The Central Arkansas Library System has recently completed this colorful 5-story parking structure to accommodate patrons who visit the Main branch downtown. This is not a free parking deck, though validations are available for the use of library resources & services. HOWEVER, it is NOT necessary for geocachers to park here in order to "browse" for this cache. All floors of the parking deck are accessible to visitors via stairwells or the elevator in the southeast corner.
The collection of buildings on campus here, both new & historic, add interest to Little Rock's riverfront skyline. From the CALS website:
- The Main Library, the flagship of the Central Arkansas Library System, is housed in the renovated Fones Brothers Warehouse in the historic River Market District. The third site for the library, a 132,000-square-feet facility, opened at 100 Rock Street in 1997. The Main Library offers patrons thousands of books and audiovisual items for children and adults. The five floors feature the Sturgis Center for Technology Training, a public computer lab; dedicated areas for children and teens; reading rooms on the first and fifth floors; individual and small group study areas; public meeting rooms; wireless Internet access; and an extensive reference department.
- The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, a department of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), 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 research collections and offices are located in the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art (formerly the Arkansas Studies Institute building) at Library Square. The Research Room of the Roberts Library is shared by the Butler Center and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Center for Arkansas History and Culture. Here, the two institutions have made more than 10 million documents and photographs on Arkansas history available for public use..
- The Ron Robinson Theater is a 315-seat multi-purpose event venue. Part of the Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Library campus, it is designed to provide programs for all ages including films, music performances, plays, readings, lectures, speakers, and children’s activities. The theater is equipped with a state-of-the-art DCI-compliant Barco digital cinema projection system and 32' wide retractable screen; and, a versatile sound system capable of Dolby 7.1 surround audio for movies, with a CL3 digital mixing console with ample inputs for traditional music concerts. As with other CALS meeting space, the theater may be used by the public, based on availability.
- In 2001, CALS renovated the Cox Building, originally a warehouse for Thomas Cox and Sons Machinery Company. Part of the Main Library campus, the building serves as the home of River Market Books & Gifts and Bookends Café. The building has two meeting rooms and is the site of special library and FOCAL events. Constructed in 1906, the building featured one of the earliest drum-type traction hoisting machines manufactured. The hoisting machine (elevator) was operational until its removal in 2001. Sculptural remnants are displayed near the entrance facing the parking lot.
Cache placed with permission of CALS administration.
Please use stealth to protect this cache from muggles, but don't forget to wave at the watching librarians cheering you on from their workroom windows!
*Congratulations on a birthday FTF to KNKINCABOT!*