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Hours: MWF: 8:30AM - 5:00PM Tue, Thu: 8:30AM - 6:00PM Sat: 10:00AM - 2:00PM Sun: CLOSED Contact: 1409 Main Street Van Buren, AR 72956 479-474-6045 vanburen@crawfordcountylib.org original 1/3 Key Staff: Director: Charlene McDonnough Email: cmcdonnough@crawfordcountylib.org Friends Meeting Room More Services Events Additional Offerings Study Rooms Genealogy Room Microfilm Reader Designated Children's Library Notary Public Check us out on Facebook for event snapshots and more!

History of the Crawford County Library System On July 1, 1999, the five libraries in Crawford County, which had been part of the Ozarks Regional Library System, opened their doors for the first time as the Crawford County Library System (CCLS). This change occurred at a time when several other regional systems were reorganizing. At that time, CCLS had approximately 60,000 books and other materials housed in the five libraries in Alma, Cedarville, Mountainburg, Mulberry, and Van Buren. There were eight employees, plus a new director tasked with organizing the new county system. The Mountainburg Library was remodeling a building they had leased from the United States Forestry Service so they could move out of the City Complex Building. That move was completed in October 1999, and in 2018 the town opened its new library at 225 Highway 71 NW. The Alma Library was in the process of purchasing the old hardware store at 624 Fayetteville Avenue, moving there in April 2000. In 2006, an adjacent storefront was purchased to grow the library even more. A new library opened at 220 North Main Street in Mulberry in 2006 and expanded in 2018, doubling in size. Two new libraries made their debut in 2011, one in Van Buren at 1409 Main Street, and another at 737 Pirates Way in Cedarville. In 2019, CCLS celebrated its twentieth anniversary. At that time, the libraries housed 197,000 books and other materials, and employed twenty-eight people. The growth continues today. Today our services include: Public computers, including laptops Databases: research/learning, genealogy, newspapers, topics provided by the Arkansas State Library and IMLS Study rooms Public Wi-Fi www.crawfordcountylib.org eBooks and e-audio books that can be downloaded via our webpage, Interlibrary loan services, a program that shares books and materials from participating libraries across the U.S. Storytime for preschool children Storytime presented by our staff at outside locations such as daycares, schools, and adult living facilities Summer reading programs with parties and prizes Teen programs Adult programs that include everything from greeting card making to book clubs Art camps in partnership with the Center for Art in Education STEM and STEAM Programs Music programs Magic shows Science programs Exercise programs Health seminars CCLS provides these services through a 1.4 mill property tax that was passed in 1998 and has not been increased since. In December 2019, the CCLS began asking patrons for input into the libraries, asking which services are most important to them, and what services could be added to improve their lives. That data will help the System plan its future as it continues serving the needs of Crawford County, promoting a love of reading, and strengthening our diverse communities.

Crawford County Genealogy Resources Our Genealogical Offerings The Crawford County Library System preserves a diverse array of local records across various mediums, encompassing original source books, digital archives, DVD recordings, microfilm, and beyond. To explore a sample of our offerings, please click the buttons below. Sample Collections Genealogical Databases Friends of Genealogy Crawford County Legacy Recordings Below are interviews of Crawford County Residents speaking about significant moments in their lives. This collection includes interviews by WWII veterans. Featured Video: An Interview with Warren Blaylock, WWII Veteran (Recorded 7.25.07) Click for More Videos Interview Transcripts Genealogy Databases African American Heritage is exclusively devoted to African American family history research. This collection 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. This database is provided by the Traveler program and is available to all Arkansas residents. Click here . Ancestry® Library Edition delivers over 4 billion records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more. Ancestry Library Edition brings the world’s most popular consumer online genealogy resource to your library. It’s an unprecedented online collection from North America, Europe, Australia, and more. Popular collections include: US, Canadian, UK and International Collections, Military Collections and Multi-media Collections. For additional Ancestry Library Edition information and tools, click here . This database can only be accessed at the library. HeritageQuest® Online is a comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources. It delivers an essential collection of genealogical and historical sources with coverage dating back to the 1700s. The collection consists of six core data sets: U.S. Federal Censuses, Genealogy and local history books, Periodical Source Index (PERSI), Revolutionary War records, Freedman’s Bank Records, and LexisNexis U.S. Serial Set. For additional HeritageQuest information and tools, click here. This database can be accessed at home. You will need your library card number to access this database at home. Microfilm Collection Microfilm Collection The microfilm collection is located at the Van Buren Library Alma Genealogical Archives Alma Genealogical Archives Browse the genealogical archives that are available at the Alma Library below. These can also be found in the library's catalog. This is an ongoing project. Digitized Archives Digitized Archives Browse our digitized archives below. This is an ongoing project Click Here Van Buren Genealogy Room Van Buren Genealogy Room Browse the PDF below to see what's available in the Van Buren Genealogical Room. The Temple Family Old 75 School Boy with mark over his head is Fred Coleman Rudy, Arkansas 1903 or 1904 The Temple Family 1/6 “They was coming in for me. They pulled up, screeched to a halt out in front, these double doors leading out to the city hall, they burst through there, and one of them had a burp gun, the other one of them had a Mauser, that’s right, with a bayonet on the end of them. They swarmed in there, he took that burp gun and charged it right in my stomach, he charged it and looked me straight, and I know they got behind me and see if I had a weapon, and I didn’t. And then he hit me in the back with the butt of his rifle, from here to there, up the wall I went hurt, it hurt little bit. And then I got up. They put me in this sidecar. And one drove the motorcycle, and the other of them stood with the burp gun behind me, stood behind me. And we went, it was getting dusky; late, we went all night. It was in the dark on that motorcycle sidecar.” From: Crawford County Veterans Speak – (Warren Taylor interview, page 140). “From there we went to the Philippine islands, and because we had the rockets on our ship, we went around the different islands firing where the people in intelligence believed the enemy was still located, and fired rockets into caves and other areas, but mainly caves where they were located, where they were dug in. The war had not been ended yet. We didn’t encounter any fire there, but we did a lot of firing into those caves and things.” From: Crawford County Veterans Speak - (Col. Weldon Ramey, page 134) Crawford County Friends of Genealogy Are you seeking fellow enthusiasts passionate about genealogy? Join the Crawford County Friends of Genealogy! They convene at the Van Buren Public Library every third Tuesday of the month at 3 PM. Stay updated by following them on Facebook.

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Application Applicants must be at least 18 years old and possess at least a GED or high school diploma First name Email Position Last name Phone Start Date Relevant Work Experience Education If your application meets our criteria, we will send the full application form to you via email. Apply Thank you!