Arkansas Libraries

A law to disband the board went into effect Sunday.

The top-to-bottom rebuild is the first of its kind in almost three decades.

Over 400 people showed up to claim books for $1 each.

Deidre Grzymala asserts she was pressured into segregating LGBTQ+ children’s books and later falsely held responsible for a federal lawsuit over the move

Gov. Sarah Sanders must appoint all seven new members of the board if she signs the bill into law.

The bill would have dissolved the Arkansas State Library and the State Library Board, transferring its duties to the state Department of Education.

After more than two hours of debate, an Arkansas Senate committee advanced a proposal on Tuesday to abolish the Arkansas State Library and its board, which disburses state funding to local public libraries.

Department of Education would oversee state aid to public libraries based on their policies, hours of operation and availability of certain content

Lawmakers on Monday sent proposals relating to library system directors and petition canvassers to the governor for a signature.

If passed, regional library system directors in Arkansas would no longer be required to hold a master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association.