ON VIEW Friday, August 12–Saturday, October 29, 2022
Loft Gallery, CALS Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square, Roberts Library

O…Is for Ozarks is made up of large pictures inspired by artist Steven Wise’s study of the Ozark Mountains, the natural surroundings in which he lives and which he considers home. These new works derive from his exploration of the natural world of northwest Arkansas as both naturalist and artist.

Artist Statement:

I believe that the search for beauty is a political act.

Have fun playing, building, experimenting, and discovering using various materials. Ages 3-5.

Ever wanted to do a deep dive into D&D? Now’s your chance! Join Ashley every Friday to craft your character, join a campaign, and build stories together. Ages 12-19

Sit down and enjoy G- or PG-rated family friendly movies.

We serve daily snack meals at our front desk for ages 18 and under.

M-F 4-5 pm

Sat 12-1 pm

Join us as we investigate the paranormal and talk to real ghost hunters and paranormal investigators.  Also we will talk to skeptics to see if there might be another explanation.

We play different Table-Top Role Playing Games. Spots are limited, so make sure to register by emailing Emery at ejohnson@cals.org. Ages 16 & up.

Free meals to children ages 1-18 years.

Come listen to stories!

We meet every other Saturday @ 1:00 pm. For ages 12+

October 8 – TEENy pottery ghosts.

October 22 – Calaveras on canvas board.

Practice your reading skills with adorable trained therapy dogs.

Aikido also known as “The Art of Peace” is a modern Japanese martial art system of throwing, joint-locking, striking, and pinning techniques. The class will be led by Brant Collins. He holds a black belt in Aikido as well as a background in Karate and Judo.

No uniform is required. Please wear comfortable workout attire.

Shop for a free, gently used Halloween costume. First come, first served.

Movie day featuring The Book of Life.

Día de cine con El Libro de la Vida.

Join us for storytime with some nursery rhymes, singing and movement followed by some sensory play and socialization.  Every Monday at 1o am at the Thompson Library.

The Central Arkansas Library System, KUAR, and the League of Women Voters of Pulaski County will host a forum of candidates running for the position of Little Rock mayor at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10, in the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Avenue. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

All four candidates currently on the ballot will be in attendance: Incumbent Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Steve Landers Sr., Greg Henderson and Glen Schwarz. This particular election has become polarizing among voters and this forum will allow participants to speak directly with the candidates about their concerns.

Tres Gotas de Agua, a 12-minute documentary about three Latine immigrant mothers sharing their experiences of their children coming out to them. After the documentary, we’ll talk about how unique the coming-out experience is for people & how cultural impact can add another layer of complexity to it all.

Open to teens of all genders and sexualities, 12-19 years old.

Tres Gotas de Agua, un documental de 12 minutos sobre tres madres inmigrantes latinas que comparten sus experiencias sobre cómo sus hijos se declararon homosexuales con ellas.

Join Miss Kathy at the Maumelle Library for stories, songs, and a simple craft.

Stories and activities designed for elementary aged kids. A great opportunity to meet local homeschool families.

Teens and tweens work on STEM projects, creative crafts, tech skills, and more.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) will be available to assist taxpayers with unresolved IRS
tax problems. Our goal is to provide personalized, step-by-step guidance. If your tax problem
meets TAS case criteria, we’ll assign a Case Advocate to work directly with you.

You don’t need an appointment to meet with TAS for assistance. Please bring the
information you’d like to discuss with TAS such as copies of federal income tax returns,
letters and notices from the IRS,

Enrichment opportunity for homeschooled teens focusing on science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Tuesdays in October & November| 2:30 PM

Weekly 1-hour program with activities, experiments, or design challenges with monthly themes.

• October’s theme: Electricity
• November’s theme: Chemistry

Registration Required for each month-long series.

To register for the Electricity series in October and/or the Chemistry series in November:

• speak to the circulation desk at Thompson library or
• call 501-821-3060

Teens and tweens can meet after school to enjoy lemonade, do homework, color, listen to music, and socialize.

Science, technology, engineering, art, math, and you.

Join us this spooky season as we design and build our own monsters.

