Pope County Library
🏢 Pope County Library System · Russellville, Arkansas
Pope County Library
Nearly 90 years of service to the Arkansas River Valley — anchored by a 1937 WPA building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now restored as Heritage Hall — while the modern headquarters next door opens Thursday evenings and houses one of the region's best genealogy collections for Pope County and Arkansas family history research.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8:30am–5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am–5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–7pm |
| Friday | 8:30am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 116 East 3rd Street, Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: (479) 968-4368
Website: popelibrary.org
Plus Code: 86787VG8+8W (Russellville, 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 Pope County Library
The Pope County Library System traces its roots to 1899, when the Public Library Association formally organized Russellville's first library — itself an outgrowth of an 1885 reading room started by the Excelsior Club. The organization's landmark building at 114 East 3rd Street was funded by a WPA grant and completed in October 1937: a 1,244-square-foot Colonial Revival brick structure designed by contractor O. S. Nelson that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 2000. Restored in 2002 and 2004 with $33,333 in Arkansas Historic Preservation Program grants, that original building now serves as Heritage Hall, a community event and meeting space operated by the library next door. The system went independent in 1985 when Pope County formed its own library district, and today the Russellville headquarters and four branch locations (Atkins Centennial, Dover, Hector, and a bookmobile) serve the entire Arkansas River Valley.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Original 1937 WPA Colonial Revival building (listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2000) restored and renamed Heritage Hall — a community event venue operated by the library
- Dedicated Genealogy & Arkansas History department: HeritageQuest Online, Family File Index, and monthly Pope County Genealogy Group meetings with Arkansas authors and local historians
- Thursday extended evening hours (noon–7 PM) — the only day the HQ is open past 5:30 PM, giving after-work access to working residents and students
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library partnership: free monthly books mailed to enrolled children from birth through age five anywhere in Pope County
- Mobile hotspot lending and laptop lending for patrons who need internet access beyond the library walls
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pope County Library System cardholders access these digital collections free:
📚 Services
- Public access computers and free Wi-Fi
- Laptop lending for in-library use
- Mobile hotspot lending (take home)
- Free notary service
- Meeting room and Heritage Hall reservations
- Fax (send free; receive up to 15 pages free), copier, and printer
- Interlibrary loan (ILL)
- Genealogy & Arkansas History department — Family File Index, HeritageQuest, knowledgeable staff
- Bookmobile and outreach services to homebound residents and underserved areas of Pope County
- Referrals to ASBTDC, SCORE, and Women's Business Center for small-business resources
🎸 Programs
- Pope County Genealogy Group — monthly meetings with Arkansas authors and local historians
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library — free monthly book mailings for children birth through age 5
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and 1,000 Books Beyond — early literacy milestone programs
- Reading Dragons — developing-reader support program for early readers
- All-Ages Summer Reading Program — annual (reading logs, grand prize drawings, events through July)
- Family Game Night and Adult Life Skills workshops
- Teen programs and dedicated teen space
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northwest & Central Arkansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Russellville · Browse all Arkansas libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Heritage Hall, and can community groups use it?
Heritage Hall is the library's original 1937 WPA-built building at 114 East 3rd Street — a Colonial Revival brick structure that served as Russellville's public library until 1976. After restoration with $33,333 in Arkansas Historic Preservation Program grants (2002 and 2004), it was renamed Heritage Hall and is now used for library programs, author talks, and community events. Contact the library at (479) 968-4368 to inquire about availability.
Why does the library open later on Thursdays?
The Russellville headquarters shifts to a noon–7 PM schedule on Thursdays — the only evening the building is open past 5:30 PM. This gives working residents and students a window to visit after school or work. The branch locations (Atkins, Dover, Hector) maintain daytime-only hours, so Thursday evening at the HQ is the best option for patrons who cannot come during the day.
Does the library have genealogy resources for Pope County and Arkansas family history?
Yes — the Genealogy & Arkansas History department at the headquarters specializes in local and family history research. It maintains a Family File Index of Pope County families and provides in-branch access to HeritageQuest Online (U.S. census records, county histories, and family genealogies). The monthly Pope County Genealogy Group brings in Arkansas authors and local historians throughout the year.
How do I access the statewide Arkansas databases from home with a Pope County card?
All Arkansas residents have free remote access to the Arkansas Traveler Statewide Resources, funded by the Arkansas State Library through an IMLS grant. The collection includes ProQuest databases covering business (ABI/INFORM), genealogy (HeritageQuest), health, science, history, and language learning (Pronunciator in 163 languages), as well as SIRS and World Book. Visit library.arkansas.gov/resources to browse the full list — no additional login is required.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 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.
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