CALS Main Library will close for renovations starting September 1

The Central Arkansas Library System announced last week that their Main Library branch, located in downtown Little Rock at 100 Rock St., will officially be closed for renovations starting Friday, Sept. 1.

Though Main isn’t expected to reopen until mid 2025, its operations will immediately move next door to the first floor of the Bobby L. Roberts Library of History & Art, previously home to the Galleries & Bookstore, a switchover that’s been met with some pushback.

The offerings at the temporary location, which is being called “Mini Main,” will be a pared-down version of Main, including newly released books and DVDs for browsing, an area for seating and reading, dedicated spaces for children and teens and a computer lab, some of which will be housed in the Roberts library’s Concordia Hall.

Current services at Roberts won’t be interrupted, and its hours will be extended to 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon. through Sat. in order to mimic the hours at Main, with 24-hour book pickup available from book lockers on the back entryway. A large portion of the flat lot will be occupied by construction staging, but the CALS parking deck will remain open to the public.

Additionally, Ron Robinson Theater, the Rock It! Lab and the Underground Gallery — located at Library Square — will all continue regular operations.

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