Fayetteville's first public library was housed in the basement of the Historic Washington County Courthouse, starting in 1916.
Although lending libraries had been operated by individuals, Rev. J.J. Vaulx came up with the idea for a public library and his daughter, Julia Vaulx, who became the University of Arkansas librarian, started advocating for the public library in January 1916.
County Judge B.F. Campbell obtained permission to use two rooms in the courthouse basement, which was also being used for Fayetteville municipal offices. A committee headed by Julia Vaulx raised funds and secured books during the spring. After cataloging the books and labeling them, the library opened for the public on June 7, 1916.
Early librarians were volunteers, but the board of the library soon hired Florida Read as the first paid librarian, albeit part-time. The library eventually moved to a home of its own at the corner of Meadow Street and East Avenue in the 1920s.