All library locations will be closed May 27th for Memorial Day.

Adults

Interior shot of the library showing bookstacks and seating


The Fort Smith Public Library offers a variety of resources for adults of all ages.  Escape to another world with a novel, learn a new skill with a non-fiction book, watch a movie or documentary, be entertained or enlightened at a library program, satisfy your curiosity through research, or meet your technology needs.  The Fort Smith Public Library has it all.

Technology

Internet computers – Internet-accessible computers are available at all locations.  Internet sessions last an hour.  Additional time is available if no one is waiting.  Computers are available on a first come, first served basis and may not be reserved in advance. All Internet users must agree to the Fort Smith Public Library’s Computer and Internet Usage Policy.

Wi-Fi – Free high-speed wireless Internet is available at all library locations.  No library card or password is required.  All Wi-Fi users must agree to the library’s Wi-Fi policy.

Digital scanner – Need to scan photos or documents?  The Main Library offers access to a computer with a digital scanner attached.  All library locations have photocopiers that will also scan documents and photos.  Scanner access is free and no library card is required.

Printers and photocopiers – Black and white photocopiers and black and white and color printers are available.  Black and white copies and prints are $.25/page.  Color prints are $1/page. 

Wireless printing – Have a document on your mobile device or laptop that you need to print?  The Reference Department at the Main Library offers wireless printing.  Click here and follow the instructions to send your print job wirelessly. 

Microfilm

The Main Library offers access to historical Fort Smith newspapers dating back to 1848 on microfilm.  Two digital microfilm readers are available, along with several mechanical film readers.  The library is currently in the middle of a multi-year project to digitize the newspapers on microfilm.  Fort Smith newspapers from 1848-December 31, 1961 are currently digitized.  In addition, some issues of Entertainment Fort Smith magazine, Lincoln Echo newspaper, and Fortnightly Club archives are also available.  More issues will be digitized as funding becomes available.

Professional Research

Save time and effort by letting our knowledgeable staff do your research for you.  The research fee is $20/hour with a 15-minute ($5) minimum.  Payment is for staff research time, regardless of whether the search is successful.  Information will be sent digitally.  Extra fees may apply if information is printed and mailed.  To request research, complete the online form.

Quick Reference and Reader’s Advisory

Need the answer to a quick question?  Trying to track down a fact?  Want help finding information on a specific topic?  Ready to find your next good read?  Wondering how to download an eBook to your Kindle?  These are all questions the library staff is ready to help you answer.  Stop by the Reference Desk or fill out this webform to let us point you in the right direction.

Upcoming Events

This event is in the "Adults" group.
Location: Miller
Room: Anita Paddock Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Books & Writing
Program Description:

The Miller Branch has a book club!  We are reading “Great Expectations” Charles Dickens during the month of May.  Join us for a discussion about the book on Tuesday, May 28th at 2:00 PM.  The ebook and audiobook are alway

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Genealogy Writer's Workshop

5:30pm - 7:30pm
Main
Location: Main
Room: Genealogy
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Books & Writing, Genealogy & History, How-To
Program Description:

Begin your life story with the Genealogy Writer’s Workshop. This month explore and discuss themes to determine the basis of your narrative. Join us monthly as we help you continue writing the “chapters” of your life story.

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

BINGO for Books (for Adults!)

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main
Location: Main
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Games & Activities
Program Description:

Bring your lucky bingo daubers or lucky troll for this fun hour of bingo! We will have book prizes for winners of this free program!

This event is in the "Adults" group.

Adult Crafty Corner

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Miller
Location: Miller
Room: Anita Paddock Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, How-To
Program Description:

Adults can be crafty, also!  Rediscover your creative spark by joining the Miller Branch Library for an easy craft that you’ll be able to take home. This month, we will be painting candles!

This event is in the "Everyone" group.
Location: Dallas
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Games & Activities, Special Events
Program Description:

It’s time to kick off summer reading!  Drop by the Dallas Street Branch to help us celebrate the beginning of the Adventure Begins at Your Library summer reading program.  Sign up for the summer reading progr

This event is in the "Everyone" group.
Location: Dallas
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Celebrations, Holiday
Program Description:

Let your father know how much he means to you with a handmade Father's Day Card.  Stop by the Dallas Street Branch Library and use your creativity to make your own personalized card for Dad!  This do-it-yourself activity is open to all a

This event is in the "Everyone" group.
Location: Windsor
Room: General Library
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Celebrations, Games & Activities, Storytimes
Program Description:

It's time to kick off summer reading! Drop by the Windsor Drive Branch to help us celebrate the beginning of the Adventure Begins at Your Library summer reading program.

