Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County
🏢 Baxter County Library · Mountain Home, Arkansas
Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County
Built with a $9.8 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and opened October 9, 2010, this 35,500-square-foot Ozarks landmark houses one of northern Arkansas's most complete genealogy rooms — including 215 rolls of Baxter Bulletin microfilm, 565 indexed Norfolk Dam construction photographs, and the unique Ketchum Collection of local film footage from the 1950s.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6:30pm |
| Friday | 9am–6:30pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 300 Library Hill, Mountain Home, AR 72653
Phone: (870) 580-0987
Website: baxtercountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 86898J76+XQ (Mountain Home, AR)
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📖 About Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County
The Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County traces its roots to the 1930s, when the 20th Century Club maintained a volunteer collection in the Baxter County courthouse. In 1952, county voters approved a one-mill tax to formally establish the library, and it grew through four expansions before outgrowing every building it occupied. A $9.8 million capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation — named for Fort Worth-born media mogul Donald Worthington Reynolds (1906–1993), founder of Donrey Media Group and owner of more than 100 newspapers, broadcast stations, and cable properties — funded construction of the current two-story, 35,500-square-foot facility designed by Sapp Design Architects. The building opened October 9, 2010, introducing the community to the Keeter-Dryer Children's Library, the Gwen Khayat Teen Library, the Knox Community Meeting Rooms, a cafe, and Studio 300 Maker Space (added 2015). Reynolds had deep Arkansas ties: he purchased the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith early in his career, and his foundation went on to fund buildings at universities and hospitals across the state before closing in 2017.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Genealogy & Local History Room with microfilm reader/printer, 215-roll Baxter Bulletin archive (back to 1819), and 565 indexed Norfolk Dam construction photographs (1939–1944)
- Ketchum Collection: an on-site video database of Baxter County footage from the 1950s through 2012, including local TV archives, business commercials, and graduation ceremonies
- Studio 300 Maker Space, opened 2015, for hands-on creative and STEM projects open to all ages
- Named spaces include the Keeter-Dryer Children's Library, the Gwen Khayat Teen Library, and Knox Community Meeting Rooms available for reservation
- Geothermal heating/cooling and rainwater collection — an environmentally conscious 35,500-sq-ft building opened in 2010
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Baxter County Library cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through these resources:
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Genealogy & Local History Room with staff and volunteer research guidance
- Studio 300 Maker Space
- Knox Community Meeting Rooms available for reservation
- Bookworms Cafe on-site
- Little Seed Little Library (community book exchange)
- Collection of Things: lending library including fishing poles, ukuleles, activity kits, and cake pans
- Microfilm reader/printer and photocopier in Genealogy Room
- Dyslexia resources and specialized reader services
🎸 Programs
- Story times for children
- LEGO Club
- Teen reading initiatives and author visits
- Color Me Calm adult wellness programs
- Two adult book clubs: Issues and Viewpoints and All Booked
- Early Literacy Project — community initiative for foundational reading skills
- Read | Write | Ignite Literary Series
- Genealogy programs including recurring Military Records sessions
- Summer Reading Program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northern Arkansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Mountain Home · Browse all Arkansas libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Donald W. Reynolds, and why does this library carry his name?
Donald Worthington Reynolds (1906–1993) was a Fort Worth-born journalist and entrepreneur who built Donrey Media Group, one of the nation's largest privately held media companies at its peak encompassing more than 100 newspapers, television stations, radio stations, cable systems, and billboard companies. He had early Arkansas roots — one of his first acquisitions was the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith. After his death, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation channeled proceeds from the sale of Donrey Media into capital projects across Arkansas, Nevada, and Oklahoma; its $9.8 million grant funded construction of this library, which opened October 9, 2010.
What genealogy records are available, and can staff research my family history?
The Genealogy & Local History Room holds 215 rolls of Baxter Bulletin microfilm (back to 1819), court and probate records, marriage records, cemetery records, U.S. Census materials, 12 indexed volumes of vital records, a 200-volume Civil War collection, county plat maps, and the Ketchum Collection of local film footage from the 1950s through 2012. In-library access to Ancestry Library Edition is also available. Staff and genealogy volunteers provide orientation and guidance, but do not perform individual research on your behalf. The room is locked when unstaffed — ask at the Information or Circulation desk for access.
What is the Ketchum Collection, and how can I access it?
The Ketchum Collection is a video archive of Baxter County footage assembled by videographer Bob Ketchum from the 1950s through 2012. It includes Mountain Home graduation ceremonies, archives from local TV Channel 43, episodes of the public-affairs program Inside Focus, local business commercials, Baxter Healthcare training videos, and historical footage of Baxter County dating to 1953. The collection is searchable through an on-site database in the Genealogy & Local History Room during staffed hours.
What is Studio 300, and what can I make there?
Studio 300 is the library's maker space, opened in 2015 in the 35,500-square-foot building at 300 Library Hill. It provides hands-on equipment and workspace for creative and STEM projects for all ages. For current equipment availability, scheduled workshops, and reservation requirements, contact the library at (870) 580-0987 or visit baxtercountylibrary.org.
📜 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 has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.