News and Updates from Arkansas Libraries

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Arkansas Right to Read Project, pending legal review, supports newly filed Arkansas bill HB1977 from Representative Bentley and Senator Clark.

Libraries contain a wealth of information on just about any topic imaginable. But one of the many benefits of libraries is that there may be ways to learn about something that don’t necessarily involve researching in a book or a database.

Libraries are historical staples of public education, knowledge, and community. This goes back centuries, with the Library of Ashurbanipal in the seventh century BCE and iconic facilities like the New York Public Library. Even so, library history is vast, diverse, and groundbreaking. Here are fascinating moments in library history spanning several centuries and countries.

As a new parent, you’re probably looking for gifts to welcome your little one into the world, but what exactly can you get for a newborn? They haven’t developed many cognitive or motor skills necessary for enjoying most birthday gifts you’d think of, after all. Though it may sound a bit strange, we believe that a library card is the gift that keeps on giving, especially for newborns. Here’s why.