Sims hopes to restore Carnegie Library to ‘as close to original as possible’

Diana Sims officially owns the former Carnegie Library building that most recently housed a television company, and her early plans are to work toward restoring the building to its days as a library.

Sims, a University of Arkansas at Fort Smith accounting professor since 1982 who also provides accounting services, was the top bidder on the historic building at $149,000 in a public auction held in early August. She closed on the property on Sept. 9.

“It’s definitely to restore the Carnegie to as close to original as possible,” Sims said when asked about her plans for the building. “Some day I would love to be able to separate the three buildings and let the Carnegie stand by itself without the attachments, but that is well down the road.”

A studio facility was built by the television company that connected the original library building to a building once used as a dental office.

If able to fully renovate the former library, Sims said she could see it being used for large meetings, wedding receptions, birthday parties and other events. Sims has heard from people and companies interested in using the television studio space or equipment left by the television company.

BUILDING HISTORY
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, there were four “Carnegie Libraries” built in Arkansas between 1906 and 1915 using grants from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The libraries were in Eureka Springs, Fort Smith, Little Rock and Morrilton. The buildings in Eureka and Morrilton are still open as libraries.

The Carnegie Library location at 318 N. 13th St., in Fort Smith, was once the home of Federal Judge Isaac Parker. That home was destroyed in an 1898 tornado. According to the Fort Smith Public Library (FSPL), the local library board bought the property for $4,750.

“The Carnegie City Library opened its doors for business on January 1, 1908, and the formal dedication was on January 30, 1908,” according to the FSPL.

The total cost of the building, including the land deal, was $37,933, and was used as the library until a 34,000-square-foot library at 61 S. Eighth St., in downtown Fort Smith, was opened in April 1969. American Television Studios, which then owned KFSM, acquired the building and converted it into the station’s headquarters and primary studio. KFSM abandoned the Fort Smith property after opening its new facility in Northwest Arkansas in June 2019.

BUILDING REVEAL
Sims said she has a “super friendly deal” from a company to repair the roof for just $5,800. While she remains uncertain about long-term plans, she has two near-term goals. The first is to see what remains of the original library.

“I really want to get in there and pull out the old ugly indoor-outdoor carpeting and pull down the old paneling. … There are beautiful arches in there that are covered up with paneling, and there are mosaic tile floors that have been covered up. I want to get in and reveal that type of thing,” she said.

Part of the effort to see what remains includes a search for any furniture and light fixtures in the building before the television company acquired the building. Sims also wants to collect stories from people who remember the building when it was a library.

“I’m wanting to put together a book with stories and pictures of the people who used to work there or go to the library there and get their memories and stories,” Sims said.

She is encouraging people to send info to P.O. Box 11376, Fort Smith, AR 72917, or email at [email protected].

“Here are some things I plan to ask people to reflect on: Their first trip to the library. Their favorite part of the library building. The impact the library had on their life. Impressions of the librarians and the library. Any stories they know about the library,” Sims noted in an email to Talk Business & Politics.

Sims said she will pay for most of the early work but at some point will be open to donations.

“Of course I would love to get donations, but I want to get a plan, a clear plan about what we’re going to do with it (building), before we ask for any support like that,” Sims said.