Annual Report

When I sit down to play a new game, I always encounter a moment of reluctance related to figuring out the rules.

Maybe that’s something people experience when they are being introduced to the library. The good news is that at CALS, the rules are short and simple: apply for a free library card by supplying a minimal amount of personal information. Then you can enjoy all the benefits that come with access to the library’s digital resources and brick-and-mortar locations.

Your CALS card is one of the most valuable items in your wallet. It affords unlimited (almost) access to books, audiobooks, e-books, movies, and music, all free of charge. Whether you’re seeking entertainment or educational enrichment, CALS can help. All you need is your library card.

We have events and programs for all ages. Count UP provides free math tutoring for kids in grades K-12, while our digital literacy department offers assorted classes focused on navigating a variety of digital spaces.

But wait! There’s more to this CALS game! You can land on the Be Mighty space, where the library feeds kids at our branches and helps them get to and from the library with a partnership with Rock Region METRO. A lot of spaces on our game board involve the work of programmers who create free events at each branch to enrich the lives of patrons in their area. There is the Ron Robinson Theater, where we offer fun movies on the big screen at affordable prices, as well as concerts and other events. We have art spaces, too, where we curate works that amplify and beautify the interiors of our libraries. And one of the most exciting places to land in this CALS game is on the Six Bridges Book Festival. That annual fall program brings the newest and most acclaimed authors to central Arkansas.

The 2023 trip around the CALS game board was an adventure. We spun some big numbers and we passed GO! Yet, part of our journey last year did mean enacting temporary closures of two branches to begin extensive construction. Our popular Summer Reading Club program was renamed to Summer @ CALS and had record attendance. The Six Bridges Book Festival hosted 50 authors, including Christian Cooper and David Grann. Along with others, CALS dared to ask a federal court to stop a new state law from going into effect that would have subjected librarians to criminal charges and injected politicians into the fundamental issue of what books our cardholders could find at the library.

Let’s get started! Rather than us telling you in the following pages why we think CALS is great, we’ve gathered stories from people whose lives were affected by the library this year. Our libraries are a place for adventure, for learning, and, most importantly, for everyone. Pick out a playing piece you like, and let’s get started on our journey around the board. You’ll be glad you played.