Holiday Closure Schedule

The Arkansas State Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25 & 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We will reopen on Monday at 8 AM.  In December, the library will be closed December 23rd & 24th, reopening on Monday the 27th, and closed on the 31st for New Year's holidays.  Any reference requests sent during that time may take a few extra days for a response.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

New Website Reminder

Consider this a reminder to check out the new Arkansas State Library Website. There you can find information about scheduling a meeting in one of our meeting rooms, how to file the required state agency documents with our government documents section, and how to send in a reference request.  You can also find links to other informational sites and connect to our catalog to find books.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the new website, send them through the Ask a Librarian form and we will pass them on to the appropriate people.

Veteran's Day Closures and Events

Tomorrow is Veteran's day.  Some government offices and services will be closed or on reduced schedules.  All Federal, State and local government offices are closed, including post offices and mail delivery. 

From the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs website, information about ceremonies at the State Capitol:

The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will present a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, November 11th, at 11:00 a.m., in the State Capitol rotunda.  This ceremony is to honor all veterans who have, and are serving this nation, whether in war and or peace.

Governor Mike Beebe will give the Veterans Day address.  Arkansas Veterans’ Commissioner Colonel Tom Thomas, U. S. Army, Retired, will be the Master of Ceremonies.  The 106th Arkansas Army National Guard Band will be providing the music and the Little Rock Air Force Base Color Guard will  present the colors.

This observance will be held on the second level of the State Capitol rotunda.  The tunnel entrance will be open with internal elevators to the second floor.  Wheelchair access is available through this entrance as well.  Veterans Day is a state holiday and there will be plenty of parking available.

Celebrate Veterans

Next Thursday is Veteran's Day here in the United States.  Veteran's Day was first officially observed on November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the First World War.  It became an official holiday in 1926, and in 1954 the name was changed to Veteran's Day to commemorate the sacrifices and service of American soldiers of all wars. For more information about the history of Veteran's Day, check out this page from the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 21.9 million military veterans in the United States.  1.5 million of those veterans are women.  5.5 million veterans are living with disabilities. For more statistics about veterans, visit the U.S. Census Bureau Facts page.

If you or someone you know is an Arkansas veteran in need of assistance or information, visit the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs webpage.