Category: News Features

CALS patrons now have digital access to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Historical Archive! Many of you know that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was split into two newspapers until they merged in 1991. This collection contains searchable, image edition issues of the Arkansas Gazette, Arkansas Democrat, and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. This collection is available remotely so patrons can access this outside our libraries;

On November 2, CALS staff members from several branches along with other well-wishers gathered at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center to bid a fond farewell to retiring Deputy Director Lisa Donovan. If you know anything about Lisa, the location of the party was a given. Lisa began her career with CALS when the Main Library opened in its current location in the River Market in 1997.

Earlier this year, CALS announced that Main Library would be closing temporarily to undergo an extensive renovation. That change created a domino effect of moves and adjustments, including (but not limited to) the closing of the Galleries & Bookstore so that Main Library services could move into that space (read about the move here).

The vocation of a librarian requires a commitment to freedom of speech and the celebration of diverse viewpoints unlike that found in any other profession.
–U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks (court order, July 29, 2023)

On August 1, a new law concerning libraries, librarians, and books went into effect.

Update- beginning May 26, all books will be $1. (this excludes rare books). Open Friday May 26, Saturday May 27, Tuesday May 30, and Wednesday May 31.

We’ve been saying that the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square would close soon and it’s finally happening. We’re in the last month and while we’re all sad to see it go,

Because the work of librarianship often extends beyond the stacks of books and the walls of the library building, outreach is an important part of what we do.

Happy National Library Workers Day! Today we honor and recognize the valuable contributions made by library workers of all kinds. You might think library workers just read all day. Most library workers do love to read, but there’s definitely more to the story!

The American freedom to read what we want is as basic as the freedom to speak and to worship how we want. In fact, those freedoms are all protected by the same amendment of the US Constitution.