Make a pom-pom garland of Halloween pumpkins, ghosts, and spiders for your mantle or doorway!

Enjoy listening to stories and singing songs.

Move to the beat and play with sensory toys.

Free play with blocks, magna tiles, marble runs, and more.

Make your own candy apple! Ages 12-19

Dissect, modify, and reassemble old toys to make creepy Frankentoys.

As part of our grant-funded after-school series, Thompson Library will host a kids cooking class on Wednesdays in October from 4-5PM for ages 9-12.  The wonderful Faith Anaya of Kids Cook will be the outside presenter leading the classes.

Only 12 spots are available and registration is required.  So Register today!

You can register by speaking with a staff member at Thompson Library’s circulation desk or by calling 501-821-3060

You will also need to fill out and return a liability waiver,

We invite you to join us for a talk with Dr. Aziz Gazipura, one of the world’s leading experts on social confidence as he discusses how to stop being too nice and worrying about what others might think.

Are you too nice? Do you find it hard to be assertive and ask for what you want? Did you know millions of people struggle with being “too nice”? Being nice can make it hard to speak up, say “no,” or do something that might upset someone.This talk will teach participants that the opposite of nice is not mean but rather real.

Teens can join Stefanie at the Maumelle Library for video games, board games, and music in the meeting room. Snacks from Food for Good will be available beginning at 4:00 PM.

Join us in a 5-week series to study and create works in the style of famous Hispanic artists. We will learn about Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Diego Rivers, Jean-Michael Basquiat, and Frida Kahlo. Children of all ages and their families are welcome to attend.

Series of crafts celebrating Latinx cultures. Learn how to create sugar skulls. This is an tween/teen program.

Serie de manualidades que celebran las culturas latinas. Aprende a crear calaveras de azúcar. Este es un programa para preadolescentes/adolescentes.

Tres Gotas de Agua, a 12-minute documentary about three Latine immigrant mothers sharing their experiences of their children coming out to them. After the documentary, we’ll talk about how unique the coming-out experience is for people & how cultural impact can add another layer of complexity to it all.

Open to teens of all genders and sexualities, 12-19 years old.

Tres Gotas de Agua, un documental de 12 minutos sobre tres madres inmigrantes latinas que comparten sus experiencias sobre cómo sus hijos se declararon homosexuales con ellas.

Coming out is a queer milestone–and it’s not an easy one. Tres Gotas de Agua is a 12-minute documentary about three Latine mothers telling the stories of how their LGBTQ children came out to them. We’ll watch together and talk about our own coming out experiences–and how cultural impact adds an extra layer of complexity to the process. Ages 12-19

Come meet all the creepy crawly critters! Presented by Pinnacle. For grades 3rd-6th.

Join Anne for a spirited discussion of The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell. Copies of the book are available at the Maumelle Library on a first come, first served basis.

On View ~ October 14, 2022–January 28, 2023
Underground Gallery, Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square, CALS Roberts Library

The Illustrated Arkansas exhibition features artists living and working in the state who have created or contributed to print or digital comics and graphic novels. The exhibition will represent a wide range of illustration styles and media of the comics art form.

CALS is excited to display the artwork of graphic artists and spotlight their efforts in the creation of comics and graphic novels in all their forms.

NOW ON VIEW ~ Friday, October 14–Saturday, December 31, 2022
Landing Gallery, Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square, CALS Roberts Library

Photography—a medium full of potential. To speak when words simply fail. To empower, providing the chance to take control of a story. To connect us to a perspective outside of our own.

Join us for this unique exhibition, curated from artists currently unsheltered or living in transitional sheltering throughout Pulaski County. Each participant was given a disposable camera to document their lived experience.

Muchos estadounidenses están preocupados por los sistemas electorales de nuestro país, a pesar de no estar de acuerdo sobre los problemas específicos o cómo resolverlos. ¿Son los sistemas demasiado fáciles de manipular? ¿Tenemos reglas que hacen que la votación sea justa y accesible para todos? ¿Estamos haciendo lo suficiente para garantizar la precisión y la credibilidad?

Esta reunión explorará estos pensamientos utilizando una guía de discusión de los Foros de Asuntos Nacionales y la guía de facilitadores capacitados.