Databases

African American Heritage

African American Heritage was created in partnership with leading African American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information to develop a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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American Ancestors

Explore resources available at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  Genealogical articles and records not only from the North East United States but from other states and other countries are available to search, print, and/or download.

This website is accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).

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American History Online

By providing the most comprehensive range of information in one complete resource, American History offers a virtual library of American history for educators, students, and researchers of all ages. Includes articles, images, primary source documents, timelines, videos, and slideshows.

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Ancestry (Library Edition)

Covers more than two billion names throughout the various databases collection. This database offers access to Ancestry.com. It is available in the library only, and customers are limited to six emailed documents per email address.

By vendor contract rules, this website is accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).

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Arkansas Driving Tests

Practice permit tests and handbooks for cars, motorcycles, and CDL.  Also available in Spanish.

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Arkansas State Library - Arkansas Government Documents

Search for Arkansas Government Documents. The State Documents Depository at the Arkansas State Library permanently retains all materials in both the Arkansas Documents and Arkansas Rules collections.

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Arkansas State Library - Arkansas Government Documents Digital Collection

Access digital copies of Arkansas documents, Arkansas proclamations and executive orders, Arkansas rules and regulations, legislative audit reports, Medicaid rules and regulations, Acts of Arkansas, and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Research.

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Arkansas State Library - Federal Government Documents

Find federal documents through the Arkansas State Library. 

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Chronicling America

Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress. 

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CultureGrams

Primary sources, statistics, and cultural reports covering the countries of the world, states, and Canadian provinces.  Explore the United States and discover state flags, maps, sports teams, recipes, symbols, songs, and more. 

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture

Comprehensive reference work promoting the study, understanding, and appreciation of Arkansas’s heritage.

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FamilySearch

The Fort Smith Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, which means it has access to more genealogy resources to help you make more family discoveries. FamilySearch is a world leader in family history. Customers will have access to a wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch and additional records are accessible by visiting the Genealogy Department at the Main Library. 

The additional resources are accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).

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Fort Smith City Birth Records

This index is the official “Record of Report of Births Filed With the City Clerk of Fort Smith Arkansas.”  Births were first recorded with the City of Fort Smith in 1881, and continued to be recorded at the city level until 1965. Many local births were never recorded with the city. The period currently covered by this index is 1881-1921.

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Fort Smith City Death Records

This index is the official “Record of Report of Deaths Filed With the City Clerk of Fort Smith Arkansas.” Deaths were first recorded with the City of Fort Smith in 1881, and continued to be recorded at the city level until 1965. Many local deaths were never recorded with the city. These records are in the process of being indexed, and will be updated periodically. The period currently covered by this index is 1881-1924.

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Fort Smith Digitized Newspapers

Fully digitized and searchable images of Fort Smith newspapers from 1848 to December 31, 1961 are currently available.  In addition, some issues of Entertainment Fort Smith magazine, Lincoln Echo newspaper, and Fortnightly Club archives are also available. More dates will be added to the collection as funding allows.

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Fort Smith Public Library Cemetery Index

This index includes individuals buried in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The information was taken from interment records from the 
following cemeteries: Calvary (Catholic)–to 1991; Forest Park–1910-1988; Rose Lawn & Holy Cross–1930-1991; U.S. National Cemetery–to 1990; Washington Cemetery–1943-1996; Woodlawn Memorial Park–1959-1989.

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Gale Virtual Reference Library

Database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.  Your library card is required to access this database.

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HeritageQuest Online

Search census data, family records, local histories, and other artifacts to help you find out more about your family’s past.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Hoopla

Hoopla is a digital media service that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. We have hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily. Hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere.

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Kanopy

Kanopy is a popular, on-demand streaming service that offers more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films.

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LearningExpress

LearningExpress is an interactive online learning platform for job searching, workplace skills improvement, career certification and licensing exam preparation. It also covers college entrance and graduate school admissions exam preparation, GED exam preparation, and basic skills improvement for all ages. 

