ArLA 2025 Annual Conference

October 18 & 19, 2025

Hot Springs, AR

Break-out and Poster Session Proposals Due May 1

This year's conference theme is Turning the Page.

The Conference Program Subcommittee is seeking a wide-range of programs that represent our diverse membership including academic, public, school, and special library organizations, and professional and para-professional members.  

Break-out sessions may include single or multiple presenters, panel discussions, case studies, interactive hands-on activities, demonstrations of projects, etc. Break-out sessions will be scheduled for 50 minutes throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. 

Poster sessions are a great way to highlight library programs, initiatives, and collaborations without committing to a full presentation. Posters will be on display all day on Saturday in the exhibit hall with a designated fifty (50) minute block for poster presenters to be available to present their poster and answer questions.

ArLA Communities of Interest are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. 

Proposals are due by close of business on May 1, 2025. All proposals for break-out and poster sessions must be submitted online through the Google Form. 

Conference Program Proposal Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUWM3c8-qone7SoCB6bwxp1g4xyFYkDHr4pOfuDXdWLqo6FA/viewform?usp=header

A viewable copy of the entire Form is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kzgC4usCjLhzHm8bFSlTwHsvcaADy0myVmudLiMtGOQ/printform 

Submitters will be notified of the status of their proposal no later than May 23.

If you have any questions, or need assistance, please contact Jenn Wann, ArLA Conference Program Subcommittee Chair, at jennwann@outlook.com. 

The Arkansas Library Association strongly opposes Senate Bill 536, which proposes the elimination of the Arkansas State Library (ASL) and the redistribution of its collections and resources. This bill threatens to eliminate Arkansas’s only Regional Federal Depository Library, significantly reducing public access to essential government documents. Without a regional depository, Arkansans seeking federal publications would face longer wait times and increased reliance on out-of-state interlibrary loans, which would be burdensome on local libraries. Additionally, the bill’s failure to address space and infrastructure concerns raises serious doubts about the State Archives’ ability to properly house ASL’s collections. This disruption would limit the public’s access to vital reference materials, periodicals, and historical resources.

This bill affects services and resources available to millions of Arkansans. The dissolution of the ASL will severely limit access to ebooks and digital audiobooks, and eliminate the Traveler databases that are used by every public school, college, and university in the state. The loss of the Traveler database program could lead to institutions losing their accreditation unless they absorb the cost of purchasing these resources individually. A recent study showed that the Traveler databases would cost the taxpayers of Arkansas $47 million to replace using local funds, should the ASL be eliminated. ASL is able to purchase these for the entire state due to their status as a state library. This would affect small and rural communities the most.

Beyond the immediate loss of access, SB 536 risks violating federal regulations by improperly transferring equipment and resources purchased with federal funds. The bill does not provide clear guidelines for the disposition of staff, software subscriptions, or hardware currently funded by federal dollars. This lack of oversight could place Arkansas in non-compliance with federal cost principles (2 CFR § 200.308), endangering future federal funding eligibility. The potential loss of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds—totaling $2.16 million annually—would devastate library services across the state, reducing critical resources for education, literacy, and community programs.

Lastly, SB 536 introduces structural inefficiencies and legal inconsistencies within the state. The bill proposes dissolving the Arkansas State Library Board, requiring the formation of a new “State Advisory Council” under federal law, effectively negating any administrative efficiencies gained. It also misrepresents federal statutes, incorrectly citing criminal codes instead of appropriate guidelines related to library materials. These legal flaws create unnecessary confusion and could expose the state to legal challenges. The proposed organizational structure is vague and untested, raising serious concerns about Arkansas’s ability to remain compliant with federal regulations governing library operations.

Arkansas libraries are essential to public education, information access, and historical preservation. SB 536 threatens to dismantle these services, disrupt federally funded programs, and reduce access to information for all Arkansans. We urge lawmakers to reject this harmful legislation and instead focus on strengthening, not dismantling, our state’s library system.

SB536 has been placed on the agenda for the House Committee for State Agencies and Governmental Affairs for Monday, April 7th.

Abolishing the Arkansas State Library would negatively impact every library throughout the state and put undue strain on the Department of Education. Use the contact information below to reach out to the Representatives on this Committee and share your concerns. If you happen to live in any of these districts, make sure you reach out to your representative! Find your district here.

Read the Arkansas Library Association's official response here.

