transformation of the old county shop building.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm |
| Friday | 8am–5pm |
| Saturday | 4pm–8pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 230 S. Stone Street, JASPER, AR 72641
Phone: +1870-446-2983
Website: newtoncountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 86882R37+9M (JASPER, AR)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Newton County Library
The Newton County Library in Jasper has one of the more remarkable origin stories of any Arkansas public library. Its earliest predecessor was the Wilderness Library, created in 1931 by homesteader Ted Richmond on 160 acres near the Buffalo River. After years in the Newton County Courthouse, then City Hall, the library moved to a permanent home in 1994 when community volunteers transformed an abandoned county shop building — building shelves, crafting oak furniture, and landscaping a wildflower garden — in what the library itself calls 'a true example of community effort.' The on-site Gould-Jones Reservoir, dating to the early 20th century and part of the original water system, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Today the library offers a dedicated Genealogy Room, a Seed Library, a Library of Things (games, fishing poles, telescopes), the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for local children 0–5 years old, and Saturday evening hours — unique among Newton County options — for working families.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Genealogy Room for Newton County and Arkansas family history research
- Seed Library — borrow seeds for your garden, return seeds at harvest
- Library of Things: games, fishing poles, tackle, and telescopes available to check out
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library — 100% of Newton County children ages 0–5 enrolled by mid-2024
- National Register site on-premises: Gould-Jones Reservoir (listed 1998)
- Saturday evening hours 4pm–8pm — unusual for a rural Arkansas mountain library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Newton County Library card provides free access to digital collections at home, including the statewide Arkansas Traveler service:
📚 Services
- Free library card for Newton County residents
- Genealogy Room with local history materials
- Seed Library (borrow and return seeds)
- Library of Things: fishing poles, games, telescopes
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library enrollment (ages 0–5)
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- eBooks and audiobooks via Arkansas Traveler, Libby, and Kanopy
- Community meeting/program room
- GED class access and adult education support
- Narcotics Anonymous meeting host and Opioid Rescue Station (naloxone available)
🎸 Programs
- Story time — Wednesdays at 10:30am (children's program)
- Kids' Take & Make Craft Kits
- Annual FOL Book Sales and Friends of the Library events
- Adult crafting programs and social events
- GED classes in partnership with NorthArk College
- Narcotics Anonymous weekly meetings
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Arkansas Ozarks
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours for the Newton County Library in Jasper?
The library is open Monday through Friday 8am–5pm and Saturday 4pm–8pm. It is closed on Sunday. The Saturday evening hours are a distinctive feature that makes the library accessible for residents who work weekday daytimes.
Does the Newton County Library have a Seed Library?
Yes. The library has operated a Seed Library since 2018. Patrons can borrow seeds at planting time and return a portion of seeds saved at harvest. It is free to use with a Newton County library card and is stocked with vegetable, herb, and flower varieties suited to the Ozarks growing season.
What is the Library of Things at Newton County Library?
The Library of Things — launched in 2021 — lets cardholders check out items beyond books: games, fishing poles and tackle, and telescopes are currently available. Like books, these items can be borrowed for a set loan period.
Is the Newton County Library involved in the Imagination Library?
Yes. The library helped launch the Newton County Imagination Library, an affiliate of Dolly Parton's program that mails free age-appropriate books monthly to enrolled children from birth through age 5. By mid-2024, 100% of Newton County children in that age range were enrolled — a milestone the library team is proud of.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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