Drop in puzzle club for adults.  Work alone or with others and chat about puzzles, books, and more.  All levels of puzzling skills welcome—a great way to relax!

*Puzzles provided but donations of complete puzzles in good condition are appreciated*

Join us in the discussion of Wonder by R.J. Palacio, a book about a boy born with a facial deformity that has prevented him from going to mainstream school – until now.

Stop by the library and enjoy a variety of board games. Ages 12-18.

Practice your reading with a certified therapy dog. For Kindergarten- 12th graders.

At Socrates Café, participants propose questions and vote to decide the evening’s topic to explore questions from their lives through public non-academic dialog.

Many Americans are concerned about our country’s election systems, despite disagreeing on the specific problems or how to solve them. Are the systems too easy to manipulate? Do we have rules that make voting fair and accessible to all? Are we doing enough to ensure accuracy and credibility?

This meeting will explore these thoughts using a National Issues Forums discussion guide and guidance from trained facilitators. During the 2-hour session, you will explore questions like the following in a structured way with other members of the public:

• Would consistent national standards for voting,

Join us in conversation with popular CNN Anchor, Zain E. Asher, as she discusses her moving and inspiring memoir Where the Children Take Us.

In Where the Children Take Us, Zain E. Asher, tells the story of her mother’s harrowing fight to raise four children as a widowed immigrant in South London. There is tragedy in this tale, but it is not a tragedy. Drawing on tough-love parenting strategies, Obiajulu Ejiofor teaches her sons and daughters to overcome the daily pressures of poverty,

Let’s celebrate fall with a pumpkin painting party! Pumpkins, painting supplies, and light refreshments will be provided in a limited amount. Registration is not required, but greatly appreciated! Email jlford@cals.org to secure your spot and supplies ahead of time. Children of all ages and their families are welcome to attend.

For many trans masculine and non-binary menstruators, “that time of the month” is an especially painful experience. This is a safe space for trans menstruators to learn self-care tips in the midst of dysphoria, and leave with free gender-affirming period products. Free to attend, registration required–email Jet (they/he) at jbutler@cals.org to sign up. Ages 12-19

Create your very own mini books! Limited spots available – registration is required.

This HarvestFest Fall Yoga Flow class will guide you through a moderately paced, beginner friendly sequence aimed at improving strength and flexibility while decreasing stress and “mind clutter” from the week. This is a free community class; donations are kindly accepted and will go to the CALS Foundation.

Contact jlombardo@designsforhealth.com to register or for more information.

Kumusta! October is Filipino-American Heritage Month. Let’s celebrate with a spread of authentic Filipino food & Fil-Am trivia! Free food is provided but space is limited. Registration required by 10/20; email Jet at jbutler@cals.org and please tell them your dietary restrictions. Ages 12-19

Six Bridges Book Festival presents Book Cover by Design workshop with Robert Bean.

Artist Robert Bean helps participants learn how text and images work together, why typography matters, and how color affects the viewer’s impression and emotions. Come up with your own imaginary book title, then draw and/or collage your book cover’s image and walk away with your own designed book cover (from a pulp fiction style look to something more modern and streamlined). No art experience required.

Knit and crochet for beginners or experts. Yarn and hook will be provided or you can bring your own projects to work on.

Celebrate the spooky season with an ice cream bar. Family friendly costumes welcome.

Do you know what the original colors of the Pride flag symbolize? Enjoy a piece of history with a side of delicious rainbow snacks. Snacks provided, open to all teens 12-19.

It’s almost Halloween! Celebrate the spooky season by participating in an eerie escape room on Level 4. Ages 12-19.

Join us if you dare, for an early Halloween scare!  Enjoy horror-themed games and delicious desserts that will make your skin crawl.  Ages 12-18.

Come have some fun playing tabletop games and/or working a puzzle with friends at the library.

Ages: 6-11

The Game and Puzzle Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:00PM

Dates

August 23

September 27

October 25

November 22

December 27

Come learn how to make Harry Potter-inspired snacks, including treacle tart, pumpkin pastries, and nonalcoholic butterbeer!

