Gentry Public Library

The recent opening of their new public library has helped put Gentry, Arkansas, located in the northwest corner of the state, on the global map. This year, the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association included it as one of eight recipients of their prestigious library building award—putting Gentry in the company of much larger cities in places like China, Mexico, California and New York.

Designed by Fayetteville-based Marlon Blackwell Architects, the project involved transforming a 100-year-old hardware store on Gentry's main street into a 21st century library that combines contemporary design with historic artifact. It was a vision the taxpayers of Gentry embraced as well—they voted for a sales tax to fund the building and are now walking through its doors in record numbers.