About CALS
General Circulation Information
How to Get a Library Card
Pulaski or Perry County residents can request a library card by completing an online application or at any CALS library. Your library card will be mailed to your home address and photo identification must be presented to complete the application process. A parent or legal guardian should accompany minors who do not have photo identification. If you live in a nearby county ask about the Gateway Project. If you are not a resident of Pulaski or Perry County or of any of the counties that participate in the Gateway Program, you may purchase a nonresident library card for the fee of $60 per year.
Circulation Periods
Newer materials 2 weeks
Older materials 4 weeks
Requesting Books
You may request all circulating items located at all CALS branches. You may also request items that are currently being used by another patron. There is no charge for this service. Items will be sent to the library of your choice when they become available and will be held for seven days. Items not picked up within this time will result in a $2 fine.
Items may be renewed at any of our locations, by telephone during library hours or through our website. Please have your library card with you when you call. Automated renewal service is offered by calling (501) 375-5430. Items may be renewed 5 times.
Cardholder History Confidentiality and Proxy Use
In accordance with changes in the Arkansas Library Confidentiality Act 757 of the General Assembly, which amended Arkansas Code 13-2-704, Central Arkansas Library System patrons aged 18 and older can appoint a designee for the purpose of picking up items placed on hold by the cardholder, or for viewing and paying the cardholder's fines. Changes in the law took effect July 31, 2009.
Current cardholders should visit their local branch to complete a form to add the information to their library record. New applicants can make this designation on the library card registration form.
Fines for Overdue Materials
Adult Books or Audio/Visual Items — 10¢ per day; $5 maximum fine per item
Juvenile Books or Audio/Visual Items — 10¢ per day; $3 maximum fine per item
Interlibrary Loan — $1 per day; $60 maximum per item.
Material Replacement Cost
- Includes processing fees of $7.50 for books; $12.50 for audio-visual materials.
- Adult Fiction $30
- Adult Nonfiction $40
- Adult Paperback $15
- Juvenile Hardback $25
- Juvenile Paperback $15
- CD Roms $25 with book; $50 stand-alone
- Videotapes, DVDs and Music Full replacement plus $7.50 processing fee
- Audiotapes $20 for first/ $5 each additional (up to $120)
- Spoken Word CDs $20 for first tape or CD and $5 each additional tape or CD (up to $120)
Interlibrary Loan
Replacement cost is determined by the lending library.
Return Policy
All CALS materials may be returned to any library in the system.
Corporate Library Cards
Companies, service agencies, churches and other organizations operating within the Central Arkansas Library System service area may apply for corporate library cards.
To apply, complete a corporate library card application and submit a request on the organization's letterhead, signed by the director or other authority figure. Library cards will be issued in the organization's name, in care of the president or director, and sent to the given address. The company or organization is responsible for all charges incurred through the use of their library cards.
The Gateway Project
Library patrons who are Gateway cardholders have reciprocal borrowing privileges at any of the participating libraries. Cardholders have access to a 1.5 million-volume collection at no cost. Residents of Arkansas, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Springs, Jackson, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pike, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren and White are eligible to participate in the program.