Name	District	Email	Phone
(Chair) Representative Jimmy Gazaway	31	jimmy.gazaway@arkansashouse.org	(870) 215-1243
(Vice-Chair) Representative Rick Beck	43	rick.beck@arkansashouse.org	(501) 912-1441
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.	95	howard.beaty@arkansashouse.org	(870) 304-6584
Representative Stan Berry	44	stan.berry@arkansashouse.org	(479) 970-7982
Representative John P. Carr	15	john.carr@arkansashouse.org	(479) 619-5104
Representative Nicole Clowney	21	nicole.clowney@arkansashouse.org	(479) 445-5337
Representative Andrew Collins	73	andrew.collins@arkansashouse.org	(501) 650-2233
Representative Cindy Crawford	51	cindy.crawford@arkansashouse.org	(479) 883-1667
Representative Denise Jones Ennett	80	Denise.Ennett@arkansashouse.org	(501) 690-4211
Representative Brian S. Evans	68	brian.evans@arkansashouse.org	(501) 941-4002
Representative RJ Hawk	81	rj.hawk@arkansashouse.org	(501) 340-0810
Representative Julie Mayberry	92	julie.mayberry@arkansashouse.org	(501) 888-3522
Representative Mark D. McElroy	62	mdmcelroy1@yahoo.com	(870) 222-8217
Representative Stephen Meeks	42	Stephen.Meeks@arkansashouse.org	(501) 314-9250
Representative David Ray	69	david.ray@arkansashouse.org	(501) 916-0286
Representative Ryan A. Rose	48	ryan.rose@arkansashouse.org	(479) 285-6383
Representative Kendon Underwood	16	kendon.underwood@arkansashouse.org	(479) 644-8461
Representative Jeff Wardlaw	94	jeff@jeffwardlaw.com	(870) 226-9501
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge	1	jeremy.wooldridge@arkansashouse.org	(870) 565-7784

Library Supporters --we urgently need your voices to put a stop to the attack on libraries in the state of Arkansas. SB 536, which would abolish the state library board, goes to the Senate floor TODAY at 1PM. This is an attempt to politicize libraries in our state and it will put their continued existence at risk. 

If you want to have a library and have it run by a librarian and not a politician then please call right this minute: 501-682-2902. You will need to give the nice lady in the Senate office the following information:

• The name of your State Senator (find out here: https://districtfinder.youraedi.com/) 
• Your name
• Your phone number
• The town you live in
• You are strongly opposed to SB536

Please make your voices heard. Arkansas libraries need you. 

Celebrate your love for libraries this Valentine's Day! Join fellow library supporters from across Arkansas at the Arkansas State Library on February 14th, starting at 9 AM and continuing through the conclusion of the ASL Board meeting. We’ll be set up in the parking lot across the street. If you can't make it in person, there's a solution! Join us on Zoom. Find the meeting passcode here!

Here’s how you can join the fun:

1. Invite five supporters (Friends, board members, patrons, or community members).
2. Wear pink and red to show your library spirit.
3. The State Library Board meeting begins at 10 AM. Public comment is encouraged! If you’re interested in speaking, please submit your request to jennifer.chilcoat@ade.arkansas.gov by 10 AM on February 13th. See the Arkansas State Library website for guidelines on public comments.
   
4. Create library-themed “conversation hearts” signs on neon-colored poster boards (prompts will be provided). Not confident in your penmanship? No worries! Get creative with your Cricut or printed fonts from Canva.

Libraries are the heart of our communities, and everyone has a library love story to share. Let’s come together to celebrate and advocate for the libraries we cherish!

Prompts for “Conversation Hearts:”

"Read More ❤️" "Library Love " "Books Are Forever" "Check Me Out!" "Support Libraries" "Find Your Story" "I ❤️ My Library" "Shelf Care Matters" "Open Books, Open Minds" "Borrow Love" "Shhh... Love Books" "Be a Library Friend" "Knowledge is Sweet" "Lit for Libraries" "Bookmark This" "Storytime Forever" "Chapter One: Love"

"We ❤️ Librarians" "Libraries = Love" "Arkansas ❤️ Libraries" "Natural State Reads" "Books Grow Here " "Check Us Out, AR!" "Libraries of Arkansas" "Reading the Ozarks" "Delta Dreams " "Rock Solid Libraries" "Love Local, Read Local" "Library Strong, Arkansas Proud" "Read the Natural State" "AR Hearts Stories" "Pages in the Pines" "Ozark Tales Forever" "Arkansas Reads Together"

2024 ArLA Scholarship -Kirsten Seidel

Ann Lightsey Children's Librarian - Brook Fischer

AR Intellectual Freedom Award - Patty Hector

Arkansiana Award for Adult Non-Fiction - Don House & Sabine Schmidt for Remote Access: Small Public Libraries in Arkansas

Arkansiana Award for Fiction - Eli Cranor for Ozark Dogs

Arkansiana Award for Juvenile Fiction - Ayana Gray for Beasts of Prey

Bessie B. Moore Trustee Award - Lorri Helberh

Distinguished Service Award - Clare Graham

Frances P. Neal Award - Lavoris Martin

Lorrie Shuff Paraprofessional Award - Tina Bell

Retta Patrick Award - Katie Dolan

Rising Star Award - Julia Watkins

Suzanne Spurrier Academic Librarian Award - Shenise McGhee

President's Award - Kacy Earnest Spears

ARKLIB-L is an online mailing list for those interested in Arkansas Libraries and related topics. It is free and open to the public. It has also been used to disseminate information to ArLA Members. For more information and to sign up, go to  https://mail.arlib.org/mailman/listinfo/arklib-l_arlib.org.

You can also use that page for maintaining your subscription.