Two years of hard work by many community volunteers came to fruition Saturday as the Ann and Dewey Fowler Community Library opened in Fouke in Miller County.
The library is set up in the historic Scoggins home and boasts more than 2,000 books for the reading enjoyment of Fouke residents. The books are nestled in a front room of the house that has hardwood floors and traditional, homey furnishings.
Books are separated into age-appropriate categories, with sections for children, young adults and adults.
"All of these books are more or less donated. Some were bought with grants," said librarian Linda Scoggins.
"We will be buying more as we get recommendations from our pleasure readers. ... We have an extensive collection of classics for people who've never had the chance to read the great classics."
The library will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
There will be no fee to use the library and no fees for overdue books.
"All of these books are from the people of Fouke, for the people of Fouke," Scoggins said.
Linda Walker was one of many people who showed up to celebrate the library's opening and one of the first to check out books from the library. She did so with a smile on her face.
"I've been asking for weeks when this was going to open. I've been looking forward to it, and I'm excited about it. I read constantly," Walker said.
The library and the renovation of the Scoggins home are possible because of Citizens for a Better Community, a nonprofit organization that has completed more than $1 million in community improvement projects in Fouke.
Citizens for a Better Community started renovating the Scoggins home in July 2011 after the house was purchased for $45,000. Fowler estimated the home-project price tag at $250,000.
The Scoggins home also houses the Vera and Lawrence Huff Education Center, named in honor of two local educators. Plans are to make the house available for weddings, bridal and baby showers, and other community events.
State Desk on 07/15/2015