Join us to create your very own spell book! Ages 12-19

Watch anime and sample themed snacks. This month we’re trying delicious boba tea.

Join Ms. Nancy in making some lab experiments with slime, and others with edible ingredients.  What disgusting (and possibly delicious) concoctions will you create? For 3rd-6th graders.

Six Bridges Book Festival presents Ann Patchett: These Precious Days.

The beloved New York Times bestselling author of Bel Canto, Commonwealth, The Dutch House and other books, reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Infused with the author’s grace,

Slightly spooky stories, songs, crafts, and a snack. You can even wear your costumes!

Bring the family out for Halloween fun and games. Enjoy games, prizes, and costume contests!

Movie day featuring Coco. Learn to make Cocadas (a traditional coconut confectionery found in many parts of Latin America.)

Día de cine con Coco. Aprende a hacer Cocadas (un dulce de coco tradicional que se encuentra en muchas partes de América Latina).

Games, crafts, and fun galore! It’ll be a frightfully fun afternoon at CALS. Children, teens, and families are welcome to attend. Costumes are optional but encouraged! No RSVP required.

Buy Tickets

On Oct. 29, the night before the 35th anniversary of the historic Faith album, the Six Bridges Book Festival transports you to The Edge of Heaven for a one-night-only performance of George Michael Reborn. This amazing must-see tribute to Wham! & George Michael stars Robert Bartko, who exudes the energy of passion of the superstar in the 80s and 90s. Robert’s spot-on looks, wardrobe, vocal range (no Lip-Syncing),

Halloween is on a Monday this year? Gross.

Don’t let a spooky Monday get you down!

Pop by the Nixon Library and get yourself a Halloween Treat Bag.

Many Americans are concerned about our country’s election systems, despite disagreeing on the specific problems or how to solve them. Are the systems too easy to manipulate? Do we have rules that make voting fair and accessible to all? Are we doing enough to ensure accuracy and credibility?

This meeting will explore these thoughts using a National Issues Forums discussion guide and guidance from trained facilitators. During the 2-hour session, you will explore questions like the following in a structured way with other members of the public:

• Would consistent national standards for voting,

You’re invited to an enlightening hour with highly acclaimed writer, journalist, broadcaster, and speaker Lisa Napoli as she discusses her group biography of the four women whose voices defined NPR, Susan, Linda, Nina, and Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR.

In the years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, women in the workplace still found themselves relegated to secretarial positions or locked out of jobs entirely. This was especially true in the news business,

Have fun with friends as you figure out puzzles & riddles to escape the library.  Afterwards, enjoy yummy snacks that go perfect with the game!

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month.

Members read a single book for discussion at the meeting. Contact Ginann at gswindle@cals.org for more information.

Dungeons and Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game using pen, paper, dice, and your imagination. The game is open to anyone 18 or older. Registration is required by emailing Emery at ejohnson@cals.org.

Arlette Laan is the first woman to have completed all 11 National Scenic trails. Her talk will include brief descriptions of the trails she’s hiked, her observations on the changes in long distance hiking over time, and tips on perseverance. In addition to hiking and backpacking, Arlette enjoys photography and doll making. Her dolls can be found on her Instagram page, which is linked on her website.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater.

Hear about the development of these early twentieth-century Little Rock neighborhoods and their enduring historical significance, and learn how to research the history of homes within their boundaries with Community Outreach Archivist Danielle Afsordeh. Join us at the CALS Fletcher Library to learn some tips and tricks for researching the history of homes using resources available through the Central Arkansas Library System and the archival collections at the CALS Roberts Library.

Join us for an enlightening hour with bestselling author Kwame Christian as he chats about his new book How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond.

How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race helps readers gain the confidence to not only talk about race, but actually make a difference when you do. Negotiation expert Kwame Christian’s motto is: “The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations.”

Stop by the library after school and have book chats, create crafts, play games, and nerd out.

The Central Arkansas Library System and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services have once again teamed up to offer Lawyers in the Library! Come listen to legal presentations and an opportunity to ask a lawyer your civil legal question. Topics include Criminal Record Sealing and Public Benefits like SNAP and SSI, and will end with a record-sealing clinic.

