News and Updates from Arkansas Libraries

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.

Senate Bill 536 (SB536) proposes new and restrictive requirements for libraries across Arkansas and offers no additional funding or resources. In addition, it completely abolishes the Arkansas State Library that systems around the state rely on to connect them to shared resources. This misguided bill could have disastrous consequences for libraries—particularly those in rural areas—and the communities that rely on them. 

SB 181 hopes to remove the professional qualifications for library directors in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Right to Read Project is a nonpartisan grassroots coalition of concerned Arkansans working to protect the First Amendment rights of every Arkansan. Its purpose is to educate the public and oppose any current or future legislation, regulations, or executive orders that unconstitutionally infringe upon your First Amendment rights and intellectual freedom.

On February 1, 2025, over 650 libraries across the US and Canada will celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day. Now in its 14th year, this annual event is a wonderful opportunity for children to have fun while parents and caregivers learn more about their library. Take Your Child to the Library Day will showcase all the free resources local public libraries provide for families.

In Arkansas, a statewide system known as Mockingbird connects catalogs of many participating libraries, bridging access to materials for patrons across the state despite different technologies and library processes. Arkansas is the 15th state to use SHAREit as its statewide resource sharing
platform.