Public Announcements

2026 ArLA Scholarship Applications due September 1st

Applications for the 2026 ArLA Scholarship are due on September 1st, 2026! Eligibility requirements are listed below and can be found on the ArLA Scholarship Committee webpage. Interested applicants can fill out the form here. Further questions can be directed to Amy Wallace, Scholarship Committee Chair.

Call for ArLA Award Nominations

Nominations are open for the 2026 ArLA Awards. Fill out the nomination form here You can find more information about award criteria here or at arlib.org/awards. The deadline for nominations is July 31. 

Arkansas Times announces new member benefit for ArLA members

Good afternoon, esteemed members of the Arkansas Library Association!

Thanks to the generosity of local philanthropists, publisher Alan Leveritt is offering free subscriptions to Arkansas Times to members of the Arkansas Library Association. This benefit includes full access to current issues, the award-winning Arkansas Blog, and their archives. 

To receive this member benefit, you will need to provide either an official library-related work email address or request an @arlib.org email address. To update your email address, log into your profile at the following link and update your information: https://arlib.starchapter.com/account_info3.php

ArLA Statement Regarding the Arkansas State Library Board's State Aid Distribution

During the December Executive Board meeting, the Board approved the following statement for distribution regarding the Arkansas State Library Board's state aid distribution. This statement has been sent to the members of the board:

The Arkansas Library Association (ArLA) is encouraged by the Arkansas State Library Board’s recent action to approve the second-quarter disbursement of $1.37 million in state aid to local and regional libraries. This regular and timely funding is essential to ensuring that libraries across our state can continue to provide high-quality services to their communities.

We appreciate the orderly and businesslike nature of the November 2025 meeting and the board’s attention to its statutory responsibilities. As librarians, we recognize the importance of continuity and stability in governance. We are also pleased to see that constructive questions were raised during the meeting about how to support smaller and rural libraries. Likewise, discussions around the equitable distribution of funding and the use of data to inform policy are welcome and reflect a thoughtful approach to public service. We are confident that the State Library staff will continue to provide good guidance to support those efforts.

The State Library Board's decision to move forward with regular funding helps maintain the foundation upon which library services are built. It also signals a return to stability and routine that benefits both the library community and the people we serve. The Arkansas Library Association is committed to being a constructive voice for the future of libraries in Arkansas. We stand ready to work with the State Library, the Department of Education, the legislature, and all stakeholders to ensure that every Arkansan has access to strong, vibrant libraries.

2026 ArLA Executive Board Election Results

On behalf of the Nominating and Elections Committee, we would like to congratulate the following members on being elected to the following roles.

2025 Special Election for President-Elect Results

The Nominating and Elections Committee is happy to announce the election of Janice Weddle to the position of President-Elect. Janice will complete Adam Webb’s term as President-Elect, which will conclude in December. Congratulations Janice.

Press Release Regarding SB536

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.

Tell the House Committee to Vote No on SB536!

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.

Pink Slip Campaign - VOTE NO ON SB536

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. 

Love Your Library with Us on Valentine's Day!

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 [email protected] 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:”

Congratulations to the 2024 ArLA Awards and Scholarship Winners!

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