Central Arkansas Library System

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Central Arkansas Library System (CALS)
Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art.jpg
Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art in Little Rock
Central Arkansas Library System
34°44′49″N92°16′02″W / 34.74694°N 92.26730°W / 34.74694; -92.26730
Type Public library system
Service area Central Arkansas
Other information
Website cals.org

Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) is a public library system headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Contents

The largest public library system in Arkansas, the Central Arkansas Library System serves all residents of Pulaski County and Perry County, including Little Rock, Jacksonville, Maumelle, Perryville, Sherwood, and Wrightsville. So. The main Library in downtown Little Rock is the main branch of the system. The Main Library campus also includes the Arkansas Studies Institute Building, which includes the offices of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas , and the UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture. CALS' Ron Robinson Theater, Cox Creative Center, and River Market Books & Gifts are also located on the Main Library campus.

History

The first Little Rock Public Library was one of four Carnegie Libraries in Arkansas. The Carnegie Corporation of New York made a grant of $50,000 in 1906, but increased the grant to $88,100 in 1907. The library was opened on February 1, 1910, at West 7th Street and South Louisiana Street in downtown Little Rock.

Adolphine Fletcher Terry was an early proponent of public libraries in Central Arkansas. Her advocacy led to her being Trustee at what was then-known as the Little Rock Public Library from 1925 to 1965. In the Library Commission's 1975-77 Biennial Report she wrote, "if you want to start something new, don't hesitate. If you have the proper tools to work with, good; if you have nothing but a forked stick, go ahead anyway. Make your brains provide what you otherwise lack."

Adolphine Fletcher Terry's brother was the noted poet, John Gould Fletcher. His wife, Charlie May Simon, was also a Little Rock Public Library Trustee, as well as serving as the president of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs. Both Adolphine Fletcher Terry and John Gould Fletcher would later have Central Arkansas Library System branch libraries named after them.

In the early years, librarians were paid $52.50 a month. These funds came from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). [1]

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) was born of a 1975 merger agreement between the trustees of the Little Rock Public Library and of the Pulaski-Perry Regional Library; the trustees of the North Little Rock Public Library, now known as the William F. Laman Public Library, chose not to join CALS. [2]

Today, the Central Arkansas Library System, with its headquarters at the Main Library, serves a local population of 402,853. Nine of CALS' fourteen branches are located in Little Rock, with additional branches located in Jacksonville, Maumelle, Perryville, Sherwood, and Wrightsville. [3] Through the Gateway Project, residents of Arkansas, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Montgomery, Nevada, Perry, Pike, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, and White counties may also access the 1.5 million items in CALS' collection for $54 per year. [4] In 2015, the Central Arkansas Library System welcomed over 2 million visitors, while cardholders checked out over 2.7 million items. [3]

Architecture

The current Main library branch is part of a complex of renovated buildings in downtown Little Rock. The main library building had originally been a hardware warehouse in the early 1900s. In 1997, the building was completely refurbished as a library. The updated building served as the centerpiece of the River Market District.

Soon after the opening of the Main library, the neighboring property was similarly re-purposed by the library system. The Thomas Cox & Sons Machinery Company's warehouse was from the same time period. CALS opened the "Cox Creative Center" houses a used book and gift store, a coffee shop and bakery, three art galleries, and meeting rooms. The 18,600 square foot building has been renamed "The Bookstore at Library Square."

These two buildings, along with the Dee Brown branch earned the then-director of CALS the Award of Merit by the American Institute of Architects (IAI) in 2002. [5]

The 63,000 square foot CALS Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art (formerly the Arkansas Studies Institute) was constructed 2006–2009. The architect was Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects. [6]

Branches

Specialized facilities

See also

Related Research Articles

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Adolphine Fletcher Terry (1882–1976) was an American political and social activist in the state of Arkansas. Terry leveraged her position within the Little Rock community to affect change in causes related to social justice, women's rights, racial equality, housing, and education. Fletcher is most remembered for her role on the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools (WEC) that was primarily responsible for reopening the Little Rock, Arkansas, public school system and bringing to a close the school district closing in 1958, following the Crisis at Little Rock Central High. In its "Millennium Poll" in 2000, the Arkansas Historical Association named Terry one of the state's 15 most significant figures in state history.

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References

  1. ↑ Black, Robert E (October 2003). "History of Public Library Cooperation in Arkansas". Arkansas Libraries. 60 (5).
  2. ↑ "Mission & History". Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Central Arkansas Library System". Central Arkansas Library System.
  4. ↑ "Library Book Fines - Get a Library Card Online - Central Arkansas Library Info". Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Central Arkansas Library System's Director Receives High Honor for His Architectural Vision and Two CALS Buildings Garner Design Awards". Arkansas Libraries. 59 (6). December 2002.
  6. ↑ "Roberts Library Building Facts". CALS. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Dee Brown". Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ Camia, Catalina (July 8, 2013). "Hillary Clinton gets a Little Rock library". USA Today . Archived from the original on July 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Rooker". Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Oley Eldon Rooker - Obituary & Service Details". www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
  11. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  12. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  13. ↑ "Williams". Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  15. ↑ "Nixon". Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Milam". Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Sanders". Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  18. ↑ "New CALS Branch in Wrightsville Open".
  19. ↑ "About the Encyclopedia". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture . The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
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