CALS Blogs

Food for Fines 2025

Food for Fines is back! This year, Food for Fines will take place December 1 – 19. During that time, patrons are invited to bring non-perishable food and personal hygiene products to a CALS library to offset overdue fines on their accounts. Most donated items will be kept at CALS to stock the Little Free Pantries.


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Letters to Santa

Join us for a magical holiday experience at the library! From November 10th through December 19th, children of all ages are invited to write letters to Santa Claus. Share your heart’s desires, express your gratitude, or simply send a holiday greeting. Our friendly library elves will collect your letters, and Santa himself will write back to each child with a personalized response by Christmas Day.


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Comcast NBCUniversal Awards Grant

Comcast NBCUniversal has awarded a $55,000 grant to the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) Foundation to support the CALS Digital Literacy Guides Program, which helps residents strengthen their digital skills and access the resources they need to succeed in an increasingly connected world.

During a check presentation held at the newly renovated Main Library,


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A Message from the Executive Director – Main Reopening Update

I know many of you are eagerly anticipating the grand reopening of the Main Library. For months, we had been preparing to reopen on September 20, following more than two years of renovations to revitalize our downtown library so it can better serve our community.

Unfortunately, on Friday of last week, an executive from CDI Contractors,


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Content control now available on Libby!

Content Controls allow users to configure what library content appears in Libby for themselves or for their family, based on the intended audience for each book,
audiobook, and magazine in the library collection. This feature is optional. When content controls are in effect, they apply to every library in the user’s Libby app.


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Williams Library: One Year Later

Last April, we were excited to celebrate the grand reopening of the Sue Cowan Williams Library. The building had been closed for about six months for extensive renovations—its first major upgrade since opening in 1997.

As we look ahead to the reopening of the Main Library this fall,


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Celebrating Our Volunteers

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and this year, we’re shining a bright spotlight on the incredible individuals who give their time, talent, and energy to the Central Arkansas Library System. Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 20–26),


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Meet me at the club!

Have you ever wanted to start or join a book club? CALS can help you get started! We have book club kits in a wide variety of genres. Let’s get started! Reach out to friends who enjoy reading and gauge their interest in joining a book club. Once you’ve got your group together,


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