A Message from the Executive Director

As the holiday season gears up and 2021 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the many successes experienced by CALS this year, and feeling very grateful. On November 9, Little Rock voters went to the polls to decide whether to increase the operational millage rate in the city. This had not been done since 2007. We were excited and gratified by the results: Over 71 percent of voters supported the measure, with almost all precincts affirming that the public library is an invaluable part of our city.

As more residents become vaccinated against COVID-19, we have slowly begun to incorporate more in-person programming. We recently saw the return of 2nd Friday Art Night downtown. And both the Rock It! Lab and the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square had successful Small Business Saturday events, showing that not only do our patrons support enjoy our programming but they also appreciate our more commercial endeavors, too.

Last year, CALS was recognized as a “library noted for its imagination and focus on equity” by the Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, developed in a partnership between the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation and Library Journal. We’re ecstatic to share that CALS has won the 2021 Community Impact Prize and will receive $250,000 from the Kline Family Foundation to further expand the services that make CALS a vital asset to central Arkansas. Earlier this year, the library was also the recipient of a grant from the Wingate Foundation that has allowed us to expand our community outreach and hire digital literacy coaches. All of these developments along with the endorsement of voters indicate clearly that CALS and its partners are doing important work and doing it exceptionally well.

Our library staff can be thankful for these signs of trust and positive recognition. These are even more gratifying in the context of the unique challenges of serving the public safely and effectively during a global pandemic. We will be grateful but not complacent in 2022. We will take these blessings as incentive to work harder to make CALS stronger and more innovative in 2022. We will find ways to expand our successful efforts to support aspiring entrepreneurs, learners of all ages, and everyone in our community who just needs a little help finding information.

We are grateful for you – our community of supporters and patrons – for your enthusiasm, your confidence, and your commitment to your library. From all of us at CALS, we wish you a joyous holiday season as we look forward to a new year of serving you.

Nate Coulter
CALS Executive Director