This large building held the FPL, the Ozark Regional Library System and the Talking Books service.

A significant contribution of $3 million from Jim Blair in honor of his late wife, grandmother, and aunt was announced in 2002, and ground was broken two months later.

The library was built a few blocks away from the Fayetteville Historic Square, making it a textbook smart growth project.

The library's 10 waterless urinals served as a successful pilot project for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2009, the library received a grant from the City / County Management Association to install 10 kW solar panels for energy generation.