The Library of Things

The Central Arkansas Library System and the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society (CAAS) have partnered to make telescopes available for lending to CALS cardholders with funding provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

The telescopes are 4.5″ Orion StarBlast Newtonian instruments that gather several hundred times more light than the unaided eye and magnify up to 56 times. They are particularly suited to observing the moon and the brighter planets, such as Saturn and Jupiter, and, under proper conditions, “deep sky” objects, such as star clusters.

Cardholders who wish to borrow a telescope will be required to submit a signed copy of the Telescope Borrower Contract.

To learn more about CAAS, visit the CAAS website where you’ll also find information on how to join CAAS.

Don’t have reliable internet at home? CALS can help. CALS has acquired a collection of hotspots that patrons can check out and use at home. Help with homework, work from home, or just use it to stream that show everyone seems to be talking about. A mobile hotspot can deliver a strong, fast, and secure online connection just about wherever you go. Like a mobile phone, but without the ability to make calls, a mobile hotspot is all about data. It works by taking an LTE connection and converting it into a wi-fi signal that your laptop or smartphone can use.

There are 100 hotspots available throughout the library system. Each hotspot is housed in a clear plastic container that includes the hotspot, a charging cord, and a sheet with instructions in English and Spanish. All pieces, including the container, must be returned.

Patrons may checkout a hotspot for two weeks at a time. And if there are no holds, the hotspot can be renewed up to five times. Hotspots can be checked out to anyone whose account is in good standing and who is 18 or older; with a limit of one hotspot per account. Like other items in the CALS catalog, hotspots may be put on hold and delivered for pickup to the branch of your choice. Please note that hotspots that have not been re-checked out and are also not returned will stop working. Overdue hotspots incur a late fee of 10¢ per day and the replacement cost is $77.50.

Thanks to a generous memorial gift from the family of Alan Ross Kumpe, each CALS branch has birdwatching kits available for checkout to all CALS cardholders.

Each kit contains: 
A carrying bag, Celestron binoculars, binocular guide, polishing cloth, lens 
caps (three), and one book (Birds of Arkansas).

The Seed Library is a free program committed to increasing our ability to feed ourselves wholesome food by offering seeds and education. Through the time-honored tradition of seed saving we celebrate biodiversity, nurture locally adapted plant varieties, and foster community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing.

The Seed Library operates on the honor system. You become a member automatically when you withdraw seeds to plant. We encourage all members to learn basic seed-saving techniques. We encourage that beginning seed savers grow out and return seeds from lettuce, tomato, bean or pea plants the first year. If you are unable to save your own seed, please consider donating a packet or two of fresh, commercially grown, open-pollinated (non-hybrid, non-GMO) seed to keep our library stocked. Returned seed will allow us to keep the library well stocked.

How to Participate

The Seed Library is accessible at CALS’s Sidney S. McMath Library, located at 2100 John Barrow Road. Participants are required to complete the Seed Library Member Information form and maintain a log of the seeds that are checked out and returned. You may download the form below and complete it in advance or the form may be obtained at McMath Library. Participation is free.