Greene County Library
🏢 Northeast Arkansas Regional Library System · Paragould, Arkansas
Greene County Library
Built in 1974 through a newspaper publisher's bequest and now headquarters of the five-branch Northeast Arkansas Regional Library System, the Wright Memorial Library anchors Paragould's intellectual life with a leading genealogy center, a new Memory Lab for digitizing family heirlooms, and a community Seed Library.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm |
| Friday | 8am–4pm |
| Saturday | 8am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 120 N 12th St, Paragould, AR 72450
Phone: (870) 236-8711
Website: mylibrarynow.org
Plus Code: 868F3F4X+JP (Paragould, 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 Greene County Library
The Greene County Library — formally the Wright Memorial Library, built in 1974 through a bequest from the widow of Ruport Wright, publisher of Paragould's Daily Press — serves as both the county's public library and the headquarters of the Northeast Arkansas Regional Library System (NARLS). Inside, the S.S. Lipscomb Genealogy & History Research Center anchors one of northeast Arkansas's most complete family-history collections, funded by a gift from Sam Lipscomb for historical and genealogical work. In 2026 the library added a Memory Lab, backed by an Arkansas Heritage grant, where residents can digitize VHS tapes, cassette recordings, and photographs. A community Seed Library lets patrons check out heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds using their library card. The library shares a unified catalog and digital-download platform with its four NARLS partners in Corning, Piggott, Pocahontas, and Rector.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named the Wright Memorial Library (1974) — built from a bequest by the widow of Daily Press publisher Ruport Wright; serves as NARLS headquarters
- S.S. Lipscomb Genealogy & History Research Center: dedicated room for Arkansas family history, county records & a growing Western history collection donated in 2026
- Memory Lab (2026) — Arkansas Heritage-funded station for digitizing VHS tapes, cassette recordings, and photographs
- Seed Library — 80+ varieties of heirloom vegetables, flowers, and herbs available on a library card with no late fees
- 192,580-volume collection serving 73,000+ Greene County residents, circulating 273,900+ items annually
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Greene County Library cardholders and all Arkansas residents can access these free digital resources:
📚 Services
- Free public Wi-Fi and public access computers
- S.S. Lipscomb Genealogy & History Research Center
- Memory Lab — digitize VHS, cassettes, and photos (2026, Arkansas Heritage grant)
- Seed Library — heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds
- Interlibrary loan (ILL)
- DVDs, music CDs, print magazines, and newspapers
- Ask a Librarian / reference assistance
- Job search assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's Storytime (weekly, year-round)
- Summer Reading Program (June–August, children and teens)
- Youth programming four days per week during summer
- Genealogy research assistance (S.S. Lipscomb Research Center)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Arkansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Paragould · Browse all Arkansas libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the building called the Wright Memorial Library?
The current library building opened in 1974, funded by a bequest from the widow of Ruport Wright, longtime publisher of the Paragould Daily Press. The gift allowed Greene County to replace an older upstairs reading room — supported by service-club subscriptions since 1933 — with a purpose-built facility that now also serves as headquarters of the five-branch Northeast Arkansas Regional Library System.
What is the S.S. Lipscomb Genealogy & History Research Center, and what can I find there?
The center is named after Sam Lipscomb, whose bequest funded the library's historical and genealogical division. It holds county records, Arkansas history materials, and genealogical databases for northeast Arkansas family research. In 2026 it also received eight boxes of professional Western history research files donated by historian Erik J. Wright — believed to be the only such archive in northeast Arkansas outside Fort Smith's U.S. Marshals Museum.
What is the Memory Lab, and how do I use it?
The Memory Lab, opened in 2026 with a $2,800 Arkansas Heritage grant, provides equipment and staff guidance for digitizing aging personal media — VHS tapes, cassette recordings, and photographs — so families can preserve them in digital formats. Patrons can schedule a session at 120 N. 12th Street; no special expertise is required.
How does the Seed Library work, and what kinds of seeds can I borrow?
The Seed Library lets any cardholder check out up to four packets of heirloom or open-pollinated seeds — vegetables (beans, beets, lettuce, and more), flowers, and herbs — using their regular library card. There are no due dates or late fees. After the plants mature, patrons are encouraged to save and return some seeds to replenish the collection for future gardeners.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.