Think of the last time you visited the library: You may have browsed the shelves looking for books, movies, and audiobooks, but chances are you still have much to discover among the library’s many educational and cultural offerings.
Books – And So Much More
A library patron once told me that she values her library card more than her driver’s license. I’ve also heard that a library card is like a passport to the world. At the Central Arkansas Library System, a library card gives access to dozens of types of items, many of which go beyond what you’d expect. In addition to thousands of books – including print books, eBooks, and audiobooks – and DVDs and databases, CALS offers tools, telescopes, seeds, fishing poles, garden supplies, toys, and hotspots. Everything is free to check out with your library card.
Last year, CALS cardholders borrowed more than 2 million items. In today’s economy, borrowing an item from your local library can be a major money saver and a gateway to new hobbies, favorite authors, and enrichment.
Along with items for checkout, CALS offers programs for all ages across fifteen locations in Pulaski and Perry Counties. You can take your grandchildren to story time or garden club; join in a book discussion or take a memoir writing workshop; participate in an art class; learn how to play a musical instrument or prepare a healthy meal on a budget; seek assistance with technology; or meet award-winning authors. All of this and so much more is happening at your library.
Community Resources Hub
Libraries are indispensable community resource hubs that play a multifaceted role in fostering education, culture, and connectivity. At their core, libraries democratize access to information. At a time when loneliness has been declared an epidemic, libraries are also communal gathering places and catalysts for connection, providing an inclusive, comfortable space for people from all backgrounds to gather. Critical community resources – such as USDA meals for kids, SNAP navigation, and access to social workers – are also available at CALS. In an increasingly technical world, libraries bridge the digital divide by offering computer and internet access, digital guides who offer one-on-one technical assistance, and technology classes. Free math tutoring, classes for entrepreneurs, notary services, and help researching genealogy are just a few other examples of resources and services offered at CALS.
Economic Impact
The economic impact of library systems on their communities is significant. According to a study conducted by Boyette Strategic Advisors, the total impact of CALS employment, operational expenses, and capital investment between 2010 and 2022 is more than $1.3 billion, with a state and local tax impact of almost $41 million.
CALS contributed more than $1.3 billion in direct, indirect, and induced economic impact. During this period, CALS returned around $5 of economic impact to the community for every $1 of public funds.
Invest in Your Community By Investing In Your Library
This Giving Tuesday, I hope you will consider all the ways your library enriches your life and makes a difference for community members. To illustrate the library services at work, consider a hypothetical community member named Sarah:
Sarah lives near a CALS branch and visits weekly to check out books for her children. She also loves using the Libby app, which allows her to listen to audiobooks on her commute to work and check out eBooks to read on her tablet. Sarah dreams of starting her own bakery. She is accepted into the 12-week Business Incubator offered by CALS’s Rock It! Lab program, and she attends classes on practical topics like marketing and branding, revenue models, and customer development.
Empowered by this newfound knowledge, Sarah successfully implements strategies to start her bakery and grows her customer base in the community. Her bakery flourishes and she continues to turn to the library, from holding meetings in CALS spaces to checking out cookbooks. Sarah’s bakery, now a local favorite, creates job opportunities for others.
In this scenario, the library’s role in Sarah’s journey demonstrates how access to educational programs, business resources, and community spaces can empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to the local economy. In turn, the success of businesses like Sarah’s enriches the community, attracting visitors and fostering a thriving local economy.
This holiday season, I encourage you to make a tax-deductible donation to the CALS Foundation to ensure that impactful programs at your library are able to continue. Please give online at CALS.org/giving, or mail a check to the CALS Foundation at 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR, 72201. Consider deepening your engagement with CALS in 2024 – as a program sponsor, a monthly donor, a volunteer, or just a passionate patron who loves to check out books. And remember the enduring value that libraries bring to our community. Beyond their role as a place to check out books, libraries like CALS are pillars of economic growth, community empowerment, and accessible knowledge. Investing in libraries is an investment in a brighter, more informed, and more connected future for us all.
Visit CALS.org/giving or visit your local branch to learn how you can support the Central Arkansas Library System.
Source: AMP
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