Our Gathering Place

In early spring, there’s no better place to be than inside a greenhouse. In the greenhouse, patient gardeners create the conditions for change, anticipating a time when the weather will be warmer and kinder. Seeds sprout and saplings grow sturdier, protected from the harshness of the climate outside. The greenhouse is a place of preparation, and when the time is right, mature and hardy plants come out into the wide world to find their place, put down roots, and add their own gifts to our ecosystem.

When designers envisioned our Children’s Library, they included a greenhouse as part of a design that allowed children to be educated not only in book knowledge, but in the natural world. And, like the seedlings that sprout in the greenhouse, the children of our community need a place where they can find the nurturing ground of kindness, compassion, and encouragement from gardeners who are committed to the healthy growth of young minds.

Young people have always been a major part of the mission of public libraries. We are fortunate at CALS to have dedicated, experienced staff members who put their hearts into every youth program they create and lead. The library is committed to welcoming all youth, celebrating their uniqueness, and helping them discover the world around them and their own place in it.

Spring is the season of transition from dormancy to growth. Our community, our region, and our nation are also moving through a time of transition. In this time when the cultural climate can sometimes be unpleasant, we hope the library system will provide a greenhouse – a place of nurture and personal growth, not only for our children, but for adults who seek to plant new ideas and help our whole community grow.

Nate Coulter
Executive Director
Central Arkansas Library System