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Library2Go

Download e-books, audiobooks, and videos with your library card.

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Mango Languages

Learn more than 70 languages through real conversations, and also features ESL lessons. Great for kids.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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MedlinePlus

The National Library of Medicine's site for consumer-health information. Find information on common diseases and conditions, dictionaries, and directories for finding health-care professionals.

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Newspapers.com World Collection (Library Edition)

Historical newspapers archive from the 1700s - 2000s containing thousands of well-known regional, state, and small local newspapers in the United States and other countries.

 

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NoveList

Find reviews for fiction books along with author read-a-likes, what we're reading, book discussion guides, annotated book lists, and more.

 

 

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NoveList K-8

NoveList K-8 Plus is a trusted source of read-alike recommendations specifically for younger readers. It helps kids find books that are just right for their reading level and interests.

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ProQuest ABI/INFORM

Provides access to ABI/INFORM Global, ABI/INFORM Trade and Industry, and ABI/INFORM Dateline. The database features thousands of full-text journals, dissertations, working papers, key business, and economics periodicals such as the Economist, country-and industry-focused reports, and downloadable data. Its international coverage gives researchers a complete picture of companies and business trends around the world.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Accounting, Tax & Banking

Offers access to wide range of information in accounting, tax & business.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Arts & Humanities

Those studying the arts, film, and music will build a deep understanding of their area of interest through additional scholarly content including eBooks, historical newspapers, and journals. 

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Business Market Research

ProQuest Business Market Research provides both with an extraordinary collection of business information and inventive discovery applications.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Career & Technical

A definitive source for vocational information, supporting career researchers with exceptional collections in most areas of practice. 

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Central

An easy-to-use multimedia resource that supports research in business, health and medical, social sciences, arts and humanities, education, science and technology, and dozens of other disciplines.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Health & Medicine

The Health & Medical Collection is a comprehensive medical information resource providing full-text journal content, reference eBooks, and evidence-based resources, including dissertations and systematic reviews.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Research Companion

This database helps students understand the scholarly research process and supports educators as they teach the core information literacy principles of finding, evaluating, and using information.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Science & Technology

This resource provides access to wide range of information for both applied and general sciences.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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ProQuest Social Sciences

ProQuest’s collections provide comprehensive coverage of the scholarly literature in the social sciences, including full-text scholarly journals.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Salem Press Online Collection

Salem Presses offers a wealth of information on literature, history, science, health, and more. Researchers have access to a collection of reference materials, eBooks, and more. This resource also has biographical information and primary documents. Outside the library, use fortsmith as the remote password.

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Sanborn Maps

A searchable database of the fire insurance maps published by the Sanborn Map Company housed in the Library of Congress collections of the Geography and Map Division. 

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Science Online

With a wealth of content and a dynamic design that facilitates STEM research and learning, Science Online offers a comprehensive overview of a broad range of scientific disciplines. 

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Sebastian County Marriage Records

This index includes individuals married in Sebastian County (Fort Smith and Greenwood) from years 1847, 1861, 1863-June 14, 2001.  Source Information provided by the Sebastian County Clerk’s marriage records. These records will be updated periodically.

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SIRS Issues Researcher

Background and analysis on 350+ leading issues, providing pros and cons on social, scientific, health, historic, economic, political, and global issues.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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Today's Science

Today’s Science bridges the gap between the science taught in class and real-world discoveries—giving in-depth explanations of important advances in biology, chemistry, the environment, space, physics, and technology.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Boreham Library Catalog 

Explore the dynamic catalog of the Boreham Library at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith campus.

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World Book

This resource is your entry way to the vast World Book resources.  Search encyclopedias, multimedia, eBooks, and primary source databases, in a single search.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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World Book Discover

World Book Discover assists differentiated learners and older adults with a research database that offers a practical life skills section. A collection of unique videos, featuring expert answers to often asked questions, and a visual dictionary make content more accessible for readers of all levels.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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World Book Early World of Learning

Emergent learners will engage in an interactive and playful environment that encourages reading comprehension and mastery of phonetic skills. Early World of Learning is full of stories, videos, songs, and games to provide a firm foundation for 21st-century learning and digital citizenship.

The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

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