Record Sealing – Center for Arkansas Legal Services will hold a record sealing clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Day in the Life of a box turtle.

Bring your needles or hooks. Any kind of craft is welcome.

Learn a thing or two or just enjoy the company

Discover, build, and create using various materials.

Enjoy listening to stories, singing songs, and making a craft. Ages 3-5.

Join us for an exciting virtual chat with the highly-acclaimed and award winning novelist, Geraldine Brooks in conversation about her most recent New York Times Bestselling novel Horse. Brooks braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history.

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation erupts in civil war,

Si bien tenemos uno de los sistemas alimentarios más productivos y eficientes del mundo, millones de personas en los EE. UU. aún se encuentran entre las grietas. Las personas que pueden tener suficiente para comer hoy se preocupan por la disponibilidad y la calidad de los alimentos para las generaciones futuras.

Esta reunión explorará la escasez de alimentos utilizando una guía de discusión del Foro de Asuntos Nacionales y la orientación de facilitadores capacitados. Durante la sesión de 2 horas,

While we have one of the world’s most productive and efficient food systems, millions of people in the U.S. still fall between the cracks. People who may have enough to eat today worry about the availability and quality of food for future generations.

This meeting will explore food scarcity using a National Issues Forum discussion guide and guidance from trained facilitators. During the 2-hour session, you will explore questions like the following in a structured way with other members of the public:

• Is the best way to improve access to nutritious food through efforts like strengthening our school nutrition programs and food assistance for low-income families,

While we have one of the world’s most productive and efficient food systems, millions of people in the U.S. still fall between the cracks. People who may have enough to eat today worry about the availability and quality of food for future generations.

This meeting will explore food scarcity using a National Issues Forum discussion guide and guidance from trained facilitators. During the 2-hour session, you will explore questions like the following in a structured way with other members of the public:

• Is the best way to improve access to nutritious food through efforts like strengthening our school nutrition programs and food assistance for low-income families,

Las conversaciones sobre la libertad de expresión en el campus a menudo se enmarcan en oposición a la diversidad y la inclusión y han generado controversias, protestas e incluso violencia. En 2017, una encuesta muy citada de más de 3000 estudiantes universitarios realizada por Gallup y la Fundación John S. y James L. Knight presentó la diversidad y la inclusión como algo opuesto a la libertad de expresión. La encuesta preguntó a los estudiantes sobre qué tema creían que era más importante;

Conversations about free speech on campus are often framed in opposition to diversity and inclusion and have spawned controversies, protests, and even violence. In 2017, a much-cited survey of more than 3,000 college students conducted by Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation presented diversity and inclusion as directly opposite free speech. The survey asked students which issue they felt was more important; 53% chose inclusion, and 46% chose free speech. In today’s contentious and divided political environment,

Conversations about free speech on campus are often framed in opposition to diversity and inclusion and have spawned controversies, protests, and even violence. In 2017, a much-cited survey of more than 3,000 college students conducted by Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation presented diversity and inclusion as directly opposite free speech. The survey asked students which issue they felt was more important; 53% chose inclusion, and 46% chose free speech. In today’s contentious and divided political environment,

Los trágicos ataques en Uvalde, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Parkland, Florida; y otros lugares han generado preocupación entre muchas personas en todo el país. Tales tiroteos se han vuelto más frecuentes y mortales en la última década. Cada asesinato en masa tiene efectos devastadores en toda una comunidad.

En general, Estados Unidos se ha vuelto más seguro en los últimos años. Sin embargo, los tiradores masivos atacan a personas inocentes sin razón, a menudo en lugares donde las personas deberían sentirse seguras: cines,

The tragic attacks in Uvalde, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Parkland, Florida; and other places have raised concerns among many people across the nation. Such shootings have become more frequent and more deadly in the last decade. Each mass murder has devastating effects on a whole community.

Overall, the United States has become safer in recent years. Yet mass shooters target innocent people without reason, often in places where people should feel safe—movie theaters, shopping centers, and schools. Many believe these attacks are nothing short of terrorism.