Mission & History

CALS Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art

CALS Roberts Library houses the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies,  Encyclopedia of Arkansas, DIY Memory Lab, CALS Art Program, and UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.

The mission of the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art is to engage the people of Central Arkansas in meaningful conversations about our rich history and artistic heritage and its impact on our present.

CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies was created in 1997 through an endowment by the late Richard C. Butler Sr. for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture. The Butler Center manuscript collections and genealogy resources are available on the 2nd floor of the CALS Roberts Library.

What is an archive?

Archives hold records of the human experience. In the collections of the CALS Butler Center, the focus is on Arkansas, with records including letters, documents, posters, photographs, sound recordings, video recordings, and–increasingly–digital records. At the Roberts Library, trained archivists preserve, organize, and provide access to these important materials so that we can explore our past and learn from it.

CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. It will also benefit people outside the state who are seeking information about Arkansas. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a work in progress. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

Central Arkansas Library System 2025-2030 Strategic Plan

  • Our Mission

    We connect people. We nurture potential. We grow community. We are CALS.

  • Our Vision

    A community where people feel heard, supported, and connected.

  • Our Core Values

    • We provide access to all
    • We believe in the freedom to know
    • We respect diverse perspectives
    • We cultivate collaboration and innovation
    • We provide open and respectful spaces
    • We carefully steward shared resources
    • We offer exceptional service

  • Our Strategic Goals

    • Raising awareness to ensure the sustainability of the library services our community loves, we invite community members to connect more deeply with our services and processes.
    • Building lasting relationships with our community to ensure all of our community members feel they have a place at the library, we commit to community relationships and partnerships that are authentic and meaningful.
    • Combating loneliness and isolation for those often overlooked to ensure our most vulnerable community members are not alone, we will prioritize programs and services that take best advantage of the trust our community has in the library.
    • Organizational excellence to ensure that our staff and service provide exceptional service, we will commit time and resources to professional development.
Learn More About the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan