Campaign Underway for Garland County Library Growth
Garland County residents have formed Our Libraries, Our Future, a ballot question committee supporting the 0.9-mill library proposal that will appear before voters in the November 3 General Election.
The campaign will focus on informing and engaging voters about the proposal and the opportunity to build a stronger, more accessible countywide library system. The Garland County Library’s long-range facilities plan includes a new Main Library in Hot Springs, the North Branch currently under construction near Hot Springs Village and Jessieville, and a future West Branch serving the Lake Hamilton area.
Donna Casparian, a longtime Garland County library advocate who helped lead the successful 1998 campaign that funded the current library, will serve as chair of Our Libraries, Our Future. Casparian is a former president of the Garland County Library Board of Trustees and has remained active in civic and community organizations throughout Garland County.
“For generations, people across Garland County have stepped forward when our library has needed them, and we are deeply grateful for the many community advocates who have worked to protect its continued excellence and encourage its growth,” Casparian said. “Our Libraries, Our Future is an opportunity to build on that legacy and help shape the next chapter of library service in Garland County.”
The November proposal would authorize a 0.9-mill property tax dedicated to repaying bonds for new library facilities. For the average Garland County homeowner, the estimated cost would be approximately $3.80 per month.
Central to the campaign is the opportunity to expand access beyond a single primary library location. Garland County has more than 100,000 residents spread across approximately 735 square miles. The proposed facilities plan would create a three-location system designed to bring library programs, resources, technology, and community spaces closer to residents throughout the county.
“This is an investment that reaches well beyond any single building or part of the county,” Casparian said. “A Main Library working together with branches in the northern and western parts of Garland County means more children, families, seniors, and residents can have library resources and programs closer to where they live. We have a chance to move from one primary location toward a true system of libraries serving our entire county.”
The North Branch, located on Highway 7 North near Hot Springs Village, is already funded and under construction and does not depend on passage of the November proposal. The 0.9-mill proposal would support the next phase of the countywide facilities plan, including a new Main Library and West Branch. When the full plan is completed, more than 95 percent of Garland County residents are expected to live within approximately a 12-minute drive of a library.
Over the coming weeks, Our Libraries, Our Future will provide information about the proposal, answer questions about its cost and scope, and offer opportunities for residents to become involved. The campaign will also encourage voters to learn about the proposal and make a plan to participate in the November election.
“Public libraries are the cornerstone of our democracy. They serve us throughout our lives—from a child discovering the joy of reading to a student looking for a place to learn, an adult needing access to technology or information, or neighbors looking for a place to connect,” Casparian said. “We encourage people across Garland County to log onto our website to learn about the plan, ask questions, talk with their neighbors, and consider what we want our library system to look like for the next generation.”
Early voting begins October 19, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 3.
Residents can learn more about the proposal, sign up for campaign updates, and find opportunities to get involved at OurGCLibraries.org.
About Our Libraries, Our Future
Our Libraries, Our Future is a community-led ballot question committee supporting the November 3, 2026 Garland County library millage proposal. The committee is working to inform and engage Garland County residents about the proposal and the future of library services throughout the county.
