Introducing GCL Forward, Garland County Library’s long-range initiative to expand access, improve services, and create modern library spaces for communities across the county.
Introducing GCL Forward, Garland County Library’s long-range initiative to expand access, improve services, and create modern library spaces for communities across the county.
GCL Forward is Garland County Library's long-range facilities initiative designed to expand access, improve services, and create modern library spaces for communities across the county. Today, more than 100,000 residents spread across 735 square miles are served by a single library facility. Through GCL Forward, the library aims to build a new state-of-the-art Main Library campus, open a North Branch currently under construction, and develop a future West Branch near the Lake Hamilton area. Together, these projects would place a library within approximately a 12-minute drive of more than 95% of county residents.
More than buildings, these new libraries are investments in literacy, lifelong learning, technology access, workforce development, and community connection. Each location is being designed to provide welcoming spaces where children can learn, students can study, families can gather, entrepreneurs can innovate, and residents of all ages can connect with one another.
Read our letter from the director here.
The estimated tax impact is approximately $18 per year for every $100,000 of a home's market value. For the average Hot Springs home (valued at about $245,000), the estimated increase would be approximately $44 per year, or about $3.67 per month.
The North Branch is the first phase of the GCL Forward initiative and is already under construction. Located to serve the Hot Springs Village and Jessieville areas, this facility will provide residents of North Garland County with convenient access to books, technology, programs, and library services much closer to home.
The branch is being developed with the goal of reducing travel barriers and ensuring that families, students, and lifelong learners have easier access to the resources they need. Along with its own collection tailored to the unique needs of the community, the North Branch will remain connected to the entire Garland County Library system, giving patrons access to materials and services from every location.
As the first tangible step in the GCL Forward vision, the North Branch represents a commitment to making library service more accessible, equitable, and responsive to the growing needs of Garland County.
The proposed West Branch will bring library services closer to one of Garland County's fastest-growing areas. To help move the project forward more quickly, the branch will be based on the same general model being developed for the North Branch, allowing the library to build on work already underway rather than starting from the beginning.
While the two facilities will share a common foundation, the West Branch will be shaped by the needs of the Lake Hamilton community. Collections, programs, and spaces will be developed with local residents in mind, creating a library that feels connected to the people it serves.
Designed as a welcoming destination for families, students, and lifelong learners, the West Branch will expand access to books, technology, educational programs, and community gathering spaces, helping bring library services within reach of more Garland County residents.
The proposed Main Library campus will serve as the centerpiece of the GCL Forward initiative. Designed as a modern civic destination, the new facility will provide expanded space for collections, programming, technology, community events, and public services that are difficult or impossible to accommodate within the current building.
Plans for the new campus envision a vibrant community hub featuring expanded children's and teen spaces, additional study and meeting rooms, flexible workspaces, makerspaces, digital media opportunities, and areas designed for educational and cultural programming. The goal is to create a library that reflects the needs of today's community while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow.
As a centrally located destination, the new Main Library will support learning, innovation, civic engagement, and community connection while working in partnership with the branch libraries to ensure high-quality service throughout Garland County.
GCL Forward is Garland County Library's long-range facilities plan. It includes:
When completed, more than 95% of county residents will live within a 12-minute drive of a library.
Garland County Library currently serves more than 100,000 residents across 735 square miles from a single location.
The biggest challenge is accessibility. Many residents, especially families and children, live too far from the current library. Garland County is tied for last place in Arkansas for library locations per county and ranks near the bottom statewide in library space per capita.
GCL Forward is designed to make library services more accessible to people throughout the county.
Parts of the plan are already underway.
The Hot Springs Village/Jessieville branch is currently under construction. The proposed new main library and Lake Hamilton branch depend on the outcome of the bond election.
The library explored this option through a facilities assessment in 2021.
The assessment found that:
Even if expansion were feasible, it would not solve the accessibility challenge faced by residents who live farther from the current location.
Building code limitations prevent simple additions to the current structure.
In addition, the property beside the health department is reserved under a longstanding agreement for potential future health department expansion.
More importantly, expanding the current building would not improve access for residents across the county. GCL Forward addresses both space and accessibility needs.
Libraries have unique construction requirements, particularly for supporting the weight of book collections and public-use spaces.
Most existing buildings would require extensive structural modifications, making reuse impractical or more expensive than new construction.
Library operations are funded by a dedicated library millage authorized under Amendment 38 of the Arkansas Constitution.
By law, those operating funds cannot be used for major capital construction projects.
The proposal would authorize a 0.9 mill bond issue.
Based on current average home values in Garland County, the estimated cost is about $3.70 per month for the average homeowner. However, the increase in Arkansas's homestead tax credit is expected to offset that amount for many homeowners, resulting in little or no net increase in property taxes.
Yes. Parking will be free at all library locations.
The new main library is expected to have approximately 140 on-site spaces and will be adjacent to more than 200 additional free public parking spaces.
If non-library parking becomes a problem, parking validation may be implemented.
The library averages approximately 300,000 in-person visits annually.
However, GCL Forward is not just about serving current users. It is also about providing library access to residents who cannot easily reach the existing location and ensuring the county is prepared for future growth.
The Majestic property is owned by the City of Hot Springs. After hearing public feedback, the city board voted not to move forward with the proposal.
That decision is out of our hands. We do not believe Saline County officials wish to entertain that prospect at this time.
Yes. The millage is authorized by Amendment 38 of the Arkansas Constitution, which states the millage "shall never be extended for any purpose, nor collected for any greater length of time than necessary to retire such bonded indebtedness."
The building could be repurposed, sold, or mothballed. Repurposing ideas include a possible community center with multiple tenants, where a small library would remain as a neighborhood branch. Alternatively, the building could be sold to a commercial developer or mothballed for future use.
