Established in 1935, the Prairie Grove Library began of modest means but has grown steadily ever since. A partnership with the W.P.A. provided the original funding and the American Legion provided the space. In 1945 the library moved to a room above the Farmers and Merchants Bank, and two years later moved again to a storefront on Buchanan Street. During this time, the Ozark Regional Library System began and Prairie Grove became a member of the Washington/Crawford County system. 

In 1948 Washington County Voters passed a 1 mill library tax and established the first permanent funding for the library. Four years later another move landed the library in the back of the Water Works Building, across the street from the current location. In 1966, 31 years after those humble beginnings, a federal grant provided 60% of the funding, allowing the library its first permanent home. The City quickly found the other 40% and a beautiful 2000 sq. foot building was built on the South Side of Mock Park.

With the library experiencing growing pains, in 1996, the City placed a bond issue before the voters to provide funding for an expansion. Almost 70% of the voters approved the issue and by Dec. of 1997 construction was underway. One year later the beautiful brick and native stone building was complete increasing the size of the building to over 3700 sq. feet.

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