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About Arkansas Right to Read Project

The Arkansas Right to Read Project is a nonpartisan, grassroots coalition working to stop censorship and defend the First Amendment rights of every Arkansan.

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News and Updates from Arkansas Libraries

New State Aid to Public Libraries Rules - Public Comment Open Now

May 19, 2026

Arkansas readers - the right to read at your public library is under threat. 

Books Behind Bars: Why Arkansas Must Reconsider the Ban on Reading Materials

January 24, 2026

The Arkansas Right to Read Project was founded on a simple belief that is enshrined in the Arkansas Constitution: the free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man. That belief does not end at the prison gate. The Arkansas Department of Corrections’ recent decision to ban or severely restrict reading materials for incarcerated people ignores that constitutional right and moves our state in the wrong direction. This policy is out of step with Arkansas values, best practices, and scientific evidence. Arkansas Right to Read joins with DecARcerate, an Arkansas nonprofit working with formerly incarcerated people on education, legislation, and community organizing initiatives, in opposing this decision.Sign the DecARcerate petition today urging the Board of Corrections to reconsider.

Introducing the Arkansas Intellectual Freedom Helpline

October 17, 2025

In partnership with the Arkansas Library Association, Arkansas Right to Read Project announces the launch of the Arkansas Intellectual Freedom Helpline. This confidential tool serves to connect Arkansas librarians facing censorship and First Amendment challenges with trained volunteers who can provide support and assist with navigating difficult circumstances. 

Statement on Reconstitution of the State Library Board

August 18, 2025

The recent law dissolving the previous State Library Board, SB536, provides Arkansas’s Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders with the responsibility to appoint a new slate of board members who will continue to uphold their duty to protect these precious constitutional rights of Arkansans. The integrity of public service demands that these appointed Board Members not succumb to political pressure to censor books, restrict access, or exert undue control over local library operations.   

How Libraries Support Future Business Owners

April 14, 2025

Naturally, libraries have a role in supporting entrepreneurs in their communities, whether a small start-up or a successful business poised for further success. And as always, libraries don’t just note the date of the event on their calendars; they wholeheartedly support it in myriad ways, including the following.

Library Partnerships Enhance Social Services for Their Patrons

April 12, 2025

Although their original purpose was simply to offer an assortment of books (back when the United States’ oldest public library opened its doors in 1743!), public libraries have evolved to meet the general needs of the communities they serve. This includes free internet access, makerspaces to embrace creativity, and even resources to access social services through partnerships with local and federal organizations.

Libraries Make Life Better — And Now We Have the Data to Prove It

April 09, 2025

For those of us who love libraries, it’s no surprise that they make our lives better. But thanks to a groundbreaking new study from the New York Public Library (NYPL), we now have the data to prove it. In collaboration with the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, NYPL surveyed nearly 2,000 patrons to explore how libraries impact well-being.  

More Than a Book Lender: The Vital Role Librarians Play as Community Ambassadors

April 08, 2025

Local history museum. Entertainment center. Information resource hub and workspace. Cultural gateway. Libraries nationwide are ALL of these and more, thanks to dedicated teams of highly qualified librarians and staff who are leading the way as community ambassadors.

Poll Shows Arkansas Voters Reject SB536

April 08, 2025

A new poll conducted by the EveryLibrary Institute shows that Arkansas voters overwhelmingly oppose Senate Bill 536 (SB536), a bill now under consideration by the Arkansas State House that would dismantle the Arkansas State Library, eliminate its oversight board, and impose burdensome new mandates on local libraries without providing any additional funding. Voters across the state made it clear that they value their libraries, trust local decision-making, and want to keep politics out of public library governance.

What Do People Really Think about Book Bans?

April 04, 2025

Calls for banning books have increased in recent years, with libraries and schools across the country facing challenges from people demanding materials be removed from their shelves. It’s become a hot-button issue that has politicians arguing over the appropriateness of books on specific subjects.
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Friends of Arkansas Right to Read Project