Main Library sets closing date for renovation   

Little Rock, AR – The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) has announced that the flagship Main Library, 100 Rock St., will be closing temporarily for extensive renovations. Beginning September 1, Main Library operations will transfer to Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, 401 President Clinton Ave. CALS does not anticipate any interruption of services with the switch.

The temporary location, referred to as “Mini Main,” will occupy the first floor of the Roberts Library, which housed the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square before it closed in May in preparation for the Main Library renovation. The compact library will offer holds pickup, dedicated children and teen areas, and public computers.

“Our goal was always to maintain a downtown space with essential services and popular library resources,” said Joe Hudak, Head of Main Library. “Due to Roberts Library’s smaller size compared to the five-story Main Library, we assessed the most frequently used services and allocated spaces accordingly for the different groups we serve.”

Mini Main will house newly released books and DVDs for browsing as well as a seating and reading area. First floor meeting rooms will be converted into a public computer lab and staff offices. Concordia Hall is undergoing a transformation to create spaces for children and teens, featuring areas for collections, games, and programs. CALS will be continuing after-school meal service and children’s programming from Roberts.

Roberts Library will continue to offer their existing services and extend their hours to match Main’s (current hours for Main: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., closed Sunday).  A new book return will be placed outside of Roberts, and patrons are reminded that the book lockers located on the back entryway to Roberts are available for 24-hour book pickups. The Underground Gallery will remain open, displaying art from the CALS permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

The remaining Library Square buildings, Ron Robinson Theater and Rock It! Lab, will continue regular operations. CALS also has eight additional library branches throughout Little Rock, as well as locations in Jacksonville, Maumelle, Sherwood, Wrightsville, and Perryville.

Once renovations begin, the stretch of Rock Street in front of Main will be closed to through traffic and a new temporary entrance to the flat lot will be created (mostly likely entering from East 2nd Street). Much of the flat lot will be used as a staging area for construction purposes, with a small number of spaces available for parking. The CALS parking deck will remain open for parking.

Around twenty Main Library employees will move their offices to staff Mini Main. The remaining employees at Main will either move to the Port Authority building later in the month or be relocated to other branches. Main Library is anticipated to reopen in mid 2025.

For more information about “Mini Main,” contact Joe Hudak at jhudak@cals.org or 501.918.3000.

 
https://cals.org/news/main-library-sets-closing-date-for-renovation
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