NLRPLS Blog

Warm up with Cozy Night at North Little Rock Library. Free hands-on activities, crafts, and movies for the whole community every fourth Thursday.

A NLR Public Library System Reading Challenge Exploring Family Secrets in Books and Films The North Little Rock Public Library System is kicking off 2026 with a brand-new Reading Challenge theme, Digging Up the Past, inspired by our Summer Library Adventure theme, Unearth a Story. Each month in 2026, readers are invited to explore a different storytelling theme through books and films that uncover history, memory, and hidden truths.  January’s Theme: Stories of Family Secrets  From long-buried truths to complicated family legacies, January’s challenge focuses on stories where secrets shape lives and reveal the past in unexpected ways.  What Is the NLRPLS 2026 Reading Challenge?  The NLRPLS Reading Challenge is a year-long program that encourages readers of all ages to explore new...

Digging Up the Past: Join the NLRPLS 2026 Reading Challenge At the North Little Rock Public Library System, we believe every story has layers. In 2026, we invite readers of all ages to grab a metaphorical shovel and dig a little deeper with our new Reading Challenge theme, Digging Up the Past. This year-long challenge pairs perfectly with our 2026 Summer Library Adventure theme, Unearth a Story, and encourages readers to explore histories that are personal, cultural, ancient, and imagined. From long-buried family secrets to reimagined literary classics, each month offers a new way to uncover stories that shaped who we are and who we are becoming. How the Reading Challenge Works Each month, read a book or watch a movie that...

Donate Formalwear for a Free Prom Shop at Laman Library in North Little Rock Cleaning out your closet this winter? Your gently used formalwear can make a meaningful difference for local teens in North Little Rock. Laman Loft at the William F. Laman Library is now accepting donations of prom dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories for our Free Prom Shop, taking place April 10 and 11 and April 13 and 14. This annual event helps ensure that every teen has access to formalwear for prom, regardless of financial circumstances. A Free Prom Shop for North Little Rock Teens For the past two years, the North Little Rock Public Library System has proudly offered a free prom shopping experience for community teens....

How a Yiddish Book Center Workshop Is Shaping Community Conversations in 2026 - By Colby Sansom In 2026, NLRPLS invites you to navigate between the many worlds in which we exist and to witness the dynamic threads weaving the tapestry of our co-existence. Next year, join me and your community for a splendid dive into the world of Yiddish literature, presented as part of the Yiddish Book Center's Public Libraries Program, in partnership with the ALA and funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.    Sholem aleykhem, hello! It is lovely to have you join me on this journey to Yiddishland, a place that preserves and maintains Yiddish language and culture. My name is Colby, and I am a Community Educator at NLRPLS’s Argenta Branch. In...

Important Update on Innovation Hub Access and Equipment Transition We want to share an important update about the Innovation Hub. On December 10, we were notified that we must fully vacate the building, including all equipment, tools, and supplies, by December 31. Because we have just fourteen working days to safely inventory, pack, and move all items, the Hub’s final day open to members and the public will be Friday, December 12. All scheduled events will end on Thursday, December 11. Members may pick up personal work Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM, excluding holidays. No additional work can be produced after tomorrow. We know this news is sudden, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work...

Read Around the World: December Challenge from U to Z The Reading Around the World Challenge from the North Little Rock Public Library System is your passport to a year of global stories. Each month, we feature countries based on a letter or group of letters. Your challenge is simple: read a book or watch a movie that is set in, about, or by an author from one of that month’s featured countries.  Each month you participate, you can submit an entry form to be included in a prize drawing. For December, the prize is a $40 dinner for two at Texas Roadhouse. Entries also count toward the year-end Kindle Paperwhite drawing.  Entries can be submitted in person at either the Laman or Argenta Library locations, or online at: https://nlrlibrary.org/communityresources/readingchallenge ...

Free Tutoring in North Little Rock for K–6 Students with Trained High School Volunteers At the North Little Rock Public Library System, our mission is Empower. Community. Connection. We are excited to offer a new way to empower kids and support their learning through free one-on-one tutoring for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. After many requests from the public, tutoring sessions are now available in the library with trained high school volunteers. These sessions help students with homework, skill building, and building confidence in learning, all at no cost. How it WorksGuardians can register their children through our online tutoring form and specify the academic areas where help is needed. Library staff will match students with a high school...

Over the past several days, I’ve been meeting with staff across the Library System to share updates about the future of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. I know this has been a heavy week for our team, our partners, and our community. I want to acknowledge that openly.  While the Library System cannot sustain the Hub in its current form in the long term, I remain fully committed to finding a path that preserves as much of its mission, services, and spirit as possible. We are actively exploring several possibilities, including moving equipment to other Library locations for free public use, partnering with other makerspaces, schools, and libraries, and even working with a potential buyer who may continue programming. These are ongoing conversations, and while nothing...